Ascendance develops hybrid-electric propulsion, notably the Sterna powertrain, which it intends to sell to third parties and to use as the core propulsion system for its Atea VTOL aircraft. The company has begun final assembly of an initial Atea prototype and is targeting a first flight later this year. With the €12.2m France 2030 – Premiere Usine funding, Ascendance plans to accelerate series production of Sterna within its Muret L’Herm airfield facilities and later create a dedicated manufacturing site. That future facility is intended to allow a production ramp-up and progressive integration of civil and defence aircraft assembly. The announced government investment is structured over four years and is intended to move the company from prototype stage to production.

Total raised

$14M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2026