On May 8, the FindLight team had the pleasure of visiting the Department of Physics at the University of Stuttgart for a special event organized by the OPTICA Student Chapter at the University of Stuttgart.
The event brought together graduate students, PhD candidates, and researchers for an open discussion about career paths after a PhD, entrepreneurship in photonics, and the journey behind building FindLight as a global platform for the optics and photonics industry.
During the talk, we shared our personal experiences transitioning from research and engineering into building a technology business focused on connecting photonics companies with engineers, scientists, and buyers worldwide. The discussion covered topics ranging from career decisions and startup challenges to the evolving role of digital platforms in the photonics ecosystem.
We were especially impressed by the enthusiasm, curiosity, and thoughtful questions from the students and researchers who attended. It was encouraging to see such strong engagement from the next generation of scientists and engineers working in optics, lasers, and photonics.
In addition to the presentation, the OPTICA Student Chapter kindly organized laboratory tours within the Department of Physics. We greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the exciting research being carried out at the University of Stuttgart, including advanced work in photonics, optical science, and related technologies. The lab visits highlighted both the technical depth and collaborative spirit of the department.
We would like to sincerely thank the OPTICA Student Chapter and the University of Stuttgart Department of Physics for their warm hospitality, thoughtful organization, and engaging discussions throughout the visit. Events like these play an important role in strengthening connections between academia, research, and industry, and we are grateful to have been part of it.
We look forward to staying connected with the students and researchers we met during our visit and hope to continue supporting the broader photonics community through future collaborations and conversations.