This Optica startup summit is an intensive, two-day workshop designed to inspire and equip professionals and researchers in the optics and photonics sector to explore entrepreneurship. Tailored for participants with limited business experience, the program bridges the gap between academia, industry, and startup ventures. Through expert-led discussions, hands-on exercises, and structured networking, attendees gain practical tools, strategic insights, and the confidence to transform ideas into viable, high-impact businesses.

Optica Startup and Entrepreneurship Meeting

Turning Breakthrough Ideas into Market-Ready Ventures

The Optica Startup and Entrepreneurship Meeting is a transformative, two-day workshop tailored for researchers, engineers, and early-career professionals in the optics and photonics community. Designed for those with minimal business experience, the program delivers the tools, insights, and connections needed to translate cutting-edge research into successful, scalable startups.

From understanding business fundamentals to pitching investors, this is your gateway to becoming a confident, capable entrepreneur in deep tech.

Dates: October 7–8, 2025
Location: Optica Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Who Should Attend: Aspiring entrepreneurs, academic researchers, industry professionals, and anyone exploring startup pathways in optics and photonics.

Meeting Objectives

• Build a strong foundation in startup and business principles tailored to photonics-based ventures.
• Inspire participants to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
• Provide strategies to overcome common early-stage challenges.
• Connect innovators with investors, mentors, and peers in the photonics startup ecosystem

Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard.

The biggest risk is not taking any risk.