Eyeo receives 15 million euros in seed financing

Eyeo develops image sensor without light loss. The startup replaces conventional color filters with a new waveguide technology and promises triple light sensitivity.

Eindhoven, May 7, 2025 - The Dutch-Belgian startup Eyeo has secured seed funding of 15 million euros. The aim of the young company is to make image sensors significantly more powerful. To achieve this, Eyeo uses a new technology for color separation that makes conventional color filters superfluous.

Old technology slows down cameras

Around ten billion image sensors are sold worldwide every year. However, Eyeo believes that these sensors are inefficient. The reason: they are based on decades-old technology in which color filters are attached above each pixel. These filters block around 70 percent of the incident light. This reduces light sensitivity - and therefore image quality.

The limitations of this technology are particularly evident in poor lighting conditions. To compensate for this, smartphone manufacturers often install larger sensors. Although this improves performance, it also makes the devices bulkier.

New color separation instead of filters

Eyeo wants to solve this problem. The start-up replaces the color filters with a so-called waveguide technology. The light is guided into vertical waveguides, which separate it by color and guide it specifically to the pixels. The pixels thus receive complete color information without losing any light.

According to Eyeo, this "single photon guiding technology" ensures three times the light sensitivity of previous sensors. At the same time, color accuracy is improved - an advantage especially in low-light applications.

The technology is compatible with existing sensor platforms and enables particularly small pixels of less than 0.5 micrometers. This makes Eyeo's solution suitable for very compact cameras with high resolution, for example in smartphones, VR glasses, industrial devices or security systems.

Use of the funding

The 15 million euros were invested under the leadership of imec.xpand and Invest-NL. Other investors include High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), the QBIC Fund and the Brabant Development Agency (BOM).

Eyeo intends to use the funds to develop initial prototypes and evaluation kits. Series production will also be prepared and strategic partnerships expanded. The aim is to establish the new technology in various markets. The first products should be available to selected customers in the next two years. Eyeo is already working with leading manufacturers of image sensors and foundries.

New standards in imaging

According to CEO Jeroen Hoet, the technology not only offers an improvement to existing camera systems. Rather, it is the beginning of a new generation of image processing. The full utilization of incident light opens up completely new possibilities - from ultra-compact sensors and better performance in low light to significantly higher resolution.

High-Tech Gründerfonds also sees great potential. Anne Umbach, Investment Manager at HTGF, calls Eyeo a potential European technology leader. The image quality, especially in difficult lighting conditions, is a decisive advantage for markets such as security and mobile applications.

Eyeo leaves stealth mode

Eyeo is headquartered in Eindhoven (Netherlands) and carries out research and development in Leuven (Belgium). The technology is based on developments from the imec research center. Eyeo aims to fundamentally improve image sensors by combining nanophotonic technology and scalable production. The approach: photons are no longer filtered, but guided directly and efficiently to the pixels.

Eyeo could thus not only improve existing systems, but also set a new standard for the future of image processing.