French optical communication systems provider Cailabs has secured €57 million in new funding that it will use to scale production of its optical ground stations.
Founded in 2013, Cailabs offers a range of laser-based solutions for a wide range of terrestrial and space applications. Among these is an off-the-shelf optical ground station that is designed to enable communications between satellites and the ground.
On 12 September, the company announced that it had secured €57 million in funding, comprising €37 million in financing from the European Investment Bank and a €20 million investment from Fonds Innovation Défense, Definvest, the European Innovation Council Fund, NewSpace Capital, Starquest Capital, and Crédit Agricole Ille-et-Vilaine Expansion (CAIVE).
Cailabs currently has a contracted backlog of ten optical ground stations and plans to use the new funding to scale production to as many as 50 units per year by 2027. The company added that it has recently implemented a new industrial platform capable of assembling and validating up to five ground stations at once.
“This funding round reflects our solid fundamentals and the confidence investors have in our strategic vision,” said Cailabs CEO Jean-François Morizur. “It enables us to scale up industrial capabilities and prepare for the next stage of growth.”
In addition to scaling up ground station production, the new funding will support the company’s expansion into new markets and the development of new products, including turnkey 100+ Gbps solutions and transportable optical ground stations.
Prior to its most recent funding, the company last raised capital in December 2022, closing a €26 million Series C round. At the time, CEO Jean-François Morizur said the investment would support its goal of becoming the “market leader in optical ground stations.”
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