An apparatus and method for building an optically pumped laser integrated with an electrically driven pump laser is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed comprises an optically pumped laser containing an active layer and an optical pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped laser's active layer. The method discloses forming an optically pumped gain element containing an active layer, forming a pump laser containing an optical mode at least partially overlapping and propagating substantially parallel to optically pumped gain element's active layer.