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Latitude

HardwareReims, FranceFounded 2019· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

A French aerospace company developing 'Zephyr,' a dedicated micro-launcher designed to provide flexible, frequent, and affordable access to space for the small satellite market.

CEO / Founder
Aurélie Bressollette
Team Size
51-200
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$55.0M
Latest Round
Series B
Key Investors
Bpifrance, Expansion, Crédit Mutuel Innovation, Blast, UI Investissement, DeepTech 2030

Technology & Products

Key Products

["Zephyr: A two-stage micro-launcher capable of carrying payloads up to 200kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).","Navier: A proprietary, fully 3D-printed liquid rocket engine powered by liquid oxygen and kerosene.","Launch-as-a-Service: Full mission management, including payload integration and regulatory support."]

Technological Advantage

Utilizes advanced Metal Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) for the Navier engine to drastically reduce part count, manufacturing time, and costs. The company employs a 'lean' industrial model inspired by automotive manufacturing to enable high-cadence production.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Offers a dedicated launch solution that eliminates the scheduling and orbital constraints of traditional 'rideshare' missions, providing small-sat operators with precise orbital injection at a competitive price point.

How They Differentiate

Focuses exclusively on the 200kg micro-launcher niche using a proprietary 3D-printed engine (Navier) and a lean, automotive-inspired industrial model to ensure high-cadence production and lower costs compared to larger small-lift vehicles.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Small satellite operators (nanosats and microsats), commercial satellite constellations, research institutions, and government/defense space agencies.

Industry Verticals

["Aerospace & Space Exploration","Telecommunications","Earth Observation & Remote Sensing","Defense & National Security"]

Competitors

Isar Aerospace; Rocket Lab; Orbex; HyImpulse

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Scaled team to over 145 employees; successfully transitioned from R&D to industrialization phase with full-scale engine testing completed.

Major Milestones

["Successful full-scale testing of the 3D-printed Navier engine in 2023","Secured $30M Series B funding in January 2024","Signed launch agreement with SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK","Appointed aerospace veteran Aurélie Bressollette as CEO in late 2024 to lead industrialization","Targeting inaugural orbital launch of Zephyr in 2026"]

Notable Customers

CNES (French Space Agency); Flying Whales

Why this company matters

Latitude occupies a focused niche in the small-launch market: dedicated orbital injection for microsatellites and nanosatellites weighing up to 200kg. Unlike rideshare missions that constrain orbit and schedule, the company's Zephyr launcher offers precise orbit placement on a timeline chosen by the operator. This positions Latitude against competitors such as Rocket Lab, Isar Aerospace, and Orbex, but with a payload ceiling that keeps the vehicle optimized for the smallest end of the market.

The core technological differentiator is the Navier engine, a fully 3D-printed liquid rocket engine burning liquid oxygen and kerosene. Metal additive manufacturing reduces the engine's part count and manufacturing time, enabling a lean production model inspired by automotive assembly lines. The regenerative cooling channels and combustion chamber architecture are protected as proprietary IP, managed through French and European space agency frameworks.

Latitude's target customers include commercial constellation operators, Earth observation firms, research institutions, and defense agencies. The company has secured launch site access at SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK and technical support from CNES, the French space agency. A partnership with Flying Whales explores transport and logistics solutions. The company raised $55 million from investors including Bpifrance, Crédit Mutuel Innovation, and Blast, and scaled to over 145 employees.

A key open question is whether the micro-launcher market can sustain multiple European entrants as the industry consolidates. Latitude's bet on a dedicated, low-cadence vehicle with a 3D-printed engine must compete against larger small-lift rockets that offer rideshare pricing. The company targets its first orbital launch in 2026 under CEO Aurélie Bressollette, a veteran of Redwire, OHB System, and Airbus.