Dutch Startup Photon IP Secures €4.75M to Revolutionize Photonic Chip Production
Eindhoven-based tech startup Photon IP has raised €4.75 million in seed funding to advance its innovative approach to producing energy-efficient photonic chips. The company’s unique method aims to overcome key challenges in the photonic chip industry, paving the way for scalable and cost-effective solutions.

Eindhoven-based tech startup Photon IP has raised €4.75 million in seed funding to advance its innovative approach to producing energy-efficient photonic chips. The company’s unique method aims to overcome key challenges in the photonic chip industry, paving the way for scalable and cost-effective solutions.
Photonic chips, which rely on light to transmit information, are increasingly vital for applications such as AI systems, data centers, fiber-optic networks, and sensors. Compared to traditional semiconductor chips that use electricity, photonic chips are faster and more energy-efficient. However, manufacturing these high-performance chips typically requires III-V materials like indium phosphide, which are both costly and scarce.
To address these challenges, Photon IP has developed a proprietary process that combines III-V materials with silicon on a single chip. According to John Anderton, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, "There are many companies making photonic chips, but the challenge is finding the best way to combine and integrate these materials onto a single chip." He added that Photon IP's technology offers "the lowest energy use and the best performance while being scalable."
Founded in 2022, the startup’s approach not only enhances the chip’s ability to handle light but also reduces energy consumption, making it suitable for diverse applications such as faster internet, smarter AI systems, and precision sensors. By adopting a fabless business model, Photon IP relies on external manufacturers to produce its chips, focusing its efforts on proprietary design and technology development.
The seed funding round was led by Amsterdam-based deep tech venture capital firm Innovation Industries, with additional investments from Faber, the Brabant Development Agency, and the venture arm of PhotonDelta, a photonics industry organization based in Eindhoven. This comes after the startup secured €2 million in grant funding from the European Innovation Council and a previous €1.1 million investment in 2022 led by Poland’s Vigo Ventures.
The new funding will enable Photon IP to expand its team and prepare for the launch of its first photonic chip products later this year. With its groundbreaking technology, the company aims to address the high costs and complexity of photonic chip production, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving photonics sector.