What Oblate Optics does

Oblate Optics is a U.S.-based photonics startup that designs and sells Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) meta-lenses — flat optical components built from subwavelength metasurface structures that maintain usable focus across wide axial ranges without moving parts. Its core technology uses proprietary inverse-design algorithms and GPU-accelerated deep-learning pipelines to produce hardware that replaces complex multi-element lens stacks and F-theta scanning systems with a single ultra-thin optical element optimized for specific laser wavelengths (Ti:Sapphire, Ytterbium-doped, Nd:YAG, and broader 355 nm–10.6 µm range) and laser classes (CW through femtosecond). Branded DeepFocus™ Metalenses, the products target industrial laser marking, cutting, engraving, and machining, with secondary applications in machine vision, 3D sensing/LIDAR, miniaturized imaging systems, and U.S. defense infrared optics.

The company pursues a hybrid go-to-market: catalog distribution of standardized SKUs via Edmund Optics' global online channel (the first broad commercial availability of meta-lenses), supplemented by a direct enterprise sales motion for custom configurations priced by specification (wavelength, power, depth of field, lens diameter, spot size). Revenue streams comprise hardware unit sales through distribution, bespoke one-off optics projects, and government/DoD work with the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Space Force focused on lighter infrared optics and reduced germanium dependence. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Oblate is operationally small (1–10 employees) and pre-commercially scaled: lifetime disclosed funding totals approximately $500,000 across 2025 Luminate NY and APOMA non-dilutive awards, supplemented by NVIDIA Inception Program support and NSF I-Corps participation. Leadership comprises CEO Paul Herz and Founder/CTO Rajesh Menon. The company is embedded in the Rochester, New York optics ecosystem alongside Edmund Optics, Thorlabs, Corning, and Sydor Optics, and participates in industry channels including Photonics West 2026 and the Photonics Spectra Ultrafast Lasers Summit.

Name

Oblate Optics

Legal name

Oblate Optics

Website

https://oblateoptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oblate Optics designs and sells ultra-thin Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) meta-lenses using AI-optimized inverse design for industrial laser marking, cutting, and engraving applications, selling via Edmund Optics catalog and direct enterprise quotes with secondary defense and machine vision applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photonics and laser optics

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optics & Laser/Light Engine Components (Lenses, Galvos, Laser Modules, UV Engines) (IMAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Metalens optics
• Extended depth of focus
• Laser optics
• Metasurface design
• AI-optimized photonics

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. EDOF Meta-Lens Sales: Sale of ultra-thin extended depth of focus meta-lenses for laser applications including marking, cutting, engraving, and microscopy. Products sold through Edmund Optics global catalog and direct quoting.
2. Custom Optics Quoting: Custom-designed optical solutions based on customer specifications including laser application type, power levels, wavelength requirements, depth of field, and lens diameter parameters.
3. Defense & Government Contracts: Collaboration with U.S. Army, Air Force, and Space Force for developing advanced infrared optics that are smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oblate Optics designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-thin Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) meta-lenses, marketed under the DeepFocus™ brand, that maintain focus over wide axial distances without moving parts. Standard SKUs are sold globally through Edmund Optics for Ti:Sapphire, Ytterbium-doped, and Nd:YAG laser systems, with custom configurations quoted directly for laser marking, cutting, engraving, microscopy, machine vision, 3D sensing, and defense applications.

Product overview

Oblate Optics offers a portfolio of AI-optimized meta-lens products centered around their DeepFocus™ Metalenses technology. The core product line consists of Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) meta-lenses that use proprietary inverse design algorithms and AI-driven optimization to deliver ultra-thin optical elements. These are available as standard products optimized for specific laser systems (Ti:Sapphire, Ytterbium-doped, Nd:YAG) through Edmund Optics, with custom configurations available via their quote service. The technology replaces complex, expensive focusing systems with compact, drop-in optical solutions for laser marking, cutting, engraving, and microscopy applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DeepFocus™: AI-optimized ultra-thin metalenses that deliver perfect focus on any surface using Extended Depth of Focus (EDoF) design for laser marking, cutting, and engraving applications.

