French startup HyLight has raised €13 million (approximately $14.5 million) in Series A financing led by Rubio Impact Ventures, with participation from DRW and Teampact Ventures. Existing investors Y Combinator and Ring Capital also joined the round.
Founded in 2022 by Martin Bocken, Josef Rokusek and Thomas Laporte, HyLight is based in Brétigny-sur-Orge, near Paris. Bocken serves as CEO, Rokusek as CTO and Laporte as Chief Business Officer.
The company develops, manufactures and operates autonomous hydrogen-powered airships designed to inspect critical infrastructure, including electrical transmission lines, gas pipelines and railway networks.
Its aircraft, known as HyLighters, combine airship and drone technology to carry out long-distance inspections. Equipped with cameras, LiDAR equipment and methane sensors, the aircraft collect infrastructure data that can be analysed to identify potential defects, vegetation risks and gas leaks.
HyLight also develops software and AI-based analysis capabilities that convert inspection data into information for infrastructure maintenance teams. According to Rubio Impact Ventures, the HyLighter can inspect up to 350 kilometres of infrastructure in a day and produces no direct emissions during flight.
The startup has progressed from aircraft development to commercial inspection operations. It has recorded more than 750 flight hours and inspected thousands of kilometres of infrastructure across France and other European markets. Its customers include Enedis, NaTran, Téréga, SNCF Réseau and VINCI.
HyLight plans to use the new financing to expand manufacturing capacity, increase its operational fleet and strengthen automated infrastructure-data analysis.
The company aims to increase the number of HyLighters in operation from four to 15 by 2027. Its expansion plans also include additional recruitment and commercial development across Europe, with Germany and the Netherlands identified as priority markets.
