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§ Private Profile · Rebenring 33, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
OKAPI:Orbits is a technology company.
OKAPI:Orbits develops AI-based platforms for Space Traffic Management (STM) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA), safeguarding space assets. Their software provides precise object tracking, collision assessment, and space traffic management, integrating and automating safe operations into mission control systems to enhance operational efficiency and security in orbit.
The company was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from TU Braunschweig by Kristina Nikolaus, who serves as CEO, and Dr.-Ing. Carsten Wiedemann. Their foundational insight stemmed from the growing need for enhanced space safety and sustainability, leading them to develop advanced software solutions for managing increasing space debris and satellite congestion.
OKAPI:Orbits' products serve satellite operators, enabling them to manage their constellations more securely and efficiently. The company's overarching vision is to foster a safe and sustainable space environment, ensuring the long-term viability of space operations and protecting critical orbital infrastructure for future generations.
OKAPI:Orbits has raised $21.0M across 2 funding rounds.
OKAPI:Orbits has raised $21.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
OKAPI:Orbits has raised $21.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $15.0M Seed in April 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2025 | $15M Seed | Ventech | Alpine Space Ventures, Band OF Angels, Btov Partners, Credo Ventures, Christian Miele, Headline | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2022 | $6M Seed | — | Alpine Space Ventures, Band OF Angels, Baukunst, Insight Partners, Scott Sandell, Space Capital | Announced |
OKAPI:Orbits is a German aerospace startup founded in 2018 as a spin-off from TU Braunschweig, specializing in AI-powered Space Traffic Management (STM) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions.[1][2][5] The company builds SaaS platforms like OKAPI:Aether for risk prediction, collision avoidance, and evasive maneuver alerts; OKAPI:Astrolabe for coordinating active satellite conjunctions; and OKAPI:Soteria for mission design optimization and debris mitigation compliance.[3][4] It serves satellite operators, space mission providers, and organizations like the European Space Agency, addressing the critical problem of orbital collisions amid rising space debris and satellite constellations moving at 9 km/s, where fragmented data hinders precise risk assessment.[1][3] With over $20.59M raised (including a €13M seed round about one month ago), the company monitors more than 150 active satellites and delivers faster, more accurate insights—from days to minutes for position determination and from 100 km to tens of meters precision—driving growth in the burgeoning NewSpace sector.[1][4][5]
OKAPI:Orbits emerged in 2018 from TU Braunschweig, where the team built expertise over decades in space debris analysis using sparse data and simulations, compensating for Europe's limited large radar sensors.[1][5] Co-founders Kristina Nikolaus (CEO) and Christopher Kebschull (CTO), along with advisors like Prof. Dr.-Ing. Enrico Stoll (Chair of Space Technology at TU Berlin), leveraged 50 years of proprietary models and data catalogs honed at the university.[1][5] The team bootstrapped initially for a few years, achieving early traction with over 150 satellites on the platform, before raising €5.5M in seed funding, launching the advisory board, and releasing the core platform.[5] Pivotal moments include gaining trust from key players like the European Space Agency and Munich Re, followed by recent €13M funding to fuel global expansion.[1][4]
OKAPI:Orbits rides the mega-constellation boom (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb) and NewSpace proliferation, where satellite launches have surged, amplifying collision risks from over 36,000 tracked objects and unmonitored debris.[1][3] Timing is ideal amid regulatory pushes for debris mitigation (e.g., FCC rules, ESA initiatives) and market forces like commercial SSA demand, as operators face insurance pressures from firms like Munich Re.[1][4] By enabling safer operations, OKAPI influences the ecosystem, protecting assets worth billions, fostering sustainable access to orbit, and bridging Europe's SSA gaps with scalable AI—positioning it as a key enabler for space-based solar power, orbital data centers, and beyond.[1][4]
OKAPI:Orbits is poised for explosive growth with fresh €13M funding, expanding its platform to handle thousands of satellites amid 2026's projected launch surge and events like the International Astronautical Congress.[1][4] Trends like AI integration in STM, stricter global regulations, and mega-constellations will propel demand, potentially evolving OKAPI into a de facto standard for orbital safety. As NewSpace matures, its influence could extend to policy-shaping and partnerships with launch giants, securing a sustainable orbit for all—echoing its vision from a TU Braunschweig spin-off to global guardian of space assets.[3][5]
OKAPI:Orbits has raised $21.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
OKAPI:Orbits's investors include Ventech, Alpine Space Ventures, Band of Angels, btov Partners, Credo Ventures, Christian Miele, Headline (formerly e.ventures), Baukunst, Insight Partners, Scott Sandell, Space Capital.