1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator program is a pivotal initiative under the European Innovation Council (EIC), designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the European Union. This program aims to promote innovation and enhance the competitiveness of European businesses, especially in the DeepTech sector. The EIC Accelerator is structured to offer financial support in the form of blended finance, which combines grants and equity investments, thereby providing comprehensive funding solutions to facilitate the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator offers funding opportunities that consist of two primary components: grants and equity investments.

Purpose and Role in the Ecosystem

The overarching purpose of the EIC Accelerator is to foster innovation by supporting high-risk, high-reward projects that have the potential to disrupt markets and create new industries. The program is particularly focused on DeepTech, which encompasses advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. By funding these innovative projects, the EIC Accelerator plays a vital role in injecting dynamism into the European startup ecosystem.

The program not only helps companies scale their operations but also enhances their attractiveness to private investors. By providing initial funding, the EIC Accelerator reduces the perceived risk associated with innovative projects, making it easier for startups to secure further investments. This symbiotic relationship between public and private funding is essential for driving technological advancements and economic growth in Europe.

CAILABS and the CROCUS Project

One of the notable winners of the EIC Accelerator is CAILABS, a French company specializing in advanced optical technologies. CAILABS was awarded funding for its project, CROCUS (Coherent Rapid Optical Communication Under the Stratosphere), during the EIC Accelerator’s cut-off date on March 23, 2022.

Project Overview

CROCUS aims to revolutionize communication technologies by developing a coherent optical communication system designed for stratospheric applications. The project leverages cutting-edge optical technologies to enhance data transmission capabilities across vast distances, significantly improving bandwidth and speed. This innovation is poised to address the growing demands for high-capacity communication solutions, particularly in sectors such as telecommunications, aerospace, and satellite communications.

Technology Background

At its core, the CROCUS project utilizes advanced coherent optical communication techniques, which allow for the efficient transmission of large data volumes over long distances. This technology relies on the manipulation of light to encode information, enabling higher data rates compared to traditional communication methods. The coherent communication approach is particularly advantageous in stratospheric conditions, where the challenges of atmospheric interference and signal degradation are prevalent.

CAILABS has a proven track record in optical technologies, focusing on developing solutions that maximize the potential of light as a medium for data transmission. The company’s expertise in photonics and its commitment to innovation position it as a leader in the field, capable of delivering transformative solutions that meet the demands of modern communication infrastructure.

By receiving support from the EIC Accelerator, CAILABS is poised to enhance its research and development efforts, bringing the CROCUS project to fruition and contributing significantly to the advancement of optical communication technology. This initiative not only underscores the importance of innovative projects in shaping the future of communication but also exemplifies the critical role of the EIC Accelerator in nurturing and scaling groundbreaking ideas in the European startup ecosystem.

2 The Funding Rounds

Cailabs: Financing and Funding Overview Since EIC Accelerator Award (France, March 2022)

Financing Raised

• Since its founding in 2013, Cailabs has raised a total of €46 million across multiple rounds.
• The most significant recent funding event occurred in December 2022, when the company secured €26 million to expand its laser communications and optical ground station business.

Funding Rounds: Timing and Amounts

Date	Amount Raised	Details
Dec 2022	€26 million	Growth round for laser/optical ground station expansion
Prior rounds	~€20 million	Accumulated through earlier investments since inception

Breakdown of prior funding is not fully detailed in public sources but includes several stages such as initial seed, Series A/B growth capital.

Investor Information

• Lead Investor (Dec 2022):
• NewSpace Capital (Luxembourg-based growth stage investor)
• Other Major Investors:
• Definvest (French Ministry of the Armed Forces, managed by Bpifrance)
• Starquest
• Innovacom
• Safran Corporate Venture
• Crédit Agricole Ille et Vilaine Expansion

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund also provided support following Cailabs’ win at the EIC Accelerator competition in March–April 2022. This deep tech grant was part of their broader fundraising strategy after winning the Step 3 interview phase.

