PowerLight Technologies
PowerLight Technologies is a Kent, Washington-based deep-tech company that designs laser-based wireless power beaming and Power-over-Fiber systems, serving primarily U.S. Department of Defense agencies, defense primes, and select aerospace and telecom customers with kilowatt-class power delivery over kilometer-scale distances.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersKent, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PowerLight Technologies does
PowerLight Technologies, founded in 2007 in Kent, Washington (originally as LaserMotive, rebranded in November 2017), designs and builds systems that deliver wireless power via laser. The company's core technology converts electricity into laser light, transmits it through free space or fiber optic cable, and converts it back to usable electricity at the point of need. Product lines include the Aerial ReCharge (ARC) system for in-flight drone recharging, Free Space Power Beaming for ground-to-air power delivery, and Power over Fiber (PoF) for underwater/maritime applications. The portfolio is organized around programs including DEPTHS (underwater maritime sensing), PTROL-UAS (DoD drone recharging at 5,000 feet), and DARPA POWER (persistent optical wireless energy relay for global military operations).
The company serves a primary customer base of U.S. Department of Defense agencies and defense integrators, including DARPA, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Draper Laboratories. Secondary segments include telecommunications infrastructure (Ericsson for 5G base stations), aerospace (Blue Origin for lunar power beaming, Kraus Hamdani Aerospace for ultra-long endurance UAS), and maritime operations (Zeno Power for undersea sensing). The business model combines government R&D contracts and grants, technology licensing and IP, commercial hardware sales, and professional services, with pricing based on custom enterprise quotes tied to power levels, range, and integration complexity.
PowerLight monetizes through a mix of government contracts (notably up to $7M from DoD Operational Energy funds for PTROL-UAS), patent licensing, hardware sales to commercial telecom and aerospace customers, and collaborative development agreements. The company operates with a very small team of 1-10 employees, has been granted 17 U.S. patents plus foreign patents, and holds three world records for power beaming. Strategic partnerships span defense primes, telecom OEMs, and space companies, indicating a sales-led enterprise GTM with technology demonstrations and direct engagement with program offices as the primary commercial motion.
PowerLight Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PowerLight Technologies
- Legal name
- PowerLight Technologies
- Website
- https://powerlighttech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PowerLight Technologies is a Kent, Washington-based deep-tech company that designs laser-based wireless power beaming and Power-over-Fiber systems, serving primarily U.S. Department of Defense agencies, defense primes, and select aerospace and telecom customers with kilowatt-class power delivery over kilometer-scale distances.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PowerLight Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wireless Power Transmission Systems
- NAICS
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Directed Energy Weapons (Laser/HPM) Systems (IMABAOAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH), Telecom, SCADA & OPGW/Fiber Integration for T&D Projects (EUAEABAG)
Keywords
Where PowerLight Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kent
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PowerLight Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Defense Contracts: Revenue from U.S. Department of Defense contracts including the PTROL-UAS program backed by up to $5M from DOD's Operational Energy Prototyping Fund and $2M from OECIF, DARPA POWER program partnerships, and various defense R&D collaborations.
- Technology Licensing and IP: Licensing of proprietary power beaming technology, patents, and know-how to defense integrators, telecom companies, and aerospace manufacturers for commercial and defense applications.
- Commercial Product Sales: Sale of power over fiber systems and wireless power beaming solutions to commercial markets including telecom infrastructure providers (5G networks), maritime sensing companies, and aerospace applications.
- R&D Services and Consulting: Research and development services for government agencies and commercial partners including participation in DARPA programs, Blue Origin's LunA-10 lunar power program, and collaborative development agreements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise solutions for defense and commercial applications |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
PowerLight Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PowerLight Technologies designs and builds laser-based wireless power beaming systems and Power over Fiber (PoF) solutions that convert electricity into high-intensity laser light, transmit it through air or fiber optic cable, and convert it back into usable electrical power at the point of need. The company delivers kilowatt-class power over kilometer-scale distances for unmanned aerial system recharging, telecom infrastructure, maritime sensing, and lunar applications, primarily serving defense agencies, aerospace integrators, and telecommunications providers.
