France’s Univity raises 27 million euros to allow European calls to compete with Starlink
The Paris-based startup wants to create a space equivalent to a shared mobile infrastructure, allowing operators to offer satellite connectivity without handing over the keys to Starlink.
The French satellite startup Univity has raised 27 million euros in a Series A round, supported by the venture company Blast, the European deeptech fund Expansion, and Bpifrance’s Deeptech 2030 fund – part of the French State’s France 2030 industrial plan – next to two family offices.
Founded in 2022 by Charles Delfieux, Univity is building what it describes as a large space infrastructure: a neutral, shared satellite network that telecom operators can use to provide high-speed Internet from space directly to their customers — rather than being outsourced by consumer-facing competitors like SpaceX’s Starlink.
The company places its satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) – less than 375km above Earth, much closer than most commercial satellites fly. It says that shorter range means faster round trips, better performance in smartphones and connected cars, and smaller, cheaper ground devices. Univity also uses existing 5G spectrum for users, meaning the service taps into mobile networks they already use, instead of competing for crowded spectrum.
Univity says that this is essentially the space version of a shared network infrastructure – the kind telecom operators are already comfortable with on the ground. Carriers are starting to sell space-based connections under their own brand, which keeps them in the middle of the market rather than reselling someone else’s service.
“Our ambition is to enable operators to use space as a natural extension of their terrestrial 5G networks, including performance, competitiveness, and sovereignty,” said Charles Delfieux, founder and CEO of Univity.
The new capital will support the use of uniShape, UNIVITY’s flagship VLEO 5G demonstration system developed with the French space agency CNES.
Two satellites will be built, launched and deployed in orbit to ensure end-to-end service – including direct to smartphone connectivity – something the company says will be a world first.
Investments will also go towards expanding the group and making commercial operations ready to ramp up in 2028, it said.
“Discord isn’t just about innovation. It’s redefining the architecture of social media around the world,” said Anthony Bourbon, co-founder of Blast.
Stéphane Lefevre-Sauli, chief investment officer at Bpifrance, added that Univity’s work in VLEO and 5G spectrum “is essential to allow telecom operators to remain competitive and independent” and that the investment “fully addresses the challenges of national and European sovereignty in connectivity.”
The Series A brings Univity’s total funding to over 60 million euros after being awarded a 31 million euro contract at CNES in September 2025. CNES (Institute National d’Etudes Spatiales) is a French government space agency. The company launched its first 5G mmWave upload in June 2025. Two prototype satellites will be launched in 2027, with plans for the full constellation to be launched between 2028 and 2030.
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