FindLight at SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026 – reflections from the expo is the topic of this news article.
FindLight Reflects on a Successful SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026
SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026 brought together researchers, engineers, technology developers, manufacturers, and suppliers from across the global optics and photonics industry in San Diego, California. For FindLight, the August 25–27 exhibition was an especially productive opportunity to connect with the community we serve every day.
After three busy days at the San Diego Convention Center, we came away with something more valuable than simply a successful exhibition: meaningful conversations with buyers and suppliers, new business opportunities, stronger relationships with existing customers, and a clearer understanding of what the photonics industry is looking for from a modern sourcing platform.
FindLight was especially pleased to welcome several of our customers as co-exhibitors at Booth #526, including LECC Technology, Gentec-EO, and Novanta. Their participation helped turn the booth into a meeting point for a diverse range of photonics technologies and applications.
Co-Exhibiting with Our Customers
One of the highlights of the exhibition was having our customers participate directly alongside FindLight.
LECC Technology showcased its laser diode and laser module solutions used in biomedical and consumer applications, while Gentec-EO presented its laser power, energy, and beam measurement technologies. Novanta brought its expertise in precision photonics and state-of-the-art in DPSS and ultrafast laser technologies. Having these companies together with FindLight created an opportunity to demonstrate an important part of our marketplace model: connecting technology suppliers with potential buyers while giving established photonics companies additional ways to showcase their products and capabilities. The co-exhibition also created opportunities for conversations between our customers and visitors who were actively looking for technologies for research, product development, OEM integration, and industrial applications.
For FindLight, this was an excellent example of how our marketplace can extend beyond online product discovery and become a platform for facilitating real-world business connections.
Strong Engagement from Buyers and Industry Professionals
Throughout the exhibition, our booth saw a high level of engagement from attendees.
We spoke with buyers looking for specific optical, laser, photonics, and motion-control technologies, as well as engineers and researchers exploring solutions for new projects. Many conversations began with a specific component or technology requirement and expanded into discussions about sourcing, supplier discovery, customization, lead times, and international procurement. We also had the opportunity to speak with a large number of photonics companies interested in reaching new customers through FindLight. These conversations provided valuable insight into both sides of the marketplace.
Buyers continue to look for faster ways to identify relevant suppliers and compare available technologies, while suppliers are looking for efficient ways to reach qualified customers beyond traditional sales channels.
That intersection is precisely where FindLight operates.
Connecting Buyers with Photonics Suppliers
SPIE Optics + Photonics also reinforced the importance of making photonics sourcing more accessible. The industry offers an enormous range of specialized technologies, from laser sources and optical components to detectors, fiber optics, motion systems, metrology equipment, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Finding the right supplier can often require significant time and technical research.
FindLight is built to simplify that process. Our marketplace brings together products and suppliers from across the photonics industry, allowing buyers to discover technologies and connect directly with companies that can support their requirements. At the same time, FindLight gives suppliers another channel for product discovery and qualified buyer engagement.
The conversations we had in San Diego reinforced the demand for this type of connection.
FindLight’s Stacked Cube Sponsorship
FindLight was also proud to sponsor the stacked cube display positioned at the entrance to the exhibition hallway. Located in a high-traffic area, the three-cube display provided additional visibility for the FindLight brand as attendees entered and moved through the exhibition area. The sponsorship complemented our presence inside the exhibition hall and helped reinforce FindLight’s role as a platform connecting the broader photonics ecosystem.
For a company focused on connecting buyers and suppliers, being visible at a major industry gathering such as SPIE Optics + Photonics was a natural extension of what we do online.
More Than an Exhibition
While exhibitions remain an important opportunity to showcase products, the most valuable part of SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026 for FindLight was the quality of the conversations.
We met with existing customers, prospective customers, buyers, manufacturers, researchers, and other industry professionals. We discussed current sourcing challenges, emerging technologies, supplier needs, and opportunities to build new relationships. Several conversations also opened the door to potential new partnerships and supplier relationships that extend beyond the exhibition itself. These interactions are particularly valuable for FindLight because they help us understand the industry from both sides of the marketplace.
We can see what buyers are actively trying to source, what suppliers are trying to achieve, and where there are opportunities to make the connection between the two more efficient.
Looking Ahead
Our participation at SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026 was another step in FindLight’s ongoing effort to build a stronger global network of photonics suppliers and buyers. We are grateful to LECC Technology, Gentec-EO, and Novanta for joining us as co-exhibitors and for helping make the FindLight booth such an active part of the exhibition. We also want to thank everyone who stopped by Booth #526, whether to discuss a specific product, explore FindLight’s marketplace, talk about a potential partnership, or simply say hello.
The conversations we had in San Diego will continue well beyond the exhibition floor. As FindLight continues to expand its marketplace and work with more photonics companies around the world, events such as SPIE Optics + Photonics provide an important opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, establish new ones, and stay closely connected to the needs of the industry.
We look forward to seeing many of the people we met in San Diego again — and to continuing the conversations that started at SPIE Optics + Photonics 2026.