Product overview
PowerLight Technologies offers a portfolio of laser power beaming and power-over-fiber solutions centered on its proprietary wireless power transmission technology. The core offering consists of the Aerial ReCharge™ (ARC™) system for drone mid-flight charging and Free Space Power Beaming for ground-to-air power delivery, complemented by Power Over Fiber technology for underwater and maritime applications. The company also operates dedicated programs including the DEPTHS maritime initiative and PTROL UAS program. These products share a common foundation in laser-based optical power transmission, with variations in delivery method (wireless vs. fiber) and application environment (aerial, terrestrial, underwater, lunar).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial ReCharge (ARC) Laser-based power beaming system that delivers kilowatt-class energy wirelessly to aircraft in flight via a ground-based transmitter and lightweight airborne receiver, enabling extended endurance and unlimited flight operations for unmanned aerial systems.
- Power Over Fiber (PoF) Optical power delivery solution that transmits electricity through fiber optic cables, enabling power distribution in corrosive environments such as deep sea, without RF signature or vulnerability to salt water, suitable for tethered ROVs and seabed sensors.
- Energy Mesh Network Dynamic wireless energy web capable of distributing power to aerial craft at various altitudes through point-to-point transfers from ground-to-air, air-to-air, or space-to-high altitude configurations, using kilowatt-level power transfer over kilometers.
- DEPTHS Underwater Power Distribution Maritime power distribution system delivering long-endurance seafloor power for critical sensing and communications systems, developed in partnership with Zeno Power to enable distributed undersea asset operations without recharging at depths exceeding 500 feet.
- Wireless Power Beaming (Free Space) Long-distance, high-power wireless power transfer solution that converts electricity into laser light, transmits it through air, and converts it back to usable electricity at the point of need using specialized photovoltaic receivers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enables unlimited flight endurance for UAS platforms without landing
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use PowerLight Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PowerLight Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
PowerLight Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)coreSelected by CENTCOM and DOD's Operational Energy Innovation Directorate to demonstrate wireless power beaming to Group-2 UAS at 5,000 feet altitude under PTROL-UAS program. Program backed by up to $5M from DOD's Operational Energy Prototyping Fund and $2M from OECIF.
- HAPS AllianceminorJoined HAPS Alliance to collaborate on High Altitude Platform Stations technology. PowerLight's laser power beaming positioned as enabling technology for next generation HAPS systems serving commercial and defense applications in the stratosphere.
- Blue OrigincoreJoined Blue Origin's team for DARPA's LunA-10 program designing power beaming system to charge robots on the moon. PowerLight contributing lightweight, flexible power distribution technology without prohibitive cable mass for lunar surface operations.
- Zeno PowercoreContract with Zeno Power (developer of commercial radioisotope power systems) to provide DoD capabilities for long-endurance seafloor sensor systems and charging stations for autonomous undersea vehicles under DEPTHS (Distributed Energy Provided Throughout the Seas) program. PowerLight providing ruggedized power over fiber system for deep underwater power distribution.
- CREOL, University of Central FloridaminorJoined CREOL Industrial Affiliates program for collaboration on cutting-edge optics and photonics research. Partnership provides access to world-class research facilities and expertise for advancing laser power beaming technology in areas including high power fiber optics and integrated optical systems.
- DARPAcoreSelected to partner on DARPA's POWER (Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay) program working with Raytheon and Draper Laboratories on separate approaches to develop wireless laser energy relay transfer supply system for global military operations. Also partnered on LunA-10 program with Blue Origin team for lunar power beaming.
- EricssoncoreStrategic partnership demonstrating world's first wireless powered 5G base station using PowerLight's optical beaming technology to convert electricity into high-intensity light and power Ericsson's Streetmacro 6701 5G millimeter wave radio base. Demonstration transmitted hundreds of watts over hundreds of meters.
- Lockheed MartinmajorJoint demonstration keeping Lockheed Martin Stalker UAS powered for more than 48 hours using laser power system, representing 2,400% improvement in flight duration. Partnership validated technology for defense UAV applications.
- Kraus Hamdani AerospacecoreStrategic partnership for integration of PowerLight's laser power beaming receiver into Kraus Hamdani's K1000ULE ultra-long endurance UAS. Joint flight demonstrations conducted at Pendleton UAS Range and Shaw Air Force Base proving ground-to-air power communication and sustained wireless power delivery at operational altitudes up to 5,000 feet.
- U.S. Naval Research LaboratorymajorPartnership under SCOPE-O (Safe and Continuous Power Beaming Optical) initiative demonstrating world's first capture and conversion of energy from DE Class weapons system, showcasing dual-use potential for energy distribution from directed energy weapons platforms.
- Raytheon TechnologiesmajorPartnered with Raytheon as part of DARPA POWER program first phase implementation for developing airborne energy relay system for high-altitude, long-range power transmission for global military operations.
