PhotonHub Boosts Photonics Startups for Global Investors

Jan de Vries · 2026-04-21

What does it take for a deeptech startup to go from having strong technology to being ready to speak to investors, partners, and clients? For many photonics startups, the challenge isn't just building the tech itself. It's learning how to explain its value clearly and convincingly. That's where PhotonHub Europe comes in. Created as a one-stop shop for photonics innovation, the project brings together technical expertise, business support, training, and access to infrastructure to help companies across Europe develop and scale light-based technologies. PhotonHub Europe supports companies at different stages of growth. From researchers launching spinouts and startups building their first prototype to scaling ventures seeking further growth and established SMEs exploring new opportunities. Through its pan-European network, the project combines innovation support with business coaching. It helps companies move faster from idea to market and makes photonics innovation more accessible across sectors like health, manufacturing, agriculture, digital infrastructure, and climate, energy, and mobility. As part of that work, PhotonHub Europe also focused on investment readiness. Through targeted coaching and mentoring, selected startups got support to sharpen their pitch, strengthen their business case, and prepare for conversations that could lead to funding and growth. This support was reflected across several industry events where startups had the chance to present their work. These included INPHO Venture Summit, TechTour Photonics, Startup Breeze, and finally Photonica, which took place on June 25, 2025, in Munich during automatica 2025 and Laser World of Photonics 2025. ### Helping Startups Get Ready for the Next Step PhotonHub Europe was designed to support companies working with photonics across different stages of innovation. Alongside technical services and access to facilities, the project also recognized a common challenge for early-stage companies: having strong technology doesn't automatically mean being ready for investors. That's why the project included Digital Investment Coaching and Investment-Readiness Coaching activities. These were built to help selected startups improve how they present themselves, explain their market opportunity more clearly, and become better prepared for investor and client conversations. The goal was practical from the start: help founders move beyond the technical side and build a stronger commercial story around what they do. For deeptech companies, that kind of support can be critical. Investors want to understand not just the innovation, but also the problem being solved, the target market, and the company's plan for growth. PhotonHub Europe's coaching program aimed to help startups build that bridge.  ### How Does It Work? Each selected beneficiary could access four online mentoring sessions. These sessions focused on improving the startups' ability to pitch on stage and speak more confidently with investors and clients. The mentoring wasn't just about presentation style. It also helped companies refine how they explained their business, their position in the market, and the value of their technology in practical terms. For many founders, that meant learning how to make a complex story clearer, more direct, and easier for others to understand. Tomasz Mazuryk, Co-CEO and Co-founder of FundingBox Accelerator, startups mentor, and a Managing Partner at FundingBox Deep Tech Fund, said: "The most profound transformation we see during PhotonHub's coaching is the shift from a technical mindset to a strategic business mindset." Rather than treating pitching as a one-off moment, PhotonHub Europe approached it as a process. The online sessions gave companies time to improve before stepping into larger industry spaces where the audience included investors, corporate partners, and potential customers. ### From Mentoring to a Global Stage The program's impact was clear when startups took the stage at major events. Companies that started with a technical focus learned to tell a compelling story about their market opportunity and growth potential. This shift in mindset helped them connect with investors who might have otherwise overlooked them. One key takeaway from the program was the importance of preparation. Founders learned to anticipate investor questions, address concerns proactively, and present their technology as a solution to real-world problems. This practical approach made a big difference in how they were received. ### Key Benefits for Startups - **Sharpened pitch:** Startups learned to explain complex photonics in simple terms. - **Stronger business case:** Coaching helped founders articulate market need and competitive advantage. - **Investor readiness:** Companies gained confidence to handle tough questions and follow-up meetings. - **Networking opportunities:** Events like Photonica connected startups with potential partners and clients. PhotonHub Europe shows that with the right support, deeptech startups can bridge the gap between innovation and investment. For photonics companies looking to scale, this kind of coaching isn't just helpful—it's essential.