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Applications for the SPIE Startup Challenge 2025 are open

BELLINGHAM, Washington

Applications for the SPIE Startup Challenge 2025 are now possible. The annual pitch competition is organized by SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonicswithin the framework of SPIE Photonics West In 2025, Photonics West will take place from January 25 to 30 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, and the final of the SPIE Startup Challenge will take place on January 28.

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The winning shot at the SPIE Startup Challenge in 2024: Jenoptik’s Ralf Kuschnereit, TRAQC’s Benjamin Dringoli, and 2024 SPIE President Jennifer Barton. (Photo: Business Wire)

The SPIE Startup Challenge is a competitive entrepreneurial platform for new companies that use optics and photonics for innovative products or applications. Participating teams compete for sponsored prizes and also gain greater visibility among potential investors. The top three finalists will receive cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, which will be awarded by Jenoptik the founding partner of the Startup Challenge.

Light-based technologies are enabling developments in an increasing number of areas, from healthcare and high-speed communications to quantum computing, AR/VR/MR and self-driving vehicles. The annual SPIE Startup Challenge – which is in its 15th year this year – provides a distinctive and vibrant platform for optics and photonics startups developing innovative products, applications and technologies. Startup Challenge winners who have achieved greater commercial success include Cellino Biotech, Double Helix Optics, PhotoniCare, C. Light Technologies, Circle Optics and In A Blink.

The industry-judged competition will see finalist teams pitch their new products in the areas of photonics-enabled healthcare and deep tech. The competition’s judges include venture capitalists and business development experts from the photonics industry who will review applicants on their business case, financial plan and competitive advantages. Teams applying to the Startup Challenge will receive feedback on their company and pitch from business development experts and investors.

The application deadline for the SPIE Startup Challenge is October 16. Learn more about the competitionand apply here.

About SPIE

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, brings together engineers, scientists, students and companies to advance light-based science and technology. Founded in 1955, the society connects and engages its members worldwide through industry-leading conferences and exhibitions, publication of conference proceedings, books and journals in the SPIE Digital Library, and career development opportunities. Over the past five years, SPIE has provided over $24 million to the international optical community, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, gifts and public policy development. www.spie.org.

The source language in which the original text is published is the official and authorized version. Translations are provided for ease of understanding. Only the language version that was originally published is legally binding. Therefore, compare translations with the original language version of the publication.

Applications for the SPIE Startup Challenge 2025 are open

Daneet Steffens

Public Relations Manager

[email protected]

+1 360 685 5478

@SPIEtweets

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