INLEAP Photonics raises €20M to expand laser counter-drone systems

German deeptech
company INLEAP Photonics has raised approximately €20 million in seed funding
to scale its laser-based counter-drone technology for defence and critical
infrastructure applications. The round was led by UVC Partners, with
participation from HTGF in Germany, Poland’s Balnord, Estonia’s Sentris and
Denmark’s Scale Capital.

INLEAP Photonics
develops high-precision, ultra-fast laser beam steering systems for
neutralising unmanned aerial vehicles. Its technology is being developed for
both military applications and the protection of civilian and critical
infrastructure, including airports, energy facilities and data centres.

The company is
developing its systems as demand for counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS)
increases amid the growing use of drones and concerns over the risks they pose
to defence and civilian sites.

INLEAP Photonics is
working with customers and partners including the German Federal Ministry of
Defence and the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub. The company has also entered
into a strategic partnership with German defence technology company STARK Defence.

According to Marius Lammers, founder and CEO of INLEAP Photonics, the company is seeing increased
demand for its technology and will use the financing to expand its
manufacturing and delivery capacity.

Our technology has
reached the market and we are seeing strong order intake. We are now investing
in manufacturing, quality assurance, sales and service to meet demand and
deliver our systems at greater scale,

said Lammers.

The funding will be
used to expand production and testing capacity, further develop the company’s
core laser technology and grow its sales, customer support and service
operations in Germany and other European markets. INLEAP Photonics also plans
to invest in quality assurance and certification processes for deployment in
industrial and security-critical environments, while continuing to expand its
team.