Vexlum, a Tampere-based manufacturer of advanced semiconductor lasers, has raised €10M to expand its chip manufacturing and laser production capabilities in Finland.
The funding supports the transition from small-scale production to industrial manufacturing as demand accelerates across quantum technologies, semiconductor metrology, space applications, and optical communications.
The round combines €6M in equity led by Kvanted, with participation from Tesi and the EIC Fund. It also includes a €2.4M grant from the EIC Accelerator and a €1.6M loan from Nordea.
Removing a key bottleneck in quantum and precision systems
Many emerging technologies, including quantum computers and optical atomic clocks, depend on compact, high-power laser sources operating at highly specific wavelengths. Limited availability of such lasers has become a major constraint on scaling these systems beyond research environments.
Vexlum’s semiconductor-based VECSEL technology addresses this challenge by delivering precise wavelengths with industrial reliability and cost efficiency, enabling wider deployment across high-impact sectors.
Advertisement
Expanding vertically integrated manufacturing in Finland
The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Tampere to scale production while maintaining strict quality control. Its process begins with molecular beam epitaxy, where semiconductor wafers are grown layer by layer at the atomic level using III-V materials such as gallium arsenide and indium phosphide.
These wafers are processed into laser chips in specialised cleanroom facilities and then integrated into complete laser systems. By owning and operating the full value chain, Vexlum can tightly control performance, reliability, and delivery speed.
According to CEO and co-founder Jussi-Pekka Penttinen, the move marks a shift from boutique manufacturing to industrial-scale capability, positioning the company to meet rising global demand.
Strengthening the Nordic deep-tech ecosystem
The funding round is expected to be the largest seed raise to date for a Nordic photonics company, highlighting growing investor confidence in the region’s deep-tech capabilities. Vexlum is targeting €100M in annual revenue by 2030 as it scales production and expands its customer base.
Chairman and co-founder Mircea Guina noted that Tampere’s strong academic foundations and applied research culture have played a key role in building globally competitive optoelectronics expertise.
From quantum labs to industrial deployment
While Vexlum is already a major supplier to trapped-ion quantum computing systems, its lasers are also being developed for satellite optical communications, next-generation timekeeping, and semiconductor manufacturing tools.
The company sees its experience in meeting the extreme precision requirements of quantum systems as a foundation for broader industrial adoption, where reliability at scale is just as critical as accuracy.
About Vexlum
Vexlum is a Finland-based deep-tech company developing high-power semiconductor lasers for demanding applications across quantum technologies, space, communications, and advanced manufacturing. Through vertically integrated chip and laser production, the company enables precise, reliable, and scalable photonics solutions designed for industrial deployment worldwide.
