1 The EIC Accelerator Project

Overview of the EIC Accelerator Program

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the European Union with innovative, high-risk projects that have the potential for significant economic and societal impact. The program provides a combination of grants and equity funding to help these companies scale their innovations and transition from research and development to market readiness.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator offers a blended finance model, which includes both grant funding and equity investment.

Purpose and Impact in the Ecosystem

The primary objective of the EIC Accelerator is to bolster the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem. By providing accessible funding options, the program enables innovative companies to bring cutting-edge solutions to market, particularly in sectors where traditional venture capital may be scarce or risk-averse. This initiative not only fosters economic growth but also encourages the development of technologies that address pressing global challenges.

The EIC Accelerator plays a crucial role in helping companies scale by bridging the funding gap that often exists between early-stage development and commercial success. By facilitating access to private sector investment through its network and resources, the program enhances the credibility of recipient companies, making them more attractive to investors.

Case Study: Phaseform GmbH and the DeltaSTAR Project

Company Overview: Phaseform GmbH, based in Germany, is a pioneering company in the field of optical technologies. The company focuses on developing innovative solutions for various applications, particularly in life sciences and medical imaging.

Project Overview: The EIC Accelerator project, titled DeltaSTAR (Deformable Phase Plates for Adaptive Optics applied to Ophthalmology and Microscopy), aims to revolutionize imaging technologies in both ophthalmology and microscopy through advanced adaptive optics.

Technology Background: Adaptive optics is a technology that compensates for optical aberrations, which are distortions that degrade image quality. These aberrations can arise from various factors, such as atmospheric turbulence or imperfections in optical components. The DeltaSTAR project seeks to utilize deformable phase plates—optical devices that can manipulate the phase of light waves—to enhance the performance of imaging systems.

The deformable phase plates developed by Phaseform GmbH are designed to adapt in real-time to varying conditions, allowing for clearer and more precise imaging in ophthalmology, where high-resolution images of the retina are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring eye diseases. In microscopy, improved optics can lead to better visualization of biological samples, facilitating advances in research and diagnostics.

DeltaSTAR’s innovative approach not only enhances imaging quality but also has the potential to reduce costs associated with imaging technologies. By improving the performance of existing systems, Phaseform GmbH aims to make advanced imaging more accessible to clinics and laboratories.

Conclusion

The EIC Accelerator program, through its blend of grant and equity financing, serves as a vital catalyst for innovation in Europe. By supporting companies like Phaseform GmbH and their DeltaSTAR project, the program not only fosters the development of groundbreaking technologies but also strengthens the overall ecosystem, ultimately contributing to economic growth and improved societal outcomes. The focus on adaptive optics for ophthalmology and microscopy exemplifies the program's commitment to addressing critical challenges in healthcare and scientific research.

2 The Funding Rounds

# Phaseform GmbH: Funding Journey and Financial Growth

Phaseform GmbH, a German innovative leader in adaptive optics technology based in Freiburg, has secured significant funding to develop and commercialize its groundbreaking Deformable Phase Plates (DPP) technology. This technology enables optical systems to achieve up to 10x improvement in image resolution, particularly beneficial for ophthalmic diagnostic systems and life science microscopy.

EIC Accelerator Funding

In July 2024, Phaseform announced receiving over €6 million in funding from the highly competitive EIC Accelerator program. This significant investment came after the company submitted its Step 2 proposal in March 2024 and successfully passed the Step 3 interview phase. The funding will accelerate the commercialization of Phaseform's DPP technology, enabling the company to transition from prototype to product development.

The EIC Accelerator funding for Phaseform appears to be structured as: - Grant component: Approximately €2.2 million

Potential equity component: Remaining portion of the €6 million package

Complete Funding History

Phaseform has secured multiple rounds of funding since its inception: November 2021

• Amount: €180,000
• Investor: Not specified

March 2022

• Amount: €300,000
• Investor: DFG (German Research Foundation)

July 2022

• Amount: €1.1 million (Seed Round)
• Investors: Private investors and MBG Baden-Württemberg
• Purpose: Scaling up manufacturing of its "Deformable Phase Plate" based product line

July 2024

• Amount: Over €6 million (including €2.2 million grant component)
• Investor: European Innovation Council (EIC Accelerator program)
• Purpose: Commercialization of DPP technology and market expansion

October 2024

• Investor: RMC DR. Reineck Management & Consulting
• Amount: Not disclosed

Company Valuation

Based on available information, Phaseform's enterprise value is estimated to be between €4-7 million. This valuation likely reflects the company's innovative technology, intellectual property portfolio, and market potential in the fields of optical microscopy and ophthalmic diagnostics.

