PhotonDelta Startup Fund

The PhotonDelta Startup Fund is set up to provide much needed financing in the phase where the risks are still high with favourable, low-interest rate loans ranging from €250k to €2 million per startup. This financing also provides a favourable leverage to Venture Capital Funds to further reduce risks and help startups accelerate their funding needs.

Aligned with the National Growth Fund plan PhotonDelta

In 2024, PhotonDelta launched a €60 million startup fund set for deployment over a five-year period. This fund is strategically aligned with the aspirations articulated in the National Growth Fund plan PhotonDelta: focusing on amplifying the production volume demand of Photonic Chips (measured in the number of wafers) and attracting private co-financing to the Dutch ecosystem.

Position in the Photonic Chip industry

The PhotonDelta Startup Fund is set up to provide the much-needed funding in the startup phase where the risk profile of a company is high, which may not yet appeal to other funding forms such as venture capital. Also, the PhotonDelta Startup Fund can provide favourable financing along with Venture Capital Funds to reduce risks and help startups navigate the financially tough early years.

Key features of the loan

5-year linear loan, ranging from €250,000 to €2 million
12-month Euribor interest rate with an 18-month grace period
Private co-financing is not mandatory but expected in later stage companies
Pledges: Intellectual Property or Machinery

Lending Criteria

To be eligible for a loan, startups must meet the following criteria:

  • Active in the field of photonic chip technology or a direct application of integrated photonics technology (Translated into wafer production).
  • Under 5 years old: Limited to businesses with up to 5 years since incorporation.
  • Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Developing technology at a TRL between 3 and 7 (no commercial sales at scale).
  • Commercial Activity in the Netherlands: Companies must be commercially active in the Netherlands.
  • Promising Business Case: A compelling business case, business plan, budget, and cash flow forecast.

Use of Proceeds

Companies can allocate the loan for the following activities:

  • Development of Technology and Application (TRL 3→7).
  • Market Validation and Business Development (TRL 3→7).
  • Bringing Innovation to Market: Including the cost of initial pilot production capacity (TRL 7).
  • Capital Expenditure (CAPEX): Necessary for realising pre-production/prototype/demonstrator or the cost of using a shared facility.

Contact Us

For inquiries or to express interest in funding, please contact:

Qurein Biewenga Fund / Investment Manager

Erwin Holtland Investment Manager

QuiX Quantum technology advances scalable photonic quantum computing

Researchers using QuiX Quantum’s technology have successfully demonstrated the on-chip generation of Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states, a critical component for the advancement of photonic quantum computing. This breakthrough establishes QuiX Quantum’s integrated technology as a leading platform for photonic quantum computing and further validates QuiX Quantum’s roadmap to deliver a scalable universal quantum computer. 

SMART Photonics scaling up to 4-inch wafer production that doubles the production capacity, realising a lower price per chip

Eindhoven, Nederland, 24 January 2024 – SMART Photonics, the Dutch photonic chipmaker, is taking an important step in becoming the leading foundry for next generation chips. The Dutch foundry has significantly scaled up its production of photonic chips by transferring its entire production capability from 3-inch to 4-inch wafer substrates. Confirming its technology leadership, SMART Photonics is one of the first Integrated Photonics Circuit (PIC) foundries offering 4-inch InP wafer production. The resulting doubling of production rate translates in a lower price per chip, accelerating the commercial roll out of the foundry’s photonic chips.

VitreaLab receives investment from PhotonVentures to ignite the future of outdoor Augmented Reality technology

VIENNA, Austria – December 14, 2023 – VitreaLab, a visionary laser technology innovator and University of Vienna Quantum Group spin-off, today unveiled its significant investment from PhotonVentures, a Dutch Venture Capital deep tech fund with a focus on integrated photonics. This alliance is set to catalyse a transformative leap in display technology, with VitreaLab at the forefront of a new era in AR and VR experiences.

Brilliance secures seed investment from PhotonVentures and Oost NL to develop laser engines for Augmented Reality glasses

Enschede, the Netherlands – 29 November 2023. Enschede-based Brilliance builds and develops chips for laser projection applications in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) glasses. Brilliance has developed a laser technology that offers a breakthrough for the current limitations of low resolution and high energy consumption by projecting very sharp, coulorful images onto glass surfaces such as eyeglass lenses and car windows. The €2 million investment from Oost NL and PhotonVentures underscores the confidence in Brilliance’s innovative approach and enables the company to develop further.

Photonics Startup SuperLight Photonics Secures Seed Funding in Investment Round with DeepTechXL and Oost NL

Enschede, September 14, 2023 – SuperLight Photonics, a spin-off from the University of Twente, is developing a wideband laser that can serve as a ‘light source’ in various measurement and detection applications. Today, the company announces the completion of a seed investment round. The round is led by Dutch Deep Tech investor DeepTechXL in collaboration with Oost NL. With this investment, SuperLight Photonics will further develop its platform technology into unique products and (sub)systems.

Astrape Networks secures €1.6 million in pre-seed funding to develop photonics-powered ‘sustainable data center’

Eindhoven, The Netherlands; 12th September 2023 – Astrape Networks – an innovative tech startup that uses unique integrated photonics to build faster and more sustainable optical networks – has secured a pre-seed funding round of €1.6 million from a consortium of investors and loan providers, including Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), Rabobank, Brabant Startup Fonds, TTT Smart Industries, Shift Invest and PhotonDelta.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade & Development visits Holland Pavilion at Europe’s biggest Photonics Event

München, Germany – The Laser World of Photonics, the largest European photonics exhibition, received a distinguished visitor as the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Liesje Schreinemacher, visited the Holland Pavilion. The event, taking place from 27 to 30 June, showcases the latest advancements in photonics technology and brings together leading experts from around the world.

Report: Equipment needs for efficient and reliable production of integrated photonics

Although many similarities seem to exist between semicon and photonic production, there are major differences. The availability of front-end and back-end production equipment tuned to their needs, will provide the photonics industry with the tools to efficiently and reliably produce photonic devices and systems. Equipment companies on the other hand, will be involved in the growing photonics industry and can prepare for the upcoming large global equipment market, a win-win situation.

Visit Ambassador of Ireland

Last Thursday the Ambassador of Ireland, Mr. Kevin Kelly, along with leaders from its two most important trade organizations, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, visited the Brainport region. PhotonDelta presented its strategy and its integrated photonics supply chain. In addition to that, the Irish visitors experienced a tour around Philips Innovation Centre and presentations from EIT Digital, EIT Health and HighTechXL. The meeting was a first introduction to each other’s strengths and interests. The aim of the visit was a to explore whether Ireland and the Netherlands, in particular the Brainport region, can connect in terms of innovation and trade. The discussion lead to enough mutual interest and eagerness to connect PhotonDelta, the Dutch integrated photonics cluster, to companies in Ireland, primarily those active in the medical and, growing, automotive segment,to further explore options for concrete co-operations.