How a Cranfield Spinout is Pioneering In-Orbit Biotech

In this edition of our In Conversation series, we sat down with Dr Aqeel Shamsul, Co-founder and CEO of Frontier Space, a Cranfield University spinout breaking new ground at the intersection of biotech, microgravity, and space commercialisation. 

Frontier Space is developing platform technology to enable in-orbit biomanufacturing and space-based R&D — worrk that culminated in the successful launch of its SpaceLab Mark 1 demonstrator aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-3 mission, part of a high-profile UK Space Agency project.

Innovation with a Mission

With two space missions already completed and plans to expand product lines, the team is showing just how far Earth-based problems can be tackled with out-of-this-world thinking.

One of the most compelling applications is in cell culture. In microgravity, cells grow in three dimensions, unlike the flattened structures typical of Earth-based lab environments. This more realistic growth pattern closely mimics how tissues form in the human body, offering better models for drug testing and development. 

“Cancer tumours, for example, grow much better in 3D in microgravity,” Aqeel explained. “On Earth, gravity pulls them down and flattens the shape. But in space, you get more natural organisation — and that gives us a better picture for drug development.”

For Aqeel, the impact isn’t just technical — it’s deeply personal:

That drive to create meaningful, real-world outcomes is at the heart of Frontier Space’s mission. “Our long-term goal at Frontier Space is really trying to connect this Earth and the space market — not just for us but for future generations as well.”

The Challenge: Commercialising Space

Despite the potential, Aqeel is clear that science alone isn’t enough.

“The science isn't the barrier — the challenge is the economics,” he said. “None of this is covered in an MBA. We're having to navigate and create the playbook ourselves.”

From reducing cost-per-vial to educating customers unfamiliar with space-based science, commercialising biotech in orbit is a complex journey. But Frontier Space is finding ways forward, helped with support from organisations like Grand Scale.

“We’ve spent the last two years talking to customers. The two biggest barriers are cost and knowledge. We're working on both — from developing more affordable products to educating potential partners before they even book a call.”

“When you're pipetting a sample in a biology lab, you don’t think about what would happen if I turned gravity off,” Aqeel said. “And what we need to do as a company is really try to educate around that piece — even though this could take a while.”

Finding the Pathway: Kickstart and Commercial Focus

It was against this backdrop, a technically ambitious company navigating a commercially unfamiliar landscape, that Aqeel and his team joined the Grand Scale Kickstart programme.

For Aqeel and his team, Kickstart was more than just structure, it gave them the confidence to pursue a clear commercialisation route. By breaking down the complexities of market entry into practical steps, the programme helped the team build the skills needed to speak the language of investors and potential partners. 

“Kickstart really upskilled us,” Aqeel reflected. 

That was especially important for a bootstrapped company like Frontier Space. “We don’t have a lot of resources,” Aqeel said. “Kickstart helped us focus our energy and maximise return on investment.”

“It made us confident in how we talk about our business, our value proposition, and our route to market. That preparation is critical as we now look ahead to raising investment.”

Lessons for Other Founders

To other science-led or deep tech founders, Aqeel has simple advice: be strategic, be empathetic — and don’t give up.

“It’s expensive to develop one product,” he shared. “So you have to be strategic.”

At Frontier Space, that strategy is grounded in empathy — understanding the world of the customer and where they’re coming from.

“Put yourself in the other person’s shoes… Understand their journey, how they operate, where their margins are. That’s how you figure out where you can really add value.”

Having grown from a small founding team to a company with ten employees, Aqeel also reflected on how scale changes your thinking.

And if there’s one message he’d pass on to fellow founders? “Just keep going.”

The Bigger Picture

Ventures like Frontier Space demonstrate the importance — and return — of backing science-led entrepreneurship. The path to impact isn’t just about breakthrough ideas; it’s about equipping founders with the commercial tools and confidence to turn those ideas into ventures that scale.

For organisations looking to leverage space to accelerate biotech breakthroughs, visit the Frontier Space website: www.frontier-space.co.uk.

Explore the Frontier Space commercialisation journey

In our latest case study, we go deeper into the commercial challenges Frontier Space faced, how they addressed critical sales and marketing gaps, and the measurable impact this had on their path to market.