RayVen Receives the 2025 Gründungspreis+
We are proud to announce that RayVen has been awarded the Gründungspreis+ as part of the 2025 edition of the “Gründungswettbewerb – Digitale Innovationen”, an annual startup competition hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The award was officially presented during the #Transform event on April 17, 2025, in Berlin. The Gründungspreis+ is one of the highest distinctions within the competition and is awarded to startups whose digital innovations demonstrate not only high technological potential but also exceptional relevance for the future of industry and society. The award includes €32,000 in non-dilutive funding and provides national visibility, mentoring opportunities, and access to a network of fellow innovators.
Out of more than 200 applicants, RayVen was selected as one of only six startups to receive the Gründungspreis+ in 2025. This recognition confirms the strategic importance of next-generation laser technologies in the context of Germany’s broader industrial transformation and digital agenda. RayVen develops ultrafast lasers at 2 µm wavelength for precision material processing. The combination of short pulses, novel wavelength, and system simplicity enables new use cases in micromachining and advanced manufacturing — from semiconductors to bio-compatible materials. As a spin-off from Ruhr University Bochum, we bring together deep scientific expertise with a clear commitment to real-world application.
Our co-founders Dr. Celia Millon and Dr. Michael Müller represented RayVen on stage in Berlin. They were joined by other outstanding early-stage deep-tech teams, including mechIC, another spin-off from Ruhr University Bochum and long-standing companion in the Worldfactory Start-up Center (WSC). The WSC and the EXIST – Start-ups from Science program have been critical partners on our journey from lab to market.
This award is a significant milestone for RayVen – not just because of the recognition, but because of what it represents: the growing awareness of photonics and laser technology as enabling tools for a more efficient, resource-conscious industrial future. We thank the BMWK and the jury for their trust, and we look forward to scaling our technology with a strong sense of purpose and responsibility.
