NovoViz: The Venture Leader Mobile designing single-photon detectors for computational imaging

21.02.2025 10:00, Rita Longobardi

Meet Andrada Muntean, CEO of NovoViz. The engineering startup creates single-photon computational engines tailored for high-speed, high-sensitivity applications with limited data processing needs. In March, Andrada will join nine other innovators on a business development and investor roadshow in Barcelona.

Name: Andrada Muntean
Location: Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Nationality: Romanian
Graduated from: EPFL
Job title: CEO
Number of employees: 5
Money raised: CHF 1M
 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
NovoViz is a fabless semiconductor company which designs and manufactures computational single-photon imaging sensors. Our solution lies in integrating computation on-chip, in this way, we combine pixels and processors in a single unit, reducing system complexity and cost. This allows easy integration and enhanced performance with reduced cost for the next generation of robotics optical systems and not only.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
Our main target markets are machine vision and smart cameras with a long-term plan to enter the automotive market. With the SPAD-based sensor market only at USD 50M in 2024, but expected to grow to USD 500M by 2028, we are looking to capture a conservative 10% of it in 5 years.

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea to create this startup all began over fried chicken wings in Salzburg in January 2020. At the beginning, we were thinking about security systems, and over the years we went through the validation process and concluded that machine vision and smart camera market would be the first.
 

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What do you expect from the Venture Leaders roadshow, and how do you think it will help you achieve your vision?
We see this platform as an opportunity to showcase our devices globally, identify new applications, and establish collaborations with key customers looking to integrate our technology. The Venture Leaders roadshow will help us connect with potential customers and investors, giving NovoViz the exposure to demonstrate our product capabilities.

What are your team’s key achievements to date?
Despite being on the market for less than a year, our team has successfully launched our first line of products and secured paying customers. To date, we have raised over 650K CHF and received support from various institutions and venture programs. We have completed our Angel Round and are now actively preparing for our upcoming Seed Round.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
A key principle that guides me through this journey is to stay focused on creating value through innovation and integrity. Innovation ensures the company stays at the forefront, while integrity fosters trust, loyalty, and long-term success.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
The key lesson I've learned as a founder is that adaptability is essential. Not everything unfolds as expected or planned, and it’s important to remain focused and flexible in response to evolving situations. While this requires significant effort and perseverance, especially in the early stages, it’s through these challenges that valuable growth and learning occur.

What is your favorite productivity hack or tool and why?
In the beginning, I experimented with various tools and approaches to stay organized and meet deadlines. However, I found that what works best for me is maintaining focus and completing one task at a time without distractions. Once I commit to a task, I dedicate myself fully to it. Currently, I use Microsoft To-Do to effectively manage and organize all of my tasks.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
As a kid, I was passionate about designing and building things, which led me to dream of becoming an architect. Fun fact: while I didn’t follow the traditional path, I ended up as a circuit designer, where I now create innovative chip architectures that power innovative technology. I guess my passion for architecture took a techy turn!