Market map · United States

Photonics market map: United States

116 photonics startups based in the United States that have raised money in rounds we track, placed in 5 segments by what each says it does. Together they have raised $7.8B; the biggest segment is lasers.

116startups on the map
5segments
$7.8Braised between them
Optical computing and interconnectsmost funded segment

Lasers

61

+37 more

Lidar and sensing

24

Optical components

14

Optical computing and interconnects

13

Quantum photonics

4

Segment by segment

Lasers

61 startups · $2.0B 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. ACAgility CommunicationsAgility Communications provides laser solutions such as tunable transponder and laser for the optical network.United States$168M
  4. IvantisIvantis is focused on developing an innovative treatment for glaucoma which includes eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery.United States$113M
  5. Xcimer EnergyXcimer Energy is an inertial fusion company offering laser-driven fusion to provide cheap, abundant, and carbon-free energy.United States$100M
  6. GlowforgeGlowforge is a company that specializes in at-home 3D laser printers, offering a creative solution for DIY enthusiasts, educators,United States$89M
  7. Blue Laser FusionBlue Laser Fusion is a renewable energy power generation company that provides energy management and clean energy generation services.United States$72M
  8. Santur CorporationSantur Corporation, operating as Casela Technologies, is a semiconductor laser and photonics company specializing in telecommunicaUnited States$56M

Lidar and sensing

24 startups · $1.3B 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. Sense PhotonicsSense Photonics, based in Durham, North Carolina, was a developer and manufacturer of solid-state flash LiDAR sensors and 3D vision systems.United States$26M
  7. NUVIEWNUVIEW is building the world's first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation.United States$17M
  8. AI OpticsAI Optics is a New York-based medical device and digital health company that focuses on enhancing retinal disease screening througUnited States$15M

Optical components

14 startups · $421M 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. NanoOptoNanoOpto employs nano-optics and nano-manufacturing technologies to develop components for optical systems and networks.United States$24M
  7. ZeusDelivering dependable and innovative polymer solutions for over 50 years.United States$24M
  8. Relativity NetworksRelativity Networks is a telecommunications company based in Orlando, Florida, founded in 2023.United States$23M

Optical computing and interconnects

13 startups · $4.0B 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. LightelligenceLightelligence is an optical computing company founded in 2017 as a spin-out from MIT.United States$220M
  6. NeurophosNeurophos Inc.United States$110M
  7. OpenLightOpenLight is a silicon photonics company based in Goleta, California, specializing in the design and manufacture of custom PhotoniUnited States$84M
  8. nEye.aiWe are nEye.ai, an optical switch startup founded in 2020 to revolutionize the future of data centers.United States$80M

Quantum photonics

4 startups · $67M raised

  1. Ostendo TechnologiesOstendo Technologies is a privately held company based in Carlsbad, California, founded in 2005.United States$60M
  2. Photon QueuePhoton Queue is a quantum hardware startup founded in 2025, emerging from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.United States$4.0M
  3. QC82QC82 is a quantum computing startup based in College Park, Maryland, founded in 2020.United States$1.5M
  4. Tarsier OpticsTarsier Optics is developing heat haze turbulence free, sub-Rayleigh cameras based on quantum optics.United States$1.0M

How this map is made. Every startup here has raised money in rounds we track, and is based in United States. 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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