# Photonics Market Map United States 2026: 116 Startups in 5 Segments > 116 photonics startups in the United States, mapped in 5 segments: lasers, lidar and sensing and optical components and more. Source: https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-united-states-market-map (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article) ## Lasers 61 - [Kior](https://millionrounds.com/company/kior) - [Prysm](https://millionrounds.com/company/prysm) - [*AC* Agility Communications](https://millionrounds.com/company/agility-communications) - [Ivantis](https://millionrounds.com/company/ivantis) - [Xcimer Energy](https://millionrounds.com/company/xcimer-energy) - [Glowforge](https://millionrounds.com/company/glowforge) - [Blue Laser Fusion](https://millionrounds.com/company/blue-laser-fusion) - [Santur Corporation](https://millionrounds.com/company/santur-corporation) - [Monarch Quantum](https://millionrounds.com/company/monarch-quantum) - [Convergent Dental](https://millionrounds.com/company/convergent-dental) - [Aurelius Systems](https://millionrounds.com/company/aurelius-systems) - [Biolase](https://millionrounds.com/company/biolase) - [Opti-Logic](https://millionrounds.com/company/opti-logic) - [Exploding Kittens](https://millionrounds.com/company/exploding-kittens) - [*B* BinOptics](https://millionrounds.com/company/binoptics) - [Quintessent](https://millionrounds.com/company/quintessent) - [IPG](https://millionrounds.com/company/ipg) - [Novian Health](https://millionrounds.com/company/novian-health) - [SpectraSensors](https://millionrounds.com/company/spectrasensors) - [Laser Light Engines](https://millionrounds.com/company/laser-light-engines) - [Redfern Integrated Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/redfern-integrated-optics) - [UltraClear](https://millionrounds.com/company/ultraclear) - [LensX Lasers](https://millionrounds.com/company/lensx-lasers) - [Vyome Therapeutics](https://millionrounds.com/company/vyome-therapeutics) +37 more ## Lidar and sensing 24 - [Luminar](https://millionrounds.com/company/luminar) - [Ouster](https://millionrounds.com/company/ouster) - [Innovusion](https://millionrounds.com/company/innovusion) - [AEye](https://millionrounds.com/company/aeye) - [Cepton](https://millionrounds.com/company/cepton) - [Sense Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/sense-photonics) - [NUVIEW](https://millionrounds.com/company/nuview) - [AI Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/ai-optics) - [TetraVue](https://millionrounds.com/company/tetravue) - [Red Leader](https://millionrounds.com/company/red-leader) - [Voyant Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/voyant-photonics) - [NP Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/np-photonics) - [PreNav](https://millionrounds.com/company/prenav) - [PreAct Technologies](https://millionrounds.com/company/preact-technologies) - [Intelon Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/intelon-optics) - [*O* OptoAtmospherics](https://millionrounds.com/company/optoatmospherics) - [Paracosm](https://millionrounds.com/company/paracosm) - [Diagnostic Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/diagnostic-photonics) - [Valiscane](https://millionrounds.com/company/valiscane) - [Double Helix Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/double-helix-optics) - [*TO* TAG Optics Inc.](https://millionrounds.com/company/tag-optics-inc) - [Sensible Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/sensible-photonics) - [Phi Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/phi-optics) - [OAM Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/oam-photonics) ## Optical components 14 - [*NO* Novera Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/novera-optics) - [Rockley Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/rockley-photonics) - [Lumotive](https://millionrounds.com/company/lumotive) - [LensVector](https://millionrounds.com/company/lensvector) - [Metalenz](https://millionrounds.com/company/metalenz) - [NanoOpto](https://millionrounds.com/company/nanoopto) - [Zeus](https://millionrounds.com/company/zeus) - [Relativity Networks](https://millionrounds.com/company/relativity-networks) - [*VP* VSK Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/vsk-photonics) - [Confluent Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/confluent-photonics) - [Uviquity](https://millionrounds.com/company/uviquity) - [Momentum Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/momentum-optics) - [Arbor Photonics](https://millionrounds.com/company/arbor-photonics) - [SunPath](https://millionrounds.com/company/sunpath) ## Optical computing and