Estonian startup Agate Sensors raises €5.6M to commercialize chip-sized spectroscopy technology

Agate Sensors, an Estonian startup developing smart sensors for material analysis, has raised €5.6 million to commercialize a technology that reduces spectroscopy from large lab equipment to a chip-sized device smaller than a grain of sand, capable of fitting on a fingertip. The seed funding round was led by Voima Ventures and LIFTT, with grants from Business Finland.

About Agate Sensors

• Espoo-based Agate Sensors, founded in 2024 by Tommi Leino, Andreas Liapis, and Mikael Westerlund, as a spin-out from Aalto University, is focused on miniaturizing spectral sensing to the scale of a single camera pixel. 

• The company’s patented technology integrates photography, hyperspectral imaging, biosensing, and spectroscopy into a compact platform. Agate’s applications span across sectors such as defense, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and consumer electronics.

“Agate Sensors’ platform is a leap forward in hyperspectral sensing: software-defined, scalable, and truly high-performance. It holds immense potential to reshape industries that rely on precise optical measurement, and we are very excited to support the company on the journey ahead,” said Niko Elers, Investment Director at Voima Ventures. 

Investment details

The round includes €4M in seed funding led by Voima Ventures and LIFTT, plus €1.6M in grants from Business Finland.

• Voima Ventures, is a Helsinki-based venture capital firm, specializing in deep tech investments across the Nordic and Baltic regions. The firm focuses on science-driven startups in sectors such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing, AI, and sustainable materials.

• The company invested in ArgusEye, Sooma, SemiQon, StemSight, Aisti and Avenue Biosciences.

• LIFTT is an Italian Venture Capital operating with a multi-vertical approach in key technological industries: Energy Security, Critical Resources, Human Health & Aging, Infrastructure for data revolution, Industrial Automation & Space.

Manufacturing of Agate Sensors’ initial chips is expected by year-end, enabling proof-of-concept demonstrators throughout 2026 and first commercial smart wearable products targeted for late 2027.

Read more: Epigenica raises $2.2M led by Voima Ventures to expand epigenetic solutions