Venture-Backed ESA Space Spin-Off in Satellite Applications: “iOpener” - History, Status & Outlook
- Paper number
IAC-08.E5.1.4
- Author
Mr. Joerg Kreisel, JOERG KREISEL International Consultant (JKIC), Germany
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Most space fairing nations run technology transfer programs, which have licensed hundreds of space-borne technologies to terrestrial industries. The creation of new businesses however, and particularly venture capital financing of related companies, has not yet met expectations. The European Space Agency ESA has through its Technology Transfer and Promotion Office TTPO established an incubation process that at the end of 2007 brought up a major and visible success. The company iOpener, one of its incubatees, received substantial equity financing from a leading European early-stage equity investor, and represents the ESA's first venture-backed spin-off in satellite applications. iOpener has developed a technology to map real-world competitions such as Formula 1 to an artificial world, allowing gamers to participate in the race virtually and in real time. The technology innovation allows efficient transmission of telemetric data from a plurality of moving objects and their mapping into the game’s virtual world. The paper provides practitioner's insights to deal due-diligence, structuring and closing as well as to status and prospects of the business.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E5.1.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.