SWISSto12 Raises CHF
18.1M to 3D Print the Future Payloads for
Communications Over Satellite
August 29, 2019
SWISSto12 announced the
closing of a CHF 18.1M (USD 18.5M) Series B
financing round led by Swisscanto Invest by
Zürcher Kantonalbank and Swisscom Ventures
and returning investor Constantia New
Business (CNB). This new round will
accelerate the company’s industrialization
and the commercial deployment of antenna
products for communication satellites. The
company will also direct the funding toward
the introduction of new advanced
communication payloads for the SmallSat
market as well as continue the expansion of
its recently opened offices in the U.S. and
Israel. In addition, SWISSto12 will explore
first opportunities in terrestrial
communications such as 5G.
Additive manufacturing
(3D-printing) provides a unique opportunity
for next-generation equipment onboard
communication satellites. With SWISSto12’s
innovative solutions, satellite
communication operators gain
high-performance, lightweight, and highly
customizable products, opening a new area in
payload engineering. The technology also
brings new design and manufacturing
possibilities that SWISSto12 has mastered
after development and successful space
qualification of its patents.
In a very short amount
of time, SWISSto12 has convinced the
aerospace and satellite communities of its
high level of expertise and its ability to
deliver on the promise of space ready,
3D-printed radio frequency communication
products. As the company also moves into the
SmallSat and constellation markets,
SWISSto12 is the market leader, providing
high-performing and versatile antenna
payload products based on their mastery of
additive manufacturing technology. Their
expertise, innovative processes, and
customer focus combines to make SWISSto12 an
engineering thought-leader in this space.
The Board of Directors
is delighted to welcome Swisscanto Invest
and Swisscom Ventures, which together with
CNB constitute a first-class pool of
experienced, global investors, committed to
the long-term success of SWISSto12. These
major institutional investors will
contribute to strengthening a sustainable
ramp-up capacity for SWISSto12.
"SWISSto12 convinced us
with its innovative technology and business
model. With its space-ready, 3D-printed
radio frequency communication products, we
believe SWISSto12 has a great growth
potential. It is an ideal addition to our
portfolio, which focuses on unlisted Swiss
growth companies in the expansion phase,”
says Nils Granath, responsible for ICT
investments at Swisscanto Private Equity
Switzerland Growth I KmGK.
Pär Lange, Investment
Partner at Swisscom Ventures added, “With
its innovative 3D-printing technology,
SWISSto12 is leading the way into the next
generation of microwave components such as
wave guides, antennas, and filters, giving
the aerospace industry unrivaled solutions
in terms of performance, weight and size. As
the satellite industry is transforming, with
many low earth constellation initiatives on
the way, we believe that SWISSto12 will have
an important part to play in this
development and we are excited to be part of
that journey together with Sto12.”
“We are very proud of
the path already taken by SWISSto12 and are
delighted to join forces with two highly
experienced investors who bring
complementary strengths to our investor
base,” expressed Philipp Thurn und Taxis,
Managing Director of CNB.
Opening U.S. Office
Marking another major
company milestone, Michael Kaliski has
joined as Head of SWISSto12’s U.S. team.
With more than 25 years of satellite
communications experience, Kaliski will
build a US engineering and sales team, in
Santa Clara, CA, to meet increasing customer
demand. Previously, Kaliski worked at RUAG
Space as Director of Payload Systems and
Business Development with a focus on telecom
satellite Digital Payloads and Solid State
Power Amplifiers. Prior to this, Kaliski
spent over 23 years in multiple roles at
Space Systems/Loral (SSL, now Maxar)
including Satellite Thermal Systems,
Communications Payload Systems, Program
Management, and as the Engineering Lead for
the payload supply chain.
“With this financing
round, our mission to bring disruptively
performing and reliable, 3D-printed
communication products to the aerospace
industry goes to the next level. We are very
proud to have brought our first products
into operation in space this year and look
forward to further developing our journey
with our clients by enabling increasingly
affordable and flexible satellite
communication services. We are very excited
to have the trust of Swisscanto Invest,
Swisscom Ventures and continued support from
CNB as we bring new capabilities to the
space industry,” said Dr. Emile de Rijk, CEO
of SWISSto12. SWISSto12 also uses the
opportunity to thank its fantastic team,
shareholders and long-term supporters for
their work and help in the successful growth
of the company.