Details Related to Funding Rounds

The December 2022 round was specifically aimed at accelerating market leadership ambitions in optical ground stations for space communications. It enabled rapid scaling into new verticals including naval, aeronautical, and land-based links. This round consolidated both new capital from NewSpace Capital and renewed commitment from existing strategic investors involved with defense technology and photonics innovation.

Statements from investors highlight: > “Cailabs is one of the most exciting companies in the industry… with a clear pathway of becoming a market leader…” — Bogdan Gogulan, CEO & Managing Partner at NewSpace Capital

“This new round underlines major progress… supported by Bpifrance and French Ministry of Armed Forces…” — Nicolas Berdou, Investor for Definvest Fund at Bpifrance

Company Valuations

No specific post-money valuation figures are publicly disclosed for any individual funding rounds. However:

• Accredited investors can access up-to-date valuation data via platforms such as EquityZen.
• The substantial size (€26M) and investor profile suggest a strong upward trajectory typical for late-stage European deep tech scale-ups focused on space technologies.

Exit Events: IPOs or Acquisitions

As of April 24th 2025:

• There have been no recorded IPOs or acquisition events involving Cailabs.
• Shares may be available on secondary markets via accredited investor platforms like EquityZen; however, this does not constitute an exit event but rather private stock liquidity options for early shareholders or employees.

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Sources

• Innovative photonics company Cailabs raises €26 million to become market leader in optical ground stations
• Our Investors – Cailabs
• Stories: EIC-funded deep-tech company Cailabs raised €26 million...
• Raising €26 million in funding is CAILABS...
• Invest In CAILABS Stock | Buy Pre‑IPO Shares | EquityZen

3 The Press Releases

Cailabs: Photonics Innovation and Strategic Growth Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Cailabs has expanded its technological footprint in optical communications and industrial laser processing. The French deep-tech company, founded in 2013, holds 19 patents for its light-shaping technologies and continues to drive advancements in aerospace, telecommunications, and automotive sectors.

Key Developments

• Strategic Partnerships:
• DataPath/Gilat Collaboration (2025): Partnered to develop transportable optical SATCOM terminals for government/commercial use, combining Cailabs’ optical ground stations with Gilat’s RF expertise.
• University of New Mexico’s COSMIAC: Jointly advancing space-to-ground optical communication systems to enhance satellite data transmission speeds.
• Technology Milestones:
• Participated in the French “CO-OP” project (2021–present) targeting next-gen GEO satellite communications for deployment by 2026.
• Achieved a 2.5km ground-to-ground optical link using its Optical Ground Station (OGS)[^news12], with recent tests on the KERAUNOS satellite validating atmospheric laser communication capabilities[^news6][^corporate9].
• Corporate Expansion:
• Opened a Washington DC office (2024) to support U.S. Defense clients and appointed Jim Hooper (SVP Business Development) and Jeff Huggins (President of Cailabs US Inc.) to lead American operations[^corporate7][^corporate13].
• Recognized under France’s military programming law (2024–2030) for advancing atmospheric laser communications as a strategic capability.

Industrial Applications & Recognition

• E-Mobility Solutions: Collaborated with Precitec to optimize laser welding for electric vehicle busbars, addressing thermal management challenges in high-power batteries[^industrial11].
• Automotive LiDAR: Explored partnerships with LeddarTech (2018 agreement) to integrate beam-shaping tech into solid-state LiDAR systems for autonomous vehicles.

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Sources
Cailabs News on Military Recognition • DataPath Partnership • COSMIAC Collaboration • CO-Op Project Details • Precitec Partnership • LeddarTech Agreement

4 The Technology Advancements

Overview of Cailabs

Cailabs, a French deeptech company, specializes in innovative photonics solutions, particularly in the space sector. The company has gained recognition for its work in laser communications and optical ground stations.

Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

Since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding in early 2022, Cailabs has made significant advancements. The company was awarded €8.5 million through the EIC Accelerator for its CROCUS project, aimed at accelerating the development and industrialization of high data-rate laser communication solutions. This funding has enabled Cailabs to consolidate its position as a leader in optical ground stations and further develop its technology to compensate for atmospheric turbulence, ensuring reliable and high-speed communications.

Cailabs has also reported rapid growth, with a 113% year-on-year increase in new contracts for its optical solutions. This growth is partly due to its involvement in strategic projects like the KERAUNOS satellite experiment, which demonstrated the feasibility of space-to-earth laser communications.

Technology Improvements and Market Demonstrations

Cailabs has significantly improved its technology by developing optical ground stations capable of handling 10+ Gbps laser communications. These stations are designed to work with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and have been successfully demonstrated in the KERAUNOS project. The company has sold several of these ground stations to countries like South Korea, Australia, Greece, France, and the United States, indicating successful market penetration.

The KERAUNOS project, supported by the French Ministry of Defense, aimed to establish an end-to-end optical link between a satellite and a ground station. This project contributed to France's 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, enhancing the country's space capabilities.

Patents and Scientific Studies

Cailabs has filed several patents related to light source and multi-plane light conversion technologies, which are crucial for improving the efficiency and reliability of optical communications. While there is no specific mention of new scientific studies or whitepapers, the company's advancements in technology and market demonstrations highlight its research and development efforts.

Conclusion

Cailabs has leveraged the EIC Accelerator funding to enhance its laser communication technologies and expand its market presence. The company's focus on optical ground stations and atmospheric turbulence compensation has positioned it as a key player in the space communications sector.

Sources

• Cailabs welcomes recognition of the strategic role of atmospheric laser communications
• Successful initial tests of the KERAUNOS optical communications satellite
• Global deeptech company Cailabs enjoys rapid growth
• France claims world's first space-to-earth laser comms
• Optical Ground Stations
• Meet Cailabs' Jean-François Morizur
• Innovative photonics company Cailabs raises €26 million
• Patents Assigned to CAILABS
• Cailabs' laser communication technologies identified as strategic by the European Innovation Council
• Cailabs Tests LEO Satellite Optical Terminals for Atmospheric Turbulence

5 The Partnerships and Customers

CAILABS: Partnerships and Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

CAILABS, a French deep tech company specializing in photonics and optical communications, received EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022. Since then, the company has expanded its partnerships and advanced its technologies significantly.

Partnerships

New Partners and Customers

While specific new customer names are not detailed in recent announcements, CAILABS' partnerships with entities like DataPath Inc. and the University of New Mexico's COSMIAC suggest a focus on expanding its presence in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Nature of New Relationships

These partnerships are strategic in nature, aiming to leverage CAILABS' expertise in photonics and optical communications to enhance satellite communications systems and expand its market presence. The collaboration with DataPath Inc. targets the development of cutting-edge, transportable optical SATCOM terminals, while the partnership with COSMIAC focuses on advancing space-to-ground optical communication systems.

Market Positioning and Technology Advancements

These relationships position CAILABS as a leader in the development of advanced optical communication systems, particularly in space and defense sectors. The partnerships will aid CAILABS in scaling its technology and enhancing its capabilities in high-speed data transmission, contributing to the growth of space-based communication systems. Additionally, integrating technologies like optical beam-shaping will help improve the efficiency and reliability of communication services.

Sources:

• Cailabs and DataPath, Inc. enter into strategic partnership to deploy a new class of transportable optical SATCOM terminals
• Cailabs announces partnership with UK distributor Comtrol
• Cailabs, DataPath Partner to Deploy Transportable SATCOM Terminals
• Cailabs and the University of New Mexico's COSMIAC Announce New Partnership Agreement to Support Optical Communications Research
• Exclusive Networks Builds the Safest Networks, Cailabs Makes it Faster
• Flying further with beam shaping
• LeddarTech and Cailabs Sign Agreement on Combining LIDAR and Laser Beam Shaping Solutions for the Automotive Market

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

Cailabs Team Growth and Expansion Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022, Cailabs has demonstrated significant growth in hiring, team structure, and market positioning.

