• wooptix

  Participated · Series B · Jul 2023

  Wooptix builds semiconductor metrology systems based on wavefront phase imaging, a technique adapted from adaptive optics research in astronomy. Its flagship product, Phemet®, delivers industry-leading lateral resolution, near real-time process capability and can collect over 16 million data points with sub-nanometer height resolution. Phemet® has been adopted by major semiconductor manufacturers and is on track for full automation and factory-floor deployment for in-line testing in the coming months. The company says its tools rapidly and accurately detect nanoscale defects, addressing growing precision and efficiency demands driven by AI and advanced chip designs. Wooptix has an international presence across Europe, the United States and Asia, with offices in Tenerife, Madrid and San Francisco and headquarters in Spain. The new funding will accelerate product development, expand international reach and scale the team to meet growing industry demand. Wooptix commercializes semiconductor metrology equipment built around its patented Phemet® wavefront phase‑imaging sensor, which measures blank and patterned wafer shape and warpage with higher resolution and in less time than incumbent systems. The company says Phemet® attains nanometer‑scale sensitivity while remaining transportable (about a metric ton), enabling lab and fab deployments. Wooptix plans to automate Phemet® to reduce contamination risk and improve measurement reproducibility, and to integrate the system into existing semiconductor tools from vendors. The business is transitioning from R&D toward product and manufacturing, building infrastructure, procedures, and certifications to support customers as it begins initial tool deliveries. Financially, Wooptix announced a €10 million Series B and was awarded a €2.5 million EIC Accelerator grant that will support product introduction and further technological innovation. The company operates from Tenerife, Madrid, and San Francisco and was founded in 2014. Wooptix is a spin‑off of the University of La Laguna (Tenerife) led by inventor José Manuel Rodríguez Ramos and co‑founders Javier Párraga (CEO) and Javier Elizalde. Its core product, Natural3D, is an image‑processing technology that can produce 3D images and video from standard cameras and has been demonstrated in the astrophysics field. The technology is positioned for applications across smartphones, industrial and professional cameras, medical uses, consumer electronics, augmented reality and high‑precision industrial measurement. Investors have described the company as having a patented product and an experienced engineering team in imaging and optics. Wooptix closed a €3 million financing round that will be used to perfect Natural3D, evaluate new applications and begin commercial development. Erik Jorgensen (Intel Capital) and Javier Ulecia (Bullnet) are set to join the company’s board alongside the co‑founders.

• BCN3D

  Participated · Equity · Jul 2020

  BCN3D designs, produces and distributes high‑value desktop FFF 3D printers built around its proprietary IDEX dual‑extrusion technology. The company serves more than 60 countries and counts customers such as Seat, BMW, NASA, Camper and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu. It runs collaborations with materials partners BASF Forward AM and Mitsubishi Chemical to develop new industrial materials. BCN3D plans to use recent funding to strengthen professional‑market hardware features and continue innovating its IDEX technology. During the COVID‑19 pandemic the company produced and distributed over 4,200 reusable protective visors to more than 50 medical centers through its “3D Printing to Live” initiative. After this round BCN3D has raised a total of €5.5M since its 2019 spin‑off from UPC. BCN3D develops and sells industrial 3D printers for prototyping, functional validation and manufacturing tooling, jigs, and fixtures. The company has sold 5,000 printers through a network of 60 active distribution partners worldwide and counts clients such as BMW, Samsung, Louis Vuitton, Nissan, NASA, HTC and ALBA Synchrotron. BCN3D was spun off from CIM-UPC, an Additive Manufacturing center at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech, and is led by CEO Xavier Martínez Faneca with an executive team including Roger Antunez, Pol Domenech, Marc Felis, Jose Antonio Ortega, Eric Pallares and advisor Roger Uceda. The company intends to use the funds to ramp up production. The article positions BCN3D as scaling manufacturing and distribution following its incubation and spin-off.

No current team members are available.