INLEAP Photonics Secures Pre-Seed Funding to Develop Laser-Based Counter-Drone System for Defence and Critical Infrastructure

Tech company INLEAP Photonics is emerging from stealth mode following the completion of its pre-seed funding 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 be used to scale INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD, a laser-based defence system that has already been successfully tested and reduces response times to asymmetric threats to mere fractions of a second. 

Laser-based response to a real security challenge 

Drones have become an operational risk: rapidly available, low-cost, versatile, and difficult to stop in many scenarios. Operators of critical infrastructure, authorities and armed forces require capabilities that act within seconds, remain precise, can be deployed repeatedly, and operate responsibly even in challenging environments. INLEAP Photonics addresses this gap with technology originating from high-speed industrial applications and adapted for defence applications.

Proven technology as the foundation for FASTLIGHT® SHIELD 

INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® – originally developed for high-speed laser processes such as Additive Manufacturing and battery cell production – enables ultra-fast and ultra-precise laser beam steering. 

INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD builds on this industrially validated platform: 
a laser-based defence system that neutralises drones by applying highly targeted energy to identified weak points – within extremely short time windows, deployable in mobile setups and designed for repeated operations. 

INLEAP Photonics has successfully developed and tested the first system and is now expanding its operational and performance parameters for user deployment.

Dr.-Ing. Marius Lammers, CEO of INLEAP Photonics: 
“We counter the asymmetric drone threat with technological superiority. The current security situation leaves no room for slow solutions. Our system closes the temporal gap between detection and effect. With this funding, we have consistently advanced our prototype toward operational readiness and offer German industry and public-sector actors a sovereign defence capability against airborne threats.” 

Dr.-Ing. Felix Wellmann, CTO of INLEAP Photonics: 
“Our industrial expertise enables laser beam steering speeds that current systems cannot match. The prototype has demonstrated that we can intercept agile targets within milliseconds. We are now transferring this precision into a robust, scalable system that effectively protects critical infrastructure and military facilities.” 

Dr. Koen Geurts, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF: 
“INLEAP Photonics addresses a highly relevant future market at the intersection of deep tech and defence. Laser effectors for drone and air defence are a rapidly growing technology segment dominated by only a few players. INLEAP’s precision and performance are exceptional. The ambition is clear: INLEAP wants to become a global leader in laser-based C-UAS.” 

Following the successful demonstration of its core capability, INLEAP Photonics is now working on operational scaling. This includes expanding performance classes, validating the system in real deployment scenarios, and further developing system integration into existing security architectures.

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About INLEAP Photonics 
INLEAP Photonics is a German high-tech company that develops, manufactures and sells ultra-fast and highly precise laser beam steering systems. The company builds and industrialises high-performance laser technology for two key applications: increasing efficiency and productivity in industrial manufacturing, and enabling safe and controlled drone defence to protect people and critical infrastructure. 

Based on the industrially proven INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® technology, INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD has been developed as a laser-based solution for controlled and eye-safe drone defence. It enables deployment in sensitive and urban environments – reliably, precisely and without collateral damage. 

INLEAP Photonics was founded as a spin-off from Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V. and combines deep expertise in optics and laser systems engineering with industrial robustness. The company addresses industrial users, public-sector clients and security-relevant organisations across Europe. Further information is available at: www.inleap-photonics.com. 

About HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds  
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing startups in the fields of Deep Tech, Industrial Tech, Climate Tech, Digital Tech, Life Sciences and Chemistry. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in pre-seed and seed phases and can participate significantly in later-stage financing rounds. Since its inception in 2005, HTGF has financed around 800 startups and achieved 200 successful exits. HTGF has a fund volume of over 2 billion euros.  

Fund investors in the public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, KfW Capital as well as 45 companies and family offices.   
For more information, please visit HTGF.de or follow us on LinkedIn.    

About Ventis Capital
Ventis Capital is a venture capital fund backed by an entrepreneurial family, investing in early-stage, technology-driven companies. The fund focuses on founding teams that leverage innovative technologies to address tangible industrial, societal, or economic challenges. Ventis Capital serves as a long-term partner to its portfolio companies, providing both capital and strategic expertise to support the development and scaling of sustainable business models. 

Media contact 
Charlene Schmeck 
Senior Communications Consultant, PIABO Communications 
Tel.: +49 172 5672096 
Email: INLEAP-Photonics@piabo.net