SpaceAM closes seed round, backed by Foresight and with funding from the UK Defence Unicorn Fund

• SpaceAM has rapidly established itself as a UK defence and space technology business, backed by customer traction, a 13-strong team and new R&D facilities in Gloucestershire.
• The company develops lightweight, AI-enabled sensor systems that can be deployed to collect critical data in more extreme or harder-to-reach environments than conventional systems allow.
• Recent milestones include contracts with the Ministry of Defence and the European Space Agency, alongside £2 million of UK Government defence funding.
• Foresight’s backing will support SpaceAM as it expands its product roadmap, builds scalable governance and prepares for the next stage of commercial growth.

London, 17 August 2026: Foresight Group (“Foresight”) a leading regional private equity and real assets investment manager, has announced its investment into SpaceAM (“the “Company”), a UK-based aerospace and defence technology company developing ultra-lightweight autonomous sensing systems for deployment in contested and extreme environments.

The investment follows a period of rapid progress for the business. Over the past months, SpaceAM has secured contracts with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the European Space Agency (ESA), been selected as one of thirteen ‘future British defence unicorns’ receiving UK Government support through a new scheme designed to help grow future British defence technology businesses, expanded its team to 13 people and established new R&D facilities in Gloucestershire.

SpaceAM builds lightweight, AI-enabled sensor systems that can be deployed from the air or into extreme environments to collect critical data where conventional systems are too heavy, costly or difficult to use. Its nature-inspired flight technology helps small sensor payloads slow their descent without parachutes or propulsion, while onboard AI turns raw sensor readings into useful insight in real time. Originally developed for space exploration, the technology is now also being used for several applications in the defence and security markets, where demand for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities continues to grow.

The funding follows SpaceAM’s success in securing a multi-million contract with the UK MOD to boost rapid procurement and deliver cutting-edge technology for the UK Armed Forces. 

Foresight's backing will support SpaceAM as it develops its product range, strengthens its governance and prepares for the next phase of growth. As an innovation-led business operating at the intersection of defence technology, AI and advanced sensing, SpaceAM aligns closely with Foresight Ventures' strategy of backing companies commercialising significant scientific and engineering innovation from Seed to Series A.

Chris Isaac, CEO and Founder of SpaceAM, said: "We always knew there was value in our approach to autonomous sensor systems, creating the perfect synergy between hardware, software and AI, all in-house and all in the UK. Having Foresight on board does not just give us the capital to develop our product range, it gives us the structure and governance to start scaling. This is a clear signal to the market that we are preparing for a Series A round to scale at pace."

Andy Callen, Chair of SpaceAM, and former co-founder of Callen-Lenz added: "I am delighted to be joining the Board as Chair and to be working alongside Chris and Foresight. The company has built impressive momentum in a short period of time, supported by strong customer engagement and a differentiated technology platform. The close of this funding round shows a huge endorsement by both the UK Government and a big-ticket UK institutional investor and will be transformative in scaling SpaceAM into a powerhouse of UK Space and Defence innovation."

Rubina Singh, Investment Director at Foresight Group, commented: "SpaceAM has developed a differentiated sovereign autonomous sensing technology platform that addresses increasingly important needs across defence and security markets, with further applications across many other industries. Chris and the team have made strong progress in a short period of time, demonstrating an ability to translate technical innovation rapidly into customer engagement and contract wins at an early stage. We look forward to supporting the business as it accelerates product development, strengthens its governance and prepares for its next stage of growth."

By working collaboratively, Foresight provides much more than investment, sharing operational insights, guidance and helping management teams make strategic connections. We are passionate about enabling founders and management teams to build resilient and prosperous companies that have a positive impact on their local communities.