Hannover-based INLEAP Photonics has secured pre-seed funding following the completion of its first financing round in summer 2025. The round was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), with participation from Ventis Capital and additional private investors.
The capital will support the scaling of INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD, a laser-based counter-drone system that has already undergone successful testing and is designed to reduce response times to airborne threats to fractions of a second.
Addressing A Growing Drone Threat
Drones have become an increasingly significant operational risk. They are widely available, low-cost, versatile, and difficult to neutralise in many real-world scenarios. Critical infrastructure operators, public authorities, and armed forces require systems capable of reacting within seconds, maintaining precision, operating repeatedly, and functioning reliably even in complex environments.
INLEAP Photonics adapts technology originally developed for high-speed industrial laser applications to meet these defence requirements.
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From Industrial Laser Precision To Defence Capability
The company’s core platform, INLEAP® FASTLIGHT®, was initially developed for ultra-fast laser processes such as additive manufacturing and battery cell production. It enables highly precise and extremely rapid laser beam steering.
Building on this foundation, INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD applies targeted laser energy to specific structural weak points of drones within extremely short timeframes. The system is designed for mobile deployment and repeated operation, with a focus on precision and controlled engagement.
INLEAP Photonics has completed development and initial testing of its first system and is now expanding operational parameters and performance capabilities in preparation for broader deployment.
Dr.-Ing. Marius Lammers, CEO of INLEAP Photonics, stated:
We are responding to asymmetric drone threats with technological superiority. The current security landscape leaves no room for slow solutions. Our system bridges the time gap between detection and neutralisation. This funding allows us to move decisively toward operational readiness and provide sovereign defence capabilities against airborne threats.
Dr.-Ing. Felix Wellmann, CTO of INLEAP Photonics, added:
Our industrial background enables laser beam steering speeds that existing systems cannot match. The prototype has shown that agile targets can be intercepted within milliseconds. We are now translating that precision into a scalable system capable of protecting critical infrastructure and military facilities.
Dr. Koen Geurts, Senior Investment Manager at High-Tech Gründerfonds, commented:
INLEAP operates at the intersection of deep tech and defence, addressing a highly relevant future market. Laser effectors for counter-drone and air defence are a rapidly growing segment with limited competition. The company’s technological performance is exceptional, and its ambition to become a global leader in laser-based C-UAS is clear.
Scaling Toward Operational Deployment
Following successful technical validation, INLEAP Photonics is now focused on operational scaling. This includes expanding performance classes, conducting further real-world validation scenarios, and integrating the system into existing security architectures.
About INLEAP Photonics
INLEAP Photonics is a German high-tech company specialising in ultra-fast and highly precise laser beam steering systems. The company develops and industrialises advanced laser technologies for two primary applications: increasing efficiency in industrial manufacturing and enabling controlled, laser-based drone defence to protect people and critical infrastructure.
INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD is based on the company’s proven industrial FASTLIGHT® technology and is designed as an eye-safe, laser-based solution for controlled drone neutralisation. The system is engineered for use in sensitive and urban environments, prioritising precision and minimising collateral damage.
Founded as a spin-off from Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V., INLEAP Photonics combines deep expertise in optics and laser systems engineering with industrial-grade robustness, serving industrial, public-sector, and security-focused clients across Europe.
