Exobiosphere, the Luxembourg-based space and biotech startup, has taken top honours at the seventh Startup World Cup regional finals in Luxembourg, securing a coveted spot at the global finals in San Francisco.
Founded by space entrepreneur Kyle Acierno alongside Bruno and Olivia, Exobiosphere is preparing to take its innovation for microgravity drug development global—with the US firmly in its sights.
Pitching on the World Stage
“This is a great opportunity for us to pitch on the world stage, especially in front of American VCs,” said Acierno. “We’re looking to expand into the US, and this platform gives us the visibility we need.”
The grand prize—$1 million in investment—would be a major boost for the startup’s transatlantic ambitions. “If we win, that money will go directly into supporting our U.S. expansion. We’re already exploring a few states and would use the funds to hire key staff and establish our footprint,” the Canadian explained.
“Not many people know this, but you can build biotech labs very quickly here.”
Kyle Acierno,CEO of Exobiosphere
Rooted in Luxembourg, Thinking Globally
Despite Exobiosphere’s international aspirations, Acierno emphasised the importance of Luxembourg’s ecosystem in nurturing startups. “Here, you can be a small fish in a small pond, which means you get noticed. The Luxembourg Space Agency, the House of BioHealth, and local investors have been instrumental in our success,” he said.
This isn’t Acierno’s first startup in the Grand Duchy. He previously helped establish the Luxembourg office of ispace, a Japanese space robotics company and later launched a local office of mining firm OffWorld. “This is my third company in Luxembourg, and they all still have a presence here. The government’s support continues to be a huge asset,” he added.
Bridging Continents in Biotech and Space
Exobiosphere is carving out a unique niche at the intersection of space and biotech. With ambitions to conduct biotech research in orbit, the company has partnered with VAST, a next-generation American space station developer. “We’ll be launching on VAST’s first station. This partnership means we’re not just a small fish anymore—we’re collaborating with major players in the space industry,” Acierno said.
Exobiosphere Secures €2M To Pioneer Microgravity Drug Discovery
The Power of a Quiet Ecosystem
While Luxembourg may not yet be globally recognised as a biotech hub, Acierno praised the infrastructure and speed with which Exobiosphere was able to set up operations. “Not many people know this, but you can build biotech labs very quickly here. The support from the House of BioHealth has been phenomenal,” he noted.
A Shot at the Cup
With the global finals ahead, Exobiosphere hopes to make history. “Luxembourg has placed in the top 10 for two years in a row. We’d love to be the first to bring the Startup World Cup back home,” Acierno said. “But even if we don’t win, we’ll gain exposure, connections, and investment opportunities that can help us scale globally.”
Exobiosphere was among 10 finalists who pitched at the Startup World Cup Regional Final at EY Luxembourg on 22 May. In all, some 46 startups entered the 2025 contest. The winner was chosen by a jury of industry experts. Second place was awarded to bio health startup Organo Therapeutics and special mention was given to fashion tech Essembl.
