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We are
EFFECT Photonics

The only thing more amazing than our technology is what the world can do with it.

EFFECT Photonics have been shaping the future of photonics by interconnecting humanity through fast, affordable, sustainable, and effective communication technologies. The emergence of DWDM is one of the most innovative and important phenomena in the

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development of fibre optic communication technology. From both technical and economical perspectives, the ability to provide the world potentially unlimited data transmission capacity and bandwidth is a massive advantage of our DWDM technology.

We are innovative, passionate, progressive

At EFFECT Photonics, leveraging photonic integration to deliver internet bandwidth to every person on earth is our vision. Our mission is to interconnect humanity through fast, affordable, sustainable and effective communication technologies by utilising the power of light to bring scalable and connected communication devices to the end users globally. We power an amazing culture through our core values:

 

  • Learn and create,
  • Loyalty and freedom,
  • Deliver and go-forward.

Our strategy embraces photonics innovation—the cloud and the data centre, IoT, 5G, all bound together by the goal of bringing affordable and scalable DWDM to the edges of the network.

Our global teams, over more than 160 strong across 2 countries, are the heart of EFFECT Photonics and define who we are and our future!

Our values

Learn and
create
We respect the knowledge and inspiration each individual brings to the table. By learning from each other we innovate, pioneer and find new paths to create the best photonic technology in the world.
Loyalty and
freedom
We are loyal to our colleagues, customers, and investors. We nurture the freedom to develop ourselves both personally and professionally, ensuring our team plays its best game every time.
Deliver and
go forward
We deliver on our promises to each other, our suppliers, and customers. We create investor value, fuelling the innovation machine to go forward and deliver the products of the future.
More about our technology
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History

Born in the Netherlands,
growing globally.

 

EFFECT Photonics’ history is rich with innovation, sharing and collaboration. Read more to learn how we’ve grown from a TU/e (Technical University of Eindhoven) spinout into the photonics frontrunner we are today.

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What makes us
EFFECT Photonics

For 10 years, we have been interconnecting humanity
through fast, affordable, sustainable,
and effective communication technologies.

Our culture

From the beginning, EFFECT Photonics has strived to shape a unique, results-oriented work culture that minimises power distance. We have a flat organisational structure and everybody assumes multiple duties and ownership as needed to make EFFECT Photonics successful. At our offices, we embody a philosophy of equality and access. All employees, including executives, sit in an open-space area, there is no executive dining room, no executive offices, no executive parking places, no first-class travel, and anyone can walk down the aisle to the founders’ cubicles.

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EFFECT Photonics’ timeline:
from a startup to a photonics frontrunner.

See some of our biggest accomplishments and newsworthy moments that make up our corporate timeline.

2020

EFFECT Photonics is a stable production company working on the second generation of photonics integration products.

2019

EFFECT Photonics developed its platform technology and delivered first optical System-on-Chip to clients. Secured funding from PhotonDelta.

Number of employees increased to 120.

2018

EFFECT Photonics secured second VC Series B investment round and entered commercialisation phase. Number of employees: 100.

2017

Teamed up with Skylane Optics to increase product distribution globally.

2016

EFFECT Photonics aimed at 4G and 5G mobile data networks. The number of employees doubled to 30.

2015

Developed its first product line. Moved into 300m2 office space in Eindhoven, Strijp-S. Expanded facilities to Brixham, UK

2014

Moved to 60m2 office space at Strijp S, Eindhoven. First VC Series A investment round completed.

2013

EFFECT Photonics build its first hardware. The team grew to 12 employees.

2012

First commercial project began and EFFECT Photonics secured first funding through local fund Bright Move.

2011

At Photonics West California Tim and Boudewijn made a pitch to global search engine giant, first customer.

2010

EFFECT Photonics was founded in Eindhoven, the Netherlands at the TU/e Campus.

2009

Co-founders Tim Koene and Boudewijn Docter met for the first time in Belgium during an entrepreneurship course

Support each other to
grow together.

“The success of our company relies on the strength and talent of our people.”

James Regan
CEO

Join the team

Leadership Team

James Regan CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

James has more than 33 years of experience in the business of optical communications components: in product development, marketing, sales and general management; building successful businesses within large companies such as Nortel and JDSU, as well as multiple start-ups.

Dr. Boudewijn Docter PRESIDENT

Boudewijn holds a Doctorate in photonic integration and 15 years experience in optical components. He is an expert in photonics IC design and fabrication and a passionate entrepreneur and business leader.

Tim Koene CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Tim holds a Masters in EE and has amassed exceptional breadth and depth of technical expertise encompassing the design of photonic integrated circuits, packaging, electronics, control systems and test.

Dr. Paul Rosser CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Paul holds a Doctorate in photonics and has over 30 years’ experience developing photonic products and launching them successfully, with experience ranging from establishing new InP devices in local wafer fabs to ramping module assembly in offshore facilities

Harald Graber CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER

Harald holds an MBA and has more than 20 years of experience in the optical communications industry within Tier 1 companies in the United States, Europe and Asia. Prior to EFFECT Photonics, Harald served in various senior roles in Sales, Marketing, Product Management & R&D at BWI, Coriant, Nokia Siemens Networks, Alcatel-Lucent and Lucent Technologies.

Sophie De Maesschalck CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Sophie holds a Doctorate in optical networking and an MBA and is a highly experienced technology CFO with 15 years of experience in technology incubation, international financing, and mergers and acquisitions. A former Bain & Co. consultant, Sophie has a proven track record of defining financial strategy and closing equity funding rounds.

