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inPhocal, based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, develops proprietary laser marking technology derived from a CERN invention, offering an inkless alternative for industrial applications. The company's systems enable faster, eco-friendly, and versatile marking of expiration dates, QR codes, and origin verification on diverse and often curved surfaces, including food, beverages, and luxury goods, with pilot programs underway with LVMH and a major beverage manufacturer. Beyond marking, the same core technology is applied to precision tasks such as shaping automotive parts and slicing semiconductor wafers. inPhocal received a CES 2022 Innovation Award and has successfully sold its initial system to an industry client for electronics labeling. The company, which recently celebrated its five-year milestone, was founded in 2019 through the HighTechXL deep tech venture building program by co-founders Robert van Tankeren and Kathy Vredeveldt.
inPhocal has raised $8.0M across 2 funding rounds.
inPhocal has raised $8.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
inPhocal has raised $8.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $6.0M Seed in July 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2025 | $6M Seed | — | Cottonwood Technology Fund, DeepTechXL | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2022 | $2M Seed | — | DeepTechXL | Announced |
inPhocal is a deep-tech startup founded in 2019 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, specializing in advanced laser technology for inkless printing, marking, and cutting. It builds patented laser systems using a unique concentric beam with extended focus depth, enabling high-speed, precise operations on curved and uneven surfaces like beverage bottles, food packaging, golf balls, semiconductors, and automotive parts[1][2][3][4]. The company serves industries including food and beverage, luxury goods, semiconductors, and automotive, solving problems like slow ink-based printing, high downtime from nozzle clogs, toxic inks, and counterfeiting by offering 2.5-10x faster speeds, eco-friendly processes, and unique QR code marking up to 3000 per minute[1][2][3][6]. With installations on production lines, a team of 20+, patents in geometrical optics and laser applications, and awards like CES 2024 Innovation Honoree, inPhocal shows strong growth momentum as a scale-up targeting massive markets like the 5 billion daily beverage containers[1][3][4][5].
inPhocal emerged from laser technology accidentally discovered at CERN while developing precise measurement tools; CERN set it aside, but HighTechXL—a Dutch venture builder backed by ASML and Philips—licensed it for commercial applications[2][3]. In 2019, a team of technical experts completed HighTechXL's deep-tech venture building program, refining the CERN invention into proprietary tech with added IP and patents[2][3]. Physicist-turned-CEO Gijs van Tankeren joined in 2020 to craft a go-to-market strategy, basing operations at High Tech Campus Eindhoven for ecosystem access[2][4][5]. Early milestones include CES Innovation Awards in 2022 and 2024, Gerard & Anton award, and first customer production line installations marking QR codes at scale[1][3][6].
inPhocal rides the deep-tech manufacturing renaissance, amplifying laser processing amid sustainability mandates, supply chain localization, and Industry 4.0 demands for faster, greener automation[1][2][4]. Timing aligns with global pushes to eliminate inks in packaging (e.g., 5B daily beverages) and counterfeiting in luxury/semiconductors, where regulations favor eco-solutions[2][3][4]. Favorable forces include Europe's photonics hub (Eindhoven's ASML/Philips ecosystem), post-pandemic scaling via campuses, and AI/traceability trends enabling unique QR serialization[1][4][5]. It influences the ecosystem by accelerating inkless shifts, inspiring deep-tech spinouts from research (CERN/HighTechXL model), and boosting efficiency in high-volume sectors like food (traceability) and semis (precision cutting)[2][3][4].
inPhocal is poised for hypergrowth by dominating laser marking beachheads (food/beverage) before expanding to semiconductors and automotive, leveraging pilots, funding, and a 20+ team aiming for 50+ headcount[3][4][5]. Trends like sustainability regs, AI-driven personalization, and reshoring will propel it, with platform versatility unlocking multi-billion markets. Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to category leader, potentially via acquisitions or IPO, redefining precision manufacturing much like it humanizes CERN's accidental breakthrough—proving deep-tech ecosystems turn serendipity into scalable impact.
inPhocal has raised $8.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
inPhocal's investors include Cottonwood Technology Fund, DeepTechXL.
