News: LEDs
9 May 2025
Uviquity gains $6.6m seed funding to develop far-UVC technology for human-safe photonic disinfection
Uviquity of Raleigh, NC, USA (a venture-backed start-up pioneering wide-bandgap integrated photonic disinfection technologies) has emerged from stealth after a $6.6m seed-funding round led by Emerald Development Managers (an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in deep tech) with participation from AgFunder and MANN+HUMMEL (specialists in food and agriculture venture capital and advanced filtration solutions, respectively).
Uviquity is developing solid-state far-UVC (200-230nm) semiconductor light sources designed to deliver safe, continuous and chemical-free disinfection for air, food and water applications. The funding will support Uviquity’s R&D, accelerating the productization of its core technology — a proprietary photonic integrated circuit that couples blue laser light into frequency-doubling waveguides, enabling a scalable, single-chip far-UVC solution that can fit on the tip of your finger and integrate into a wide variety of applications using standard photonic packages.
“Far-UVC light is the future of pathogen control — and Uviquity's wide-bandgap semiconductor platform is the key to making it practical, scalable, and safe,” believes CEO & co-founder Scott Burroughs. “This funding allows us to bring our vision to life.”
Uviquity says that its chip-based semiconductor approach offers a compact, energy-efficient and durable solution that can be integrated into light fixtures, air-handling systems, food packaging and processing equipment, agricultural crop protection systems, water purification systems, and consumer appliances.
Uviquity adds that its solid-state far-UVC platform opens the door to a wide range of applications:
- Air disinfection in public and private spaces, providing invisible, always-on protection from airborne illnesses;
- Pesticide-free crop protection, enabling healthier and more sustainable agriculture;
- Chemical-free water purification, delivering clean water at any scale without harmful byproducts.
“With its proven team and novel technology, Uviquity fits perfectly with our goal to invest in exceptional companies that are solving real problems,” comments Cy Schroeder of Emerald Development Managers.
BluGlass secures AUS$1.2m order for first phase of multi-year JDA with Uviquity
