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StepLab, a company specializing in ultra-small satellite systems based on space mechanism technology, announced on the 5th that it has secured Series A investment totaling 11 billion won.
Investors participating in this round include Company K Partners, Kolon Investment, IBK Venture Capital, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, SL Investment, the Credit Guarantee Fund, and DeCamp (Banking Youth Startup Foundation). Existing investor Company K Partners made a follow-on investment.
According to StepLab, this round saw an increase in the number of investors expressing interest during discussions, leading to an expansion of the funding scale.
Established in June 2021, StepLab has secured capabilities for payload and ultra-small satellite system development based on space mechanism technology that "grasps, releases, deploys, and moves satellites." Oh Hyeon-ung (CEO) has been researching vibration reduction for satellites as a professor at Korea Aerospace University.
Its flagship product is the Separation Ring, a launch vibration-reducing separation device that connects and separates satellites from launch vehicles. The company is also independently developing STEP POD, a cube satellite launcher integrating its proprietary vibration reduction technology (VIS).
STEP POD will be applied to the 16U cube satellite 'DaejeonSAT-1' scheduled for launch on this year's 5th Nuri rocket mission. Through this launch, StepLab aims to secure space flight validation (space heritage) for the product.
The company is also expanding its technological scope in the payload sector. StepLab has developed South Korea's first 4-meter-class three-stage deployable SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) mesh antenna, securing core technologies for SAR satellite payloads.
Recently, through Scale-up TIPS, it has been developing an AI-based zoom optical module for Space Domain Awareness (SDA). Applying AI image processing and high-precision gimbal technology, this next-generation optical payload performs wide-area and narrow-area exploration with a single camera, enhancing detection and tracking capabilities for space objects.
A StepLab official stated, "By undertaking the system development of DaejeonSAT-1, we have acquired comprehensive capabilities in ultra-small satellite systems." They added, "DaejeonSAT-1 will be equipped with a self-camera to capture images of the satellite after orbit insertion, allowing us to monitor its operational status."
StepLab plans to use this investment for global commercialization of space mechanism products that have secured space flight validation and for establishing the Yangsan system.
Next-generation payload technologies such as SAR mesh antennas and AI-based zoom optical modules will undergo space validation linked to national R&D projects according to each product's technology maturity level, with subsequent commercialization expanded step by step.
Oh Hyun-woong, CEO of StepLab, said, "Completing the Series A investment of 11 billion won, exceeding our initial target, is a result of market recognition for our accumulated space mechanism technologies and future growth potential."
He continued, "Through this investment, we will fully launch global commercialization of space mechanism products and advance space validation of next-generation payload technologies. Based on technological competitiveness spanning space mechanisms, payloads, and ultra-small satellite systems, we aim to grow into a global space system company."
[MoneyToday startup media platform 'Unicorn Factory']
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