interconnects 13 - [PsiQuantum](https://millionrounds.com/company/psiquantum) - [Lumilens](https://millionrounds.com/company/lumilens) - [Lightmatter](https://millionrounds.com/company/lightmatter) - [Celestial AI](https://millionrounds.com/company/celestial-ai) - [Lightelligence](https://millionrounds.com/company/lightelligence) - [Neurophos](https://millionrounds.com/company/neurophos) - [OpenLight](https://millionrounds.com/company/openlight) - [nEye.ai](https://millionrounds.com/company/neye-ai) - [Lucidean](https://millionrounds.com/company/lucidean) - [Palomino Laboratories](https://millionrounds.com/company/palomino-laboratories) - [*AI* Aurrion, Inc.](https://millionrounds.com/company/aurrion-inc) - [Photonect Interconnect Solutions](https://millionrounds.com/company/photonect-interconnect-solutions) - [Iris Light Technologies](https://millionrounds.com/company/iris-light-technologies) ## Quantum photonics 4 - [Ostendo Technologies](https://millionrounds.com/company/ostendo-technologies) - [Photon Queue](https://millionrounds.com/company/photon-queue) - [QC82](https://millionrounds.com/company/qc82) - [Tarsier Optics](https://millionrounds.com/company/tarsier-optics) ## Segment by segment ### Lasers 61 startups · $2.0B raised - [**Kior**](https://millionrounds.com/company/kior) At home Medical Grade Laser Hair Removal Machine. United States $299M - [**Prysm**](https://millionrounds.com/company/prysm) Prysm is a visual collaboration and display technology company founded in 2005 by Amit Jain and Roger Hajjar. United States $293M - [*AC* **Agility Communications**](https://millionrounds.com/company/agility-communications) Agility Communications provides laser solutions such as tunable transponder and laser for the optical network. United States $168M - [**Ivantis**](https://millionrounds.com/company/ivantis) Ivantis is focused on developing an innovative treatment for glaucoma which includes eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery. United States $113M - [**Xcimer Energy**](https://millionrounds.com/company/xcimer-energy) Xcimer Energy is an inertial fusion company offering laser-driven fusion to provide cheap, abundant, and carbon-free energy. United States $100M - [**Glowforge**](https://millionrounds.com/company/glowforge) Glowforge is a company that specializes in at-home 3D laser printers, offering a creative solution for DIY enthusiasts, educators, United States $89M - [**Blue Laser Fusion**](https://millionrounds.com/company/blue-laser-fusion) Blue Laser Fusion is a renewable energy power generation company that provides energy management and clean energy generation services. United States $72M - [**Santur Corporation**](https://millionrounds.com/company/santur-corporation) Santur Corporation, operating as Casela Technologies, is a semiconductor laser and photonics company specializing in telecommunica United States $56M ### Lidar and sensing 24 startups · $1.3B raised - [**Luminar**](https://millionrounds.com/company/luminar) Luminar is an autonomous vehicle and lidar technology company for passenger cars, commercial trucking, and robo-taxi. United States $485M - [**Ouster**](https://millionrounds.com/company/ouster) Ouster builds high-resolution digital lidar sensors for industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive. United States $287M - [**Innovusion**](https://millionrounds.com/company/innovusion) Innovusion is an autonomous vehicle LiDAR technology developer. United States $148M - [**AEye**](https://millionrounds.com/company/aeye) AEye develops adaptive, high performance lidar systems for automotive, trucking, smart infrastructure and logistics applications. United States $106M - [**Cepton**](https://millionrounds.com/company/cepton) Cepton develops innovative lidar solutions for automotive (ADAS and autonomous vehicles) and smart infrastructure applications. United States $100M - [**Sense Photonics**](https://millionrounds.com/company/sense-photonics) Sense Photonics, based in Durham, North Carolina, was a developer and manufacturer of solid-state flash LiDAR sensors and 3D vision systems. United States $26M - [**NUVIEW**](https://millionrounds.com/company/nuview) NUVIEW is building the world's first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation. United States $17M - [**AI Optics**](https://millionrounds.com/company/ai-optics) AI Optics is a New York-based medical device and digital health company that focuses on enhancing retinal disease screening throug United States $15M ### Optical components 14 startups · $421M raised - [*NO* **Novera Optics**](https://millionrounds.com/company/novera-optics) Novera Optics offers