Company Background

Phaseform was spun off in 2020 from the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) of the University of Freiburg by a team of engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs. The company specializes in transparent adaptive optics components that can adjust their surface with extreme precision to counteract imperfections in optical systems.

Prior to its seed round, Phaseform had received funding from 'EXIST transfer or research' and 'Start-up BW Pro-Tect' programs, highlighting its strong academic roots and innovation potential.

Strategic Direction

With the secured funding, Phaseform is positioning itself for significant market penetration in optical microscopy and ophthalmic diagnostics. Both sectors are experiencing substantial growth, and validation from key industry players forecasts a steady revenue stream for the company.

Phaseform's leadership includes:

• Dr. Stefan Weber (CEO)
• Dr. Pouya Rajaeipour (CTO)

The company has not reported any exit events such as IPOs, buyouts, or acquisitions to date. The recent funding rounds suggest that Phaseform is still in its growth and market expansion phase, focusing on commercializing its innovative technology.

Sources: - 6M€ in EIC Accelerator funding - Phaseform

• 1.1M€ seed round for Phaseform
• Phaseform company information - Texas Startup Ecosystem
• Phaseform company information - South Moravian Innovation Centre
• Phaseform company information - Observatoire des DeepTech

3 The Press Releases

Phaseform GmbH Secures €6M EIC Accelerator Funding for Breakthrough Adaptive Optics Technology

Phaseform GmbH, a Freiburg-based innovator in adaptive optics, was awarded over €6 million in funding through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program. The March 2024 EIC Accelerator evaluation resulted in Phaseform’s selection alongside 67 other companies, with its Deformable Phase Plate (DPP) technology recognized as a transformative solution for high-resolution imaging in ophthalmology and microscopy.

Key Developments

• Technology Advancements:
• Deformable Phase Plates (DPP) enable up to 10x resolution improvements by dynamically correcting optical aberrations. Applications include cellular-level retinal imaging for early disease diagnosis and enhanced microscopy for neuroscience and cancer research.
• Integration Partnerships: Collaborative efforts with MBF Bioscience aim to embed DPP technology into ScanImage software by mid-2025, enabling real-time aberration correction without hardware modifications.
• Team Updates:
• CEO Dr. Stefan Weber (Photonics100 Award recipient) and CTO Dr. Pouya Rajaeipour (Wolfgang-Gentner Young Scientist Award winner) lead the company’s expansion from academic spin-off to commercial leader.
• Market Positioning:
• Focused on ophthalmology diagnostics and life-science microscopy—two sectors projected for significant growth—Phaseform holds a robust IP portfolio to support global adoption of its refractive adaptive optics systems.
• Recent milestones include participation in GermanAccelerator’s U.S. Market Access program and recognition at SPIE Startup Challenge competitions.

Strategic Impact of EIC Funding

The €6M grant will accelerate product development, scaling production of DPP components for integration into commercial microscopes and ophthalmic devices. By eliminating reliance on complex reflective optics, Phaseform aims to make adaptive optics accessible as a standard feature across medical and research instruments.

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Sources

• 6M€ in EIC Accelerator funding
• EIC Accelerator March 2024 Results
• Statistics from March 2024 Call

The latest results referenced relate specifically to the March cutoff; subsequent February 2025 data pertains to later cycles (Rasph). Additional company updates are sourced directly from Phaseform's website. For partnership details: MBF Bioscience Collaboration | University of Freiburg Spin-off Announcement.

4 The Technology Advancements

Overview of Phaseform GmbH

Phaseform GmbH, located in Freiburg, Germany, is a leading developer of next-generation adaptive optics systems. These systems are designed to provide scalable and easy-to-use solutions for various imaging and beam shaping applications, including life sciences, microscopy, vision science, and ophthalmology.

Advancements Since EIC Accelerator Funding

In July 2024, Phaseform received over €6 million in funding from the EIC Accelerator program. This funding has been instrumental in advancing their Deformable Phase Plate (DPP) technology, which significantly improves optical imaging resolution by up to 10 times, particularly in ophthalmic diagnostics and microscopy.

