Z
Zeiss
Developer and producer of high tech eyeware and lenses and also provides solutions for biomedical research and medical devices
About Zeiss
In 1846, a young mechanic named Carl Zeiss opened a small workshop in Jena, Germany, for precision mechanics and optics. Initially building microscopes, he knew that to truly push the boundaries, he needed a scientific foundation. This led to a pivotal partnership in 1866 with physicist Ernst Abbe, who, along with glass chemist Otto Schott, revolutionized optical instrument design. Following Zeiss's death, Abbe established the Carl Zeiss Foundation, transferring ownership of the company to it and embedding a unique charter focused on scientific advancement and social responsibility. The company's journey took a dramatic turn after World War II. As Germany was divided, so was Zeiss. U.S. forces relocated key employees from the original factory in Jena—soon to be East Germany—to Oberkochen in the West, establishing a new company. For decades, two Carl Zeiss companies operated on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain, competing globally. This chapter of division finally ended with German reunification. In 1991, after complex negotiations, the two entities were reunited, bringing the microscopy and precision optics divisions back under one roof. This reunification consolidated over a century of optical innovation, merging two legacies back into the single, globally recognized enterprise that exists today.
Source: Dealroom company dataAt a glance
- Status
- Listed
- Founded
- 1846
- Headquarters
- Oberkochen, Germany
- Listing
- IPO 2011
- Employees
- 26,370
- Open positions
- 4
- Dealroom signal
- 54.4/100
- Industry
- Health
- Sub-industry
- Medical Devices
- Sector
- Health Tech & Medtech, Consumer Goods, Eyewear, Biomedical, Producer, Optical Technology, Horizon Europe
- Technology
- Hardware, Deep Tech, Nanotech
- Business model
- Manufacturing
- Client focus
- b2b
- Investment activity
- 21 companies, latest Jul 2025
- Capital deployed
- $68M
- Preferred round
- ACQUISITION
Knowledge graph
More headlines
Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANT✓Other financing | Jun 2018 | $32K | — | Innovation Connections | — |
| IPO✓Exit | Jan 2011 | $0 | — | Undisclosed | — |
Financials
Revenue, earnings and other financial measures where available. Years marked “E” are estimates.
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for Zeiss is 880K monthly website visits, up 51.7% over the last three months. Zeiss's team grew 26.2% over the past year.
Open positions
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Investments and acquisitions
Recent portfolio relationships for companies that also act as investors or acquirers.
Pi Imaging TechnologyLausanne, SwitzerlandPhoton counting arrays enhancing fluorescence diagnostics and microscopy applications
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CREALEcublens, SwitzerlandCREAL develops near-eye light-field display bringing true optical depth and immersion into virtual and mixed reality
$75Mvaluation
Dutch Ophthalmic Research CenterZuidland, NetherlandsD.O.R.C. enhances global eye surgery and maximises surgeon control by offering innovative quality approaches for eye disorders
$1.1Bvaluation
Ncam TechnologiesLondon, United KingdomReal-time augmented reality camera tracking for virtual production
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Hypervision SurgicalLondon, United KingdomAI-powered hyperspectral imaging for real-time surgical guidance
$90Mvaluation
MakerVerseBerlin, GermanyOn-demand manufacturing platform connecting industrial companies with certified production capacity across 3D printing, CNC machining, and more
$41Mvaluation
Tooz technologiesAalen, GermanySmart glasses integrating advanced optics and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless everyday use
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InSpheroSchlieren, SwitzerlandPerfecting 3D cell technology for more physiologically relevant in vitro insights
$40Mvaluation
LensoPoznań County, PolandOptyczne systemy pomiarowe - maszyny pomiarowe 3D | Lenso
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Scantinel PhotonicsUlm, GermanyA high-tech start-up developing next generation LiDAR technology for autonomous vehicles
$44Mvaluation
MorrowGhent, BelgiumMorrow Eyewear integrates cutting-edge liquid crystal tech into premium lenses, offering unmatched comfort, adaptability, and performance
$44Mvaluation
Capture 3DSanta Ana, United States3D Scanner, CMM, Laser Scanner, Measurement and Inspection Technology Experts - Capture 3D
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Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Seed1 investor entered at this stage
Innovation Connections
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Zeiss on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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