MEETOPTICS is a Barcelona-based AI platform for optics and photonics, built for researchers and optical engineers. Its Global Optics Search lets users find, filter and compare optical components from suppliers around the world. It also offers Louis, an AI assistant that helps engineers work out the right component specifications, and a fast ray-tracing simulator for prototyping. The company was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of ICFO, the Institute of Photonic Sciences, by Dr. Bárbara Buades and Dr. James Douglas. It has raised about $1.5M in early-stage funding from backers including the Hansmann family office, the NextCorps Luminate accelerator and ENISA.
SectorsAI & Data, Photonics, Search, B2B Marketplace, Deeptech
Start-up MapAI & Data › AI monitoring & insights
Founders
B
Bárbara Buades
Co-founder & CEO
J
James Douglas
Co-founder & CTO
Global models 4
SSupplyFrame
United States · supplyframe.com ↗
Ran a search and sourcing network where electronics engineers find, compare and specify components from suppliers worldwide, earning from supplier-side marketing and data before Siemens bought it.
$50MComparable
CCELUS
Germany · www.celus.io ↗
AI platform that helps hardware engineers turn requirements into specified, sourceable components across supplier catalogues, sold as software to engineering teams.
$30MComparable
FFlux
United States · www.flux.ai ↗
Hardware design tool with an AI copilot that helps engineers pick and specify parts from a large component library, which matches MEETOPTICS's Louis assistant plus search.
$30MComparable
OOctopart
United States · octopart.com ↗
Free search engine for engineers to find, filter and compare electronic components across distributors, paid for by suppliers; this is the closest match to Global Optics Search, applied to electronics.
$1MComparable
In the same niche 18 others
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Notes: Most funded first
Investors 9
D
David Ribas
HHansi Hansmann
H
Helena Torras
J
Josep Maria Tarragó
M
Marina Planas
M
Matt Robinson
O
Oriol Ribas
H
Hansmann Family Office
NNextCorps Luminate
Funding rounds 1
·1 not counted| Date | Round | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-03-29 | Seed (estimated) | €1M incl. debt: equity and debt, the split was not disclosed |
Lead not disclosed
+7 more
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News 5
Open as list →| Published | Article |
|---|---|
| 2025-06-06 |
Building the Future of Photonics: An Interview with Dr. Bárbara Buades of MEETOPTICS ↗
Andover Corporation
2025-06-06 |
| 2025-05-08 |
Epiphany joins MEETOPTICS to expand access to photonics innovation ↗
Epiphany Design
2025-05-08 |
| 2024-03-07 |
Barbara Buades: Winner of the 2024 Great Companies International Women Entrepreneur Award ↗
Great Companies
2024-03-07 |
| 2024-01-18 |
Celebrating the collaboration with MEETOPTICS ↗
Rofea Optoelectronics
2024-01-18 |
| 2023-12-11 |
Meetoptics: Helping researchers find optical components worldwide ↗
Novus Light Today
2023-12-11 |