DirectPhotonics raises €3.3m in second venture round

Listed private equity house DEWB, which focuses on companies in the photonics and sensor technology as well automation and industrial engineering sectors, was the lead investor in this transaction and now holds a 37.5% stake. Existing investor IBB provided equity via its VC Fonds Technologie Berlin vehicle. DirectPhotonics's management also took part in the funding round.

The firm is now aiming to introduce its laser products to the general market in 2014.

In 2011, DirectPhotonics received a seed financing round from Falk Strascheg Holding, the family office of the Strascheg family, IBB and the venture capital arm of Extorel.

Company
DirectPhotonics develops ultra-high-brightness direct diode lasers for industrial materials processing. In order for the firm to enter the general market, it has to transfer its 500 Watt module into series production and start producing modular laser systems of up to 2 Kilowatts in larger quantities to meet customer demand, according to DirectPhotonics CEO Wolfgang Gries.

The firm is headquartered in Berlin with a subsidiary in Silicon Valley. It currently employs 20 staff.

People
Bertram Köhler is CEO of DEWB. Wolfgang Gries is founder and CEO of DirectPhotonics.

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• DACH
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• Germany