Find your next
space grant
in minutes
VIRA.space (Virtual Innovation Research Assistant) is the AI co-pilot that takes European space ventures from idea to submitted proposal — semantic tender matching, AI eligibility and compliance checks, a full structured proposal draft, partner matching and deadline control in one platform.
Still labelled beta, and already doing real work: every stage below runs in production today, end to end, with new capability shipping weekly. Tell us what to build next — info@vira.space.
Space funding is fragmented and hard to navigate
Space startups waste hundreds of hours searching scattered databases, deciphering eligibility criteria, and preparing documentation for grants they might not even qualify for.
Your AI co-pilot for space funding
From finding the right call to exporting a submission-ready proposal — one platform, four stages, all running in production today.
Discover
262 open ESA, Horizon Europe and EIC calls, ranked against your project by semantic similarity plus budget, type and deadline fit — every card carries a match score you can read. Swipe, filter or shortlist, then ask VIRA anything about a call and get answers grounded in the actual tender text.
Write
Generate a complete 9-section proposal draft structured the way ESA and Horizon evaluators read it — title, abstract, objectives, work packages, innovation, team, timeline, budget, impact. Regenerate or edit any section on its own, run an AI eligibility check, a compliance checklist pulled from the call's own requirements, and a draft score against the evaluation criteria. Export to DOCX when it's ready.
Track
A 10-stage pipeline from draft to reporting, with a step-by-step checklist, notes and activity timeline on every application. Deadline calendar, alerts 7, 3 and 1 day out, a 72-hour email reminder and a weekly digest of fresh matches. Never miss a call again.
Progress
XP, 7 levels, 25 achievements, streaks and a public leaderboard. Invite founders to earn bonus XP and climb faster.
From description to funding in 4 simple steps
Describe
Tell us about your project using natural language input — who you are and what you need.
Find & Select
Get a list of most relevant funding options with brief summaries. Choose one for a detailed description.
Check & Plan
Run an AI eligibility check before you invest weeks, get a compliance checklist of the documents that call actually demands, and work a step-by-step plan. Want a human on it? Book an expert consultation.
Draft & Submit
Generate the full 9-section proposal, score it against the evaluation criteria, export to DOCX and submit — with every deadline tracked for you until you do.
Built specifically for the space economy
While generic grant platforms exist, none understand the unique landscape of space industry funding.
| VIRA | Generic Platforms | Manual Search | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space-specific funding data | ✓ | ✗ | Partial |
| AI-powered matching | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat-based assistance | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Documentation guidance | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| ESA, Horizon Europe & national agency calls | ✓ | Partial | Partial |
| Structured 9-section proposal draft | ✓ | Generic text | ✗ |
| Eligibility & compliance checks | ✓ | ✗ | Manual |
| Dead links & expired calls removed automatically | ✓ | Limited | ✗ |
| Time to first match | < 5 min | Hours | Days / weeks |
Growing smarter with every launch
VIRA continuously evolves. Our AI improves with every interaction, and we're building new capabilities for the full funding lifecycle.
Gaining momentum with key industry players
Unlocking the multi-billion Euro space innovation market
The global space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, up from $630 billion in 2023 — a 9% CAGR. VIRA.space provides the critical infrastructure to accelerate space industry growth and innovation.
Start free. Scale when you're ready.
Every tier includes the full tender discovery. Higher tiers unlock AI proposals, team seats and priority support — and when a bid needs a human, you can bring in a grant specialist.
- ✓ Browse European space tenders
- ✓ Save up to 5 favorites
- ✓ 1 project profile
- ✓ 10 matched swipes / day
- ✓ Unlimited browsing + match-score breakdown
- ✓ 5 project profiles
- ✓ AI Grant Writer — unlimited during beta
- ✓ Founder directory filters + intro requests
- ○ Direct messaging — not included yet
- ✓ Everything in Mission Pass
- ✓ Unlimited AI proposals, budgets, timelines
- ✓ Team workspace — up to 5 teammates (early access)
- ✓ Shared application tracker
- ✓ Deadline email reminders
- ✓ Priority support — 24h response
- ○ Team tasks & Slack alerts — not included yet
- ✓ Everything in Mission Crew
- ✓ Unlimited seats across your organisation
- ✓ Dedicated success manager
- ○ Consortium workspace — in development
- ○ Custom alert rules — not included yet
- ○ API access + SSO (SAML/OIDC) — planned
The software runs your pipeline. For the one or two bids a year where the ticket justifies it, put a human on it — a one-off engagement, not a retainer.
- ✓ A specialist reviews your project and target call
- ✓ Help preparing the full application
- ✓ Priced by scope — programme, number of calls, how much of the proposal you need covered
- ✓ One-off engagement — no retainer, no success fee
- ✓ Comprehensive support across several stages, not a single review
- ✓ Eligibility triage and choosing the right call
- ✓ Proposal structure, budget and work packages
- ✓ A final pre-submission pass before you send it
Energy refills, XP boosts, AI-week passes and cosmetic unlocks — one-time purchases on top of any plan.
Ready to find funding for your space venture?
Join VIRA today. Answer a few questions and let AI find the best opportunities for you.
Let's Start →No credit card required. Free to explore.
Frequently asked questions
What is VIRA.space?
VIRA.space (Virtual Innovation Research Assistant) is an AI funding co-pilot for European space startups. It tracks live ESA, Horizon Europe, EIC and national funding calls, checks your eligibility, tracks deadlines, helps draft applications with AI, and matches you with co-founders and team members. Operated by Space Tech Gateway Sp. z o.o. (KRS 0001100297, Kraków Technology Park, Poland).
Which funding programmes does VIRA.space cover?
ESA programmes and tenders (BIC, Kick-Start, InCubed, OSIP, esa-star), EU instruments (EIC Accelerator, Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Space, CASSINI, European Defence Fund), and national agency calls across Europe — refreshed daily. See the live tender list.
Is VIRA.space free?
Yes — there is a free tier: create a profile, get matched tenders and run basic checks without payment. Paid plans add AI drafting depth, higher usage limits and team features.
Can VIRA.space help me find a co-founder or team?
Yes. VIRA.space includes an opt-in founder directory, partner matching that scores complementary skills rather than similar ones, per-call partner boards and intro requests, plus teams with a shared application list — so you can find partners across the EU and work on funding applications together.
Can I get help from a human expert, not just the AI?
Yes. Expert consultations start at €500 for a one-off engagement: a grant specialist reviews your project and target call and helps you prepare the full application. The final quote depends on scope — the programme, how many calls and how much of the proposal you need covered. There is no retainer and no success fee. Students and young founders get comprehensive multi-stage support at that same €500 — eligibility triage and call selection, proposal structure, budget and work packages, and a final pre-submission review. Describe your project and we'll come back with a fixed quote — or email info@vira.space if you prefer.
Are there non-dilutive funding options for European space startups?
Yes — Europe is unusually rich in them: ESA instruments, the EIC Accelerator grant (up to €2.5 million), Horizon Europe collaborative calls, CASSINI prizes, the European Defence Fund for dual-use technology, and 20+ national agencies. Start with our EU space funding guide and glossary.
Is VIRA.space the same as Vira Drones or Vira Health?
No. VIRA.space is an AI space-funding platform by Space Tech Gateway Sp. z o.o. (Poland). Vira Drones (Switzerland) and Vira Health (UK) are unrelated companies — full disambiguation at who we are not.
Get the open calls by email
The European space funding calls that are open right now — ESA, Horizon Europe and national programmes — by email, then once a week as new ones open. Confirm your address and the first one is on its way.