SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
Supporting entrepreneurs in optics and photonics businesses: a pitch competition at Photonics West where finalists compete for cash prizes, feedback, and investor visibility.
The essentials from the organiser's own pages: when, where, how big, and how founders get in. Speakers, investor lists and past editions are on the official site.
- Next edition
- Jan 30 – Feb 4, 2027 · SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West 2027 source
- Where
- Moscone Center, San Francisco, United States
- Format
- in-person
- Startup pass
- Startups apply via the SPIE Startup Challenge application (written application plus video pitch, SPIE account required); 2027 applications closed 6 October 2026, finalists notified 1 December 2026. No entry fee is published. source
- SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West
- 1st Place - US $10,000; 2nd Place - US $5,000; 3rd Place - US $2,500 (2027) source
- Cadence
- Annual, held at SPIE Photonics West (late January - early February)
Next edition
| Dates | Jan 30 – Feb 4, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West 2027 |
| Venue | Moscone Center, San Francisco, United States |
| Tickets | spie.org source |
How founders get in
| Startup programme | Startups apply via the SPIE Startup Challenge application (written application plus video pitch, SPIE account required); 2027 applications closed 6 October 2026, finalists notified 1 December 2026. No entry fee is published. source |
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SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West
| Prize | 1st Place - US $10,000; 2nd Place - US $5,000; 3rd Place - US $2,500 (2027) source |
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Meeting investors there
Participants are judged and mentored by experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business development experts, and gain visibility with potential investors. source
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Official links and socials
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to SPIE Startup Challenge at Photonics West.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 26, 2026: