Sense Photonics
San Francisco, US · Founded 2015 · 386 employees on LinkedIn · 11 known investors
Find your way into Sense Photonics
Ouster develops high-resolution lidar sensors for long, mid, and short-range applications, enabling automation and autonomous systems across infrastructure and industrial sectors. The company provides both hardware sensors and digital ecosystem software to support smart infrastructure, autonomous machines, and industrial automation globally.
Founders & leadership
Sense Photonics was founded in 2015 by Charles Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, and Eric Younge.
CA
Charles Angus PacalaCo-founder
MF
Mark FrichtlinCo-Founder, CTO
EY
Eric YoungeinCo-Founder, Principal Engineer
ZF
Zachary FrankelNamed on SEC filing
DB
David BlauNamed on SEC filing
AM
Ashok M. RaoNamed on SEC filing
Board
IP
Isaac PritzkerBoard director
RV
Riaz ValaniBoard director
SH
Susan HeysteeBoard director
Investors · 11
Amity VenturesSan Francisco · $1M – $5M
Congruent VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $5M
Creative VenturesSan Francisco Bay Area · $1M
Fontinalis PartnersDetroit · $250K – $5M
IDEA Fund PartnersChapel Hill · $250K – $500K
Piva CapitalSan Francisco
Prelude VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $5M
R7 PartnersChicago · $100K – $5M
Redbus VenturesLondon
Runway Growth CapitalMenlo Park · $10M – $150M
PETRONAS VenturesreportedKuala Lumpur
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$212.9M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2020–2026
- $192MraisedJul 2026 · 4 sourcesSource ↗
▶$20.9MraisedJun 2020 · 26 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$20.9MraisedJun 2020 · 26 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Isaac PritzkerDirector
- Riaz ValaniDirector
- Mark FrichtlExecutive Officer, Director
- Zachary FrankelDirector
- David BlauDirector
- Charles Angus PacalaExecutive Officer, Director
- Ashok M. RaoDirector
- Susan HeysteeDirector
- Offering amount
- $60M
- Amount sold
- $20.9M
- First sale
- Apr 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Competitors · 7
by search overlapClearpath Robotics30 shared keywordsClearpath Robotics builds unmanned vehicles and robotics platforms aimed at making robotics research and development easier for its customers. It serves R&D groups and researchers working on robotics applications, positioning itself in the robotics hardware sector.
Alibaba22 shared keywordsAlibaba.com operates a global B2B e-commerce marketplace that connects buyers with suppliers and manufacturers for wholesale products across multiple industries. The platform provides trade services, logistics support, payment protection, and AI-powered sourcing tools for businesses.
NavVis164 shared keywordsNavVis builds reality capture hardware (the LX-Series wearable/handheld SLAM scanners) and reality access software (NavVis IVION) that processes scan data into survey-grade point clouds, panoramic images, and browser-accessible digital twins. Its tools serve surveying, construction, and industrial teams creating digital twins of physical spaces and assets.
Netezza153 shared keywordsIBM is a global technology company whose business spans enterprise software (including Red Hat, HashiCorp, and Confluent), IT infrastructure such as mainframes, servers, and storage, and IT consulting services. The company is also investing heavily in quantum computing and AI-based enterprise offerings, including its Lightwell open-source software security clearinghouse and the Anderon quantum wafer foundry.
Flyability129 shared keywordsFlyability builds collision-tolerant indoor drones, including its flagship Elios 3, designed to navigate confined and hazardous spaces to collect inspection data for industries such as energy, wastewater, and mining. The Swiss company, an EPFL spin-off, provides drone technology for industrial inspection worldwide.
Ansys118 shared keywordsAnsys provides engineering simulation software used by engineers and students to design and test products. Its tools cover simulation across areas from silicon to systems.
Matterport114 shared keywordsMatterport provides 3D imaging and digital twin technology for real estate, construction, facilities management, and property marketing, enabling clients to visualize spaces remotely and make data-driven decisions.
Companies competing with Sense Photonics for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Ouster (OUST) Is Up 19.2% After $200 Million Follow-On Equity Raise To Fund Lidar Expansion - Simply Wall St Newssimplywall.st · Jul 2026
OUST Stock Trades Lower: $200M Equity Raise Tests Investor Appetite Following 43% Rally This Weekstocktwits.com · Jul 2026Frequently asked questions
- What does Sense Photonics do?
- Ouster develops high-resolution lidar sensors for long, mid, and short-range applications, enabling automation and autonomous systems across infrastructure and industrial sectors. The company provides both hardware sensors and digital ecosystem software to support smart infrastructure, autonomous machines, and industrial automation globally.
- Who founded Sense Photonics?
- Sense Photonics was founded by Charles Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl, Eric Younge in 2015.
- Who are Sense Photonics's investors?
- Sense Photonics's investors include Amity Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Creative Ventures, Fontinalis Partners, IDEA Fund Partners, Piva Capital, Prelude Ventures, R7 Partners and 3 more.
- How much funding has Sense Photonics raised?
- Sense Photonics has disclosed $212.9M raised across 2 rounds.
- Where is Sense Photonics headquartered?
- Sense Photonics is headquartered in San Francisco, US.