Investing in space-tech
South East Angels in conversation with the ex-CEO of the UK space agency, Katherine Courtney.
As the eyes of the world are pointed upwards - pondering the possibility of life on Mars, pleasure flights into space and satellites that bring low-cost internet to even the most isolated parts of the world - we had the pleasure of being joined for one of our monthly member dinners by Katherine Courtney - former UK Space Agency CEO, Chair of the Global Network on Sustainability in Space and STEM Ambassador.
With 30+ years of experience in business innovation, start-up and growth; and nearly 15 years of experience leading UK government policy and programmes, Katherine’s wealth of experience and insights were invaluable when learning where to begin when investing in space tech.
‘The UK’s space economy is growing rapidly - quadrupling in size since 2000’ - UK Space Trade Association
As the space economy grows, so does the opportunity to invest in new pioneering technologies, from collecting or repurposing debris to regulating and managing space traffic.
Katherine mentioned three key areas to pay close attention to over the coming years: Clearing space debris, Space traffic control, and Data science models. ‘I’m passionate about keeping space safe, secure, sustainable and accessible… and that is increasingly becoming a problem’ says Katherine.
Estimates show that there are currently 100 million pieces of debris orbiting the earth at over 15,000 mph, with real potential to cause significant damage to satellites and disruption to space services that we rely so heavily upon.
Companies are already beginning to invent new and innovative ways to combat rising issues, from creating data infrastructure and knowledge graphs to track and manage debris, to refuelling and extending the life of current satellites - see Privateers and Astroscale.
Other interesting areas to explore:
Creating habitats on the moon and mars
Asteroid mining
Space traffic management
Developing technology that can see through debris for astronomers
Investing in space-tech as an angel investor
Unless you’re investing through a fund, investing in space-tech can be tricky. These types of companies tend to require a high level of capital meaning higher rounds, steeper valuations, and higher minimum ticket sizes - not the best environment for an angel. In addition, the complexity of the companies will likely require a very high level of due diligence and the timescales for return will likely be lengthier too.
Regardless of the difficulty in entering the sector as an angel investor, the intrigue around space-tech is growing and so is the need for innovation in this space. We will be keeping a close eye on emerging technologies and any exciting investor opportunities along the way.
