Vilnius-based space-tech startup Astrolight has secured €2.8 million in seed funding to advance its laser-based communication platform linking satellites and ground infrastructure. The round was led by Balnord with participation from EIFO, Coinvest Capital, NGL Ventures, and Rita Sakus. Astrolight is developing an optical communication system capable of supporting both space-to-space and space-to-Earth links, addressing limitations in current radio frequency-based systems. The company plans to use the funds to deploy its first optical ground station and test a hybrid terminal designed for satellite and terrestrial integration.
Astrolight is developing a dual-use communication architecture that can handle both space-to-space and space-to-ground optical links. The company’s goal is to offer optical communication as a service, connecting Astrolight’s and other providers’ optical terminals with its own ground infrastructure.
“Our long-term vision is to create the optical backbone network for space,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO and co-founder of Astrolight. “The amount of satellites and constellations is growing exponentially, but there’s still no scalable, secure way to consistently bring that data back to Earth. With laser communication, we’re closing that gap.”
Mačiulis revealed the future plans, which include deployment of the first operational optical ground station and demonstration of a hybrid space-to-ground and space-to-space optical terminal, which would be based on the company’s existing ATLAS-1 modular design.
“We are incredibly excited to lead this investment round in Astrolight. We believe their experienced team has developed a truly groundbreaking optical communication technology that is essential to solving the rapidly approaching data bottleneck in space. Their high-speed, jam-resistant solutions are not only critical for the growing satellite market but also represent the kind of frontier innovation that will define the next generation of space infrastructure,” shared Jarek Pilarczyk, Operating Partner at Balnord.
Earlier this year, Astrolight launched a Danish subsidiary to strengthen collaboration across the Nordics and deliver secure laser communication solutions for space assets in the Arctic region. This made Astrolight a both strategically important and also an obvious investment opportunity for EIFO (The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark.)
“This is a strategically important investment in a company whose technology plays a vital role in strengthening European space capabilities and resilience. Ground station in the Arctic is a milestone that EIFO is pleased to support as an investor, particularly given the region’s strategic importance to Denmark and EIFO,” said Louise Flyger, Investment Manager at EIFO.
Viktorija Trimbel, Managing Director at Coinvest Capital, added: “Our investment in Astrolight reflects our strong belief in the company’s potential to become a global leader in laser communication technologies. The team has demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, a clear vision, and the ability to execute in a highly demanding deep-tech space. We are proud to support their journey as they revolutionize secure data transmission in space and beyond.”
While many players in the space sector focus solely on laser communication between satellites, Astrolight has been targeting the missing link between space and Earth since its establishment.
“The infrastructure we’re building is not just a technical solution – it’s a way to fill the operational gap in how modern space systems communicate,” Dalius Petrulionis, CTO of Astrolight, added. “They’re using radio frequencies now, but the RF spectrum is limited, with only about 20% of space-generated data retrievable. Laser links offer higher data rates, exceptional security, but most importantly, they can scale the bandwidth.”
According to Goldman Sachs Research, more than 70,000 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are expected to launch in the next 5 years. Along with these constellations, the demand for space-to-ground connectivity is increasing. Lasercom is becoming a competitive option to RF, providing more robust links and up to 100 times faster data rates.
“We heard from customers and partners that a complete solution is what’s missing,” Mačiulis said. “There’s no end-to-end experience – terminals, satellites, and ground infrastructure working as one.”
Astrolight’s upgraded platform will allow for greater flexibility in integrating with existing satellite systems and will support on-demand laser communication links, including inter-satellite relays and direct-to-Earth downlinks.
The team emphasizes that it does not aim to compete with other constellations or networks but rather to integrate as a complementary infrastructure layer.
“Just like everyone uses the internet today without thinking about the cables beneath us, we believe laser communication will become the invisible optical backbone for the next generation of space connectivity,” Mačiulis said. “It’s not about replacing existing infrastructure, but rather about enabling what comes next.”
Astrolight has been previously selected for NATO’s DIANA program, placing itself among the top 3% of NATO’s dual-use start-ups. It has participated in Seraphim Space and CASSINI accelerators, and has already established commercial contracts such as CAILABS, projects with the Lithuanian Navy, ESA programs, and more. This seed round is expected to accelerate both technical validation and international partnerships, positioning Astrolight as a leading European player in satellite communications.
“I am incredibly grateful for the passion and belief the entire Astrolight team has shown. Where we are today – and what we’ve achieved – is all thanks to their dedication. I also sincerely thank our existing and new investors for believing in our vision,” Mačiulis concluded.
Investors highlighted the importance of the Baltic Sea region’s position in the emerging space economy. With extensive experience in frontier technologies and a dedicated focus on space and dual-use applications, Balnord has demonstrated its commitment to the sector through investments in companies like ATMOS Space Cargo and Satim. The firm’s deep industry knowledge and regional network will provide Astrolight with valuable resources beyond capital as they scale their operations.
“Astrolight represents the type of strategic investment that Europe needs – leveraging our region’s technical excellence to build sovereign capabilities in critical infrastructure. As space becomes increasingly contested, secure communication technologies developed here in the Baltic Sea Region will be vital not only commercially but for Europe’s technological independence. This team has the rare combination of deep technical expertise and clear market vision needed to succeed in this challenging sector,” said Marcin P. Kowalik, General Partner at Balnord.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/astrolight-raises-e2-8-million-seed/