Technological Improvements

• DPP Technology: Phaseform's DPP technology represents a major leap forward in optical components, enabling clinicians and researchers to achieve unparalleled image clarity. It is compact, easy to integrate, and transmissive, allowing for seamless placement in the illumination path without extensive hardware modifications.
• Integration with ScanImage: Phaseform collaborated with MBF Bioscience to integrate its DPP technology into ScanImage software for multiphoton and laser scanning microscopes. This integration supports sensorless adaptive optics techniques, providing real-time aberration correction during image acquisition without a wavefront sensor.

Market Demonstrations and Trials

• Partnerships: Phaseform has partnered with Axiom Optics to expand its sales into North America, further demonstrating its technology's market viability.
• Conferences and Events: The company participates in various conferences, including the Deutsche Gesellschaft für angewandte Optik and Trends in Microscopy, where it showcases its advancements and technology.

Patents and Scientific Studies

While there is no specific information available on new patents filed or scientific studies published directly by Phaseform since receiving the EIC funding, the company continues to advance its technology and IP portfolio. The focus remains on integrating and commercializing its DPP technology across various applications.

Sources

• Adaptive Optics | Phaseform GmbH
• 6M€ in EIC Accelerator funding - Phaseform
• News | Phaseform GmbH
• DPP Digital model - Phaseform
• DPP integration with ScanImage - Phaseform
• Adaptive Optics for MBF Bioscience's ScanImage using Phaseform's Deformable Phase Plate Technology

5 The Partnerships and Customers

Phaseform GmbH's Strategic Partnerships and Market Positioning Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Phaseform GmbH, a Freiburg-based adaptive optics innovator, has solidified its market presence through strategic collaborations following its €6M EIC Accelerator win in July 2024. Here’s an analysis of its partnerships and their impact:

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Key Partnerships and Customers

Phaseform partnered with Massachusetts-based Axiom Optics in March 2025 to accelerate sales and distribution of its adaptive optics systems in North America. This collaboration enhances Phaseform’s commercial reach, particularly in life sciences and semiconductor markets. A breakthrough integration with MBF Bioscience’s ScanImage software enables real-time aberration correction for multiphoton microscopy. This partnership targets neuroscience, cancer research, and developmental biology applications, offering researchers enhanced imaging precision without hardware modifications. Phaseform actively engages at events like Focus on Microscopy (Taipei), Trends in Microscopy (Germany), and Laser World of Photonics (Munich) to demonstrate technology and forge new alliances. These platforms position the company as a thought leader while attracting potential collaborators.

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Purpose of New Relationships

• Market Penetration: The Axiom deal addresses demand for high-resolution microscopy solutions in North American academia and industry.
• Technology Accessibility: By integrating with ScanImage—used globally in over 18,000 studies—Phaseform lowers entry barriers for labs adopting adaptive optics.
• Cross-Sector Innovation: Collaborations span ophthalmology (e.g., Biophotonics for Eye Research conferences) to semiconductor inspection, diversifying use cases for Deformable Phase Plate (DPP) technology.

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Market Positioning Advancements

Post-EIC funding, these relationships help Phaseform:

• Transition from R&D-focused operations to scalable product commercialization across medical diagnostics and industrial imaging sectors.
• Establish DPP technology as a gold standard for aberration correction via partnerships with established players like MBF Bioscience.

The EIC grant directly supports manufacturing scale-up for DPP components critical to these collaborations.

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Technology Advancements Through Collaboration

Joint efforts enable:

• Sensorless AO Techniques: Eliminating wavefront sensors simplifies system design while maintaining precision via software-driven corrections.
• Multi-Domain Validation: Clinical input from ophthalmology partners informs product refinements for retinal imaging applications cited under the EIC project scope.

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Sources

Phaseform Partners with Axiom Optics | DPP-ScanImage Integration | EIC Accelerator Announcement

+ Focus on Microscopy Participation | Biophotonics Conference Sponsorship + Deployable AO Solutions Overview (Note: URL likely intended as phaseformat→phaseformat.com; verify original source) → Use primary domain references above instead due to typo ambiguity here

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

Phaseform GmbH: Team Growth and Development

Phaseform GmbH, a renowned adaptive optics technology company from Germany, has experienced significant growth and developments following its successful funding from the EIC Accelerator in March 2024. Here's an overview of the company's team expansion and strategic developments:

Current Team Size and Headcount

While the exact current headcount is not publicly disclosed, Phaseform's team includes key personnel such as Dr. Stefan M. Weber, CEO; Dr. Pouya Rajaeipour, CTO; Dr. Kaustubh Banerjee, COO; and several other specialists across various departments.

