GalaxySpace has reached a unicorn valuation of over $1 billion after raising an undisclosed amount; The JLC Group has bagged $129.1 million in a Series B round; and Aerospace firm Istar Space has raised $43 million led by China Innovative Capital.
Satellite maker GalaxySpace enters unicorn club
Chinese communications satellite producer GalaxySpace has reached a valuation of 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) after raising an undisclosed amount, making it the first aerospace and satellite internet startup in the country to reach unicorn status, per a company announcement.
The financing round, led by China Construction Bank’s venture unit CCB International, will help the firm to strengthen its satellite technology research and development capabilities, as well as foster the mass production of low-cost orbiters.
The firm also plans to launch a new-generation homegrown satellite with a flat-panel, stackable design, in 2023.
The firm already launched its first batch of low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband communication satellites on March 5, which were part of a testing internet network, known as “Small spider Web”, per the company. The “small spider web” internet network will enable low-orbit satellite broadband communication services that can provide internet connectivity to rural or geographically isolated areas.
Founded in 2018 by Xu Ming, the co-founder and former president of New York-listed mobile internet firm Cheetah Mobile, GalaxySpace also developed the broadband communication satellite “Galaxi-I,” which is capable of automatically performing manoeuvres and then burning out in the atmosphere.
GalaxySpace had bagged an undisclosed round in September 2019, hitting a valuation of over 5 billion yuan ($704.82million) at the time. The round was headed by JIC Technology Investment, a subsidiary of state-owned China Jianyin Investment.
Circuit board maker JLC bags $129m
The Jialichuang (JLC) Group, which manufactures Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), used in smartphones, computers, and radios, has bagged 900 million yuan ($129.1 million) in a Series B equity financing round, led by SDIC, one of China’s largest state-owned investment holding companies.
The round, participated by local investment firms Xiamen C&D Emerging Industry Equity Investment and Eastern Bell Capital, will help the company build a digital platform that offers one-stop PCB manufacturing services to businesses.
Founded in 2006, the firm produces PCB prototypes, enabling companies to build early samples of their electronic products to test user functionality, and PCB-assembly services. Since 2021, the group has expanded its manufacturing services to the mechanical sector, offering services such as 3D printing, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining, and sheet metal processing, among others.
Aerospace parts maker Istar Space raises $43m
Aerospace firm Istar Space, which researches, develops, and manufactures lightweight aerospace materials and parts, has raised 300 million yuan ($43 million) in a funding round led by China Innovative Capital, according to the company announcement.
The firm will leverage the fresh capital to further its R&D, as well as build up its smart production lines at its headquarters in Tianjin.
Founded in 2018, Istar Space specialises in R&D and manufacturing of lightweight parts that are applied in areas of aerospace, aviation, and railway transport. The news comes almost eight months after the firm notched “several hundred millions of Chinese yuan” in funding in mid-January, in a strategic funding round led by the government and state-owned firms.