Dracula Technologies

Dracula Technologies develops and manufactures printed organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules designed to power low-energy electronic devices by harvesting ambient indoor light. The company's core technology, LAYER®, utilizes a digital inkjet printing process with proprietary conductive inks to create flexible, customizable, and recyclable solar films. This method allows the production of OPV cells in various shapes and forms, enabling seamless integration into a wide range of products. The technology is specifically engineered to be highly efficient in low-light environments, starting from as low as 50 lux, which is common in indoor spaces like warehouses and offices.

Founded in 2011 in Valence, France, by Brice Cruchon, a chemist with a background in innovation marketing, Dracula Technologies originated from a collaborative R&D project. After eight years of research and development, the company commercially launched its LAYER® technology in 2020. The founding team also includes co-founder Jérôme Vernet, who serves as VP of Strategy. The company's name is a nod to the fact that its technology thrives in low-light conditions. Dracula Technologies has secured a total of $39.4 million in funding over six rounds, including a Series A extension in October 2025 that brought the total for that round to €30 million. This funding is aimed at quadrupling production capacity at its 'Green MicroPower Factory' in Valence, expanding its team, and establishing manufacturing closer to key international markets.

Dracula Technologies operates on a B2B model, supplying its LAYER® modules to manufacturers and enterprises through multi-year, high-volume contracts. Its business is structured into three divisions: LAYER® LAB for R&D and prototyping, the Green MicroPower Factory for large-scale production, and LAYER® Solutions for turnkey product integration. Key markets include smart buildings (e.g., air quality sensors, thermostats), asset tracking (e.g., cold chain loggers, smart labels), retail (electronic shelf labels), and consumer electronics (e.g., remote controls, wearables). In early 2024, the company launched LAYER® Vault, a 2-in-1 solution that combines its OPV harvesting film with a printed energy storage layer, creating a sustainable alternative to disposable batteries by ensuring uninterrupted power even in dark periods.

The company partners with various technology firms, including STMicroelectronics and Paragon ID, to integrate its OPV modules with microcontrollers and create battery-free solutions like asset tracking tags. At CES 2026, the company unveiled LAYER V2.0, which offers a 30% performance increase over the previous generation due to a new OPV ink formulation that enhances light absorption and conversion efficiency, particularly under LED lighting.

Keywords: organic photovoltaics, OPV, energy harvesting, ambient light, battery-free, IoT, printed electronics, sustainable energy, low-light, smart buildings, asset tracking, electronic shelf labels, LAYER, light energy, clean technology, inkjet printing, flexible solar, Green MicroPower Factory, indoor light harvesting, wireless sensors, eco-friendly energy