INLEAP Photonics, a German deep-tech company developing laser-based counter-drone systems, has secured approximately €20 million in Seed funding led by UVC Partners. HTGF, Balnord, Sentris and Scale Capital also participated in the round, supporting expansion of production, technology development and European market presence.
Scaling Laser-Based Drone Defence
INLEAP Photonics develops laser systems designed to protect military sites and critical infrastructure from unmanned aerial vehicles. Customers and partners include the German Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr Cyber Innovation Hub, alongside a strategic partnership with STARK Defence.
“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,” says Dr.-Ing. Marius Lammers, CEO and founder of INLEAP Photonics. “We will establish INLEAP Photonics as a leading European provider of laser effectors.”
“Drone defence is no longer a purely military issue. Airports, energy facilities and data centres require the same level of protection as defence installations. INLEAP Photonics is the only team whose technology meets the requirements of both environments: eye-safe for civilian use and robust enough for deployment in conflict zones. For us, this dual-use capability is the key lever for scaling,” says Amanda Birkenholz, Partner at UVC Partners.
Expanding Production and Development
The new capital will support series production, research and development, quality assurance, certifications, sales and customer service. Additional locations are planned across Germany and other European markets.
“Moving into series production requires more than simply adding capacity. Every unit must be manufactured, tested and accepted under the same defined conditions. This is why we are investing in standardised assembly and testing processes, rigorous quality assurance and reliable supply chains,” says Dr.-Ing. Felix Wellmann, CTO and founder of INLEAP Photonics.
Developing Counter-Drone Systems
INLEAP Photonics’ FASTLIGHT SHIELD is designed to neutralise drones by directing a laser at identified weak points, with an eye-safe operating principle intended to support deployment in civilian and safety-critical environments.
The FASTLIGHT HELD system extends the technology to mobile counter-drone operations by combining a laser effector with an all-terrain unmanned ground vehicle and C-UAS software platform. The Seed financing will support further development and scaling of both product lines.