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Based in Rennes, France, Cailabs designs and manufactures advanced photonic products utilizing Multi-Plane Light Conversion technology for space communications, industrial lasers, and telecommunications. The company provides turnkey optical ground stations that compensate for atmospheric turbulence, alongside laser processing tools, and has successfully upgraded more than 5,000 local area network links worldwide. Cailabs recently secured €57 million in a new funding round to significantly scale its manufacturing capacity, aiming to produce 50 optical ground stations annually by 2027. This recent capital injection was supported by prominent institutional and corporate investors, including the European Investment Bank, NewSpace Capital, and Safran. The enterprise serves various global sectors such as defense and energy, securing commercial contracts with major telecommunications and satellite operators like SES and KDDI. Cailabs was originally founded in 2013 by Jean-François Morizur and Pu Jian.
Cailabs has raised $27.0M across 1 funding round.
Cailabs has raised $27.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cailabs has raised $27.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Cailabs's investors include Innovacom.
Cailabs has raised $27.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $27.0M Series C in December 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2022 | $27M Series C | — | Innovacom | Announced |
Cailabs is a French deep-tech company founded in 2013 that develops and manufactures photonic solutions specializing in laser beam shaping for applications in space, defense, industry, and telecommunications[1][2][4]. It builds products like proprietary laser communication technology that mitigates atmospheric turbulence, enabling high-throughput, reliable data transmission between satellites and optical ground stations (OGS), as well as terrestrial links such as ship-to-ship or plane-to-drone, primarily serving aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors[1][3]. The company solves critical problems in precision optics, secure communications, and manufacturing processes by shaping laser light for faster, safer, and more reliable operations, with offices in France and the US, $44.23M total raised to date, and a recent €57M financing round in September 2025 led by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to scale OGS production and global expansion[1][3][5].
Cailabs emerged from advanced photonics research, founded in 2013 (with some sources noting 2012) in Rennes, France, by Jean-François Morizur (CEO) and Nicolas Treps (Founder & Scientific Advisor), leveraging expertise in laser light manipulation[1][5]. The idea stemmed from scientific breakthroughs in beam shaping to counter atmospheric turbulence, initially applied to fiber optics and industrial lasers before pivoting to high-demand areas like space communications[1][2][4]. Early traction came through 18 patents in optical devices, photonics, and fiber optics, incubator/accelerator support, and growth in defense and telecom, accelerated by the 2025 EIB-backed €57M round for industrial-scale facilities and R&D expansion[1][3][5].
Cailabs rides the space economy and laser communication boom, addressing surging demand for high-bandwidth satellite links amid mega-constellations like Starlink, where fiber-like speeds via free-space optics are essential[1][3][5]. Timing aligns with Europe's push for strategic autonomy in aerospace/defense, reducing non-EU supplier reliance through InvestEU-funded innovations in digitalization, security, and photonics[3]. Market forces like atmospheric challenges in OGS and defense needs (e.g., plane-to-drone) favor its turbulence-mitigation tech, influencing the ecosystem by enabling supply chain spillovers, workforce upskilling, and scalable ground infrastructure for global satellite operators[3].
Cailabs is poised for explosive growth post-€57M raise, with industrial OGS production ramping in 2026 to capture space/defense markets, alongside R&D for broader photonics apps[3][5]. Trends like proliferated LEO satellites, 6G telecom, and AI-driven manufacturing will amplify demand for its beam-shaping tech, potentially evolving it into a key enabler of Europe's space sovereignty[3]. Expect partnerships expansions (e.g., more SES-like tests) and US market penetration, solidifying its role from niche innovator to photonics powerhouse—shaping light to connect Earth to space[4][5].
