Airbus Ventures

Airbus Ventures Research Overview Airbus Ventures is an independent, globally-focused venture capital firm investing in deep-tech entrepreneurs building the future of aerospace, space, and sustainable technologies. Based in Menlo Park, California, with offices across Europe and Asia (Tokyo), the firm combines early to growth-stage VC expertise with unique strategic alignment to Airbus' vast aerospace and defense infrastructure and domain knowledge. Investment Thesis & Vision Airbus Ventures operates in service of "deeptech entrepreneurs who are inspired to design, build, and service complex engineering products capable of unlocking entirely new economies." The firm backs founders with deep technical expertise, integrity-driven vision, and complex problem-solving capabilities. Using an aerospace systems lens, they back dual-use deep-science technologies with extraordinary technical leadership and first-principles engineering expertise. Investment Focus & Sectors Airbus Ventures maintains a broad deep-tech mandate spanning autonomous mobility, space technology, advanced materials, quantum computing, sensing and data, climate and energy, advanced manufacturing, and dual-use security applications. Portfolio examples include CesiumAstro (satellite communications), Aerospacelab (Earth observation), LeoLabs (space traffic management), Q-CTRL (quantum software), IonQ (quantum computers), Venus Aerospace (hypersonic aircraft), and Fourier (clean manufacturing). Stage Focus & Check Size Primary focus on Seed and Series A stages, with secondary activity in pre-seed and growth-stage companies. Check size ranges from $100,000 to $10,000,000, with typical seed investments of $250K-$3M and Series A investments of $1M-$10M+. Fund maintains follow-on reserves for portfolio support. Lead Tendency & Decision Process Airbus Ventures both leads and syndicates rounds with co-investors. Decision process follows a lean partnership model with Managing Partner Thomas d'Halluin overseeing investment strategy, supported by Partners Nicole Conner and Lewis Pinault plus Operating Partner Mathieu Costes. Decision timeline averages 2-3 weeks for seed-stage investments. Recent Activity & Fund Status Fund II ($155 million, launched 2024) is actively deploying across 101+ portfolio companies. Recent investments include Vatn Systems (December 2025), CesiumAstro additional $470M (February 2026), and Fourier Series A $18.5M (April 2025). The fund demonstrates consistent deployment across space, advanced materials, quantum, and clean tech sectors. Portfolio Highlights Airbus Ventures has backed over 100 companies with notable successes including CesiumAstro (satellite communications with $470M recent funding), LeoLabs (space traffic management), Aerospacelab (Earth observation), IonQ (quantum computing), Q-CTRL (quantum software), Telexistence (remote robotics), Venus Aerospace (hypersonic aircraft), Isar Aerospace (launch systems), SpinLaunch, Universal Hydrogen, Bcomp (advanced materials), Fourier (clean manufacturing), Atlas AI (geospatial intelligence), Astrocast (satellite IoT), and Infostellar (satellite operations). Team & Leadership Thomas d'Halluin (Managing Partner) brings 20 years aerospace experience as former Airbus CFO Chief of Staff with mechanical engineering background. Nicole Conner (Partner) provides legal, finance, and deal expertise from White & Case and Arnold & Porter. Lewis Pinault (Chief Science Advisor) combines engineering, planetary science, and consulting background with deep space expertise. Mathieu Costes (Operating Partner) manages EMEA operations with 11 years at Airbus. The lean team is supported by senior associates, analysts, and advisors with aerospace and deep-tech specialization. Geographic Focus Primary office in Menlo Park, California with secondary offices in New York, France, and Tokyo. Investment geography spans United States (Silicon Valley tech hubs and aerospace clusters), Europe (France, Belgium, Germany, UK space clusters), Asia-Pacific (Japan focus), and selective emerging markets. The global footprint reflects both Airbus' international presence and deliberate strategy to source deep-tech innovation worldwide. Founder Preferences & Engagement Airbus Ventures seeks founders with deep technical expertise, bold vision, integrity-driven motivation, systems thinking, execution focus, and coachability. The firm provides strategic capital, deep aerospace and engineering expertise, connections to Airbus ecosystem, portfolio support, and help recruiting aerospace/defense talent. Engagement emphasizes long-term partnership for building enduring companies rather than quick exits. Investment Criteria Airbus Ventures backs founders with domain expertise solving planetary-scale challenges at aerospace/space/climate/manufacturing intersections with dual-use potential. They avoid teams lacking vision, shallow technologies, markets without global scale, and founders unwilling to partner. Warm introductions preferred but not required. Decision process is partnership-based with 2-3 week timeline.