Applications open for SPIE Startup Challenge

SPIE Startup Challenge is a chance for leaders of new optics and photonics companies to shine a light on their innovation, hard work, and ingenuity.

Note for Startup Challenge finalists

A representative from each team will make a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges. Judges then have five minutes to ask questions of the presenter. Judges will decide the top three pitches, and the winners will be announced at a final awards ceremony. In all rounds, the decisions of the judges are final.

• Applications review
  • Evaluators will provide written feedback for the materials and pitches that teams provide.
  • Each application is evaluated on strength of business case, financial case, and the trajectory of the team. Judges select an equal number of teams from each track who will advance to the finals at Photonics West. These teams are invited to enter the live pitch round of the competition.
• Finals
  • The final round will occur during SPIE Photonics West, at Moscone Center, San Francisco, California.
  • A representative from each team will make a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges. Judges then have five minutes to ask questions of the presenter. Judges will decide the top three pitches, and the winners will be announced at a final awards ceremony. In all rounds, the decisions of the judges are final.

Eligibility Requirements

• Participants must have an optics or photonics technology or application that they wish to publicly present as the basis for a viable new business.
• Companies must select one of these tracks, based on their development stage at the time of the written application:
  • Pre-revenue for the pre-seed stage
  • Below $500,000 in revenue from product sales for the seed stage
• In all cases, revenue means revenue generated from products sold, not funding acquired through investors, grants, or other support. Teams (unestablished companies) should join the pre-seed stage.
• The focus is on new businesses and potential startups. Students, post-docs, professors, and other first-time business starters are encouraged to apply.
• The Startup Challenge accepts applications from the worldwide community of entrepreneurs.

For more information, visit SPIE.