PRESS RELEASE
Hanover, February 11, 2026 – INLEAP Photonics is positioning itself as a new German defense tech company for laser-based drone defense. With INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD, the company is launching a market-ready, eye-safe and cost-effective solution to reliably protect people, critical infrastructure, urban spaces and security-relevant facilities from drones. The technology addresses one of the most pressing physical threats to society, the economy and the state’s ability to act in Germany and Europe.
INLEAP Photonics is further developing its industrial high-precision technology for safety-critical application scenarios: INLEAP Photonics’ INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® technology directs laser beams up to 2500x faster than conventional solutions: This allows industrial laser-based production processes, such as in additive manufacturing and battery cell production, to be significantly accelerated. Based on this high-precision technology, the technology has been continuously developed into a laser-based overall system that enables safe, reliable and effective drone defense.
With INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD, the company is addressing a growth market and closing a security-critical capability gap: The high-precision and ultra-fast laser neutralizes drones within fractions of a second at identified weak points. The system is mobile, requires no ammunition and can protect people, equipment and critical infrastructure.
A financing round successfully completed last year under the leadership of High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) confirms the high market and trust potential of the solution. The financing round enables INLEAP Photonics to further advance its scaling and market entry in the defense and security environment. Ventis Capital and several private investors also participated in the round.
Dr. Marius Lammers, Chief Executive Officer of INLEAP Photonics: “The security policy and technical framework conditions are challenging: drones are available at comparatively low cost and are powerful flying objects that can be used for espionage and as weapons or can cause damage to infrastructure such as power grids or disrupt air traffic. Effective drone defense is therefore essential for the protection of people and critical infrastructure. Our technology solves key operational challenges: Operation is eye-safe, the system is mobile thanks to its compact dimensions and is also cost-effective – perfect for use in urban and hard-to-access areas.”
Drone defense thanks to ultra-fast laser beam
INLEAP Photonics, which was awarded the 2024 Lower Saxony Innovation Prize in the “Key Technologies” category for its industrial innovation, uses its laser expertise specifically for safety-critical applications: INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD uses innovative laser beam steering to render drones harmless efficiently, reliably and safely. A pinpoint, extremely small spot of light with high energy hits the drone at a weak point that was previously identified using AI-based analysis.
Dr. Felix Wellmann, Chief Technology Officer of INLEAP Photonics: “The completed financing round marks an important milestone for us. Our strength lies in extremely fast and precise laser beam guidance, even when the environment is challenging and adverse. These properties are crucial for neutralizing drones in a controlled and efficient manner without risking the environment. The investments allow us to implement industrial scaling and integration into operational deployment scenarios.”
Dr. Koen Geurts, Senior Investment Manager at HTGF: “We at High-Tech Gründerfonds see INLEAP Photonics as a company with clear technological differentiation. INLEAP Photonics combines industrial laser expertise with a highly topical field of application. With its solution, the team is addressing a rapidly growing market and is pursuing a technologically sound and scalable approach.”
INLEAP Photonics is preparing the next phase of growth to further accelerate international scaling. In parallel, INLEAP Photonics continues to expand its team and plans to hire additional specialists in the coming months.
About INLEAP Photonics
INLEAP Photonics is a German high-tech company that produces and sells ultra-fast and precise laser beam guidance systems. The company develops and industrializes powerful laser technology for two fields of application: increasing efficiency and productivity in industrial manufacturing and the safe protection of people and critical infrastructure from drones.
INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® SHIELD is a laser-based solution for controlled and eye-safe drone defense based on the industry-proven INLEAP® FASTLIGHT® technology. It can also be used in sensitive and urban environments – reliably, precisely and without collateral damage.
INLEAP Photonics was founded as a spin-off from the Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V. and combines in-depth expertise in the field of optics and laser system technology with industrial robustness. The company is aimed at industrial users, public clients and security-relevant organizations in Europe. Further information can be found at: www.inleap-photonics.com.
About the HTGF – High-Tech Gründerfonds
HTGF is one of the leading and most active early-stage investors in Germany and Europe, financing start-ups in the fields of deep tech, industrial tech, climate tech, digital tech, life sciences and chemicals. With its experienced investment team, HTGF supports startups in all phases of their development into international market leaders. HTGF invests in the pre-seed and seed phase and can make significant investments in further financing rounds. Since its foundation in 2005, it has financed around 800 start-ups and realized 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. Further information can be found at HTGF.de or on LinkedIn.
About Ventis Capital
Ventis Capital is a venture capital fund based in Germany and supported by a family of entrepreneurs, which invests in early-stage, technology-driven companies. The focus is on founding teams that address specific industrial, social or economic challenges with innovative technologies. Ventis Capital accompanies its portfolio companies over the long term and supports them not only with capital but also with strategic and entrepreneurial expertise in the development and scaling of sustainable business models.
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