Timing the right exit for a deep tech startup is less about strict formulas and more about intuition. You’re balancing technological maturity, market dynamics, and the evolving goals of everyone involved—founders, investors, and the team. The key? Recognizing when you’ve maximized value without overextending or losing momentum.
From our experience, deep tech startups shouldn’t wait for perfection. By the time your technology is polished and market-ready, you risk competitors catching up or investor enthusiasm cooling. Ideally, you’re looking for that sweet spot: strong proof of concept, early market traction, and a buzz in your industry. At this stage, you’re no longer “selling a dream” but showcasing a tangible, scalable solution.
The market also plays a huge role. When your space is hot—think AI, quantum computing, or green energy—you’ve got leverage. Buyers want to acquire not just your tech but the leadership you’ve established in space. A strategic acquirer at the right moment can scale your innovation faster than you could alone. Timing the exit during an M&A surge or when key players are on acquisition sprees is often the smartest play.
Internally, watch your team’s and investors’ appetite for risk. If raising the next round feels like a stretch or requires giving up too much equity, an exit might be the win everyone’s looking for. But don’t rush it. Make sure your IP is airtight, your growth story is strong, and any risks are minimized. Buyers pay for confidence—period.
Lastly, know what you want post-exit. Are you willing to stick around for earnouts, or are you looking for a clean break? Founders who stay involved in scaling post-acquisition can often extract more long-term value, but it’s not for everyone.
In the end, selling a deep tech startup isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about knowing your company’s place in the bigger picture and timing your move to leave a legacy—and maybe fund your next big idea. If the stars align, don’t overthink it. The right exit is as much about momentum as it is about metrics.
Generating infrared light isn’t difficult. But generating it on a chip — reliably, efficiently, and compactly — is a different story. Traditional IR sources rely on heating elements. They radiate across a wide range of wavelengths, consume significant power, and require filters to isolate the signals. Manageable in labs, unworkable in wearables.
Innovation tends to follow a familiar path: first, we invent something powerful. Then we shrink it. Only then does it become an everyday part of the infrastructure. But one layer is still missing in today’s technology: sensing beyond the visible.
The journey from concept to market looks very different in traditional tech compared to deep tech. While traditional tech benefits from streamlined processes and quicker iteration, deep tech ventures face longer, more complex cycles due to the groundbreaking nature of their innovations.