Funding Round attributes
Cailabs, a deep-tech company specializing in advanced photonics, announced on September 12, 2025, that it has secured €57 million in new financing. This structured funding round aims to accelerate the company’s industrial expansion and global growth, particularly in the space, industry, telecommunications, and defense sectors. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the World Space Business Week in Paris.
The €57 million financing package comprises a €37 million contribution from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a €20 million investment from a consortium of other entities. These investors include Definvest and Fonds Innovation Defense, jointly supported by the Armed Forces ministry and Bpifrance, alongside NewSpace Capital, the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, Starquest Capital, and CAIVE (Crédit Agricole Ille-et-Vilaine Expansion).
The proceeds from this financing are earmarked to support Cailabs’ strategic roadmap across several key areas. A significant portion will be dedicated to scaling up production capabilities and strengthening its supply chain. Cailabs has set an ambitious goal of producing up to 50 Optical Ground Stations (OGS) annually by 2027, building on its recently established industrial platform designed to assemble and validate up to five stations concurrently. The company already has over 10 OGS under contract, indicating increasing economic maturity.
In addition to production scale-up, the funding will facilitate the expansion of Cailabs’ international footprint. This effort follows recent milestones, such as the opening of a larger U.S. office, an announcement made by the Governor of Virginia, and the securing of large overseas contracts. Furthermore, the investment will support the advancement of Cailabs’ product offerings, which include the development of turnkey 100+Gbps solutions, transportable Optical Ground Stations, and expanded orbit options for their laser communications technologies.
Jean-François Morizur, Co-founder and CEO of Cailabs, commented on the funding round, stating, "This funding round reflects our solid fundamentals and the confidence investors have in our strategic vision. It enables us to scale up industrial capabilities and prepare for the next stage of growth."
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President at the European Investment Bank, highlighted the strategic importance of space technologies for both civilian and security/defense applications. He noted that the EIB’s support for Cailabs’ investments in manufacturing capabilities and R&D aligns with the bank's strategic priorities for security and defense and technological innovation under its TechEU programme.
Nicolas Berdou, Director of Investments for Fonds Innovation Defense & Definvest, emphasized the strategic importance of Cailabs’ solutions for France’s sovereignty in Defense and Space. Daniel Biedermann, Partner at NewSpace Capital, expressed excitement to support Cailabs’ expansion during a pivotal moment for optical communications, recognizing its growing impact on mission-critical applications. Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, underscored the importance of supporting disruptive innovators like Cailabs to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in deep tech. Arnaud Delattre, Founding Partner & CEO of Starquest Capital, noted Cailabs’ decisive technological disruption in the Spacetech industry and its success in the US market.
Cailabs, founded in 2013 with offices in France and the United States, is a global specialist in laser communication. The company utilizes atmospheric turbulence compensation technology to enable fast, reliable, and low-latency data links across space and terrestrial networks, positioning it as a leader in the field.
