January in four investments: holographic chips, a digital twin for cities, and smart sensor technology
Each month, we list the investments that caught our eye the most.
Published on February 3, 2025
© Swave Photonics
As editor-in-chief, Aafke oversees all content and events but loves writing herself. She makes complex topics accessible and tells the stories behind technology.
1. PHOTON IP raises €4.75 million for advanced low-power optical chips
PHOTON IP, a manufacturer of advanced low-power optical chips, announced today that it has raised seed capital of €4.75 million. With this funding, the company will accelerate the industrialization and commercialization of its breakthrough technology.
Optical communication networks, AI data centers, and advanced sensors rely heavily on optical chips. A significant challenge here is efficiently integrating different materials on a single photonic chip. Current technologies do not offer the desired performance, energy efficiency, and compact sizes. PHOTON IP solves this through a new approach to integrating silicon and III-V materials such as indium phosphide (important for lasers and modulators).
PHOTON IP raises €4.75 million for advanced low-power optical chips
A manufacturer of advanced low-power optical chips, PHOTON IP, has raised €4.75 million.
2. Scenexus stands up as a spin-off from TNO with an immediate investment of €1.6 million
By creating a digital twin of a city or region, urban planners can assess the exact impact of their ideas in minutes instead of days. Scenexus, a new spin-off from TNO, offers a software solution that generates accurate insights for urban areas. On the first day of its existence, Scenexus also announced a €1.6 million investment by Lumo Labs and TNO.
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Scenexus emerges as TNO spin-off, securing a € 1.6 million investment
Scenexus is the inaugural investment from the recently established LUMO Rise Fund.
3. Villari raises €4 million to expand smart sensor technology in Europe
Villari, a startup specializing in smart sensors for detecting cracks in steel infrastructure, has raised €4 million to fund its expansion plans. The investment, led by FORWARD.one and InnovationQuarter Capital, aims to meet the growing demand for automated monitoring solutions among steel owners, especially as manual inspections become impractical due to labor shortages.
Villari Secures €4M to expand smart sensor technology across Europe
The startup has developed smart crack-detection sensors for steel infrastructure, enabling continuous and effective predictive maintenance.
4. Swave Photonics raises €27 million and promises big steps for its breakthrough holographic chip technology in 2025
Swave secured an impressive €27 million in Series A funding in early January. Also at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Swave Photonics, an imec spin-off, held the global tech community spellbound with its groundbreaking holographic chip technology. Based on integrated photonics, this innovation promises to revolutionize augmented reality (AR), smart displays, and how people interact with the digital and physical world.
Swave Photonics, spun off from imec, promises big steps for its breakthrough holographic chip technology in 2025
The imec spin-off secured €27 million in Series A funding and won a CES Innovation Award for its revolutionary real-time dynamic holography.