Enschede-based Brilliance RGB has secured 6 million euros in fresh funding to advance its integrated RGB laser chip technology for augmented reality applications. The startup targets a key bottleneck in AR hardware: the light engine, where size, efficiency and brightness remain difficult trade-offs. Its photonic chips promise to shrink projector size while boosting performance, opening the door to lightweight AR glasses and automotive displays.
Brilliance’s approach combines silicon nitride-based photonic integrated circuits with integrated laser sources, replacing complex optical assemblies with a compact chip. According to the company, this drastically reduces power consumption, enabling all-day battery life, while delivering higher brightness for outdoor use and a wider field of view. The technology is designed to support multiple display architectures, from industrial laser systems to head-up displays and wearable AR.
“We’ve built a solid foundation thanks to the market traction we’re generating and the core technology that has already proven itself. We’ll now continue scaling up and design custom solutions for our customers, while preparing for the first production launch by the end of this year,” says Brilliance CEO Tim Tiek.
The funding round was led by Cottonwood Technology Fund, with participation from Photonventures, Oost NL and Photix, among others.