Products and services

• DeepFocus™ Metalenses Ultra-thin, AI-optimized metalenses using Extended Depth of Focus (EDoF) design that maintain clarity over wide working distances without surface mapping or manual refocusing; designed as drop-in modules for laser marking, cutting, and engraving across aerospace, semiconductor, and medical devices.
• EDOF Meta-Lenses (Extended Depth of Focus) Ultra-thin meta-lenses offering extended depth of field for lasers to maintain precise focus over large working distances, designed for laser cutting, marking, engraving, and microscopy applications across multiple industries.
• EDOF Meta-Lenses for Ti:Sapphire Laser Systems EDOF meta-lens SKU optimized specifically for Ti:Sapphire laser systems, sold through the Edmund Optics online catalog as a drop-in replacement for conventional lenses.
• EDOF Meta-Lenses for Ytterbium-doped (Yb) Laser Systems EDOF meta-lens SKU optimized specifically for Ytterbium-doped (Yb) laser systems, sold through the Edmund Optics online catalog.
• EDOF Meta-Lenses for Nd:YAG Laser Systems EDOF meta-lens SKU optimized specifically for Nd:YAG laser systems, sold through the Edmund Optics online catalog.
• Custom Optics Quote Service Custom-designed optical solutions quoted based on customer specifications including laser application, depth of field (15–100mm), lens diameter (10–25mm), power (10–1500W), spot size, working distance, and wavelength (355nm to 10.6μm); targets defense, semiconductor, and industrial manufacturing customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global laser marking market expected to reach nearly $5 billion by 2028, with addressable market for Oblate Optics estimated to surpass $2 billion by 2029
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, industry, ecosystem and event.

• Edmund OpticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 December 2025Global distribution partnership making Oblate Optics' EDOF meta-lenses commercially available through Edmund Optics' online catalog. First broad market availability of meta-lens technology. Three optimized options for Ti:Sapphire, Ytterbium-doped (Yb), and Nd:YAG laser systems. Edmund Optics provides 24/7 engineering support for applications.
• NVIDIA Inception ProgramcoreTechnology or Integration · 22 July 2025Strategic partnership joining NVIDIA's ecosystem of over 25,000 cutting-edge startups. Provides access to GPU technology, cutting-edge software tools, expert guidance from AI and computing experts, networking opportunities with innovators and industry leaders, market access at major industry events, and cloud computing credits.
• Altec LaserscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaid pilot partnership validating DeepFocus™ metalens technology and demonstrating strong market demand. Success from this pilot helped company scale technology and solidify U.S.-based manufacturing strategy.
• U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Air Force, Space Force)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on advanced infrared optics that are smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient. Supports national efforts to reduce dependence on scarce materials like germanium and advance supply chain resilience and technological independence.
• APOMA (American Precision Optics Manufacturers Association)industryOthersIndustry association membership earned through APOMA Optics Innovator Award. Includes one year of free APOMA membership, free admission to APOMA's 2026 Technical Workshop at Kennedy Space Center plus $500 travel stipend. Provides access to precision optics manufacturers, suppliers, and partners including Thorlabs and Viavi Solutions.
• Rochester OPI Ecosystem (Edmund Optics, Corning, Thorlabs, Sydor Optics)ecosystemStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanies operating within Rochester's world-class optics and photonics ecosystem. Rochester's legacy as a leader in imaging technologies makes it an ideal location for optical innovation. Ecosystem includes precision manufacturers, industry experts, and strategic partners. Has been instrumental in accelerating preparedness and supply chain development.
• NextCorpseventChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hosting Oblate Optics at Photonics West 2026 in NextCorps booth #258. NextCorps is Rochester's innovation hub supporting optics and photonics startups.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Metalenz: Pioneering metasurface optics company (acquired by STMicroelectronics in 2023) that develops flat lenses for sensing and illumination applications. Most directly comparable meta-lens peer; technology overlap is high though Oblate is laser-focused while Metalenz targets broader consumer/sensing use cases.
• NIL Technology: Denmark-based company developing nanostructured optics and meta-optics for sensors, cameras, and laser applications. A pure-play metasurface optics peer serving industrial customers, with comparable AI-driven design methodology and similar customer overlap.

Emerging players

• Holo/Or: Israel-based specialist in diffractive optical elements (DOEs), micro-optics, and beam shapers for laser applications. Compares to Oblate on laser optics target market and beam shaping use case, with an adjacent (rather than identical) metasurface-based technology approach.
• Lumotive: Develops metasurface-based optical beam-steering systems for 3D sensing and LIDAR applications. Shares Oblate's underlying metasurface platform and overlaps on the 3D sensing customer segment, though end-application focus is automotive LIDAR rather than industrial lasers.

Broad incumbents

• Thorlabs: Large incumbent photonics and optical components manufacturer with an extensive laser optics catalog. Operates within Rochester's OPI ecosystem alongside Oblate and serves overlapping industrial and research customers, though Thorlabs uses traditional refractive rather than metasurface optics.
• Edmund Optics: Major global optics distributor and manufacturer serving industrial laser, research, and imaging customers. Listed as Oblate's distribution partner and a fellow Rochester OPI ecosystem member; comparable in target customer base but much broader and more established in portfolio breadth.
• CVI Laser Optics: Manufacturer of precision laser optics, mirrors, and beam shaping components for industrial and scientific laser systems. Established incumbent in the laser optics market Oblate targets, competing for the same industrial laser manufacturers and laser system integrator customers.
• Jenoptik: German photonics group with divisions in laser optics, industrial metrology, and defense optics. Comparable in serving both industrial laser manufacturers and defense customers with optical components, with much deeper resources and a global installed base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oblateoptics1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oblate Optics