Embargo 13/5 8am GMT: Dutch Imaging Startup Eyeo Raises €15M to Commercialize Revolutionary Color-Splitting Sensor Technology

Dutch Imaging Startup Eyeo Raises €15M to Commercialize Revolutionary Color-Splitting Sensor Technology

Dutch startup Eyeo has secured €15 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round to commercialize a radical new approach to image sensor design that promises to significantly boost light sensitivity, color accuracy, and resolution. The round was co-led by imec.xpand and Dutch impact investor Invest-NL, with additional backing from QBIC Fund, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), and returning investor Brabant Development Agency (BOM).

Eyeo is building on technology originally developed at imec, the world-renowned nanoelectronics R&D center, to bring a photonics breakthrough to the €20+ billion image sensor market. Its core innovation replaces traditional color filters — a decades-old standard that discards up to 70% of incoming light — with a color-splitting architecture using vertical waveguides. The result: image sensors that are up to three times more sensitive to light and capable of achieving sub-0.5-micron pixel sizes without the trade-offs of bulky lenses or large camera modules.

“Eyeo is fundamentally redefining image sensing by eliminating decades-old limitations. Capturing all incoming light and drastically improving resolution is just the start—this technology paves the way for entirely new applications in imaging, from ultra-compact sensors to enhanced low-light performance, ultra-high resolution, and maximum image quality. We’re not just improving existing systems; we’re creating a new standard for the future of imaging,” said Jeroen Hoet, CEO of Eyeo.

At the heart of the problem Eyeo is tackling is the Bayer filter — the red-green-blue grid overlaid on most image sensors — which blocks the majority of light from reaching the pixel. Not only does this reduce sensitivity, but it also limits the ability to shrink pixel sizes further, constraining innovation in compact devices like smartphones, AR/VR headsets, and robotics systems where image quality, power efficiency, and miniaturization are increasingly critical.

Eyeo's waveguide-based solution splits incoming photons by wavelength and directs them to specific pixels, enabling sensors to capture full-spectrum color data natively. This obviates the need for software interpolation, effectively doubling image resolution and unlocking clearer detail, especially in low-light conditions. The approach is compatible with existing sensor fabrication methods, making it more feasible for integration into mainstream supply chains.

The global image sensor market is rapidly evolving, fueled by the proliferation of cameras in smartphones, autonomous systems, smart cities, and immersive computing. As consumer demand increasingly favors devices with slimmer form factors and higher image fidelity, manufacturers are under pressure to deliver better performance without increasing component size.

Until now, the only route to higher sensitivity was increasing sensor area or adding more powerful processing — both costly in terms of space and energy consumption. Eyeo’s innovation offers a potentially disruptive alternative, giving OEMs a way to increase imaging performance without compromising on compactness or efficiency.

The startup has already formed partnerships with leading image sensor manufacturers and semiconductor foundries to prepare its technology for scale. The newly raised capital will be used to develop evaluation kits, advance sensor design toward mass production, and expand its commercial reach. The first prototypes are expected to reach selected customers within two years.

“We believe Eyeo’s solution is a genuine leap in imaging performance, addressing a core bottleneck in sensor design that has limited innovation for decades,” said representatives from imec.xpand, the deep-tech investment fund affiliated with Eyeo’s research origin. Their involvement, along with public-private backers like Invest-NL and HTGF, positions Eyeo to bridge the gap from lab innovation to industrial deployment.

Headquartered in Eindhoven with an R&D presence in Leuven, Eyeo sits at the intersection of Europe’s deep tech and semiconductor innovation corridors. As imaging becomes a central pillar of next-gen hardware — from spatial computing to intelligent automation — Eyeo’s technology could serve as a foundational building block in the future of visual perception.