From a Dresden lecture hall to Silicon Valley: RATLOG at Y Combinator

The Dresden-based aerospace startup RATLOG was founded in 2025 by Charlie Weise, Paul Kunhart, Felix Kelm, and Matty Driesnack. Charlie and Paul are studying Aerospace Engineering at TU Dresden, Felix is studying Electrical Engineering, and Matty is studying Business Administration. As Chief Operating Officer, Matty is primarily responsible for the company’s commercial and operational activities—from establishing manufacturing and testing partnerships to fundraising, sales, and business development.

RATLOG is developing reusable heavy-lift rockets to create additional launch capacity for the rapidly growing space industry. Even today, some satellite companies have to wait several years for a launch slot. RATLOG is therefore relying on an innovative engine architecture that is designed to use up to 90 percent fewer components than conventional designs, which could enable significantly simpler and more cost-effective production.

Within just a few months, the team developed a first functional prototype and conducted a successful hot-fire test. In addition, RATLOG has already secured letters of intent from customers for future launch capacity. The team was supported in this endeavor in particular by Thomas Kirchner and the YETI Fellowship, a Dresden-based entrepreneurship school where Charlie and Matty first met.

In the fall of 2026, RATLOG was accepted into Y Combinator, one of the world’s best-known and most prestigious startup accelerators. “Two years ago, I first heard about Y Combinator in Prof. Dr. Schefczyk’s lecture on ‘Financing with Venture Capital.’ The fact that we’re now part of it ourselves is really something special,” says Matty. Currently, the four-person founding team is working in Silicon Valley to further develop the technology, acquire new customers, and prepare for the next round of funding.

The program culminates in Demo Day in December, when RATLOG will present itself to international investors.

Anyone who would like to learn more about RATLOG or get in touch with the team can reach Matty Driesnack by email at or follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matty-driesnack.