PhotonVentures closes second fundraising round at € 75 million

By Team IO

PhotonVentures, the deep tech venture capital fund focused on start-ups and scale-ups developing solutions with photonic chips, finishes a second fundraising round of over €15 million, bringing the fund’s total to €75 million. PhotonVentures’ mission is to support growth and capitalize on the rapidly developing integrated photonics semiconductor industry.

The fund targets essential applications in data transmission, health diagnostics, and smart sensor systems, while also aligning with major global trends such as AI, AR, and VR.

The recent close strengthens PhotonVentures’ position within the Dutch and European ambitions in this strategically important emerging market. Private and strategic investors, together with the support of BOM (Brabant Development Agency), Oost NL, TNO, and the University of Twente, have made this funding round possible; a fitting follow-up to the first €60 million round, which was led by PhotonDelta and private investors.

Photonics is part of a geopolitical game that needs to be played on a European level

Just a year ago, the photonics ecosystem was supported with a 1.1 billion injection from public and private funding in the Netherlands.

Moving forward, PhotonVentures wants to raise over €100 million for the closure of the initial fund by the end of 2024. This fund focuses on Seed to Series A investments, with participation ranging from €1 million to €2.5 million. With strategic support from the Dutch National Growth Fund and the European Chips Act for the Dutch and European ecosystem, PhotonVentures creates the conditions for the growth of 20 deep-tech frontrunners to position themselves as international leaders within the European ecosystem.

Ewit Roos, General Partner at PhotonVentures, is that BOM, Oost NL, TNO and University Twente came on board. “It proves their belief that PhotonVentures is creating value for investors and sustainable economic impact for the Netherlands and the rest of Europe.”