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§ Private Profile · 2-1-65 Kakyoin, Aoba-ku, Sendai Ichigo Kakyoin Building 9th floor. Sendai, 980-
Develops small satellite platforms for space experiments, manufacturing, and prototyping in low Earth orbit, with Earth recovery.
ElevationSpace is a Sendai, Japan-based aerospace company that develops small satellite platforms designed for uncrewed space experiments, orbital manufacturing, and atmospheric reentry recovery in low Earth orbit. The organization provides an alternative to the International Space Station by enabling commercial science, material prototyping, and engineering tests at a significantly lower cost and higher frequency. The enterprise operates with a growing workforce of approximately 60 employees and has secured roughly $13.3 million in total venture funding, which includes a recent Series A round alongside a 291 million JPY grant from NEDO. ElevationSpace is backed by institutional investors such as Tohoku University Venture Partners and Beyond Next Ventures, while its technical leadership includes former engineers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The aerospace company was officially founded in 2021 by Ryohei Kobayashi and Toshinori Kuwahara.
ElevationSpace has raised $19.7M across 3 funding rounds.
ElevationSpace has raised $19.7M in total across 3 funding rounds.
ElevationSpace has raised $19.7M in total across 3 funding rounds.
ElevationSpace's investors include Beyond Next Ventures, Z Venture Capital, 大原未流斗, Gougin Capital, JA Mitsui Leasing, Masaki Yuda, CSP, Taku Goto, Kasai Tomoyuki, Shoki Hasegawa, Leave a Nest Capital, MAKOTO Capital.
ElevationSpace is a Japanese space-tech startup founded in 2021, originating from Tohoku University, that develops the ELS-R platform—a small satellite system for high-frequency space experimentation, material manufacturing, and recovery from low Earth orbit (LEO). It serves researchers, biotech firms, manufacturers, and entertainment sectors by enabling microgravity experiments (e.g., drug discovery, advanced materials) that produce high-quality results impossible on Earth, with reentry capsules returning deliverables.[1][2][3][5][6] The company has raised over $5M (approximately 540 million yen total, including a 1.4 billion yen Series A led by Beyond Next Ventures), employs 23 people, and plans ELS-R100 demo launch in FY2023 and service-ready ELS-R1000 in FY2026, backed by NEDO funding of JPY 291 million through 2025.[2][3][4][5]
ElevationSpace emerged from the Yoshida and Kuwahara Laboratory at Tohoku University, founded in 2021 by Ryohei Kobayashi in Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), Japan, with the mission to "create a world where everyone can live in space."[1][3][6] Early milestones included June 2021 pre-seed funding of ~$260K from Japanese VCs and angels, September 2021 joint research on a high-performance hybrid thruster, November 2021 appointment of Dr. Yasuhide Watanabe as technical advisor, and March 2021 crowdfunding of ~$45.5K.[1] This university-tech foundation fueled its focus on reentry-capable satellites, evolving from fundamental research into a NEDO-supported deep-tech program for LEO experimentation platforms.[3]
ElevationSpace rides the shift from government-led (e.g., ISS) to private commercial space, capitalizing on LEO demand for frequent, affordable microgravity R&D amid ISS retirement and space station proliferation (e.g., Axiom).[4][6] Timing aligns with falling launch costs, reusable tech advances, and market forces like biotech/materials needing space-unique environments—positioning it to replace ISS functions via small, recoverable satellites.[1][3][5] It influences the ecosystem by lowering barriers for non-aerospace firms (e.g., pharma, manufacturing), fostering Japan's space industry growth, and enabling scalable orbital economies toward lunar/Mars habitats.[1][6]
ElevationSpace is poised for ELS-R100 launch in 2023 (now likely achieved or imminent by late 2025) and ELS-R1000 commercialization in 2026, accelerating via NEDO milestones and Series A momentum toward ELS-T/A services.[1][3][5] Trends like private LEO stations, AI-optimized manufacturing, and space tourism will amplify its platform, potentially capturing global share in high-frequency returns where it holds a tech edge.[4] Its influence could evolve from niche experimenter to orbital infrastructure leader, enabling "living in space" via hotels and transport—tying back to its university roots in democratizing space access.[1][6]
ElevationSpace has raised $19.7M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series B in September 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2025 | $8M Series B | — | Beyond Next Ventures, Z Venture Capital, 大原未流斗, Gougin Capital, JA Mitsui Leasing, Masaki Yuda | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2024 | $9M Series A | Beyond Next Ventures | Z Venture Capital, CSP, 大原未流斗, Taku Goto, Kasai Tomoyuki, Shoki Hasegawa | Announced |
| Mar 9, 2022 | $2.7M Seed | — | Leave A Nest Capital, Makoto Capital, Plug And Play Japan | Announced |