YEESS Elects New Board and Sets Strategic Roadmap to Strengthen the Voice of Young European Space Entreprises

On Thursday, May 15, on the sidelines of the ESA-organized “New Capabilities and Countries in European Space” conference in Frascati (Italy), YEESS has held its annual General Assembly, an event focused on electing a new Board. Juan Tomás Hernani, CEO of Satlantis, and Dr. Nicolas Capet, Founder & President of Anywaves, have respectively been re-elected as President and Vice-President, while Dr. Olga Stelmakh-Drescher, Chief Policy, Legal and Government Relations Officer at Exolaunch, has been appointed as Excutive Secretary. The new leadership team will carry forward an ambitious roadmap to strengthen YEESS’ position as the reference organization for Europe’s young space companies.

A Renewed Leadership to Champion Europe’s Emerging Space Sector

The newly elected Board brings together seasoned entrepreneurs and experts from across the European Space ecosystem, ready to reinforce YEESS’ role as a key voice for emerging space companies. 

With renewed leadership and a strengthened team, the association enters a new phase of consolidation and growth.

As President Juan Tomás Hernani underlines, YEESS is only at the beginning of its journey:

“I never suspected that the growth energy of YEESS members was going to reach and over surpass the 1000 engineers level. Today we are advising Europe to focus into a space market area of mid-caps that is the main responsible one for employment, growth and competitiveness. But this is only the birth and first steps of the association. Our challenge is to multiply this figure, arrive into 2000 and make the Space European Industry more resilient and healthier in the next 2 years.”

Building on this momentum, Vice-President Dr. Nicolas Capet highlights the critical role YEESS plays in strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy:

“By uniting Europe’s most innovative young space enterprises, YEESS is accelerating the continent’s New Space dynamic, breaking down barriers between startups, institutions, and established industry. In the next two years, YEESS members will empower Europe to deliver operational solutions, foster strategic autonomy, and ensure that European innovation remains at the forefront of global space activities. Through collaboration and agility, YEESS is not just shaping the future—it is making European space autonomy a reality.”

Looking ahead, Executive Secretary Dr. Olga Stelmakh-Drescher emphasizes the association’s mission to translate this collective energy into meaningful policy impact:

“YEESS unites the voices of Europe’s next-generation space leaders to shape the future of space agenda. By bridging diverse perspectives and building common ground, we transform shared challenges into collective advocacy, engaging decisively with ESA, EU institutions, and international partners to ensure that Europe’s NewSpace sector is heard, empowered, and future-ready. Often underestimated, NewSpace companies are redefining what’s possible: delivering faster, smarter, and more cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality or ambition. This is not the future of space; it is the present, and it is moving fast. YEESS exists to showcase that value, demonstrating what agile space actors can achieve when given a seat at the table and a voice in decision-making. We are here to ensure these trailblazers are not only seen, but trusted as indispensable partners in advancing Europe’s strategic space ambitions, building a bold, sovereign, and competitive European space sector.”

A Strategic Roadmap to Strengthen Presence, Forge Alliances, and Advance Policy Priorities

The new Board will carry forward YEESS’ ambition to become the reference representative body for young European space enterprises. 

Its roadmap focuses on expanding membership, adapting criteria to reflect the evolving landscape of emerging space companies, deepening ties with other syndicates and associations such as the Golden Space League, and strengthening the YEESS Observatory as a shared, data-driven tool. YEESS will continue to promote the Observatory as a collective commitment, expanding its reach through national associations and targeted country studies. This analytical foundation will support regular exchanges with EU and ESA institutions, reinforcing the association’s role in shaping policy discussions. 

In line with its founding stance, YEESS also reaffirms its long-standing call for public procurement to take precedence over subsidized technologies, an essential condition to improve product-market fit, reinforce export competitiveness, and uphold European values of fair intra-European competition.

With a renewed leadership and a clear strategic vision, YEESS is poised to amplify the voice of Europe’s NewSpace sector. United by a shared commitment to innovation, sovereignty, and impact, YEESS and its members stand ready to shape the future of space.