Lithuanian space communications startup Astrolight has raised €2.8 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its laser-based communication systems designed to connect satellites with Earth through an end-to-end optical data highway. The funding round was led by frontier tech investor Balnord and included contributions from EIFO (The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), Coinvest Capital, and existing investors Rita Sakus and 3NGLS.
Astrolight is developing a dual-purpose optical communication architecture to enable both space-to-ground and inter-satellite links. Using its proprietary ATLAS-1 modular optical terminals and dedicated ground infrastructure, the company aims to offer laser communication as a service, delivering secure and scalable data transmission capabilities.
Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO and co-founder of Astrolight, emphasized the company’s mission to create the optical backbone of space. As satellite deployments grow rapidly, he noted that current radio frequency-based systems are increasingly inadequate, retrieving only about 20% of the data generated in orbit due to limited bandwidth. Laser communication, or Lasercom, offers higher speeds, improved security, and dramatically increased data capacity.
The new funding will support the deployment of Astrolight’s first operational optical ground station and the demonstration of a hybrid terminal capable of both space-to-space and space-to-ground communication. These systems are intended to complement existing satellite networks, not replace them, providing interoperability and enhancing overall connectivity.
The investment also marks a broader commitment to deep tech and space infrastructure innovation. Jarek Pilarczyk, operating partner at Balnord, described Astrolight’s technology as essential for solving the looming space data bottleneck and enabling the future of high-speed space communications.
Laser Communication Technology
In early 2024, Astrolight opened a Danish subsidiary to focus on Arctic operations, a move that attracted EIFO’s support. EIFO investment manager Louise Flyger cited the region’s strategic importance and Astrolight’s relevance in enhancing European space capabilities as key reasons for their participation.
Coinvest Capital’s managing director, Viktorija Trimbel, highlighted the team’s strong technical background and commercial vision. She emphasized the company’s potential to become a global leader in laser communication technology, especially as demand for secure and high-speed satellite data transmission continues to grow.
Astrolight is among the top 3% of NATO dual-use startups and is a participant in the DIANA program. It has also taken part in leading accelerators such as Seraphim Space and CASSINI, and secured commercial and defense contracts with organizations including CAILABS, the Lithuanian Navy, and the European Space Agency.
With over 70,000 low Earth orbit satellites expected to launch over the next five years, the demand for advanced space communication infrastructure is intensifying. Astrolight aims to meet this need with its laser communication technology, which offers 100 times the data rate of traditional RF systems.
By providing on-demand laser links, supporting integration with existing satellite systems, and building a flexible, end-to-end platform, Astrolight is positioning itself as a key enabler of the next generation of space connectivity.
