“Together with YES CF, we have realized a wonderful growth financing for SMART Photonics. Very careful preparation, solid knowledge of the industry and the playing field, combined with boundless commitment were the signature of the team. Enjoyed the collaboration! ” Johan Feenstra, CEO SMART Photonics
SMART Photonics
SMART Photonics B.V. (“SMART Photonics”) announced today that it will receive a new investment of 35 million euros from a Dutch consortium consisting of Innovation Industries, Brabant Development Agency (BOM), PhotonDelta and KPN Ventures. The company, founded in 2012, will use the funds to expand its capacity for wafer manufacturing at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, accelerate the development of its photonic integration technology and firmly establish the technology in the marketplace through its valued customers.
Lead investor Innovation Industries is one of Europe’s most active independent photonics investors and holds numerous investments across the photonics value chain. The funding includes a contribution from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of The Netherlands through the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), as well as participations from KPN Ventures, PhotonDelta and existing shareholders, thereby reaffirming the position of SMART Photonics as the central player in the European photonics ecosystem.
SMART Photonics’ ambition is to be the leading independent foundry for photonic integrated circuits, which provide small-scale integration and high performance combined with low energy consumption. Photonic integrated circuits will play a key role in our lives by enabling new and radically improved applications that make our world better, greener and safer. SMART Photonics’ integration technology allows its customers to design chips for a variety of next generation communication and highly accurate sensor applications in telecoms, healthcare, smart mobility and sustainable industrial processes.
“We are very excited to have the new consortium on board and to be able to bring our foundry to the next level thanks to this investment. This will allow us to scale up our volumes as we support our customers in bringing their first commercial products using photonic integration technology to the market” comments Chief Executive Officer, Johan Feenstra, adding: “I am very grateful for the tremendous support we received from our investors, PhotonDelta partners and our long term R&D partner the Eindhoven University of Technology in making it happen.”
More information : www.smartphotonics.nl
Role YES Corporate Finance
YES Corporate Finance has assisted SMART Photonics with the preparations and due diligence phase of the financing round. The following have been successfully completed:
- Challenging the current (financial) strategy
- Drawing up an extensive financing model
- Setting up the data room and support with the Due Diligence
- Support financing documentation up to and including closing
About Innovation Industries
Innovation Industries is a leading Dutch venture capital company that focuses on high tech, medical technology and agri-food technology companies. In addition to financial support, Innovation Industries offers operational and strategic support to optimally position the companies in its portfolio for success. Innovation Industries has more than € 250 million in investments in its management and invests in all phases of growth and development.
More information: www.innovationindustries.com
About BOM
BOM (the Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij) works together with entrepreneurs on a strong, sustainable and future-proof Brabant economy. It shares its knowledge, builds networks and provides investment capital for innovative companies and sustainable energy projects. It ensures an attractive location policy for foreign companies and helps local companies with the ambition to expand their business abroad. BOM’s ambitions are; economic growth, more employment, solutions to social issues and a leading role for Brabant at a global level.
BOM has the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate and the Province of Noord-Brabant as shareholders.
More information: www.bom.nl
About PhotonDelta
PhotonDelta is a public-private partnership of knowledge institutes and companies that stimulates growth and intensive cooperation within the Dutch photonics ecosystem. This collaboration will enable companies to bring high-quality integrated photonic technology and products to the market faster. PhotonDelta offers access, knowledge, business development and financing for its partners. Its mission is to facilitate this ecosystem to its full potential and to achieve the growth of the integrated photonics industry by 2026. Financing is made possible by contributions from its partners in the ‘partner covenant PhotonDelta’ and the ‘RegioDeal Brainport Eindhoven’.
More information: www.photondelta.eu
About KPN Ventures
KPN Ventures is the investment arm of KPN. KPN Ventures focuses on direct and indirect (fund-in-fund) investments in innovative and fast-growing European technology companies in the segments: Internet of Things, Smart Home, Digital Healthcare, Cyber Security, Video / OTT Services, Cloud Computing, Data / AI and Network technology. KPN Ventures is located in Rotterdam.
More information: www.kpnventures.com
