Market map · Worldwide

Photonics market map

280 photonics startups worldwide that have raised money in rounds we track, placed in 6 segments by what each says it does. Together they have raised $11B; the biggest segment is lasers, with 163 companies.

280startups on the map
6segments
$11Braised between them
Optical computing and interconnectsmost funded segment

Lasers

163

+139 more

Lidar and sensing

53

+29 more

Optical computing and interconnects

25

+1 more

Optical components

19

Quantum photonics

16

Displays and AR optics

4

Segment by segment

Lasers

163 startups · $3.4B raised

  1. KiorAt home Medical Grade Laser Hair Removal Machine.United States$299M
  2. PrysmPrysm is a visual collaboration and display technology company founded in 2005 by Amit Jain and Roger Hajjar.United States$293M
  3. Focused EnergyFocused Energy is a German-American deep-tech startup founded in 2021, specializing in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF).Germany$280M
  4. BBCCbcc is a cosmetology center that provides plastic surgery, laser hair removal, anti-aging, wrinkle firming, whitening and rejuvenaSpain$170M
  5. ACAgility CommunicationsAgility Communications provides laser solutions such as tunable transponder and laser for the optical network.United States$168M
  6. IvantisIvantis is focused on developing an innovative treatment for glaucoma which includes eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery.United States$113M
  7. Xcimer EnergyXcimer Energy is an inertial fusion company offering laser-driven fusion to provide cheap, abundant, and carbon-free energy.United States$100M
  8. GlowforgeGlowforge is a company that specializes in at-home 3D laser printers, offering a creative solution for DIY enthusiasts, educators,United States$89M

Lidar and sensing

53 startups · $1.6B raised

  1. LuminarLuminar is an autonomous vehicle and lidar technology company for passenger cars, commercial trucking, and robo-taxi.United States$485M
  2. OusterOuster builds high-resolution digital lidar sensors for industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive.United States$287M
  3. InnovusionInnovusion is an autonomous vehicle LiDAR technology developer.United States$148M
  4. AEyeAEye develops adaptive, high performance lidar systems for automotive, trucking, smart infrastructure and logistics applications.United States$106M
  5. CeptonCepton develops innovative lidar solutions for automotive (ADAS and autonomous vehicles) and smart infrastructure applications.United States$100M
  6. Living OpticsLiving Optics is a private deep-tech company founded in 2020, specializing in the development and manufacturing of affordable, porUnited Kingdom$61M
  7. OutsightOutsight is a technology company based in Paris, founded in 2019, that specializes in Infrastructure-based Physical AI.France$42M
  8. BarajaBaraja is a deep technology company based in Sydney, founded in 2015.Australia$32M

Optical computing and interconnects

25 startups · $4.6B raised

  1. PsiQuantumPsiQuantum develops quantum computer using photonic qubits and silicon photonics to build fault-tolerant quantum computing systems.United States$2.1B
  2. LumilensLumilens addresses the red hot market for AI data center infrastructure by designing, manufacturing and selling photonic interconnUnited States$709M
  3. LightmatterLightmatter is a Boston-based optical computing company founded in 2017 by MIT researchers.United States$433M
  4. Celestial AICelestial AI is a semiconductor and AI infrastructure company specializing in optical interconnect technology for data centers andUnited States$250M
  5. Black SemiconductorBlack Semiconductor is a German startup based in Aachen, specializing in semiconductor technology.Germany$247M
  6. LightelligenceLightelligence is an optical computing company founded in 2017 as a spin-out from MIT.United States$220M
  7. iPronicsiPRONICS is a Spanish deep-tech semiconductor company founded in 2019 as a spinoff from Universitat Politècnica de València.Spain$137M
  8. NeurophosNeurophos Inc.United States$110M

Optical components

19 startups · $485M raised

  1. NONovera OpticsNovera Optics offers WDM-PON, SpeedLIGHT and TurboLIGHT as a solution for fiber optic access.United States$90M
  2. Rockley PhotonicsRockley Photonics manufactures photonics chips and custom integrated packaged products.United States$87M
  3. LumotiveLumotive is a semiconductor company based in Redmond, Washington, founded in 2017.United States$59M
  4. LensVectorLensVector is an optical technology company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2006.United States$36M
  5. MetalenzMetalenz is a Boston-based fabless semiconductor optics company founded in 2016.United States$30M
  6. EFFECT PhotonicsEFFECT Photonics is an independent photonic semiconductor company based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, founded in 2010.Netherlands$24M
  7. NanoOptoNanoOpto employs nano-optics and nano-manufacturing technologies to develop components for optical systems and networks.United States$24M
  8. ZeusDelivering dependable and innovative polymer solutions for over 50 years.United States$24M

Quantum photonics

16 startups · $505M raised

  1. PhotonicPhotonic develops quantum computing and networking technologies, utilizing silicon spin qubits and native telecom networking interface.Canada$131M
  2. ORCA ComputingORCA Computing is building the first scalable and flexible quantum computer powered by photonics.United Kingdom$85M
  3. Q.ANTQ.ANT is a German scale-up founded in 2018 and based in Stuttgart.Germany$72M
  4. EleQtroneleQtron GmbH, founded in 2020, is a pioneering German start-up focused on developing and operating trapped-ion quantum computers.Germany$67M
  5. Ostendo TechnologiesOstendo Technologies is a privately held company based in Carlsbad, California, founded in 2005.United States$60M
  6. planqcplanqc is a Munich-based quantum computing startup founded in 2022, emerging as the first spin-off from the Max Planck Institute oGermany$33M
  7. Sparrow QuantumSparrow Quantum develope and commercializes photonic quantum technology components.Denmark$24M
  8. QuanfluenceQuanfluence is a Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup founded in 2021, specializing in photonic quantum computing systems and quantumIndia$12M

Displays and AR optics

4 startups · $106M raised

  1. Light Blue OpticsLight Blue Optics (LBO) was a technology company based in Cambridge, UK, with additional offices in San Mateo, CA.United Kingdom$59M
  2. Light PolymersLight Polymers is a nanochemistry company founded in 2013, specializing in lyotropic liquid crystal technology.United States$29M
  3. LetinARLetinAR is a South Korea-based company specializing in augmented reality (AR) optics, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Anyang-South Korea$11M
  4. Swave PhotonicsSwave Photonics is a fabless semiconductor company based in Leuven, Belgium, founded in 2022.Belgium$7.0M

How this map is made. Every startup here has raised money in rounds we track. 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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Investors mapWho invests in photonics107 investors · 7 segmentsRaised in 2026Photonics startups that raised in 202657 startups · 5 segments · $2.7BNew waveNew photonics startups, founded 2020 on48 startups · 5 segments · $2.4BMarket map · United StatesPhotonics market map: United States116 startups · 5 segments · $7.8BMarket map · EuropePhotonics market map: Europe96 startups · 5 segments · $1.9BMarket map · United KingdomPhotonics market map: United Kingdom34 startups · 4 segments · $449M

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