Inside CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days 2025, Prague
Key takeaways from CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days 2025 in Prague: EU space startups, EUSPA technical insights, and investor-ready roadmaps
CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days 2025 in Prague brought together startups using space-enabled tech. Five were from Czechia; the rest represented Germany, Finland, Denmark, and other EU countries. Solutions focused on real operational needs: plant-growth monitoring, terrain and infrastructure surveillance (including rail tracks), strong laser network for space debris, and a notable water-borne drone with a self-recharging wind generator for extended deployments. ESA Technology Broker Czechia at Technology Centre Prague appreciates the personal invitation from Jana Kominek Večerková (EUSPA) and the constructive engagements throughout the day. The CASSINI and European space ecosystems came together as EUSPA, in partnership with EUDIS, hosted a standout event featuring 400+ participants, multiple panels and pitching sessions, and keynotes from space leaders.
Why it Mattered
The event combined three tracks that actually reinforce each other:
- Showcasing working prototypes and pilots on stands.
- Matchmaking founders with investors
- Founders refined short pitches of their companies and solutions.
Technical Depth (the best part)
Conversations with EUSPA experts turned demos into design reviews. A highlight was a discussion with Kati Tahvonen (EUSPA), who—like ESA Technology Broker—has petrochemical and marine industry experience. We focused on:
- Corrosion and probe design for wind-powered energy modules: corrosion resistance, maintainance, coatings, and failure modes.
- UAV stability and mission assurance: redundancy, vibration isolation for sensitive payloads, and instrumentation so systems reveal issues early.
The tone was vivid and constructive.
Where conversations got interesting
CASSINI Entrepreneurship Days 2025 in Prague (8–9 October) proved its value as EUSPA’s flagship meetup by combining a curated startup expo, structured investor matchmaking, and expert reviews under one roof. The event’s design—free access, exhibition space, 1:1 meetings, and pitching blocks—kept the focus on practical adoption rather than showmanship. Content emphasized Europe’s strategic priorities in space and defence, with sessions on capital, certification pathways, and the CASSINI Challenges awards anchoring the agenda. For participants, the immediate outcomes were clear: sharper roadmaps, stronger investor–founder fit, and concrete next steps for deployment across Earth-observation and downstream services. In short, it delivered what Europe’s space ecosystem needs most right now: qualified connections, rigorous feedback, and momentum toward field-ready solutions.
