INLEAP Photonics

Summary active Updated Sep 1, 2026

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Location Germany
Founded 2023
Latest Stage Seed (2026-09)
Total Raised €20M (Seed, 2026)
Website https://inleap-photonics.com
Sector
defense deeptech photonics counter-uas hardware

Founders

Marius Lammers Co-Founder & CEO
Felix Wellmann Co-Founder & CTO
Katharina Haas Co-Founder
Frank Feldkeller Co-Founder

About

INLEAP Photonics is a German deep-tech defense company that builds laser-based counter-drone systems, including the FASTLIGHT SHIELD (an eye-safe stationary drone defence system) and FASTLIGHT HELD (a mobile laser-based counter-UAS platform) 123. The company collaborates with the German Federal Ministry of Defense and the Bundeswehr’s Cyber Innovation Hub, and maintains a strategic partnership with STARK Defence 12.

On September 1, 2026, INLEAP Photonics announced a €20 million seed round led by UVC Partners, with participation from HTGF (Germany), Balnord (Poland), Sentris (Estonia), and Scale Capital (Denmark) 123. The capital will be used to expand manufacturing and testing capacity, accelerate the transition to series production, and grow European sales and service operations 13.

Disclaimer: This is a lean profile built from initial round coverage and may be expanded as more information becomes available.

Funding History

Date Round Amount Lead Co-investors
2026-09-01 Seed €20M UVC Partners HTGF, Balnord, Sentris, Scale Capital 123

What Investors Say

No independently sourced investor quotes available at this time.

What Founders Say

CEO Marius Lammers on the round: “We are now investing in manufacturing, quality assurance, sales and service to meet demand and deliver our systems at greater scale.” 3

Sources

  1. EU-Startups, “Drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport underscores threat as INLEAP Photonics raises €20 million for drone defence,” September 1, 2026, accessed September 2026. https://www.eu-startups.com/2026/09/drone-attack-at-leipzig-halle-airport-underscores-threat-as-inleap-photonics-raises-e20-million-for-drone-defence/↩↩↩↩↩

  2. Startbase, “INLEAP Photonics Secures 20 Million Euros for Laser-Based Drone Defense,” September 2026, accessed September 2026. https://www.startbase.com/news/inleap-photonics-sichert-sich-20-millionen-euro-fuer-laserbasierte-drohnenabwehr↩↩↩↩

  3. HTGF, “INLEAP Photonics raises €20 million to scale laser-based drone defence,” September 2026, accessed September 2026. https://www.htgf.de/en/inleap-photonics-financing/↩↩↩↩↩