As the world braces for an exponential rise in the number of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), one glaring gap remains unresolved: how to efficiently and securely link these satellites back to Earth. While many space tech companies focus on space-to-space laser communications, few have fully addressed the missing ground link. Lithuanian startup Astrolight is stepping into this niche with bold ambition, aiming to deliver a complete optical communications architecture.
Now, Astrolight has raised €2.8 million in a seed funding round. It was led by Balnord, a frontier tech investor known for backing high-impact aerospace ventures such as ATMOS Space Cargo and Satim. Balnord’s participation provides strategic insights and access to a network steeped in dual-use and aerospace innovation and capital.
Joining Balnord in the round were EIFO (The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark), Coinvest Capital, and existing backers 3NGLS and Rita Sakus. EIFO’s interest was particularly triggered by Astrolight’s recent expansion into Denmark, where the company is building out secure laser communications tailored for Arctic and Nordic satellite needs.
This investment will enable the startup to accelerate the development of its laser-based end-to-end communication platform that securely connects satellites to Earth.
Building an end-to-end optical communications platform
Unlike many peers who focus solely on satellite-to-satellite laser links, Astrolight is pioneering a dual-use optical communications architecture that covers both space-to-space and space-to-ground optical connectivity. The startup is developing a modular communication terminal based on its proprietary ATLAS-1 design to enable hybrid operations.
ATLAS-1 stands out for its proprietary fibre-optical amplifier design, supporting downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps from LEO to the ground using a relatively small ground station telescope. Its unique two-aperture design allows for simultaneous sending, receiving, and tracking optimisation, enabling rapid and reliable link acquisition—an edge over competitors who typically use a single aperture. The ATLAS-1 has recently completed rigorous space qualification tests at Tartu Observatory, including thermal vacuum, vibration, and shock experiments, confirming its resilience and readiness for flight.
Astrolight is also collaborating with Cailabs to launch a satellite mission demonstrating gigabit-class space-to-Earth optical links, validating pointing, acquisition, and tracking between ATLAS-1 and Cailabs’ turnkey optical ground stations. Future versions of ATLAS are expected to achieve even higher downlink speeds and are optimised for small satellites with low power consumption.
More importantly, Astrolight wants to go beyond just terminals. Its goal is to offer optical connectivity as a service, combining its terminals with a network of ground stations, giving customers a plug-and-play solution across the entire link chain.
A founder’s vision rooted in experience
The driving force behind Astrolight is Laurynas Mačiulis, who previously co-founded and served as CTO at Kongsberg NanoAvionics, a globally recognised name in nanosatellite manufacturing. With years of hands-on experience in building satellite systems, Mačiulis saw the future demand for secure, high-throughput communications.
He brought together a multidisciplinary founding team, including Julijanas Želudevičius, a physicist from the Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology of Lithuania, Dalius Petrulionis, from laser manufacturing firm Light Conversion, and Martynas Milaševičius and Andrius Stankevičius, both with deep ties to Vilnius Tech University.
Astrolight designs and manufactures advanced optical communication terminals for space-to-Earth, space-to-space, ship-to-ship, and ground-based links in aerospace and defence applications, leveraging full vertical integration of its technology stack to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and faster development cycles.
“Our long-term vision is to create the optical backbone network for space,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO and co-founder of Astrolight. “The number of satellites and constellations is growing exponentially, but there’s still no scalable, secure way to bring that data back to Earth consistently. With laser communication, we’re closing that gap.”
Extends beyond Lithuania
Astrolight’s ambitions are not limited to Lithuania. Earlier this year, it launched a Danish subsidiary, strengthening its presence in the Nordics and Arctic. This strategic move was instrumental in attracting EIFO and positioning Astrolight to serve defence, scientific, and commercial missions that require reliable connectivity in remote regions. The company is engaging with the Royal Danish Navy to test ship-to-ship optical data links and is exploring collaborations in Denmark’s space sector.
Astrolight has also gained recognition from major accelerators, participating in Seraphim Space and the EU’s CASSINI program, and was selected for NATO’s DIANA initiative. In 2024, Astrolight advanced to Phase II of DIANA, ranking among the top 4% of applicants and securing up to €300,000 in additional funding. Its technology, including the ATLAS and POLARIS systems, is being positioned for both terrestrial and space-based defence applications, offering unjammable, high-bandwidth alternatives to traditional RF communications.
Applications, impact, and future potential
The company’s laser communication technology, which has applications in civilian and defence markets, can be used across space-to-Earth, space-to-space, ship-to-ship, and ground-to-ground links. Its full-stack approach, including designing, manufacturing, and integrating the entire system, allows for better performance control and faster development cycles.
“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 and exceptional security, but most importantly, they can scale the bandwidth.”
According to Goldman Sachs Research, over 70,000 LEO satellites are expected to launch in the next five years, urgently needing high-speed, secure, and interference-free communications. Laser communications offer up to 100 times faster data rates than traditional radio frequency (RF) systems, making Astrolight’s offering not only timely but also technologically superior.
What sets the company apart is its integrative philosophy of not competing with satellite constellations but serving as a complementary infrastructure layer. This collaborative model increases the company’s addressable market and opens up opportunities for strategic partnerships with constellation providers, ground service operators, and government agencies.
Looking ahead
Armed with fresh capital and strong strategic backing, Astrolight is preparing to roll out its first operational optical ground station and demonstrate its hybrid terminal within the coming months. The seed round is expected to catalyse international collaborations and prove its technical viability in real-world scenarios.
In a European space tech landscape that is growing increasingly competitive, Astrolight is carving a clear path by addressing the Earth link, a challenge often overlooked but central to the future of satellite-based infrastructure. With its roots in high-calibre engineering, strong regional support, and a focused product strategy, it is well-positioned to become a key player in global satellite communications.
“We are incredibly excited to lead this investment round in Astrolight. We believe their experienced team has developed a groundbreaking optical communication technology essential to solving the rapidly approaching data bottleneck in space. Their high-speed, jam-resistant solutions are critical for the growing satellite market and represent the kind of frontier innovation that will define the next generation of space infrastructure,” shared Jarek Pilarczyk, Operating Partner at Balnord.
“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 proudly support their journey as they revolutionise secure data transmission in space and beyond.”
“Astrolight represents the type of strategic investment 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 commercially and 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.
