Archangel Lightworks raises £10m to deploy TERRA‑M for secure laser links
This article covers Archangel Lightworks, a spacetech startup that has raised £10m in a series A funding round led by Santander Alternative Investments to commercialise TERRA-M, its deployable optical ground station. The funding aims to accelerate delivery of high-speed, secure laser links for commercial and defence uses and to support development of optical space-to-ground infrastructure in the UK and Europe.
Archangel Lightworks has raised £10 million in a series A funding round led by Santander Alternative Investments to commercialise TERRA-M, its deployable optical ground station that links space-based networks with terrestrial infrastructure. The investment, which also includes National Security Strategic Investment Fund, Blackfinch Ventures, Oxford Capital, Lycka Limited and Oxford Science Enterprises, aims to accelerate delivery of high-speed, secure laser links for commercial and defence uses.
Why it matters
Laser communications promise far higher bandwidth and better security than traditional radio links, addressing constraints on radio spectrum and growing demand from satellite constellations, orbital data centres and Earth observation systems. Deployable optical ground stations such as TERRA-M make it possible to bring Gbps-plus—and eventually Tbps-plus—links to locations without permanent ground infrastructure, which has implications for connectivity, persistent monitoring and quantum-secure communications.
For the UK and European spacetech sector, the round is notable because it combines private venture capital with strategic public backing from NSSIF, reflecting both commercial opportunity and national security interest in resilient space-to-ground links.
Inside the product
Archangel Lightworks builds miniature, deployable optical ground stations. The TERRA-M terminal is designed for rapid deployment and high-volume, secure data transfer between satellites and ground networks. The company positions the product as an alternative to radio-based systems for use cases that require high throughput and low latency, including broadband backhaul from low Earth orbit constellations, defence communications and planetary monitoring for science and exploration missions such as Artemis II.
Technical claims in the announcement emphasise Gbps+ current capability and future Tbps+ potential. The system’s portability aims to reduce barriers to access where permanent optical ground stations are impractical or unavailable.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by Santander Alternative Investments, with participation from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), Blackfinch Ventures, Oxford Capital, Lycka Limited and Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE). Santander’s involvement comes via its infrastructure and venture capital arm; NSSIF is a UK government-backed vehicle that invests in firms seen as strategically important to national security. Blackfinch Ventures and Oxford Capital bring early-stage and growth-stage investment experience in deep technology and infrastructure, while OSE is known for backing university spinouts and deep-tech companies emerging from Oxford.
Nadir Maruf, Head of Infrastructure and Venture Capital at Santander Alternative Investments, said:
We are delighted to partner with the Archangel team and our fellow investors in this exciting and strategically important initiative relating to ground space communication infrastructure. The progress the company was able to achieve thus far was remarkable, and we look forward to working with the company in the years ahead.
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Founder perspective
Richard Johanson, CEO at Archangel Lightworks, said:
It is an exciting moment for Archangel Lightworks to be able to announce this successful round of capital as the demand for space-based information and connectivity continues to grow exponentially. The Archangel Lightworks team has done incredible work designing, building, and deploying our laser communications systems, and now is the time for us to accelerate with our partners, new and old, to meet the needs that we are hearing from our customers across markets.
The bigger picture
The deal sits within a broader industry shift toward optical interconnects as satellite operators and defence organisations seek higher capacity and more secure links. As low Earth orbit broadband constellations and on-orbit processing grow, so does the need for ground infrastructure that can handle large, secure data flows. For investors, the mix of strategic and commercial backers signals appetite among UK spacetech investors for hardware-driven connectivity plays that address both civilian and national security requirements.
The funding should enable Archangel Lightworks to scale deployment of TERRA-M and to pursue customers across commercial, scientific and defence markets, while contributing to the UK’s capability in optical space communications.
This round adds to momentum in the UK and European spacetech ecosystem, where public and private capital is increasingly aligned behind technologies that move more data, faster and more securely between orbit and Earth.
They've invested in Archangel Lightworks
Get to know these space investors
| Investor | Sector | Stage | Activity | Team | Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Santander Alternative Investments | 1 investment investment | more info | |||
 National Security Strategic Investment Fund | 5 investments investments | more info | |||
 Blackfinch Ventures | 14 investments investments | 4 contacts contacts | |||
 Oxford Capital | 4 investments investments | 2 contacts contacts | |||
 Oxford Science Enterprises | 31 investments investments | 1 contact contact | |||
Oxford Science Enterprises | 30 investments investments | 1 contact contact |
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