Optics11 Raises €50 Million from Existing Investors to Scale Fibre-Optic Sensing Technology

Dutch deep-tech company Optics11 has raised €50 million in new equity funding from its four existing investors: SET Ventures, FORWARD.one, Value Creation Capital and JOIN Capital. The Amsterdam-based company develops fibre-optic sensing systems designed to protect critical infrastructure, including subsea defence assets and electricity grids.

Announced on November 9, 2026, the investment will support manufacturing expansion and international growth as demand increases for technologies that can monitor underwater environments and identify faults in high-voltage power infrastructure.

CEO Paul Heiden said the investment reflects growing international interest in technology that can help protect critical infrastructure. He also pointed to the company's products moving into real-world deployment, including its ASWINABO and OptiFinder systems.

Optics11 says it has secured more than €100 million in investment over the past 15 months. Its latest €50 million equity round adds significant backing as the company seeks to expand production and serve customers across defence and energy markets.

How Optics11's Fibre-Optic Sensors Work

Optics11 develops sensing systems that use fibre-optic technology to detect changes and activity across long distances.

Unlike conventional sensing systems that rely on powered electronics at the sensing point, the company's technology uses light. Optics11 says this makes its sensors passive, silent and immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

These characteristics are particularly relevant in environments where electronic interference, noise or the need for discreet monitoring can create operational challenges.

The company focuses on two major applications: underwater intelligence for defence and infrastructure monitoring for energy operators.

Three Products Target Defence and Energy Infrastructure

Optics11's product portfolio includes systems designed for different monitoring requirements.

OptiBarrier is a seabed monitoring system that the company says can detect and classify targets at distances of up to 100 kilometres from shore. It is designed for underwater surveillance and the protection of subsea infrastructure.

OptiArray is a towed fibre-optic array developed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). It can be towed behind vessels to support underwater detection. The technology has attracted interest from the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

In July 2026, the ministry contracted Optics11 to develop and deliver containerised OptiArray systems under the ASWINABO programme. The agreement also covers production, integration and validation capabilities.

In May 2025, Optics11 announced that the Royal Netherlands Navy would deploy OptiArray on its Orka-class submarines. The company also signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Swedish defence company Saab on October 21, 2026.

OptiFinder targets the energy sector. It detects partial discharge, an electrical phenomenon that can indicate developing faults in high-voltage equipment. The system is designed to identify these issues at centimetre-level sensitivity, helping utilities identify potential equipment failures before they cause larger problems.

Optics11 says OptiFinder is already used globally.

Defence and Energy Markets Drive the Opportunity

Critical infrastructure operators increasingly need ways to monitor assets that are difficult or expensive to inspect using conventional methods.

For defence organizations, underwater sensing can support maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and the protection of subsea infrastructure. For electricity utilities, early detection of faults in high-voltage equipment can help reduce the risk of unexpected outages and costly failures.

However, Optics11 operates in competitive markets. Established defence suppliers such as Thales already offer towed-array technologies, while newer companies including Andrenam and Triton Depth are also developing underwater sensing capabilities.

Optics11 argues that passive fibre-optic sensing can provide earlier warnings and more accurate detection than traditional active electrical sensing. These performance advantages are company claims and have not been independently validated in the supplied reporting.

More Than €100 Million Raised in 15 Months

The latest €50 million equity round follows earlier financing and debt support.

In May 2025, Optics11 raised €17 million in equity in a round led by FORWARD.one and SET Ventures. In January 2026, the European Investment Bank provided the company with a €25 million venture debt facility under the EU's InvestEU programme.

The company says its total investment over the past 15 months has exceeded €100 million. This figure includes different forms of financing, so it should not be interpreted as more than €100 million in equity funding.

The latest investment comes entirely from existing backers, giving the company continued support from investors already familiar with its technology and commercial strategy.

Scaling Manufacturing and International Deployment

The new funding is intended to help Optics11 increase manufacturing capacity and expand internationally.

The company now faces the challenge of converting defence contracts, strategic partnerships and energy-sector deployments into sustained commercial growth. Defence procurement cycles can be lengthy, and contracts or collaborations do not automatically translate into completed deliveries or recognized revenue.

Optics11's ability to scale production while meeting the technical and operational requirements of government and infrastructure customers will be central to its next stage.

With €50 million in fresh equity and more than €100 million in reported investment over 15 months, the company is positioning its fibre-optic sensing technology for a larger role in protecting subsea defence infrastructure and power grids.