Seven early-stage startup companies have been selected as finalists for the prestigious SPIE Startup Challenge, which will take place during Photonics West on January 28, 2025, in San Francisco. The competition offers a unique platform for emerging businesses utilizing optics and photonics technologies to drive innovative solutions across various industries. The winner of this year’s competition will receive a top cash prize of $10,000, with second and third place prizes of $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. The awards are generously sponsored by Jenoptik, a founding partner of the event, with additional support from Lead Sponsor Hamamatsu and Supporting Sponsor Luminate.
The SPIE Startup Challenge provides startups with invaluable exposure to potential investors, partners, and collaborators. It serves as a highly competitive and entrepreneurial platform, where new businesses in the optics and photonics sector can showcase their groundbreaking technologies and applications. The finalists are selected not only for their innovative products but also for their potential to make significant impacts in fields like healthcare, communications, and manufacturing.
In addition to the cash prizes, the event offers participants an unparalleled opportunity to engage with venture capitalists and industry experts who will judge the competition based on business cases, financial viability, and competitive advantages. The startups will receive critical feedback from these experts, gaining insights that can help refine their business strategies and enhance their future growth prospects.
Benjamin Dringoli, co-founder and COO of TRAQC, the 2024 SPIE Startup Challenge winner, emphasized the value of the event: “This is a completely focused crowd that we wouldn’t have access to anywhere else. The opportunity to pitch in front of industry leaders, receive live feedback, and have people come up and say, ‘If you need help, let me know,’ is invaluable,” Dringoli said. “The mentorship and exposure have been tremendous for us.”
The seven finalists selected for the 2025 SPIE Startup Challenge span diverse industries, with innovations in medical diagnostics, carbon credit technology, and next-generation manufacturing solutions. Here are the finalists and their technologies:
- Atzeyo Biosensors, Inc. – Photonic Resonance Absorption Microscopy: A molecular diagnostic platform designed for cancer care in physician’s offices, offering new ways to diagnose cancer more effectively.
- Max-IR Labs – AquaCarbon Monitor: A technology enabling precise CO2 monitoring in water systems, empowering carbon credits and advancing environmental sustainability efforts.
- Photosynthetic B.V. – Volumetric Micro-Lithography: A method for the rapid production of complex 3D devices with submicron features, opening up new possibilities for manufacturing in industries like electronics and biotechnology.
- OptiCardio – OptiCardio: A spectroscopy-enabled device designed to guide real-time procedures aimed at reducing the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation, enhancing the efficacy of ablation treatments.
- iSLight – Surface-Emitting SLED (Superluminescent LED): A company focused on delivering superior lighting solutions for industrial quality control, smart glasses, and advanced imaging instruments.
- SureVision – SureVision: A new method for evaluating refractive error in the human eye, using a disruptive flicker-minimization technology that is faster and more precise than current gold-standard techniques.
- Modendo, Inc. – NeuroVu: Ultra-thin endoscopes designed for deep-brain imaging, offering improved imaging capabilities for neurological procedures.
The SPIE Startup Challenge is an integral part of the annual Photonics West conference, which is one of the largest gatherings of professionals in the optics and photonics fields. The event has a history of launching successful companies, with past winners such as Cellino Biotech, Double Helix Optics, and PhotoniCare going on to achieve wide commercial success.
In addition to its role in fostering innovation, the SPIE Startup Challenge also highlights the growing importance of light-based technologies. These technologies are making significant contributions across various sectors, including healthcare, communications, quantum computing, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR/MR), and autonomous vehicles. The annual competition underscores the transformative potential of optics and photonics in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The 2025 competition will once again offer startups a chance to gain critical visibility and mentorship while competing for significant prizes. The opportunity to pitch in front of leading investors, venture capitalists, and business development experts is a key benefit for startups seeking to scale their innovations. Winners of the challenge will not only receive financial support but also gain invaluable feedback that can help them refine their business strategies and expand their market reach.
For more information about the SPIE Startup Challenge and to register for SPIE Photonics West, please visit the official event page at SPIE Photonics West.
