Dutch Startup Raises €40 Million to Fix Camera Technology That Wastes 70% of Light

2026-05-12 semicon

Eindhoven, Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
Eindhoven-based eyeo secured €40 million in Series A funding to commercialize nanophotonic imaging technology that captures three times more light than traditional cameras. Their breakthrough eliminates color filters that have wasted 70% of incoming light for decades, instead directing photons directly to pixels for superior performance in low-light conditions across smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and industrial systems.

Series A Funding Details and Market Positioning

The Series A funding round announced on May 11, 2026, was led by Innovation Industries with participation from existing investors including imec.xpand, Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund, QBIC fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), and Brabant Development Agency (BOM) [1][2]. This latest investment brings eyeo’s total funding to €55 million since its founding [1]. The company targets a $30 billion global imaging market where approximately seven billion sensors are shipped annually [3]. Founded in 2024 by Jan Genoe, Alden Carracillo, Jeroen Hoet, and Gerd Van den Branden as a spin-out from imec, eyeo represents seven years of nanophotonic research transitioning from laboratory to commercial production [3][4].

Revolutionary Nanophotonic Color Splitting Technology

eyeo’s breakthrough centers on its proprietary Nanophotonic Color Splitting (NCOS®) platform, which fundamentally reimagines how image sensors capture light [1][5]. Unlike traditional color filter arrays that absorb and discard approximately 70% of incoming light, eyeo’s technology splits light into its component wavelengths and guides each photon directly to the appropriate pixel [6][7]. This nanoscale optical approach delivers three times the light sensitivity of conventional sensors while maintaining true color accuracy [1][4]. The technology is protected by 26 patents and has been validated at a commercial foundry, positioning it for immediate market deployment [3][5]. As CEO Jeroen Hoet explained, “Every modern device that sees the world, from smartphones to autonomous systems, is held back by the same 50-year-old constraint. eyeo removes it at the source” [1][5].

Technical Innovation in the Photonics Sector

The innovation squarely falls within the photonics sector, specifically addressing semiconductor-based imaging technology [GPT]. eyeo’s NCOS platform operates by using nanoscale optical structures that redirect rather than filter light, enabling smaller pixel sizes while maintaining or improving image quality [2]. This compatibility with existing CMOS sensor platforms allows the technology to integrate seamlessly into current manufacturing processes without requiring entirely new production lines [2][6]. The approach enables sub-0.5-micron pixels for ultra-compact, high-performance imaging applications where traditional filtering methods would severely compromise light sensitivity [6]. Unlike software-based image enhancement solutions that increase power consumption and reduce quality, eyeo’s hardware-based approach eliminates color filters entirely within the chip itself [3].

Commercial Strategy and Market Applications

The funding will support three strategic priorities: building a world-class integrated circuit and system architecture design team at the Antwerp sensor design center opened earlier in 2026, developing next-generation color-splitting image sensors in 3D-stacked CMOS technology, and expanding sensor sales and commercial partnerships with original equipment manufacturers [1][5]. Target applications span consumer electronics including smartphones, extended reality (XR) devices, smart city infrastructure, industrial machine vision systems, and autonomous vehicle sensors [1][2][6]. The company has grown from four to 19 employees and expects to triple its team size over the next two years [3]. eyeo is headquartered at High Tech Campus Eindhoven in the Netherlands, with its sensor design operations based in Antwerp, Belgium [2][5]. Nard Sinteni, Partner at Innovation Industries, characterized the investment as backing “the kind of foundational breakthrough that redefines an entire category” with implications extending “across the broader technology ecosystem” [1][5].

Bronnen

nanophotonic imaging deep tech funding