Ecosmic: safeguarding the above

Ecosmic is an Italian space-tech startup developing advanced software to improve space situational awareness and prevent satellite collisions with its flagship product SAFE, helping operators manage crowded orbits safely and sustainably. The EIF supported this early growth by backing the Primo Space Fund financial intermediary, through which Ecosmic secured pre-seed equity financing to scale its team and technology.

“Satellites play a critical role in everyday life,” explains Imane Marouf, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Ecosmic. “From GPS to broadband, our society relies on them more than ever. Yet the space above us is becoming increasingly crowded.”

Safe, smart, sustainable

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Turin, Italy, Ecosmic is on a mission to make space operations safer, smarter, and sustainable. The startup is building the operating system for space security, developing a suite that allows operators to navigate safely the growing complexity of earth’s orbital environment.

Ecosmic began with a focus on sustainability. “For us, sustainability meant preserving access to orbit and maintaining the orbital environment,” explains Imane. Today, the company’s flagship product, SAFE – System to Avoid Fatal Events – combines collision avoidance software, risk estimation, and real-time insights for satellite operators, from commercial companies to agencies like the European Space Agency and even a proof of concept for the US Space Force.

There are around 11,000 satellites in orbit today, but in five years, that number could exceed 50,000. ”

- Imane Marouf, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Ecosmic

“The population of satellites is growing exponentially,” Imane notes. “There are around 11,000 satellites in orbit today, but in five years, that number could exceed 50,000. Understanding where every object is and whether it poses a risk is extremely challenging.”

Operators are often overwhelmed with hundreds of alerts daily, many of which are false alarms. “The real challenge is turning raw orbital data into actionable insights,” says Imane. SAFE filters false positives, reduces workload, and ensures operators respond to real threats quickly. Ecosmic’s proprietary algorithms can eliminate all unnecessary alerts, helping satellite operators plan missions efficiently and reduce operational risk. “It’s about upcycling space technology – making better use of existing resources, reducing waste, and improving operational decisions,” Imane adds.

Next-generation innovators

The company was founded by three engineers – CCO Imane, CEO Benedetta Cattani, and CPO Gaia Roncalli – who met at the European Space Agency. “Before starting the company, we spent a year talking to operators to understand the problem. It wasn’t the number of alerts that mattered, but when and how to alert. That insight shaped our algorithm,” explains Imane.

Ecosmic formally launched in January 2024. Early on, they raised pre-seed financing from Primo Space Fund, a fund supported by the EU through the EIF. The relationship turned out to be more than just financial. “Starting a deep-tech company at the age of 25 is challenging,” says Imane. “Industry credibility and relationships are everything, and Primo Space Fund helped us build both.”

Ecosmic’s growth has been rapid. “Eight months after founding, we had our first product live. Today, SAFE is operational on over 60 satellites,” Imane notes. The team now counts 13 employees, with offices in Turin and the Netherlands, and plans to expand as demand for satellite security rises. “Our ultimate goal is to make satellites able to autonomously detect and respond to threats without waiting for human intervention,” Imane explains. With investment in space technology accelerating from the EU, NATO, and national programmes, Ecosmic is poised to help operators navigate an increasingly congested and contested orbital environment.