Kaylee Hakkel, Chief Operating Officer of MantiSpectra, just landed a spot on Optics & Photonics News’ “Entrepreneurs to Watch” for 2025. Honestly, it’s not surprising—her work in miniaturized spectral sensing technology is changing the game for devices that can detect and analyze material properties on the go.
This recognition really shows how much integrated photonics is starting to matter, from food processing to health and fitness. Industries are catching on fast.
From Physics Student to Photonics Entrepreneur
Hakkel’s dive into photonics started back at the University of Eindhoven, where she studied applied physics. During her bachelor’s and master’s research, she got hooked on photonic sensors—using light to figure out what materials are made of.
That curiosity only grew during her Ph.D. She zeroed in on making spectral sensors portable and scalable so they’d actually work in the real world, not just in a lab.
The Birth of MantiSpectra
With co-founder Maurangelo Petruzzella, Hakkel took that academic spark and turned it into MantiSpectra. Their aim? Close the gap between high-end lab microspectrometers and practical sensors people can actually use every day.
Revolutionizing Material Analysis with ChipSense
MantiSpectra’s main product, ChipSense, marks a big leap in integrated photonics. Unlike old-school spectrometers, ChipSense skips moving parts, shrugs off shocks, and rolls off the line at wafer scale.
That means high-volume production gets way cheaper, and honestly, that’s a huge deal.
How ChipSense Works
By building all the optical and electronic guts together on one chip, ChipSense delivers advanced spectral analysis in a tiny package. You can tuck it into consumer electronics or slot it into industrial setups—either way, it fits.
Picture this: checking the sugar level of a piece of fruit in seconds, no slicing or squishing required.
From the Lab to Mass Production
Scaling innovation isn’t exactly easy. Right now, Hakkel is focused on ramping up production and building a supply chain that can actually keep up—especially as the consumer market starts clamoring for compact, wearable sensors.
Bridging the Gap with Development Kits
MantiSpectra helps customers get started with a plug-and-play development kit. It comes with:
- Integrated light sources
- Electronics for data acquisition
- Predictive modeling tools for data interpretation
This lets companies try out ideas and see what’s possible before they commit to chip-only solutions.
Two Key Markets for Spectral Sensing
MantiSpectra isn’t trying to do everything at once. They’re zoning in on process control and consumer health devices as their main targets.
Process Control: Real-Time Insights
In manufacturing and food processing, getting feedback fast is crucial. ChipSense gives instant material analysis, so companies don’t have to wait for lab results or deal with wasted product.
Consumer Health and Fitness
The next generation of wearables might finally bring serious sensing tech to your wrist. Imagine a smartwatch that tracks nutrition or spots dehydration early—ChipSense could make that real.
Looking Ahead: Scaling for the Future
MantiSpectra plans to keep the standard ChipSense model around, but they’re also pushing for next-gen designs. They want sensors that are even smaller and more energy-efficient, perfect for mass-market devices—without giving up performance.
Success Through Customer-Centric Innovation
Hakkel points out that the company’s success comes from making products that are functional and scalable. They don’t just chase the highest lab numbers.
Instead, they focus on designing solutions that solve real customer problems. That’s the philosophy pushing their advances in spectral sensing technology.
MantiSpectra is starting to scale up. The company’s work could shake up everything from manufacturing to wearable health tech.
With Kaylee Hakkel leading the way, the future of integrated photonics feels pretty exciting. There’s a sense that big changes are just around the corner.
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Here is the source article for this story: Entrepreneurs to Watch 2025: Kaylee Hakkel