French startup HyLight has secured €13 million in a funding round led by Rubio Impact Ventures, DRW, and Teampact Ventures, with participation from existing backers Y Combinator and Ring Capital. The company, founded in 2022, manufactures and operates autonomous hydrogen-powered airships designed for the inspection of critical infrastructure.
The HyLighter aircraft is 12 metres long, capable of flying for up to ten hours with zero direct emissions. It carries up to 10 kg of sensors, including LiDAR and cameras, providing 1 mm per pixel resolution. The platform is authorised for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, allowing remote management from a control centre in Paris.
HyLight has transitioned from R&D to commercial deployment, replacing traditional helicopter inspections for major operators such as Enedis, SNCF Réseau, and VINCI. In September alone, the company inspected nearly 3,000 kilometres of infrastructure. A single mission can cover 350 kilometres, significantly outperforming conventional drones.
The company currently employs around 14 people and plans to recruit 50 additional staff across engineering, AI, and operations. With the new capital, HyLight intends to expand its fleet from four to 15 aircraft within a year. Commercial expansion into Germany and the Netherlands is scheduled for next year, with Belgium also under consideration.
