Invest-NL is investing €5 million in PhotonVentures Fund I, a Dutch venture capital fund focused on developing integrated photonics. Through the investment in PhotonVentures, the Dutch investment agency is supporting early-stage photonics startups and contributing to the further growth of this sector.
Integrated photonics, a technology that uses light for data transmission, significantly reduces energy consumption in applications such as data centers, telecommunications, transport, and medical equipment. This directly impacts energy efficiency, helping to make various sectors more sustainable.
PhotonVentures is a specialized deep tech fund that invests in photonics startups in the Netherlands and Europe. By investing from an ecosystem perspective, young companies in the portfolio are better positioned in the rapidly developing photonics market, gain quicker access to customer feedback, and benefit from an international network for further growth. The fund has 14 investments in leading companies, including Smart Photonics, Effect Photonics, Phix, PhotonFirst, and VitreaLab.
Invest-NL joins a group of prominent tech investors, family offices, the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), PhotonDelta, Oost NL, the University of Twente, and TNO, who have previously invested in the fund. The final close of PhotonVentures Fund I, with a targeted fund size of €100 million, is planned for the end of this year.
Fostering the ecosystem
PhotonVentures primarily targets seed-stage companies in the photonics and semiconductor industries. By adopting an ecosystem approach and working closely with universities, research institutes, technical partners, and businesses across the value chain, the fund generates value for the wider integrated photonics ecosystem in the Netherlands and beyond. This approach strengthens the entire value chain, from development to production and integration of photonic products.
Liz Duijves, Investment Manager at Invest-NL, commented: “Photonics is a key technology for the Netherlands and a priority in the national technology strategy. As one of the few funds in Europe specializing in photonics, PhotonVentures is a vital player in advancing this sector. Our investment significantly contributes to the Netherlands’ integrated photonics industry’s growth and innovation.”
Ewit Roos, General Partner at PhotonVentures, emphasized: “We are delighted to welcome Invest-NL as a new investor in PhotonVentures. Their involvement reflects confidence in this specialized fund and highlights the immense potential of integrated photonics and the crucial role it plays in technological progress in the Netherlands and beyond.”
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