- Draper LaboratoriesmajorPartnered with Draper Laboratories on separate approach within DARPA POWER program for energy relay system development.
- Pacific Northwest Mission Acceleration Center (PNW MAC)minorCollaboration with PNW MAC enabled advantageous relationships with multiple organizations and strengthened standing within small business tech space for defense market engagement and requirements development.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PowerLight Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a major defense prime with which PowerLight has a long-standing partnership, including the Stalker UAS 48-hour laser-powered flight demonstration in 2012. Lockheed operates across aerospace, defense, and directed energy, making it both a partner and a potential prime competitor for defense power beaming programs.
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman operates extensive directed-energy weapons and aerospace power programs and is a major DoD prime with relevant UAS and high-energy laser system integration capabilities. Comparable as a large defense incumbent exploring power beaming and directed energy at scale.
- General Atomics: General Atomics is a defense prime and leading UAS manufacturer (Predator, Reaper, Avenger) with directed-energy programs. Comparable as a potential UAS-platform customer for PowerLight's airborne receiver technology and as a defense incumbent exploring laser power integration.
- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions: Kratos Defense develops high-performance unmanned aerial systems and directed-energy systems, and Scott I. Anderson (PowerLight board member) serves on Kratos's board. Comparable as a UAS and defense energy platform peer with overlap on tactical drone and directed-energy programs.
- Raytheon (RTX): Raytheon is partnered with PowerLight on DARPA's POWER program and operates a large directed-energy and aerospace portfolio. As a competing team member on the same DARPA program, Raytheon is both collaborator and competitor for high-altitude laser power beaming primacy.
Direct peers
- Wi-Charge: Wi-Charge develops long-range wireless power solutions using infrared laser technology to deliver power over distance to electronic devices. Directly comparable to PowerLight's free-space optical power beaming core technology, though Wi-Charge focuses on shorter-range indoor consumer/IoT applications versus PowerLight's longer-distance defense and telecom use cases.
- GuRu Wireless: GuRu Wireless develops millimeter-wave-based wireless power transfer technology for IoT, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. Adjacent wireless power transmission peer using different physics (mmWave vs laser) but targeting similar at-a-distance power delivery markets.
- Ossia: Ossia develops RF-based wireless power technology (Cota) for at-a-distance charging of multiple devices without pads or cables. A wireless power transmission peer with a different underlying physics (RF vs laser), but comparable product category and commercial licensing model.
- Reach Power: Reach Power builds long-distance, high-power wireless power transmission systems using directed energy technology for defense and commercial applications. Competes in the same kilowatt-class, kilometer-scale wireless power beaming category as PowerLight, with overlapping defense and dual-use market focus.
Emerging players
- Energous Corporation: Energous develops RF-based wireless charging technology (WattUp) for IoT, retail, and consumer applications. Tangential overlap with PowerLight's wireless power delivery category but at shorter range and lower power, focused on consumer/sensor markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PowerLight Technologies social profiles
Digital presencePowerLight Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PowerLight Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
PowerLight Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PowerLight Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PowerLight Technologies
What does PowerLight Technologies do?
PowerLight Technologies designs and builds laser-based wireless power beaming systems and Power over Fiber (PoF) solutions that convert electricity into high-intensity laser light, transmit it through air or fiber optic cable, and convert it back into usable electrical power at the point of need. The company delivers kilowatt-class power over kilometer-scale distances for unmanned aerial system recharging, telecom infrastructure, maritime sensing, and lunar applications, primarily serving defense agencies, aerospace integrators, and telecommunications providers.
Is PowerLight Technologies a public or private company?
PowerLight Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PowerLight Technologies founded?
PowerLight Technologies was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PowerLight Technologies based?
PowerLight Technologies is headquartered in Kent, United States, in the North America region.
How does PowerLight Technologies make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Defense Contracts are the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and IP, commercial Product Sales and R&D Services and Consulting.
Who are PowerLight Technologies's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Raytheon (RTX). Direct peers are Wi-Charge, GuRu Wireless, Ossia and Reach Power. Energous Corporation is listed as an emerging player.
Does PowerLight Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for PowerLight Technologies.
What industry is PowerLight Technologies in?
PowerLight Technologies's product category is Wireless Power Transmission Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAOAF, Directed Energy Weapons (Laser/HPM) Systems, with a secondary code of IMABACAH, Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS). Its NAICS code is 2211 and its SIC code is 3827.