PAVE Space: Mapping the European Defense Market for the OTV
Ran independent market research to expand the OTV's addressable market into European defense, producing a TAM analysis used in investor pitches.
Divya Shah
Founder's Associate at PAVE Space SA
From their time as
Founder's Associate
PAVE Space SA • 2025 - 2026
Overview
At PAVE Space, the Optimal Transfer Vehicle was initially positioned as a commercial satellite product. Divya saw a broader opportunity and took the initiative to research whether the European defense sector represented a viable additional market.
The Story
At PAVE Space, the Optimal Transfer Vehicle was initially positioned as a commercial satellite product. Divya saw a broader opportunity and took the initiative to research whether the European defense sector represented a viable additional market.
She read through defense policy papers and procurement requirements across European governments, translating regulatory language into product specifications the OTV could plausibly meet. The work required moving between policy documents, technical specs, and market sizing frameworks.
She mapped the total addressable market for the OTV in European defense, producing an analysis that showed the market was materially larger than the commercial-only framing suggested. The output was used directly in investor pitches to expand the company's market narrative.
The expanded TAM framing contributed to a significant fundraise for the company, demonstrating that the OTV's market was not limited to commercial communications satellites.