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

German deep-tech company INLEAP Photonics has secured €20 million in seed funding to expand its laser-based counter-drone technology for defense and critical infrastructure applications. The investment round was led by UVC Partners, with participation from HTGF (Germany), Poland's Balnord, Estonia's Sentris, and Denmark's Scale Capital.

The company develops high-precision, ultra-fast laser beam steering systems designed to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). INLEAP Photonics' technology is being developed for both military applications and to protect civilian and critical infrastructure, such as airports, energy facilities, and data centers. The increasing use of drones and concerns about their potential risks have led to a growing demand for counter-drone systems (C-UAS).

INLEAP Photonics is collaborating with customers and partners, including Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, and the defense technology company STARK Defence. INLEAP Photonics' founder and CEO, Marius Lammers, stated that the company is experiencing increased demand for its technology and plans to use the funding to expand its manufacturing, delivery capacity, and support operations in Germany and other European markets.

The financing will also be used to further develop the company's core laser technology, grow its sales and service operations, and invest in quality assurance and certification processes for deployment in security-critical environments.