French startup HyLight has raised €13 million to scale production of autonomous, hydrogen-powered airships as they begin replacing helicopters for critical-infrastructure inspections in Europe. The financing will support expansion of the company’s fleet and industrial capabilities, advancing its transition from developing and operating individual aircraft to broader commercial deployment of its inspection platform.
Investors in the round reportedly include Rubio Impact Ventures, DRW and Teampact Ventures, alongside existing backers Y Combinator and Ring Capital. HyLight, founded in 2022, designs, builds, industrialises and operates its aircraft in France.
The airships collect data for infrastructure inspections and are intended to provide a lower-emission alternative to conventional helicopter operations. The company is targeting recurring inspection work across European critical infrastructure, where autonomous aircraft could support monitoring while reducing reliance on crewed rotary-wing flights.
The financing is expected to help HyLight increase production capacity and expand its operating fleet. No details have been disclosed on the funding structure, valuation, production target, customer portfolio, delivery schedule or precise operating locations.