Changing what the world can see.


Agate Sensors was founded in 2024 to bring a decade of breakthrough research in photonics and nanomaterials out of the lab and into the world.

The team behind the technology

With a mission to democratize spectral data capture and usage, our founding team at Aalto University pushed the limits of what was thought possible: developing a hyperspectral sensor small enough to embed almost anywhere — yet unmatched in performance and spectral fidelity. An ambition that goes beyond miniaturization. It’s one of category creation.

Our multinational team unites physicists, engineers, and commercialization experts with extensive experience in photonics, chip design, manufacturing, and product development. Backed by scientific publications, peer-reviewed research, and multiple patent filings, we operate at the highest standards of scientific excellence.

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Tommi Leino
Chief Executive Officer

“We’ve applied semiconductor-level rigor to create a hyperspectral sensor small enough to fit anywhere — and powerful enough to transform defence, wearables, and beyond.”

A renowned semiconductor product development executive with more than 25 years at the industry’s leading edge, Tommi has taken technologies from concept to global deployment. His career spans corporate product development and high-growth startups, giving him both scale discipline and startup agility. Backed by an extensive network across the semiconductor world, he is guiding Agate Sensors’ proven technology into markets where precision and reliability are non-negotiable.

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Dr. Andreas Liapis
Chief Technology Officer

We’ve created a new class of hyperspectral imaging technology— proven, patented, and ready to redefine what’s possible in devices across industries.

An award-winning physicist and inventor, with deep expertise in photonics and nanofabrication, Andreas has invented several technologies now successfully commercialized by startups. His work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the R&D 100 Award and NASA Tech Brief’s Create the Future Design Contest grand prize. His career spans academia, national lab, and industry, including postdoctoral research at the most prestigious institutions. At Agate Sensors, he is shaping the technological roadmap to ensure market leadership in precision, scalability, and innovation.

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Mikael Westerlund
Chief Business Officer

The real win is making our breakthrough technology indispensable in the most demanding markets on the planet.”

An international business developer and serial startup founder, Mikael brings over 25 years of high-tech leadership across continents and industries. He has scaled ventures into global players in public safety and defence, and built new enterprises that transform breakthrough science into market-ready businesses. At Agate Sensors, he is forging the partnerships and commercialization pathways that will embed our technology at the core of industries where intelligence and speed are decisive advantages.

 

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Dr.  Faisal Ahmed
Chief Scientist

“We are stepping on a decade long scientific excellence in hardware and software and are ready to take these innovations from Lab to Fab.”

A nanofabrication and photonics expert, Faisal has spent over a decade in leading international research facilities, transforming complex scientific concepts into cutting edge technological innovations. His core competence includes cleanroom fabrication, optical and electrical characterization, and bandgap engineering—skills he has applied to take precision nanofabrication from research to scalable, commercial-viable solutions. At Agate Sensors, he plays a pivotal role in driving continuous innovation to inspire scientific breakthroughs that have lasting global impact, turning advanced research into competitive market advantages.

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