Hiring and Team Expansion

• Current headcount: Approximately 119 employees globally as of 2025, with recent hiring efforts focused on scaling operations.
• 2023–2024 growth: The company hired 25 new team members in 2023 and announced plans to add 30 additional full-time employees in 2024, reflecting a strategic push to meet rising demand.
• Key hires:
• Jeff Huggins, appointed President of Cailabs US Inc., brings aerospace/defense expertise from Safran and Raytheon.
• Vik Tailor (VP of Business Development) and Ashley Fabioux (Optics Engineer) joined the US team to drive defense-sector initiatives.

Strategic Impact of New Hires

The expanded US leadership aims to capitalize on growing demand for laser communications from the Department of Defense, leveraging Cailabs’ proprietary TILBA® technology for secure satellite-ground links. The optics engineering hires support product development for laser material processing (+180% YoY order growth) and optical ground stations (+113% YoY contract growth).

Management Stability

No major changes have been reported among founding leadership since the EIC award. Co-founders Jean-François Morizur (CEO) and Guillaume Labroille (CTO) remain central to operations, with Pu Jian (CPO), Sabine Mengin-Lecreulx (COO), and Philippe Blandin (CFO) comprising the core executive team.

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Sources

• Our company - Cailabs
• Global deeptech company Cailabs enjoys rapid growth
• Cailabs appoints Jeff Huggins as President of Cailabs US Note: URL likely contains typo; corrected source should be this link but original citation preserved here.
• CaliInformation RocketReach ProfileNote: Corrected URL should be `https://rocketreach.co/cilbs-profile_b5eb5ff4f42e847d` (original likely mistyped).

7 The Media Features and Publications

Overview of CAILABS

CAILABS, a French deep-tech company specializing in photonics for space and other sectors, has been making significant strides since receiving EIC Accelerator funding in March 2022. The company is recognized for its innovative technologies, particularly in laser communications.

Media Features

CAILABS has been featured in various media outlets, highlighting its contributions to the space sector. Articles by Jean-François Morizur, the CEO of CAILABS, have appeared in publications such as TechCrunch, Defence Post, SpaceNews, and Euronews, focusing on topics like securing early-stage funding and the importance of space technology for defense.

Publications

Publications mentioning CAILABS often emphasize its role in advancing satellite communications and optical ground stations. For example, USEI has partnered with CAILABS to integrate its high-capacity Optical Ground Station (OGS) systems into USEI's network, enhancing space-to-ground optical services.

Content from Publications

Articles often highlight CAILABS' innovative laser communication technologies and their strategic importance in space and defense. The company's TILBA technology is noted for improving optical links through atmospheric conditions, enhancing resilience and throughput.

Podcasts and Interviews

Jean-François Morizur has participated in podcasts like the Constellations series, discussing laser communications and their complementary role to RF signals in satellite connectivity.

Conferences and Fair Visits

CAILABS is active in attending and sponsoring industry conferences. The company will be participating in Global Milsatcom 2024, focusing on "Building Resilient & Robust SATCOM" with presentations by Jean-François Morizur and Jim Hooper. CAILABS also sponsors events and exhibits at conferences like Global Milsatcom.

Involvement in Events

The company's involvement in events like conferences and exhibitions demonstrates its commitment to advancing laser communication technologies and engaging with the global space and defense community.

Sources

• Media Center - Cailabs
• Technical publications & Conferences - Cailabs
• White Paper | Optical and RF communications
• USEI to deploy first commercial global space-to-ground optical service
• Constellations Podcasts
• Agenda - Cailabs
• Technology Building Blocks - Cailabs