New wave · Worldwide

New photonics startups, founded 2020 on

The new wave: 48 photonics startups founded in 2020 or later that have raised money in rounds we track, $2.4B between them, placed in 5 segments.

48startups on the map
5segments
$2.4Braised between them
Optical computing and interconnectsmost funded segment

Lasers

17

Optical computing and interconnects

10

Lidar and sensing

10

Quantum photonics

8

Optical components

3

Segment by segment

Lasers

17 startups · $592M raised

  1. Focused EnergyFocused Energy is a German-American deep-tech startup founded in 2021, specializing in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF).Germany$280M
  2. Xcimer EnergyXcimer Energy is an inertial fusion company offering laser-driven fusion to provide cheap, abundant, and carbon-free energy.United States$100M
  3. Laser LinkLaser Link is a laser communication company that focuses on development of precision optical-mechanical products for commercial aircraft.-$73M
  4. Monarch QuantumMonarch Quantum, Inc.United States$55M
  5. HCHuachen Core LightHuachen Core Light is a semiconductor technology company that produces and manufactures optical communications and laser chips.-$28M
  6. AWOL VisionAWOL Vision produces 4K ultra-short-throw laser projectors, projection screens, and home cinema accessories.United States$15M
  7. Ray studiosRay Studios is a medical company focused exclusively on laser tattoo removal, with clinics in Paris, Lyon, Brussels, and Barcelona.France$12M
  8. Overview EnergyOverview Energy is an aerospace startup based in Ashburn, Virginia, founded in 2022.United States$12M

Optical computing and interconnects

10 startups · $1.5B raised

  1. LumilensLumilens addresses the red hot market for AI data center infrastructure by designing, manufacturing and selling photonic interconnUnited States$709M
  2. Celestial AICelestial AI is a semiconductor and AI infrastructure company specializing in optical interconnect technology for data centers andUnited States$250M
  3. Black SemiconductorBlack Semiconductor is a German startup based in Aachen, specializing in semiconductor technology.Germany$247M
  4. NeurophosNeurophos Inc.United States$110M
  5. OpenLightOpenLight is a silicon photonics company based in Goleta, California, specializing in the design and manufacture of custom PhotoniUnited States$84M
  6. nEye.aiWe are nEye.ai, an optical switch startup founded in 2020 to revolutionize the future of data centers.United States$80M
  7. Zero Point MotionZero Point Motion is a deep-tech startup based in Bristol, UK, founded in 2020.United Kingdom$13M
  8. Lightspeed PhotonicsLightSpeed Photonics is a Singapore-based fabless semiconductor company founded in 2021.Singapore$6.5M

Lidar and sensing

10 startups · $111M raised

  1. Living OpticsLiving Optics is a private deep-tech company founded in 2020, specializing in the development and manufacturing of affordable, porUnited Kingdom$61M
  2. NUVIEWNUVIEW is building the world's first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation.United States$17M
  3. AI OpticsAI Optics is a New York-based medical device and digital health company that focuses on enhancing retinal disease screening througUnited States$15M
  4. AIRMOAIRMO GmbH is a German startup founded in 2022, specializing in climate-tech and space-tech solutions.Germany$5.8M
  5. SolidvueWith our slogan ‘Toward Solid-State LiDAR,' we are dedicated to commercializing LiDAR sensors using semiconductor-based technology.South Korea$3.8M
  6. SilotonSiloton specialises in miniaturised optical technology for medical imaging, using quantum photonic chips and OCT to detect and monUnited Kingdom$2.7M
  7. Singular PhotonicsSingular Photonics is a fabless semiconductor company based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.United Kingdom$2.2M
  8. SteerLightSteerlight develops a new generation of LiDARs, that are key three-dimensional vision optical sensors to ensure safety and efficieFrance$2.2M

Quantum photonics

8 startups · $129M raised

  1. EleQtroneleQtron GmbH, founded in 2020, is a pioneering German start-up focused on developing and operating trapped-ion quantum computers.Germany$67M
  2. planqcplanqc is a Munich-based quantum computing startup founded in 2022, emerging as the first spin-off from the Max Planck Institute oGermany$33M
  3. QuanfluenceQuanfluence is a Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup founded in 2021, specializing in photonic quantum computing systems and quantumIndia$12M
  4. Pixel PhotonicsPixel Photonics manufactures scalable single-photon detectors for applications like secure quantum communication.Germany$5.7M
  5. Wave PhotonicsWave Photonics is a deep-tech startup based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, founded in 2021.United Kingdom$5.7M
  6. Photon QueuePhoton Queue is a quantum hardware startup founded in 2025, emerging from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.United States$4.0M
  7. QC82QC82 is a quantum computing startup based in College Park, Maryland, founded in 2020.United States$1.5M
  8. ViqthorVIQTHOR is a French high-technology company specializing in quantum computing infrastructure.France$1.1M

Optical components

3 startups · $40M raised

  1. Relativity NetworksRelativity Networks is a telecommunications company based in Orlando, Florida, founded in 2023.United States$23M
  2. UviquityUviquity is a deep-tech photonics company based in Raleigh, North Carolina.United States$9.1M
  3. CCRAFTCCRAFT is a Swiss-based photonic chip foundry that specializes in industrial-scale thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic integSwitzerland$7.8M

How this map is made. Every startup here has raised money in rounds we track, and was founded in 2020 or later. It joins the map when its sectors, read from its rounds, or the opening of its own description say it works in photonics, and goes to the first segment whose words it carries. Each segment shows its best-funded first. Rebuilt nightly; updated 15 November 2026.

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