SOLEYE

What SOLEYE does

SOLEYE Kft is a Budapest-based R&D and manufacturing company that designs and hand-builds high-end solar telescopes and custom optical systems. Product development began in 2017 and the company was formally established in 2023. The flagship product, the SOLEYE 300 (300mm aperture), launched in 2024 at €12,450–€13,750, followed in 2025 by the space-qualified SOLEYE 300 CryoSol variant. A planned family of smaller dual-band telescopes — SOLEYE 150, 200, and 230 — has been announced and is in pre-order.

Each SOLEYE telescope integrates proprietary dual-band dielectric ERM coatings (patent pending), an ESA-validated CryoSOL passive thermal control system (on the CryoSol variant), an open-truss carbon fiber architecture, and 60+ bespoke CNC-machined components. The founder personally assembles each unit, with a 4–6 month lead time and 40% advance / 60% on-shipping payment terms, characterizing a low-volume, high-mix custom operation rather than series production.

SOLEYE serves three distinct customer segments: professional solar photographers (direct retail), research institutions and national observatories (bespoke optical systems), and the space industry / satellite manufacturers (space-qualified hardware including Coverglass R&D with EnduroSat and SAMNet space-weather instruments with HSPF). The company is founder-owned, with 1–10 employees, no disclosed external venture capital, and partnerships spanning ESA (Technology Broker, Spark Funding), the Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation, HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research, and the Hungarian/Central European advanced-manufacturing ecosystem including ADMATIS, Design Terminal, Smart Inno Expert, and Wozify.

Name

SOLEYE

Legal name

SOLEYE Kft

Website

https://soleye.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Budapest-based SOLEYE Kft designs and hand-builds high-end solar telescopes and space-qualified optical systems for professional solar photographers, research institutions, and satellite manufacturers, leveraging proprietary dual-band coatings and ESA-validated thermal control.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Telescopes & Precision Optical Instruments

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Solar telescopes
• Astronomical instruments
• Optical systems
• Space optics
• Solar imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Telescope Sales: Sale of precision-built solar telescopes (SOLEYE 150, 200, 230, 300, and CryoSOL variants) directly to professional solar photographers and dedicated observers. Orders are placed through the website with a 40% advance payment and 60% upon shipping. Manufacturing lead time of 4-6 months per instrument.
2. Custom Optical Systems & Mission-Specific Instruments: R&D partnership model for designing and manufacturing custom optical systems, telescope subsystems, and components for national observatories and research institutions. The process involves dialogue, co-design, prototyping, validation, and full manufacturing and integration.
3. Space Technology Solutions: Space industry engagement including passive thermal control systems for solar telescopes, space weather forecasting instruments and services, and technology transfer (small satellite coverglass R&D). Revenue generated through ESA/EU tenders, consortium partnerships, and direct R&D contracts with satellite manufacturers and aerospace firms.
4. Accessories and Components: Sale of optional upgrades and accessories including gold-plated secondary mirror holders (+700 EUR), instrument consoles (+250 EUR), self-cooling camera adapters (+600 EUR), compression rings (+100 EUR), Quark adapters (+120 EUR), Losmandy plates (+120 EUR), soft cases (+270 EUR), hard cases (+780 EUR), and additional primary mirrors ('Violet' +3,990 EUR, 'Red' Dualband +3,990 EUR, 'Night' +2,490 EUR).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SOLEYE designs and manufactures high-precision solar telescopes (SOLEYE 150, 200, 230, 300, and 300 CryoSol) for professional solar photographers and dedicated observers, featuring proprietary dual-band dielectric coatings for H-alpha and Ca-K wavelengths. The company also develops mission-specific custom optical systems, telescope subsystems, and components for research institutions and national observatories, and pursues space technology solutions including passive thermal control systems, space weather forecasting instruments, and small-satellite coverglass R&D through ESA-funded projects.

