Aachen spinout FibreCoat secures €20mn to bring super-fibres to spacecraft

German startup FibreCoat has bagged €20mn in Series B funding as it looks to bring its super-resistant materials to the burgeoning space industry. 

FibreCoat spunout from RWTH Aachen University in 2020. The startup has developed a patented process for coating fibres with metals and plastics during the spinning stage. This creates fibres that are lightweight and conductive, yet strong and durable — at a fraction of conventional costs. These can then be spun together to form reinforced composites. 

So far, FibreCoat has focused on securing clients in the automotive, construction, and defence industries, where the materials are particularly useful for radiation shielding and weight reduction applications. Now the company is setting its sights on upward.

Spacecraft require materials that can withstand extreme temperatures, radiation, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) without adding unnecessary weight. “Space is a rapidly growing sector, and launchers and satellites increasingly need coated fibres to endure harsh conditions,” said Dr. Robert Brull, CEO of FibreCoat. 

Luxembourg-based NewSpace Capital co-led the funding round, bringing vital expertise as the startup looks to cash in on the expanding space ecosystem, projected to reach $1.8trn by 2035. 

“Space and terrestrial supply chains are converging,” said Bogdan Gogulan, managing partner at NewSpace Capital, adding that FibreCoat has the potential to address critical challenges across a swathe of industries.

FibreCoat will use the fresh funds to ramp up R&D and scale production as it looks to commercialise its fibre coating technology. 

The startup is far from the only spinout access story to emerge from RWTH Aachen in recent years.   

One of the fastest growing is Cylib. The startup is currently constructing what is set to be Europe’s largest EV battery recycling plant. 

Cylib’s founders — Dr Lilian Schwich, Paul Sabarny, and Dr Gideon Schwich — launched the company after a decade of battery recycling research at RWTH Aachen. The partners claim their method uses 30% less energy than competitors. 

Another big player is Black Semiconductor, which raised €254.4mn back in June. That’s a massive raise for any startup, let alone a European one. Even more impressive is that the company is only four years old. 

Brothers Daniel and Sebastian Schall launched Black Semiconductor in 2020. The startup is developing a new type of chip-connecting technology using the “wonder material” graphene.