ORiS, a company based in Turin, has raised €5 million to develop laser power beams for satellites. So far, its most advanced demonstration uses a NATO-backed drone laser instead of a spacecraft.
Earlybird and Pitchdrive led the €4.5 million pre-seed round, with an additional €0.5 million grant from the Piedmont Region.
In May 2026, US competitor Star Catcher raised $65 million for a similar ‘orbital power grid’ project, which is more than ten times what ORiS has secured.
The Turin-based startup ORiS has secured €5 million to advance this technology for use in orbit. It aims to have satellites recharge one another in orbit using lasers instead of solar panels. Its most tangible demonstration so far is not in space but involves beaming electricity to a hovering drone developed through NATO’s DIANA defence accelerator.
The funding round includes a €4.5 million pre-seed investment led by Earlybird and co-led by Pitchdrive, with Galaxia, Vento, and Piemonte Next Fund also taking part. There is also a €0.5 million grant from the Piedmont Region’s start-up consolidation program.
