Participated · Seed · Jan 2025

PHOTON IP is a Netherlands-based startup manufacturing advanced low-power optical chips aimed at reducing energy consumption and footprint for high-bandwidth communications and sensing. The company reinvents photonic integration by combining silicon with multiple optimized III‑V materials (for lasers, high-speed modulators and photodetectors) on a single photonic chip. Its approach simplifies the manufacturing process for photonic circuits and targets mass deployment of advanced low-power optical engines. PHOTON IP positions its technology as a response to limitations in existing photonic integration schemes that cannot meet performance, energy-efficiency and size requirements. The company plans to industrialise and commercialise its platform to serve data centres, optical communication networks and sensing markets. The recent financing will be used to accelerate that industrialisation and commercialisation.

Led · Seed · Feb 2024

Amazec Photonics, founded in 2021 and based in Oudkarspel, The Netherlands, develops photonics-based cardiovascular monitoring tools. Its external monitoring device measures temperature changes with claimed precision of 0.0001°C—far finer than the 0.01°C accuracy of current methods—and enables multiple real-time measurements rather than single snapshot readings. The external design avoids catheter insertion, reducing invasiveness and simplifying use. The system and product development build on R&D executed by Technobis Fibre Technologies for ASML, FEI (high-resolution FBG sensing) and AMC (hyperthermia sensor development). The company raised seed funding and intends to use the proceeds to develop devices for clinical trials. Founders are Pim Kat, Ton Backx, Erik Korsten and Arthur Bouwman.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2023

LioniX International, founded in 2001 and based in Enschede, designs and manufactures custom-built microsystems featuring MEMS device arrays and photonic laser-driven circuit boards. Its core products and services include full module development for OEMs—circuit design, micro‑fab prototyping, testing, packaging and assembly. The company's photonic and MEMS technologies are applied in augmented reality, virtual reality, biosensing, telecoms and photonic circuits for quantum computers. Recently the company's equity changed hands in a €3.5 million secondary investment by Dutch investors, representing a secondary liquidity transaction rather than primary capital. Company leadership said the investor group will enable further growth and LioniX plans to continue developing and delivering microsystem solutions to current and new clients around the globe. Invest-NL participated via its Deep Tech Fund alongside Universiteit Twente Holding, Oost NL and PhotonDelta.

Participated · Series A · Nov 2022

Scantinel develops photonic chip-driven frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR sensors that use solid-state scanning to capture 3D data. The company says its sensors deliver improved resolution and a detection range beyond 300 metres. Photonic chips enable on-chip light-based data transfer and smaller form factors, which Scantinel argues will aid commercialization. Scantinel positions its technology for automotive, mobility and industrial use cases, and also as a 3D scanner for additive manufacturing. It has partnerships with automotive, mobility and industrial players and plans to expand distribution of its FMCW product. The company recently completed an extended Series A to support those efforts. Scantinel Photonics develops and produces FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave) LiDAR sensors aimed at next-generation vehicle automation. Led by CTO and co-founder Andy Zott, the company’s sensors measure distance and velocity to objects in the 300+ meter range with a high level of integration and solid-state scanning. The technology is positioned as a prerequisite to reach a higher level of automation by delivering a new dimension of data to future vehicles. Scantinel intends to use the funding to further improve its FMCW LiDAR technology and to commercially implement the technology in close cooperation with customers and technology partners. The company is based in Ulm, Germany. In May 2021 it announced a €7.5M funding round led by Scania Growth Capital.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2022

QuiX Quantum develops universal photonic quantum computers built on silicon-nitride chips designed for high-volume manufacturing. Its systems operate primarily at room temperature, are compatible with data-center environments, and emphasize scalability and energy efficiency. The company has delivered world‑record quantum processors and in 2022 sold 8‑qubit and 64‑qubit photonic systems to the German Aerospace Center (DLR QCI). In 2023 it began offering cloud access to its quantum systems, enabling hybrid computing and near‑term application testing across infrastructure, defense, healthcare, and IT. QuiX’s technology leverages single photons, superposition, entanglement, and interference to target applications such as catalyst simulations, molecular dynamics, machine learning, and data analysis. The company plans to deliver its first universal single‑photon-based quantum computer in 2026 and focus on error correction in a next‑generation system planned for 2027. QuiX Quantum, founded in January 2019 in Enschede, the Netherlands, develops integrated photonic quantum processors and photonic integrated circuits for quantum computing. The company focuses on scalable, plug-and-play integrated photonic solutions and says it has record-breaking 12- and 20-qumode processors with low optical losses. Many components of its photonic systems can operate at room temperature, which the company highlights as a way to reduce cost and size. QuiX plans to introduce a whole-system photonic quantum computer based on its 20-qumode processors and a next-generation 50-qumode processor in early 2023. The company reports it has shipped multiple systems throughout Europe and that its processors are the de facto standard in the UK, France, Germany and Hungary. QuiX announced a €5.5M Seed round and the appointment of Dr Stefan Hengesbach as CEO; the funding will be used to start production of a 50-qumode processor.