SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West

SPIE Startup Challenge is a high-stakes, global competition where entrepreneurs in photonics have just 5 minutes each to pitch their businesses to a team of expert judges, and vie for over $85,000 in cash, prizes, promotion, and more.

Held annually at Photonics West, this competitive event invites new entrepreneurs to pitch their light-based technology business plan to a team of corporate development experts and venture capitalists.

The best pitchers receive cash prizes and are selected to attend a week long entrepreneur boot camp to refine their ideas and make further contacts with experts.

Application closed:
Contact innovation@spie.org regarding late submissions

Semi-Finalists Notified:
30 December

Events at Photonics West:
4 - 6 February 2019

The high-stakes, global business plan competition for new entreprenuers

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Startup Challenge New Pages2019 Startup Challenge finalists and winners gather on stagefocallength 26flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 7.1exposuretime 0.01orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 11:36:33 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 5D Mark IINetworking before the final beginsfocallength 50flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.5exposuretime 0.005orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 9:33:19 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIPhotonicare presents at the finalsfocallength 54flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.2exposuretime 0.00625orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:18:13 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIOrbis presents at the finalsfocallength 43flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.2exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 9:57:26 PMwidth 1067cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIOnstage at the Startup Challenge finalsfocallength 80flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 2.8exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 9:52:05 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIJudges making notes at the end of a presentationfocallength 26flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 4exposuretime 0.00625orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 9:52:26 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 5D Mark IIAppreciation from the audience during the finalsfocallength 75flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 2.8exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:00:04 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IICareWear presents at the finalsfocallength 70flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 4exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 9:42:59 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IISponsor Jenoptik takes the stagefocallength 52flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.2exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:08:09 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIOnstage at the Startup Challenge finalsfocallength 73flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.2exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:25:29 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIFinalist presenting at the Startup Challengefocallength 120flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.2exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:33:08 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIStartup founder Dirk Fabian welcomes a finalist to the stagefocallength 57flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.5exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:38:46 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIFinalist presenting at the Startup Challengefocallength 24flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 3.5exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:42:25 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIFinalist presenting at the Startup Challengefocallength 110flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 2.8exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 11:05:07 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIOrbis takes home a cash prizefocallength 54flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 5exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 11:31:47 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IIJudges listen to a finalist presentfocallength 22flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 2.8exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 10:02:15 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 5D Mark IIPhotonicare proudly displays a cash prizefocallength 43flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 5exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 11:34:27 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark IICareWear takes home a cash prizefocallength 34flash 16cameramake Canonheight 800fnumber 5exposuretime 0.004orientation 1camerasoftware Adobe Photoshop CC 2originaldate 1/31/2018 11:38:49 PMwidth 1200cameramodel Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Pitching your business plan

Participants must have an optics or photonics technology or application that they wish to publicly present as the basis for a viable new business. Established companies must be pre-revenue at the time of the written application. Pre-revenue in this case means revenue generated from products sold, not funding acquired through investors, grants, or other support. Learn more about the competition rules.

The application period for the 2019 competition is closed.

Questions or comments? Contact us at innovation@spie.org