WDM-PON, SpeedLIGHT and TurboLIGHT as a solution for fiber optic access. United States $90M - [**Rockley Photonics**](https://millionrounds.com/company/rockley-photonics) Rockley Photonics manufactures photonics chips and custom integrated packaged products. United States $87M - [**Lumotive**](https://millionrounds.com/company/lumotive) Lumotive is a semiconductor company based in Redmond, Washington, founded in 2017. United States $59M - [**LensVector**](https://millionrounds.com/company/lensvector) LensVector is an optical technology company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2006. United States $36M - [**Metalenz**](https://millionrounds.com/company/metalenz) Metalenz is a Boston-based fabless semiconductor optics company founded in 2016. United States $30M - [**NanoOpto**](https://millionrounds.com/company/nanoopto) NanoOpto employs nano-optics and nano-manufacturing technologies to develop components for optical systems and networks. United States $24M - [**Zeus**](https://millionrounds.com/company/zeus) Delivering dependable and innovative polymer solutions for over 50 years. United States $24M - [**Relativity Networks**](https://millionrounds.com/company/relativity-networks) Relativity Networks is a telecommunications company based in Orlando, Florida, founded in 2023. United States $23M ### Optical computing and interconnects 13 startups · $4.0B raised - [**PsiQuantum**](https://millionrounds.com/company/psiquantum) PsiQuantum develops quantum computer using photonic qubits and silicon photonics to build fault-tolerant quantum computing systems. United States $2.1B - [**Lumilens**](https://millionrounds.com/company/lumilens) Lumilens addresses the red hot market for AI data center infrastructure by designing, manufacturing and selling photonic interconn United States $709M - [**Lightmatter**](https://millionrounds.com/company/lightmatter) Lightmatter is a Boston-based optical computing company founded in 2017 by MIT researchers. United States $433M - [**Celestial AI**](https://millionrounds.com/company/celestial-ai) Celestial AI is a semiconductor and AI infrastructure company specializing in optical interconnect technology for data centers and United States $250M - [**Lightelligence**](https://millionrounds.com/company/lightelligence) Lightelligence is an optical computing company founded in 2017 as a spin-out from MIT. United States $220M - [**Neurophos**](https://millionrounds.com/company/neurophos) Neurophos Inc. United States $110M - [**OpenLight**](https://millionrounds.com/company/openlight) OpenLight is a silicon photonics company based in Goleta, California, specializing in the design and manufacture of custom Photoni United States $84M - [**nEye.ai**](https://millionrounds.com/company/neye-ai) We 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 - [**Ostendo Technologies**](https://millionrounds.com/company/ostendo-technologies) Ostendo Technologies is a privately held company based in Carlsbad, California, founded in 2005. United States $60M - [**Photon Queue**](https://millionrounds.com/company/photon-queue) Photon Queue is a quantum hardware startup founded in 2025, emerging from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. United States $4.0M - [**QC82**](https://millionrounds.com/company/qc82) QC82 is a quantum computing startup based in College Park, Maryland, founded in 2020. United States $1.5M - [**Tarsier Optics**](https://millionrounds.com/company/tarsier-optics) Tarsier 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. ## More market maps [All maps](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps) [Market map **Photonics market map** 280 startups · 6 segments · $11B](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-market-map)[Investors map **Who invests in photonics** 107 investors · 7 segments](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-investors-map)[Market map · Europe **Photonics market map: Europe** 96 startups · 5 segments · $1.9B](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-europe-market-map)[Raised in 2026 **Photonics startups that raised in 2026** 57 startups · 5 segments · $2.7B](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-raised-2026-market-map)[New wave **New photonics startups, founded 2020 on** 48 startups · 5 segments · $2.4B](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/new-photonics-startups-market-map)[Market map · United Kingdom **Photonics market map: United Kingdom** 34 startups · 4 segments · $449M](https://millionrounds.com/market-maps/photonics-united-kingdom-market-map) ## Who backs photonics? 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