Photonium

Photonium delivers AI-assisted optical engineering through its flagship software, Photonium Insight, and expert consulting. Insight transforms a written specification or existing design file into a working optical design: it proposes starting points, explores multiple design paths in parallel, runs analyses (MTF, spot, Seidel, PSF, RMS WFE) and optimization in Zemax, CODE V, or Photonium's own ray tracer, and identifies performance bottlenecks. Suggested changes require user approval before export to native formats (.ZMX, etc.). The consulting arm connects clients with a network of senior optical engineers who are augmented by AI to tackle complex projects across industries. The tool is designed for professional optical engineers in quantum computing, automotive, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace/defence, life sciences, and consumer electronics. It integrates via ZOS-API scripting and native .ZMX import/export, and supports custom software builds for bespoke workflows. By automating routine tasks and leveraging AI for initial design exploration, Photonium reduces manual iteration while keeping human experts in the loop for critical decisions. Photonium's approach is differentiated by its combination of AI-driven design space exploration, multi-tool compatibility (Zemax, CODE V, custom ray tracer), and a consulting layer that brings experienced engineers into the process. The company is backed by Y Combinator and is part of the NVIDIA Inception Program, with advisors including Prof. Lambertus Hesselink (Stanford), Prof. Sitan Chen (Harvard), and Prof. Ioannis Gkioulekas (CMU). For teams already using Zemax or CODE V, Photonium Insight accelerates the design process significantly. However, the lack of public pricing and reliance on consultative engagement may limit accessibility for smaller teams or those needing a self-serve subscription.