Alumni Spotlight: Capsule Photonics Wins Health Innovation Award at Amsterdam Science & Innovation Awards 2025

Capsule Photonics, winner of the Venture Challenge Winter 2024/2025, has received the Health Innovation Award at the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Awards 2025 for its pioneering project LightUp — a pill-sized optical camera designed for the early detection of oesophageal cancer.

Developed by researcher Anouk Post at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, LightUp leverages advanced photonics to detect early-stage disease in a non-invasive, patient-friendly format. The innovation was selected out of nine high-impact finalists for its clinical relevance, technological promise, and clear potential to improve early cancer diagnostics.

While LightUp is still in development, it forms the basis of the venture-in-formation Capsule Photonics. The team behind the project participated in the Venture Challenge Winter 2024/2025.

Recognition for Research-Driven Impact

The Amsterdam Science & Innovation Awards celebrate the most promising scientific innovations emerging from the Amsterdam region. Capsule Photonics was awarded in the Health category, alongside winners in Society (Readler, VU Amsterdam) and Environment & Climate (BOR-LYTE, UvA). Each category winner receives €10,000 to further develop their technology and advance toward real-world application.

Part of a Growing LS@W Startup Community

Following their participation in the Venture Challenge earlier this year, Capsule Photonics continues to build momentum as an early-stage healthtech venture rooted in academic excellence and translational ambition.

The LS@W team congratulates Anouk Post and the full Capsule Photonics team for this recognition and looks forward to supporting the next steps in their journey toward clinical impact.

Source: IXA