Hiring and Team Growth

There is no explicit information on whether Phaseform is currently hiring, but the company has been expanding its partnerships and product development, suggesting potential opportunities for growth. The recent funding of €6 million from the EIC Accelerator in July 2024 indicates a strong financial base for further expansion.

Recent Key Positions and Team Members

Phaseform's team has been strengthened with experts in areas like product management, application specialization, and strategic partnerships. Key members include Stefan Schierle, Product Manager; Sergei Klykov, Application Specialist Microscopy; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Çağlar Ataman, Director Strategic Partnerships.

Impact of New Team Members

The addition of these team members indicates Phaseform's focus on enhancing its product offerings and strategic alliances. Their expertise will help the company scale by developing innovative adaptive optics solutions and expanding into new markets, such as North America through partnerships like Axiom Optics.

Major Changes in Management or Founding Team

There are no reported major changes in the management or founding team of Phaseform. The leadership remains consistent with Dr. Stefan M. Weber as CEO, Dr. Pouya Rajaeipour as CTO, and Dr. Kaustubh Banerjee as COO.

Growth and Expansion

Phaseform's growth is marked by its recent partnerships, product innovations, and participation in significant industry events. The company has integrated its technology into new applications, such as confocal Raman microscopes, and is expanding its market reach internationally.

Future Outlook

With its enhanced team and funding, Phaseform is poised to become a leading player in adaptive optics technology, providing scalable and affordable solutions across various sectors, including life science microscopy and ophthalmology. The company's mission to make high-resolution microscopy accessible to all will be furthered through these developments.

Sources

• About us | Phaseform GmbH
• Adaptive Optics | Phaseform GmbH
• News | Phaseform GmbH
• Delta 7 | Phaseform
• News - Phaseform
• 1.1M€ seed round for Phaseform

7 The Media Features and Publications

Phaseform GmbH: Innovations in Adaptive Optics Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Phaseform GmbH, a Freiburg-based leader in adaptive optics technology, has significantly expanded its footprint following its €6M EIC Accelerator award in July 2024. The company’s patented Deformable Phase Plate (DPP) technology continues to drive advancements across microscopy, ophthalmology, and biophotonics.

Media Features & Publications

• ElectroOptics Interview: CEO Dr. Stefan Weber discussed the future of adaptive optics and DPP’s role in miniaturizing high-resolution imaging systems.
• Whitepapers: Phaseform published a whitepaper detailing DPP applications in correcting optical aberrations for ophthalmoscopy.
• Peer-Reviewed Research: Collaborations with institutions like Freie Universität Berlin have yielded publications on polarization-enhanced two-photon microscopy, while their work on integrating DPP with confocal Raman microscopes marked an industry first.

Podcasts & Interviews

A 2021 video interview by bwcon featured Co-Founder Dr. Kaustubh Banerjee explaining DPP’s use cases in real-time aberration correction for microscopy and astronomy.

Conference Participation (2023–2025)

| Event | Focus | Contribution | Date | |-------|-------|--------------|------| | Photonics West San Francisco | Biophotonics & Imaging | Exhibited Delta 7 wavefront modulator at BiOS and German Pavilion | Jan 27 – Feb 1, 2024 | | SPIE ABC (Korea) | Biophotonics | Showcased DPP via distributor Samwoo Science | Nov 1–4, 2023 | | Trends in Microscopy (Münsingen) | Advanced Imaging Techniques Upcoming Presentation on AO integration with CRM systems | Mar 17–21, 2025 | | Optica Imaging Congress (Toulouse) Upcoming Invited talk by CTO Dr. Pouya Rajaeipour Jul 15–19, 2025 |

Strategic Collaborations & Events

• Axiom Optics Partnership: Announced March 6th, this alliance aims to accelerate North American sales of Phaseform’s AO systems for life sciences and material analysis.
• ScanImage Integration: A collaboration with MBF Bioscience enables seamless AO integration into existing microscopy workflows.

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Sources

• Interview: Future of Adaptive Optics [ElectroOptics Magazine]
• Ophthalmoscopy Whitepaper
• Polarization Enhanced Two-Photon Microscopy
• DPP for Confocal Raman Microscopy
• bwcon Interview Video

+ All event URLs from https://www.phaseform.com/news/categories/news including SPIE ABC (SPIE ABC Korea), Trends in Microscopy (Trends link), Optica Congress (Optica link).