Start-up RayVen moves in at ZESS

RayVen is a young deep-tech start-up based in Bochum. It was founded in March 2025 by Dr. Celia Millon and Dr. Michael Müller. RayVen develops high-performance laser systems in the short-wave infrared range. With pulse durations of femtoseconds and picoseconds, the lasers offer both a high repetition rate and high energy. This makes them ideal for processes requiring high precision and minimal thermal damage. The lasers are used in areas such as the semiconductor industry, industrial materials processing, and research.

RayVen is a spin-off of the chair for Photonics and Ultrafast Laser Science of Ruhr-University Bochum. The startup moved into the ZESS building in July 2025. Here, the team not only has more space for offices and labs, but also benefits from the proximity to the Worldfactory Start-up Center and the opportunity to network with colleagues from other departments.  

"We're very happy to be at ZESS. I enjoy working with people who do different things than us. At ZESS, we engage with researchers from various fields, such as production, AI research, or additive manufacturing. This provides new perspectives, and that's often how good ideas emerge," says founder Celia Millon.

The team is currently working on the second generation of their lasers. They aim to develop the prototype into an industrial product by 2026. The start-up is already in contact with its first customer, who is testing the lasers on their own projects and providing feedback for further development.