Product overview

SOLEYE is a Budapest-based R&D company specializing in solar telescope design and manufacturing, offering a portfolio of high-performance solar telescopes for both professional and dedicated amateur solar photographers. The product lineup includes four distinct telescope models: SOLEYE 300 (flagship, 300mm aperture, available in standard and CryoSol space-grade versions), SOLEYE 230 (230mm aperture with carbon fiber frame), SOLEYE 200 (200mm aperture, stainless steel frame), and SOLEYE 150 (150mm aperture, portable/expedition). All telescopes feature proprietary dual-band coatings optimized for H-alpha and Calcium-K wavelengths. The company also provides mission-specific optical systems for research institutions, space weather forecasting instruments and services, and small satellite coverglass R&D developed through ESA partnerships. Accessories include night-sky primary mirrors, gold-plated thermal components, self-cooling camera adapters, and precision focusers. The product ecosystem is unified by SOLEYE's first-principles engineering philosophy and open-truss thermal management architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SOLEYE 300 Dual-band Flagship 300mm aperture professional solar telescope with proprietary dual-band (H-alpha + Ca-K/H) primary mirror coating, F/4 focal ratio, and an open-truss carbon fiber reinforced polymer frame. Delivers observatory-grade sub-arcsecond solar imaging for dedicated solar photographers and researchers.
• SOLEYE 300 CryoSol Space-grade edition of the SOLEYE 300 with the CryoSOL passive thermal control system developed through ESA Spark Funding. Uses space-grade thermo-optical coatings to maintain temperature differences below 1 Kelvin in direct sunlight, eliminating structural distortion and self-induced local seeing.
• SOLEYE 230 Dual-band 230mm aperture solar telescope with carbon fiber frame offering expert-level sub-arcsecond resolution (0.31" Ca-K / 0.52" H-alpha) in a portable, field-ready design.
• SOLEYE 200 Dual-band 200mm aperture solar telescope with stainless steel frame and F/6 focal ratio, optimized for full-disc solar imaging with sufficient resolution for prominences and flares.
• SOLEYE 150 Dual-band Portable grab-and-go 150mm aperture solar telescope designed for eclipse chasing and remote expeditions with a compact, lightweight form factor.
• Mission-Specific Optical Systems Custom optical systems built from first principles for national observatories and research institutions. Includes proprietary dual-band coatings, mission-specific filters (e.g., MOF instruments), aberration control, stray-light suppression, and complete observatory architecture from component design through full integration.
• Space Weather Forecasting Instruments Ground-based instruments designed for reliable, cost-effective space weather prediction, including MOF instruments developed in collaboration with the Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation for the SAMNet global space weather monitoring network.
• Space Weather Forecasting Service Early-warning forecasting service for space weather conditions that threaten electrical equipment, enabling electricity providers and transmission system operators to take preventive action.
• Small-Satellite Coverglass R&D Technology-transfer R&D initiative developing PV coverglass coatings (targeted 400-1100nm transmission with UV/IR blocking) and spectral splitting panels for orbital thermal management of small-satellite solar arrays, pursued via ESA and EU tenders in consortium partnerships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.24"/0.28" resolution achievable in NUV — world leader only with SOLEYE technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOLEYE is an ESA Technology Broker partner and has received ESA Spark Funding (via Design Terminal) for its passive thermal control system project. The ESA ecosystem validates and actively develops SOLEYE's forward-looking initiatives including the CryoSOL technology.
• Hungarian Solar Physics Foundation (HSPF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with HSPF to develop a next-generation instrument (MOF device) for the global SAMNet network (Solar Activity Magnetic Network). The project aims to create a global network for continuous monitoring of magnetic field changes in the Sun's atmosphere by further developing the MOF instrument at the Gyula Solar Physics Observatory.
• HUN-REN Centre for Energy ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a trusted partner in science and innovation. HUN-REN (Hungarian Research Network) is Hungary's leading research institution network, with the Centre for Energy Research focusing on solar physics and renewable energy research.
• Design TerminalkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign Terminal is listed as a trusted partner and acted as the facilitator for SOLEYE's ESA Spark Funding project. Design Terminal is a Budapest-based innovation agency that supports Hungarian startups and deep-tech companies in accessing European funding programmes.
• ADMATISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a trusted partner in science and innovation. ADMATIS is involved in scientific and engineering collaborations with SOLEYE.
• EnduroSatkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a trusted partner. EnduroSat is a Bulgarian small satellite manufacturer. The partnership relates to SOLEYE's upstream technology transfer initiative for small satellite COVERGLASS R&D.
• NautescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by SOLEYE's founders, László Francsics and Zsófia Szántay, along with three others. Nautes is a creative design hub known for complex architectural solutions (underground urban train stops, museums) and high-end visualisation. SOLEYE represents a new business wing for Nautes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• EnduroSat: EnduroSat is a Bulgarian small satellite manufacturer and a SOLEYE strategic partner for smallsat coverglass R&D technology transfer. They are an emerging player in the space tech ecosystem working on adjacent optical/thermal technologies for CubeSats and small satellite platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Sky-Watcher: Sky-Watcher is a major global telescope brand offering a broad range of optical tubes, mounts, and accessories across price points. While not specializing in solar observation, they are one of SOLEYE's named compatible mount partners and represent the broader consumer telescope market in which SOLEYE competes.
• Celestron: Celestron is one of the largest consumer telescope brands globally, offering products from beginner to advanced levels including solar observation accessories. They represent the mass-market incumbent against which SOLEYE positions its premium, niche solar telescope offerings.

Others

• iOptron: iOptron manufactures telescope mounts, tracking systems, and related astronomy equipment favored by astrophotographers. Listed as a SOLEYE compatible mount partner, they share an overlapping customer base of dedicated solar/astrophotographers and represent an ecosystem peer.

Direct peers

• DayStar Filters: DayStar Filters specializes in H-alpha and other narrowband filters for solar observation, supplying both OEM and aftermarket filter solutions for solar telescopes and imaging systems. They compete with SOLEYE in the solar filter/coating technology space and serve overlapping institutional research customers.
• Astro-Physics: Astro-Physics is a US-based premium telescope manufacturer known for high-end refractor telescopes and mount systems favored by serious astrophotographers. They serve a comparable customer base of dedicated observers seeking premium optical performance, though their focus is on night-sky rather than solar observation.
• Thousand Oaks Optical: Thousand Oaks Optical manufactures solar filters and dedicated solar observation products for amateur astronomy, including glass and polymer filters for white-light solar observation. They compete with SOLEYE in the solar filter/observation accessories segment with broader mass-market reach.
• Lunt Solar Systems: Lunt Solar Systems is a leading manufacturer of dedicated solar telescopes and H-alpha filter systems for solar observation. They are the most direct competitor to SOLEYE in the premium solar imaging market, serving similar professional and dedicated amateur solar photographers with comparable products.
• Coronado (Meade Instruments): Coronado, owned by Meade Instruments, manufactures dedicated solar telescopes (PST, SolarMax series) featuring H-alpha filter technology for amateur and professional solar observers. They are a direct competitor to SOLEYE in the consumer/institutional solar telescope market with broader distribution.
• Takahashi (Takahashi Seisakusho): Takahashi manufactures premium apochromatic refractor telescopes and astrographs for astrophotography, with a strong reputation among dedicated amateur astronomers for optical excellence. They are comparable to SOLEYE in targeting demanding amateur/professional observers willing to pay premium prices for top-tier optics.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/soleyetelescopes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soleye-telescopes
• Instagraminstagram.com/soleye_telescopes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SOLEYE