Dutch Startup Brilliance Raises €6M To Advance AR Laser Chip Technology

The funding round was led by Cottonwood Technology Fund, with support from existing investors including PhotonVentures, Oost NL, and PhotiX, along with other co-investors.

Brilliance founded in 2023 by Tiek and Douwe Geuzebroek (CTO), develops photonic laser chips for augmented reality (AR) devices.

Its small, energy-efficient laser chips help create compact and bright AR projectors, solving key challenges in AR glasses and automotive displays.

Traditional AR hardware is limited by the size and efficiency of its light systems, often forcing trade-offs between brightness, power use, and design. This makes it harder to build lightweight, everyday AR devices.

Brilliance’s solution uses a patented silicon nitride-based photonic platform with built-in lasers. This reduces power consumption by up to 10 times, improves brightness for outdoor use, and increases field of view for a more immersive experience.

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The chips are designed using scalable manufacturing methods, replacing complex and expensive optical systems. They can be used in various applications, including AR eyewear, automotive head-up displays, and industrial laser systems.

Jordy Schaufeli, senior investment manager Tech at Oost NL, said, “Brilliance demonstrates how quickly DeepTech companies can develop when technology, entrepreneurship, and the ecosystem come together. The company has since become a valuable player within the Dutch photonics ecosystem. This is important because photonics is a key technology in which the Netherlands can build a strong international position.”

“We have built a solid foundation thanks to the market traction we are generating and the core technology that has already proven itself. We will now continue scaling up and design custom solutions for our customers, while preparing for the first production launch by the end of this year. Our goal is to bring scalable RGB laser chips to applications where size, efficiency and integration are critical for everyday use,” said Tim Tiek, CEO of Brilliance.

About Brilliance

Brilliance develops advanced RGB laser chips for augmented reality applications. Its photonic technology enables compact, energy-efficient and high-performance projection systems, helping solve challenges in miniaturisation, integration and comfort. The company’s solutions support next-generation AR devices with improved brightness, efficiency, and user experience.