About Industrial Optical Sensors
The Industrial Optical Sensors comprises 79 companies, including 32 funded companies having collectively raised $78.4M in venture capital money and private equity. Out of these, 10 are Series A+ funded.
Industrial Optical Sensors sector has seen 8 acquisitions. This represents almost 10.1% of all such companies - which is higher than the 4.2% exit rate of tech companies in general.
This sector includes companies developing sensors that employ light based technology for process or machine monitoring.
Industrial Optical Sensors sector is also known as Industrial Optical sensors or Industrial Photodetectors.
Top Companies in Industrial Optical Sensors
There are more than 79 companies in Industrial Optical Sensors. Sick is the top Industrial Optical Sensors company globally, ranked using Tracxn Score (what's this?).
Here are 5 of the top Industrial Optical Sensors companies globally:
Company | Description | Location | Founded | Current Stage | Private Funding Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturer of sensors for use in industrial monitoring and automation applications | Waldkirch (Germany) | 1946 | Funding Raised | - | |
Photonic sensing and computing solutions for diverse industries | Santa Clara (United States) | 2001 | Funding Raised | - | |
Develops optical sensor systems | Osaka (Japan) | 1946 | Unfunded | - | |
Provider of optical metrology and surface defect measurement equipment solutions | Tucson (United States) | 2002 | Acquired | - | |
Multiple parameter sensor manufacturer | Passau (Germany) | 1968 | Unfunded | - |
Companies founded year-on-year in Industrial Optical Sensors
4 Industrial Optical Sensors startups were founded in 2018 - this is the most number of startups founded in any year in the last 10 years.
- Total Number of Companies
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | - |
2022 | 1 |
2021 | 1 |
2020 | - |
2019 | - |
2018 | 4 |
2017 | 3 |
Companies founded across countries in Industrial Optical Sensors
United States has 22 Industrial Optical Sensors startups, the most by any country, followed by Germany which has 16 startups and United Kingdom which has 5.
- Total Number of Companies
Country | No. of companies |
|---|---|
United States | 22 |
Germany | 16 |
United Kingdom | 5 |
France | 5 |
Denmark | 4 |
Switzerland | 4 |
China | 3 |
Japan | 3 |
Italy | 3 |
Malaysia | 2 |
Stage-wise distribution of Industrial Optical Sensors
Out of the total 79 Industrial Optical Sensors companies, 32 have secured funding. Among them, 10 have reached Series A or higher, and 8 to Series B or beyond.
Founded - 79
Funded - 32
Series A+ - 10
Series B+ - 8
Series C+ - 8
Company Stage | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Founded | 79 |
Funded | 32 |
Series A+ | 10 |
Series B+ | 8 |
Series C+ | 8 |
Want to know more about Industrial Optical Sensors ? Signup and explore Tracxn for free
- 75+ Total Companies
- $78.4M+ Total Funding
- 30+ Funded Companies
- 5+ Acquisitions
Funding Trends in Industrial Optical Sensors
Total funding year-on-year in Industrial Optical Sensors
Industrial Optical Sensors saw a total funding of more than $34.5M in the last 10 years. The most amount of funding was in 2018 at more than $8.22M.
- Total Funding
Year | Total Funding |
|---|---|
2025 | $200K |
2024 | $4.32M |
2023 | $2.84M |
2022 | $5.91M |
2021 | $2.58M |
2020 | $1.68M |
2019 | $3.45M |
2018 | $8.22M |
2017 | $1.4M |
Total funding across countries in Industrial Optical Sensors
In the last 10 years, Industrial Optical Sensors startups in United States have recieved the highest funding among all countries - $9.18M. France follows with $5.16M and United Kingdom with $2.41M.
- Total Funding
Country | Total Funding |
|---|---|
United States | $9.18M |
France | $5.16M |
United Kingdom | $2.41M |
Germany | $1.39M |
Denmark | $1.24M |
South Korea | $1.24M |
Italy | $794K |
China | - |
Japan | - |
Canada | - |
Total funding amount raised by stage in Industrial Optical Sensors
Over the last 10 years, Industrial Optical Sensors have seen $9.5M into Seed Stage funding rounds and $6.89M into Early Stage funding rounds.
