Amsterdam-based startup Optics11 has just raised €17 million to defend Europe’s fiber optic cables from sabotage

Optics11, a Dutch DeepTech scale-up that builds advanced fiber optic sensing solutions, announced a €17 million funding round in order to scale its solution and “protect Europe’s vital infrastructure from increasing threats”.

The round was led by investors FORWARD.one, which now becomes the largest investor in Optics11, and SET Ventures. Also participating in the round were Join Capital and Value Creation Capital (VCC).

“The vulnerabilities facing Europe’s infrastructure today demand immediate and sophisticated responses,” explained Paul Heiden, CEO of Optics11. “This funding empowers us to rapidly scale our suite of fiber optic solutions and offer a proactive defence to energy and maritime operators. With strategic investors onboard, we’re ready to significantly enhance Europe’s security.”

Optics11 is a leader in fiber optic sensing technology for ultra-sensitive early warning systems. Optics11 works to help protect sea-lanes, critical offshore infrastructure, and energy supply against disruption.

A particularly relevant offering considering the recent sabotaging of undersea cables and its geopolitical implications.

Europe’s growing reliance on its power infrastructure for vital needs requires resilience against increasingly sophisticated threats. Like a higher risk of underwater sabotage, to a rapidly ageing base of high-voltage (HV) transformers.

According to data Optics11, 40% of Europe’s 90,000 HV transformers have exceeded their lifespan, and with orders for new transformers full until 2030, production will not match demand. Additionally, subsea cables and offshore wind farms face additional security breaches, underscoring an urgent need for robust and proactive monitoring solutions.

To tackle these challenges, Optics11 has developed several solutions:

• A predictive monitoring solution called OptiFender that rapidly identifies and locates partial discharge events – the earliest indicator of upcoming asset failures – within high and medium voltage electrical systems.
• While its OptiBarrier and OptiArray solutions provide a subsea early-warning system via precision fiber optic sensors that continuously safeguard underwater infrastructure against sabotage and unauthorised interference.

“A secure, uninterrupted energy supply is the bedrock of a modern functioning society,” said Wouter Jonk, Managing Partner at energytech fund, SET Ventures. “Agein transformers and full order books mean rising outage risks and a need to extend the life of existing assets to reduce failure rates. Optics11 does that, while reinforcing the integration of renewables into the grid. Simply put, they’re solving an urgent problem.”​

The company’s core strength lies in its mix of sensors combined with advanced threat detection software. This reportedly enables faster detection and localisation of threats when compared to other solutions on the market, giving operators more time to respond.

Optics11’s fiber optic sensors also eliminate issues with electromagnetic interference, offering unmatched reliability in tough environments where traditional sensors often fail. Advanced software analyses sensor data at the speed of light, identifying potential threats to prevent costly disruptions.

“Optics11 has the kind of technical edge that creates long-term value,” said Robin van Boxsel, Partner at DeepTech VC, FORWARD.one. “It addresses a critical gap in grid and subsea infrastructure resilience. OptiFender reduces fault resolution time from months to hours, which enables operators to move from reactive maintenance to predictive operations. OptiBarrier extends that same intelligence offshore, where early detection is essential for protecting Europe’s growing subsea assets.”

According to the company, their technology could even have helped prevent the recent disruption at Heathrow Airport.

“We are proud to see that our initial Seed and Scaleup investment accelerated the core DNA of Optics11 in turning optics technology into sustaining edge products in underwater security and grid solutions,” said Willem van den Berg, Managing Partner at Value Creation Capital.

OptiArray has already been adopted for integration into the Royal Netherlands Navy’s upcoming Orka-class submarines. This optical thin-line towed array system leverages Optics11’s technology, enhancing submarines’ navigational and defensive capabilities. Its compact design and low power consumption allow for extended missions without compromising performance.

“Protecting Europe’s critical infrastructure requires technology breakthroughs to ensure security and resilience. Optics11 is delivering a revolutionary subsea detection capability that Europe & NATO urgently need,” said Daniel Carew, a Partner at Join Capital. “Their advanced fiber optic solutions for submarines, undersea networks and unmanned vehicles do not merely identify threats; they precisely classify them, distinguishing hostile actors from allies, and ensuring our economic wellbeing.”

“The deep expertise and expansive networks provided by the investors in this round are invaluable as we tackle these pressing challenges,” concluded Heiden. “Together, we’re strengthening the defence of Europe’s infrastructure while supporting a sustainable energy transition.”

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