SunCubes Raises €1.1M To Develop Laser-Based Drone Charging Technology

The round was co-led by RoboIT and CrossConnect, both part of CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerator Network. Plug and Play Tech Center and ELIS also joined the round.

The funding will help SunCubes build the MVP of its laser-based in-flight charging system for drones.

The startup is working on wireless charging tech that turns electricity into laser beams to power drones mid-flight. The system is plug-and-play and compatible with most drones, aiming to solve limited flight time by enabling continuous flight.

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SunCubes has already earned industry recognition, winning the T-TeC Prize and the Test-It Award in partnership with aerospace firm Leonardo—highlighting early support for its wireless power innovation.

SunCubes is tackling one of the biggest challenges in drone operations—limited battery life.

Its laser-based system wirelessly charges drones mid-flight by converting electricity into laser beams via a transmitter. These beams are then converted back into electricity by receivers on the drones, removing the need for cables or landing for charging.

This innovation opens up possibilities for continuous drone deliveries, nonstop industrial monitoring and even space applications.

While many competitors rely on contact-based charging stations (like Germany’s Skycharge) or solar solutions, SunCubes stands out with its fully wireless laser approach—ideal for situations where physical charging isn't possible.

SunCubes was founded by a group of young engineers from Politecnico di Milano, with backgrounds in aerospace engineering and management.

The leadership team includes CEO Alberto Chiozzi, COO Federico Ognibene, CIO Davide Russo, CTO Tommaso Aresi, and CCO Angelo Lannutti.

The startup began at Italy’s top technical university and was later accepted into ESA BIC Milan, part of the European Space Agency’s incubator program for space-focused startups.

“With this funding, SunCubes takes a decisive step toward creating a technology that will radically change the way we think about drone autonomy and their future applications,” says Alberto Chiozzi, CEO of SunCubes.

The investment from RoboIT and CrossConnect highlights CDP Venture Capital’s focus on robotics and industrial automation. RoboIT is Italy’s national hub for robotics tech, while CrossConnect supports early-stage startups through CDP’s accelerator network.

This support gives SunCubes access to Italy’s innovation ecosystem and potential partnerships with major industrial players.

The funding will help SunCubes advance its wireless charging technology, including products like SunCubes Light and SunCubes Lucy. The company aims to lead in wireless energy transmission for urban logistics, industrial monitoring, and aerospace use.

Backed by PoliHub and ESA BIC Milan, SunCubes is combining academic research and space industry expertise to bring its tech to life.

About SunCubes

Founded in 2023 by Politecnico di Milano engineers, SunCubes develops laser-based wireless power systems with built-in safety features. The startup has won major innovation awards, joined ESA BIC’s incubation program, and successfully demonstrated energy transfer over 50 meters. It now plans further tests with aerospace firm Leonardo Spa.