Guangyin Technology, a developer of silicon-based photonic integrated chips, has completed a RMB 100 million (about $14 million) Pre-A financing round, with investors including Photonics Strong-Chain Fund, Shanda Investment, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Fund, Luoyang Yingcai, CAS Star, and Xi'an Caijin, according to 36Kr. The company said the proceeds will be used to build a new laboratory in Shanghai, recruit talent, and advance mass production.

Founded in 2021 in Xuzhou, Guangyin Technology designs silicon photonics chips and miniature spectral-sensing modules for applications such as wearable health monitoring, aesthetic skin testing, and industrial and food inspection. The company said its spectral chip covers wavelengths of 600-2500 nm, with resolution up to 0.01 nm, and targets a mass-production cost below $20 per unit. Vice president Xu Kangning said key customers include L'Oreal, Huawei, and Xiaomi, and the firm plans to expand into silicon photonics optical switching starting this year.