Funding Stage | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Grant | $11.9M |
Seed Stage | $9.5M |
Early Stage | $6.89M |
Debt | $1.3M |
Recent Funding Rounds in Industrial Optical Sensors
In the year 2024, till March 2024, Industrial Optical Sensors companies have raised $2.17M in equity funding across 1 round.
Here are some recent, important funding rounds in Industrial Optical Sensors:
Company | Round Raised | Amount Raised | Funding Date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seed | 8491 | Mar 20, 2024 | ||
Series A | 6620 | Apr 05, 2022 | and 4 more | |
Series A | 3813 | Dec 01, 2021 | ||
Seed | 8961 | Apr 27, 2021 | - | |
Seed | 8957 | Apr 2021 | - |
Top Investors in Industrial Optical Sensors
OSTI is the top investor in Industrial Optical Sensors companies based on number of companies invested.
Here are some top investors in Industrial Optical Sensors:
Investor | Location | Top Portfolio Companies |
|---|---|---|
Oak Ridge (United States) | ||
Washington, DC (United States) | ||
Arlington (United States) | ||
Brussels (Belgium) |
M&A activity in Industrial Optical Sensors
In the year 2021, till May 2021, 1 acquisition happened in Industrial Optical Sensors. Last year, in 2020, a total of 3 acquisitions happened in Industrial Optical Sensors.
Here are some recent, important acquisitions in Industrial Optical Sensors:
Company | Acquisition Type | Acquisition Date | Acquirers |
|---|---|---|---|
Acqui-Hired | May 10, 2021 | ||
Business Acquisition | Sep 15, 2020 | ||
Business Acquisition | Feb 14, 2020 | ||
Business Acquisition | Jan 07, 2020 | ||
Business Acquisition | Oct 29, 2018 |
Acquisition trends in Industrial Optical Sensors
Here are the acquisition trends in Industrial Optical Sensors:
- Total Number of Acquisitions
Year | No. of companies |
|---|---|
2026 | - |
2025 | - |
2024 | - |
2023 | - |
2022 | - |
2021 | 1 |
2020 | 3 |
2019 | - |
2018 | 2 |
2017 | - |
Colleges which produce the most Industrial Optical Sensors companies
Companies founded by alumni from top colleges in Industrial Optical Sensors
Most number of Industrial Optical Sensors startups have been founded by alumni from Columbia University, INSEAD and Stanford University.
College | No. of companies |
|---|---|
Columbia University | 1 |
INSEAD | 1 |
Stanford University | 1 |
Total funding in companies founded by alumni from top colleges in the Industrial Optical Sensors
In the last 10 years, Stanford University graduates' Industrial Optical Sensors companies have raised the most funding among top colleges. INSEAD alumni are second, and Columbia University alumni are third.
College | Total Funding |
|---|---|
Stanford University | $17.1M |
INSEAD | $2.41M |
Columbia University | $2.34M |
Top News in Industrial Optical Sensors
•
•
4D Technology Approved as FANUC Cobot Device Supplier with New Plug-In LaunchAZoOptics•Sep 08, 2025•4D Technology
•
Ocean Optics partners with Bioz, driving record engagement with Bioz toolsNewswire•Jun 23, 2025•Ocean Optics, Bioz
•
SICK partners with Universal Robots to deliver safe, seamless collaboration between cobots and humansManufacturing-Supply-Chain•Mar 17, 2025•Sick, Universal Robots
•
Knight Optical Adds Ocean Optics Range Of Spectrometers To Its Growing PortfolioRoboticstomorrow•Mar 14, 2025•Knight Optical, Ocean Optics
•
•
CAPTRON Announces UR+ Partnership and Product Availability on Universal Robots' MarketplaceRoboticstomorrow•Nov 14, 2024•Universal Robots, CAPTRON Electronic
•
•
•
Coupang Strikes Deal with Global Component ManufacturersBusinesskorea•Oct 04, 2022•Coupang, Sick, EUCHNER
