Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Aerospace
LUNA -2025
Young Innovators from Different Countries to Present Game-Changing
Space Startups at the LUNA 2025 Finals
LUNA International Competition for Space Entrepreneurship 2025 – Official Results Announcement
On June 11, 2025, the final event of the LUNA International Competition for Space Entrepreneurship took place at the Czech Technical University in Prague, featuring outstanding space-tech ventures developed by students from Israel, Ukraine, Nigeria, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.
Organized by Out of the Box Aerospace, under the umbrella of its global Science Accelerator program, the competition marked the culmination of an intensive eight-month process of innovation, interdisciplinary teamwork, and international collaboration. Participants, aged 14–18, worked in mixed-nationality teams to develop dual-use technologies — solutions designed to support both space exploration and pressing challenges on Earth.
“Each year, we face complex and unpredictable realities that impact our students — from infrastructure gaps to active war zones,” said Vered Cohen Barzilay, founder and CEO of Out of the Box Aerospace.
“This year, participants from Israel and Ukraine continued developing their projects under extreme conditions, including daily missile threats, displacement, and prolonged exposure to crisis. And yet — they reached extraordinary levels of performance.”
Throughout the program, students were supported by expert mentors in science, engineering, business, and design, and guided by specially trained educators using a future-oriented pedagogical model. Many of the projects presented were startup-ready and integrated advanced AI tools and systems-thinking frameworks.
The final stage of the competition consisted of:
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Submission of a one-pager and marketing video
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A live MVP (Minimum Viable Product) booth demonstration
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An 8-minute pitch delivered before an international panel of judges, including representatives from NASA Ames, CzechInvest, and other leading organizations in space and innovation
Official Award Winners – LUNA 2025
🥇 First Place Award: Green Helmet
🥈 Second Place Award: Huggiverse
🥉 Third Place Award: Freezehouse
Best Israeli Project: Graveflex
Audience Choice Awards: Pollibee & Magic Box
Breakthrough of the Year: LASAR
The LUNA 2025 Final Jury:
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Dr. Jacob Cohen – Chief Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
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Ms. Marie Němečková – Director of the Space Hub at CzechInvest, member of the Czech Space Team
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Mr. Jakub Lajmon – Co-Founder & CEO of Groundcom, serial entrepreneur in aerospace and tech
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Mr. Jakub Kapuš – CEO & Founder, Spacemanic
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Ms. Zemmourt Vanessa – Business Partner & Innovation Consultant
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Dr. Roy Yaniv – Director, Global Aerospace Academy (GAA), Sheba Medical Center
Preparing Youth to Solve Tomorrow’s Challenges
The LUNA competition places a strong emphasis on dual-use innovation, urging students to create technologies relevant for both lunar and Martian exploration as well as Earth-based applications in fields like agriculture, health, and sustainability.
This year also marks the launch of the Global Aerospace Academy (GAA), in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), offering academic training for youth aged 16–25 who aim to lead the next generation of aerospace ventures.
“This generation isn’t waiting for permission to lead,” says Cohen Barzilay. “They’re already designing the future—with purpose, skill, and vision.”
Competition Videoclip
🛰️ LUNA 2025 Finalist Projects
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POLLIBEE (Israel) – An autonomous AI-based pollination system for both Earth and space agriculture, replacing bees and human labor in zero-gravity environments.
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GreenHelmet (Israel) – Transforms astronaut helmets into mushroom-growing bio-domes, promoting astronaut health and sustainable life-support systems.
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Do Space (Czech Republic) – A hands-on satellite education initiative bringing real satellite signal access into classrooms using affordable antennas and learning tools.
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Assist (Israel) – AI-powered seismic analysis for Mars, supporting safe site selection and mapping potential future habitats using NASA InSight data.
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Huggyverse (Israel) – A sensory emotional-support pod simulating hugs through haptics, scent, and sound to reduce stress and isolation in space.
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GravFlex (Israel + Nigeria) – A wearable resistance and EMS-based suit combating muscle loss in zero gravity — also supporting physical therapy on Earth.
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Magic Box (Turkey) – A smart life-support module integrating wireless energy, thermal power generation, and UV-C air purification for deep-space habitats.
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Freezehouse (Israel) – A Martian underground greenhouse using ice-rich soil in Arcadia Planitia to protect crops and ensure food for settlers.
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One for All (Israel) – A multifunctional eating tool for astronauts, combining AI-based food analysis, sensory enhancement, and foldable design.