Singular Photonics, a semiconductor company based in Edinburgh, has raised €1.85 million ($2.15 million) in a new funding round. The round was oversubscribed, meaning the company received more investor interest than the amount it was looking to raise.
The company develops SPAD (single photon avalanche diode) image sensors. These sensors can detect individual particles of light and also perform some computing directly on the sensor.
The funding round was led by ACF Investors. Other investors included Wren Capital, Cambridge Angels, Scottish Enterprise, Quantum Exponential and Old College Capital.
Singular Photonics said the new funding will support the company as it continues to develop and grow its semiconductor technology.
The company also announced that Dipesh Patel, former Chief Technology Officer of semiconductor company Arm, has joined Singular Photonics’ board of directors. His experience in the semiconductor industry is expected to support the company’s growth.
“This has been a phenomenal year for Singular Photonics. We’ve already doubled our 2025 sales, we’re approaching break-even, and our customers are telling us exactly what they want from future products. This oversubscribed round means we can respond faster – expanding our sensor portfolio and bringing new features to market on our customers’ timelines, not just our own,” said CEO Shahida Imani.
Singular Photonics was founded in February 2024 by CEO Imani, CTO Dr. Aravind Venugopalan, Professor Robert Henderson, and Dr. Neil Finlayson. The company is a spin-out from Professor Henderson’s lab at the University of Edinburgh and came out of stealth mode in January 2025.
Singular Photonics is a fabless semiconductor company focused on developing SPAD image sensors with built-in computing capabilities. SPAD stands for single-photon avalanche diode, a technology designed to detect very small amounts of light.
The company says image sensors have improved significantly over the years, but traditional cameras are getting closer to their limits in how much information they can capture. SPAD technology could help overcome some of these limitations.
Unlike traditional image sensors that mainly measure the overall intensity of light, SPAD sensors can detect individual photons and record exactly when they arrive. This allows cameras and imaging systems to capture information that conventional sensors may not be able to see.
Singular Photonics is also developing SPAD sensors with on-chip computing. This means the sensor can process and analyse information as soon as the light is detected, helping systems understand and use important information in real time.
