We are proud to announce Cottonwood Technology Fund‘s first investment from our new Fund IV: inPhocal. A real deep tech impact investment. This Dutch deep tech startup has developed a revolutionary laser-based marking technology that eliminates ink and enables high-speed, high-precision marking on curved and complex surfaces. inPhocal’s sustainable and scalable approach is poised to transform industrial marking across sectors such as food & beverage, semiconductors, and beyond. We look forward to supporting inPhocal’s growth as they expand their impact globally.
▶️ Ink‑free laser marking: Replaces traditional inkjet printing (such as expiry dates, QR codes) with a patented laser-based method—eliminating toxic ink, reducing maintenance, and avoiding messy consumables High-Tech Systems
▶️ Curved‑surface capability: Can print on complex shapes—eg bottles, cans, fruits & eggs—with precision comparable to flat surfaces, thanks to extended focal depth
▶️ High throughput & speed: Achieves marking speeds up to ~3000 unique QR codes/minute; roughly 3× faster than conventional inkjet and up to 10× faster than typical laser systems
▶️ Extended focus range: Optical innovation extends laser’s effective focal depth by up to ~400×, enabling high-quality marking despite surface irregularities
▶️ Seamless integration: Plug‑and‑play design fits into existing production lines without causing downtime or requiring major retrofits .
▶️ Energy & environmental benefits: Consumes up to 50× less energy than inkjet printers, prevents plastic sticker waste, reduces food recalls through more durable codes, and lowers CO₂ emissions.
