Paris-based tech startup HyLight raises $4 million to decarbonize aerial inspection with its hydrogen-powered airship drone

In a major development that is set to revolutionize aerial photography, HyLight, a trailblazer in aerial inspection utilizing hydrogen airship drones, has secured a fundraising round totaling 3.7 million euros ($4 million) from venture capitalists and business angels.

Notable backers in this round include Y Combinator, Ring Capital, Kima Ventures, Collaborative Fund, and Marc Tarpenning, co-founder of Tesla. This infusion of capital marks a pivotal moment for HyLight, positioning the French startup to accelerate the deployment of its airship drones on an industrial scale.

The Paris, France-based tech startup will also use the new funding to provide the first zero-emission solution capable of inspecting various types of infrastructure from the air. This breakthrough promises to revolutionize industries reliant on aerial data collection, from power lines to gas pipelines and railways. With the potential to offer a decarbonized, low-cost, and efficient alternative, HyLight’s innovative solution heralds a new era in aerial inspection.

With approximately 80 million kilometers of energy infrastructure worldwide—enough to circle the Earth 200 times over—effective and comprehensive inspections are paramount to ensuring the functionality and safety of society’s essential systems. However, the current landscape presents challenges for infrastructure operators, who struggle with accurate and large-scale inspections.

Founded in 2022, HyLight is a French startup committed to enhancing society’s resilience to climate change through innovative infrastructure observation and inspection solutions. With its hydrogen-powered airship drones, HyLight is poised to revolutionize aerial inspection and propel industries toward a sustainable future.

The repercussions of this inefficiency are profound, with methane leaks from “oil and gas” infrastructure alone accounting for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in annual losses of $7 billion in European and North American markets. Furthermore, power outages cost the USA alone $18 billion annually. The tightening regulatory framework compounds these challenges, necessitating accelerated inspections. However, the task of identifying minute faults in vast areas is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

To address these challenges, HyLight has developed a groundbreaking solution combining the best drone and airship technology. Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, the HyLighter boasts unparalleled flight autonomy, with a range of up to 350 km and a flight time of up to 10 hours. Equipped with high-definition cameras and a suite of sensors—including LIDAR and thermal imaging—the HyLighter ensures precise data collection over large areas. This innovative approach not only reduces inspection costs but also enables the detection of previously uncollected data, crucial for preventing breakdowns and accidents.

HyLight’s integration into Y Combinator, the world’s leading startup accelerator, underscores the credibility and potential of its innovation. The company has also secured support from leading accelerators such as SkyDeck at the University of California, Berkeley, and prominent French accelerators including Wilco, Agoranov, and the Propulse program run by the French Transport Innovation Agency. Additionally, HyLight benefits from the expertise and mentorship of esteemed investors such as Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning and former SpaceX launch director Abhishek Tripathi. Notably, the startup has already embarked on a project with Enedis, Europe’s largest power line operator, demonstrating the practical applicability of its technology.

The €3.7 million raised in this funding round will propel HyLight towards several critical milestones. It will facilitate the execution of large-scale operations, expand the company’s network of strategic partnerships, and drive recruitment efforts to bolster expertise in aviation regulation, hydrogen systems, mechanical engineering, and software development. Furthermore, the funds will enable the development of enhanced versions of its airship drones, designed to meet stringent aeronautical and industrial standards and address growing market demand.

According to Martin Bocken, CEO of HyLight, “This financing round represents a significant milestone for HyLight, enabling us to realize our vision of providing large-scale infrastructure inspection in a decarbonized and highly precise manner. With the support of our investors, we are poised to redefine the standards of industrial inspection and meet escalating environmental and regulatory demands.”

In the words of Myriam Maestroni, President and Founder of e5t, “I am thrilled to support HyLight in its mission to revolutionize aerial inspection with its hydrogen-powered airship. This innovative technology offers a decarbonized and efficient solution to address the burgeoning needs of the energy, transportation, and infrastructure sectors.”

In the near future, the HyLighter’s applications extend beyond infrastructure inspection, promising valuable contributions to sectors such as forestry, coastal monitoring, and agricultural management. As society grapples with the challenges posed by climate change, HyLight stands poised to lead the charge toward sustainable, data-driven solutions.

HyLight Team