Estonian Startup's Adhesive Tech Launches to International Space Station

geCKo Materials, founded by Capella Kerst, has developed an innovative adhesive product that will be tested aboard the International Space Station. The Estonian startup previously pitched at the Startup Battlefield stage and is now advancing its sticky technology for space applications.

geCKo Materials, an Estonian technology startup, has achieved a significant milestone by securing placement of its adhesive product on the International Space Station. Founded by Capella Kerst, the company has developed what it describes as a sticky product with potential applications across multiple industries, from aerospace to manufacturing.

The startup's journey from the competitive Startup Battlefield pitch stage to reaching orbital research represents a remarkable progression for early-stage Estonian tech ventures. This opportunity to test materials in microgravity conditions on the ISS provides invaluable data for optimizing adhesive performance in extreme environments and could open new market opportunities for the company.

Capella Kerst, speaking in an interview on Build Mode this week, discussed the development process and the significance of having geCKo Materials' technology selected for space station experiments. The selection underscores growing international recognition of Estonian technological innovation and the country's emerging role in the global space industry.

Testing adhesives in the microgravity environment of the ISS allows researchers to understand material behavior without gravity's influence, potentially leading to breakthroughs in bonding technologies for aerospace, electronics, and other sectors requiring extreme reliability. For geCKo Materials, this validates the company's technical approach and provides competitive advantages in a market increasingly focused on high-performance materials.

The company's participation in space-based research demonstrates how Estonian startups are expanding beyond traditional software and digital services into advanced materials science and hardware innovation, positioning the country as a diversifying hub for technological entrepreneurship.