Dennis Maas VP FINANCE & INFRASTRUCTURE

Dennis holds a Masters in finance and has over 27 years of experience in Financial and Business Controlling & Accounting, Audit, GRC, Business Valuation and M&A, Treasury/Cash management and broad and deep understanding in many areas of the ‘finance spectrum’, mostly gained at high-tech start-ups/scaleups (Hardware, Software, Semiconductor, Cybersecurity).

Yannick Lize VP ENGINEERING

Yannick holds a Doctorate in optical communications and has a stellar track record of leading technical teams to execute product development, delivering optical components and transceivers into volume production in multiple global companies such as JDSU (now Lumentum), Intel and AMCC as well as start-ups Stratalight and ITF.

NEWSLETTER

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Who we are

People are the heart of our company culture

EFFECT Photonics has its roots in a partnership between two young and enthusiastic technical minds, with an entrepreneurial spirit and shared vision for transforming the world. That passion and cooperation continues to infuse everything we do and how we do it, recognising that passionate people with the freedom and tools to take ownership and initiative are the foundations of our ultimate success.

Since our founding in 2010, overcoming challenges has kept us humble and shaped our philosophy and core values. A small team with energy and passion who works hard to realise its dreams: developing great technology that can interconnect humanity and have significant positive impact on our collective future.

Together, we embody a culture integrating purpose and passion, ownership and interdependence, openness, transparency, and trust. Our employees bring different perspectives and backgrounds to the table, the diversity of which makes us stronger, bolder and more able to think outside the box.

We believe that every person has a contribution to make and we strive to maintain a flat organisational structure reflecting that philosophy. Every member is equally valuable, equally accessible, and equally responsible as part of a collaborative team. Hierarchical structures and ‘chains of command’ can slow down innovation rather than accelerate it. Dennis Maas, CFO at EFFECT Photonics says, “All employees including executives sit in an open-space area. There is no executive dining room or executive offices, no executive parking places, no first-class travel. Anybody can walk over to the founders’ cubicles to brainstorm.”

In our company, most people take on multiple responsibilities – and employees are encouraged to take on new projects they want to try if they have an idea and want to pursue it. Employees have a lot of responsibility – there is zero redundancy – but that responsibility comes with the freedom to create their own destinies. Trying new things and gaining experience in new areas provides important opportunities for personal and professional growth, which benefits both our employees and our business.

According to Dennis Maas, “It’s all about the people. We are a group of people who all have the same drive to make this game-changing technology a fantastic success. People that work at our company are entrepreneurial and willing to take a risk. We all feel that something really great is happening here and it’s exciting to be part of this journey. As EFFECT Photonics stays successful, you can say ‘I was part of this, I created this, we created it as a group.’”

While growing pains will be inevitable as we move to the next phase of development and production, the core values remain the same. Our company would not exist without the contributions of each and every employee. We welcome the opportunity to explore with you the ways in which our goals and philosophies align for a better future in photonics in which you and EFFECT Photonics play a part.

Emil
Kleijn

Chip Engineering Manager
Dutch

“We grew together with EFFECT Photonics, I started as an engineer and I got promoted to engineering manager of a group of 12 people”

What is the most interesting aspect of working at EFFECT Photonics? And what about your job specifically?

My motivation to come to EFFECT Photonics was to shift from an academic to a business environment. At a company you can focus as a team on a single objective. Instead of being scattered over multiple research areas, all people at EFFECT Photonics focus on a single project and goal. Coming from a PhD where I was the only Dutch candidate, managing a multi-cultural team is no big change for me. I do operate from a Dutch perspective, my team gets the impression that Dutch companies are fairly flat. Although there is a formal management hierarchy, the work environment is very open and friendly. I try to be as approachable as possible. Decisions are the result of discussions with the team and weighing that against other business requirements. As a manager, I can lean on a strong technical background to be able to make correct decisions and guide the team to the best approaches. As my team is quite big, members are expected to be quite independent. This creates a lot of independence within people’s roles.

What advice would you give to someone who is planning to apply at EFFECT Photonics?

What me and my team do, is central to the company. It is a nice position to be in. It means we have a lot of interaction and dependency. Because of this central role, expectations are high and there is pressure to get good results. We deal with this by working very precisely and thoroughly preparing any designs we send out for manufacture. I feel that there is a very solution-focused environment here at EFFECT Photonics, where taking initiative is rewarded. I’d say join us if you want to be a part of a team developing high-tech solutions for the telecommunications industry.

Describe in 3 words what your job is all about.

Challenges, learning, advancement

I joined EFFECT Photonics during its early beginnings in 2014. I had just finished my PhD and was looking for work. I knew the co-founders of the company via the Technical University of Eindhoven and I was able to help them out with some odd jobs here and there. My role initially was very undefined as the company was in its early stages. When the company got its first round of funding, I was brought on for a full-time position. I really grew with the company, initially as an engineer and then I became an engineering manager, where I came to lead an ever-expanding team. I still love the engineering work itself, but managing a team of people is also very rewarding. EFFECT Photonics is a very high-tech environment, there is always a lot of cool stuff going on. Few companies do what we are doing. We are really trying to bring about lower cost solutions, which does come with engineering challenges. We have a very skilled and talented team, and I have full confidence that we will solve these challenges.

What is your biggest highlight of working here so far?

I think for me it is seeing the level of commitment from the team. Every one is prepared to go the extra mile in order to get good results. Additionally, there is a lot of excitement here, there is a buzz when you get new results. The wafer has only been in the office for an hour and you already get messages from colleagues eagerly waiting for the results. It’s this buzz that is a real highlight for me.