At 16, he created a picosatellite from his room in Madrid. Today his company is at the global forefront of IoT communications.

Europe is witnessing a surge in homegrown tech innovation, particularly in the burgeoning field of satellite communications. A prime example is Fossa Systems, a Spanish company founded by Julián Fernández, who began developing pico-satellites at the age of 16. This venture has rapidly propelled Fossa Systems to the forefront of the global Internet of Things (IoT) communications market, underscoring Europe's growing capacity for specialized space-based digital infrastructure. Fossa Systems has already launched 24 satellites, making it the Spanish company with the most deployments in orbit. Their ambitious goal is to establish a constellation of 80 small satellites, all meticulously engineered for efficient IoT device communication. This focus on miniaturization and specialized functionality sets them apart from larger, more general-purpose satellite networks. Unlike behemoths like Starlink, Fossa's nanosatellites weigh under 6 kilograms, a stark contrast to Starlink's units that range from 800 to 1,250 kilograms. These compact satellites are designed for ultra-efficient transmission of small data packets, ideal for critical, short messages from IoT sensors. This approach promises a dedicated and cost-effective solution for expanding connectivity across diverse industrial and agricultural applications.