Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin CEO of Wheere at the SpaceFounders Awards ceremony in June 2025.

Wheere, winner of the 6th SpaceFounders promotion

Montpellier-based start-up Wheere, specialized in satellite-based indoor geolocation, has reached a strategic milestone by joining the 6ᵉ promotion of SpaceFounders, one of Europe's most recognized gas pedals in the space sector. This recognition confirms the potential of its disruptive technology, destined to become a new global standard in the field of Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT).

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SpaceFounders: a European gas pedal for future space nuggets

Launched in 2021 by CNES, the University of the Bundeswehr (Munich) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), SpaceFounders has established itself as a benchmark program for supporting startups in the European newspace sector. Each year, some fifteen technology companies from all over Europe are selected to benefit from intensive support, combining strategic mentoring, contacts with major players in the space sector (Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, ArianeGroup...) and easier access to public and private funding.

LEO PNT indoor geolocation constellation orbiting the earth to represent Wheere space technology selected by SpaceFounders

Sovereign technology to meet the challenge of indoor geolocation

While GPS has transformed the way we use geolocation outdoors, precise positioning inside buildings remains an unsolved challenge worldwide. Wheere aims to address this issue with its patented technology, exploiting the VHF spectrum to offer precise positioning even in the most confined environments. With just four antennas, Wheere's solution covers up to 1 km² and penetrates over 50 meters of concrete with metric precision.

This hybrid indoor/outdoor approach opens up major prospects, particularly in the defense, critical infrastructure and logistics sectors.

SpaceFounders: a growth driver for Wheere's space roadmap

Wheere 's integration into SpaceFounders is part of an ambitious space development strategy. The program will enable the start-up :

  • Accelerate the implementation of its LEO PNT constellation, with targeted deployment by 2030.

  • Strengthen its technological partnerships, by working with operators of constellations already in service or currently being deployed.

  • Structure its European expansion, thanks to an extensive network of public and private players in the space industry.

The SpaceFounders program will run from September to December 2025, with sessions split between Toulouse, Munich and Turin.

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Photo by Kevin Rutankabandi Space Program Manager at Wheere

Appointment: Kevin Rutankabandi - Space Program Manager

Portrait of Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, CEO of Wheere

European recognition of Wheere's strategic role

Wheere's selection among the 15 winners of the 6ᵉ cohort of SpaceFounders underlines the importance of its technology in the European newspace ecosystem. By joining this select circle, the start-up confirms its positioning as a key technological player for the challenges of sovereignty, security and continuity of service in European space.

"We're proud to be joining SpaceFounders and, as part of this class, to be driving a disruptive innovation that is sovereign for France and Europe." Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, Wheere CEO

From left to right: Kevin Rutankabandi, Space Program Manager Wheere Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, CEO Wheere Lionel Suchet, DG CNES Lucie Campagnolo, CEO Spacefounders Philippe Gautier, President Hemeria

From left to right:
Kevin Rutankabandi, Space Program Manager Wheere
Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, CEO Wheere
Lionel Suchet, DG CNES
Lucie Campagnolo, CEO Spacefounders
Philippe Gautier, President Hemeria

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