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kick-start a business with space
Up to €75K funding for 6-month feasibility studies using satellite data.
Step-by-step guide
step 1
Review Our Resources
Review our Resources page and get inspired by previous projects to develop your own project idea.
Step 2
Book Intro Meeting With Us
Speak to one of our Tech Brokers to find out if your project idea is a good fit for ESA's Kick-start program.
step 3
Develop & Submit Proposal
Get support from our Tech Broker team and develop your proposal to match ESA's regulations and procedures.
Why Kick-start?
What is it?
Kick-Start is a 6-month feasibility study designed to explore the potential of a new commercial service. The goal is to assess whether the service is technically achievable, commercially sustainable, and addresses a real user need.
During the project, the team will:
- Design the technical architecture of the service
- Engage with potential customers to gather feedback and validate demand
- Refine and strengthen the business plan
- Define the next steps for developing and launching the service
WHO CAN APPLY?
- Any company from any business sector may apply for an ESA Kick-Start, provided their proposed project leverages space-based assets in a novel way. Support from ESA Technology Broker Denmark is available so long as the company has operations in Denmark, i.e. has a registered Danish CVR.
What is offered?
UP TO €75K
In Funding Per contract
The funding covers 75% of eligible project costs (up to a total project budget of €100k).
The Kick-Start project runs over six months and consists of three work packages, carried out in parallel:
Customer Engagement
Interact with potential users to understand their needs, gather feedback, and define clear service requirements.
Technical Feasibility
Develop the initial design of the service architecture, including systems, interfaces, data flows, and key components. A prototype or proof of concept may be included.
Commercial Viability
Conduct market, competitor, and risk analyses to validate the business case and refine the business plan.
Throughout the project, teams will participate in three progress meetings with ESA and receive guidance from an ESA Technical Officer.
Space Assets
Your Kick-Start activity should involve at least one of the following space assets:
Using satellites to transmit data across the globe. Particularly useful where ground-based infrastructure isn't viable — such as in remote areas, open ocean, or polar regions.
Collecting data about Earth's surface from orbit. Sensors collect images and data that can be transformed into key monitoring insights, from crop health to supply chain monitoring to insurance risk modelling.
Using signals from satellite constellations to calculate precise position, velocity, and time anywhere on Earth. The underlying technology behind GPS and Galileo — with applications extending far beyond just getting directions.
FEATURED STARTUPS
Here are some startups we have supported previously in the Kick-Start program. Get inspired by their case and see how you can transform your target industry as an early-stage founder:
PerPlant uses space technology to make precision agriculture accessible to all farmers
From space to shipping markets: How Danish company Navi Merchant uses satellite data to predict freight prices
Sensemakers is transforming the Danish maritime sector using space technology for environmental monitoring
Your Questions, Answered
What is included with our support?
We work with you to shape and refine your project idea, contribute technical and commercial expertise to polishing your draft application, and keep you on track with ESA requirements, deadlines, and procedural rules throughout the process.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
What proposal template version should I be using?
Use the most recent template version found on https://esastar-publication.sso.esa.int/. Keep all template structure and fixed content unchanged - only replace the sections marked in red.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
Is a Letter of Authorization (LoA) from the Danish ESA National Delegate required?
An LoA is not required for Danish companies. Please include the following text instead: “As the Danish ESA National Delegate has pre-authorised all Danish companies to bid for the ESA BASS Kick-Start call, the ‘Letter of Authorisation of Funding from National Delegation’ is not applicable for Danish companies submitting Proposals for this call.”
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
Do I really need Proof of Interest from Users or Potential Customers?
This is mandatory. Proposals without proof of commercial interest will not be evaluated.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
What financial eligibility guidelines should I keep in mind?
⋅ Maximum ESA co-funding: €75,000, corresponding to 75% of the total project cost.
⋅ Maximum project costs outside Denmark: 2% of total project costs (including manpower, external services, and miscellaneous), unless larger expenditures are approved by the Danish ESA National Delegation prior to proposal submission.
⋅ Maximum marketing costs: 3% of total project costs.
⋅ SMEs are entitled to request a 35% advance payment, which can be offset against Milestone Payment 1.We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
We support space companies in transferring their existing space technologies to create new solutions on Earth. That could be x-ray technologies benefitting hospitals or astronaut food sold as health supplements.
Questions?
Many start-ups and companies are unsure how space is relevant to their business and how to get started. We’re here to advice. Book a free casual chat to discuss your options.
Name
Poul Zimmermann nielsen
Job Title
space commercialisation manager, dtu
techbroker@esabic.dk
+45 93 51 14 68
Are you an established company wondering how to tap into the market for space technology or satellite data? Let's have a chat.