Marble Imaging Raises €6 Million to Build European Satellite Constellation
German Earth-observation startup Marble Imaging has raised an additional €6 million in seed funding to expand its planned commercial satellite constellation. The investment, led by Cherry Ventures, brings the company's total seed funding to €11.3 million and supports its ambition to build an independent European source of very-high-resolution satellite imagery.
Based in Bremen, Marble Imaging is developing satellites that will capture detailed images of the Earth's surface and feed them into an AI-powered analytics platform. The company plans to use the additional capital to accelerate satellite and launch procurement as it works towards a constellation of 30 satellites by 2030.
Marble Imaging satellite constellation targets European demand
The Marble Imaging satellite constellation is designed to provide very-high-resolution Earth-observation data for government and commercial customers. Its intended applications include defence, civil security, critical infrastructure monitoring, disaster management and environmental analysis.
The company argues that European users remain heavily dependent on satellite imagery from providers outside the region. Building a commercial constellation under European ownership and governance could give customers another source of information for security and infrastructure decisions.
Marble is also developing software that combines satellite imagery with other data sources. Its analytics services include object detection, terrain analysis, trafficability assessment, coastal asset monitoring and land-cover classification. These tools are intended to turn raw imagery into information that customers can use to monitor locations and assess changing conditions.
First satellite prepares for 2027 launch
Marble Sat-1, also known as Morgana, is the company's first satellite. It has completed pre-flight testing and is scheduled for launch in early 2027. The spacecraft is designed to capture imagery at resolutions of up to 0.7 metres in the visible and near-infrared spectrum, alongside shortwave infrared observations.
According to reporting by Tech Funding News, the satellite is expected to be shipped to California in December 2026 for a planned SpaceX launch in February 2027. It will undergo an in-orbit demonstration before beginning commercial operations.
The launch arrangement highlights a practical challenge for Europe's ambitions to build a more independent space industry. Although Marble is developing a European satellite and intelligence platform, it currently relies on a US launch provider. The company has also discussed future European launch options as the region's commercial launch capacity develops.
Cherry Ventures leads the €6 million seed extension
The latest investment follows an earlier €5.3 million seed round led by High-Tech Gründerfonds in December 2025. The additional €6 million from Cherry Ventures brings the combined seed funding to €11.3 million.
Marble was founded in 2023 by Robert Hook, Alexander Epp, Dr Gopika Suresh and Dr Raul Scarlat. The company has also received more than €10 million in non-dilutive funding from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency, according to Tech Funding News.
The funding announcement comes as the company reports more than 10 customers and a contract pipeline exceeding €20 million. These figures were reported by Tech Funding News and should be understood as company-reported commercial indicators, rather than completed revenue.
Building a commercial alternative for satellite intelligence
The Marble Imaging satellite constellation combines space infrastructure with AI-based analysis. Instead of selling imagery alone, the company aims to provide customers with processed information that can support decisions involving security, infrastructure and changing conditions on the ground.
Its 30-satellite target represents a substantial expansion from the first spacecraft. Achieving it will depend on financing, satellite procurement, launch availability and the ability to convert customer interest into recurring business.
The €6 million extension gives Marble additional capital to move towards that goal. Its first major test will be getting Marble Sat-1 into orbit, validating its imaging capabilities and demonstrating that its analytics platform can deliver useful information at commercial scale.
