During a ceremony yesterday at SPIE Photonics West, TRAQC was named as the winner of the $10,000 top prize at the 14th annual SPIE Startup Challenge. Their real-time inspection solution for the printed electronics industry uses terahertz radiation and metamaterial technology to ensure quality while reducing waste. (From left) Jenoptik’s Ralf Kuschnereit, TRAQC's Benjamin Dringoli, and 2024 SPIE President Jennifer Barton. Courtesy of SPIE. ClearVision, developer of a noninvasive alternative to permanent vision-correction surgeries based on corneal sculpting with femtosecond laser technology, received $5,000 for second place. UriMetrics came in third, winning $2,500 for their lens-free imaging solution for reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. All cash prizes are provided by SPIE Startup Challenge founding partner Jenoptik. The SPIE Startup Challenge, a pitch competition held annually by SPIE, showcases new businesses, products, and technologies that address critical needs by utilizing photonics in the areas of health care and deep tech. This year’s six finalists included innovations in medical applications, industry supply-chain solutions, and optical manufacturing. The 2023 SPIE Startup Challenge was supported by founding partner Jenoptik, lead sponsors Hamamatsu and Thorlabs, and supporting sponsor NextCorps Luminate. The competition judges who vetted the applicants for their business models, financial cases, and competitive advantages included Jenoptik’s Song Chung, Launch Team’s Michele Nichols, Edmund Optics' Agnes Hübscher, NextCorps Luminate’s Damon Diehl, Hamamatsu Ventures’ Richard Oberreiter, and Thorlabs’ Bill Donovan.