Breaking Barriers supports MantiSpectra on its path from breakthrough photonics to large-scale production
Turning decades of laboratory technology into something that fits on the tip of your finger: that is the mission of MantiSpectra. The Eindhoven-based deeptech spin-off has developed miniature near-infrared spectroscopy chips that can now be integrated into consumer devices, wearables and industrial systems.
We spoke with the company’s Italian founder, Maurangelo Petruzella, an entrepreneur with a PhD in photonics. He explains the innovation behind the chip, the scale-up challenges ahead, and how Breaking Barriers is helping the team accelerate.
A tiny chip unlocking a new wave of real-world data
“Our product brings true spectroscopic sensing to a semiconductor chip,” Maurangelo explains. “It measures the properties of materials completely non-invasively, without destroying the sample. For decades, this kind of analysis required large, expensive, and fragile laboratory instruments. Now we can fit the same functionality onto a tiny chip.”
By moving the entire process onto a wafer, the same manufacturing platform used for smartphone components, the technology can scale to high volumes for the first time. And that opens doors far beyond the traditional spectroscopy world.
AI as the natural extension
“The moment our chip converts physical reality into data, you need AI and machine learning to translate that into biomarkers, material properties for classifications or quantification,” he says. “People are used to models trained on text or images. The real frontier is data coming directly from the world around us: from skin, food, materials, machinery. Our technology provides that raw material data.”
In wearables, for example, green light can measure a handful of biomarkers. With infrared sensing, you suddenly gain access to a much broader set of metabolic signals. “You can monitor hydration, introduce entirely new biomarkers, or unlock richer health insights for consumers,” he says. “But the same applies to food, agriculture and pharmaceuticals: anywhere you need to classify or assess materials quickly and reliably.”
From breakthrough to industrial scale-up
Breaking Barriers supports the transition from prototype to product. “We now have the product that meets customers specifications. Now it’s about making it robust and scalable via upscaling our production capacity and helping our customers in their journey to integrate our chips into their new products,” says Maurangelo.
Second, Breaking Barriers connects MantiSpectra with partners in the Dutch tech ecosystem. “That network is incredibly valuable. You need suppliers, manufacturing expertise, and early customers who understand the potential of the technology. Breaking Barriers accelerates those connections.”
The program is specifically designed to support funding readiness, helping the team refine to prepare for volume production. It brings structure to an otherwise complex journey: clarifying funding-critical priorities, defining the milestones that matter to investors, and systematically de-risking the path to a successful deep-tech venture.
Spectroscopy meets scale
MantiSpectra’s vision is clear: make infrared sensing ubiquitous. “We want this technology to end up in millions of devices, not just for specialists, but for everyday users. My dream is to walk into any electronic store and find our chips in products,” Maurangelo says. “That requires building for scale from day one, reliable, manufacturable, and ready for real-world deployment.”
Breaking Barriers helps translate that ambition into concrete steps. “It’s a structured way to move forward, supported by people who understand both the technological and commercial challenges. That combination is just what we need at this stage.”
