Global law firm Goodwin has advised an investor consortium consisting of Plural Platform, Balderton Capital Growth, NGP Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners on the participation in the $160 million Series B funding of Franco-German space startup The Exploration Company (“TEC”).
TEC develops, manufactures, and operates spaceships to serve the logistical needs of space stations and space exploration. With a focus on reusable and refillable spacecraft, TEC aims to make space exploration affordable, modular, and sustainable.
Plural Platform is an early-stage investment fund that backs the most ambitious founders on a mission to change the world through technology. Plural Platform launched in June 2022 with the aim to give serious founders in Europe investors with experience to match their ambition.
Balderton Capital Growth is a multistage venture firm with more than two decades of experience supporting Europe’s best founders from Seed to IPO. The company has both early and growth funds and invests across the technology sector, with a proven track record backing AI, fintech, B2B SaaS, digital health, mobility, gaming and marketplace companies.
NGP Capital is a 2022 vintage private equity growth and expansion fund based in Palo Alto, California. NGP Capital invests in B2B companies operating in the enterprise, software, industrial technology, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure sectors.
Bessemer Venture Partners, founded in 1911, is a venture capital firm based in Redwood City, California, that seeks to invest in the software, cloud tech, cryptocurrency, web tech, consumer, enterprise, and healthcare sectors.
The Goodwin team was led by partners Sebastian Walczak and Dr. Jan Schinköth and included Tobias Schulz, Loreen Kiehl (Private Equity, Munich), Dr. Oded Schein, Philipp Lauer (Tax, Munich), Eram Khan, Charlotte Brunsdon, Sophie Entwisle, Samuel Honnywill (Antitrust & Competition, London), Bethany P. Withers (Tech & Life Sciences, Boston), Annabel Loose (Tech & Life Sciences, London), David Scott (Tech & Life Sciences, Washington), Richard L. Matheny III, Ce Li, (Global Trade, Washington), Jacob R. Osborn (Global Trade, Washington), William Robert, Johann Gandilhon (Private Equity, Paris), Bill Meade and Amanda Fernandes (Private Equity, Boston).