Button Optics

Button Optics is a South African photonics company specializing in laser diagnostic and beam-shaping systems built on structured light technologies. Founded in 2022 as a spinout from the Structured Light Lab at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the company focuses on commercializing advanced research in optical metrology, laser beam control, and quantum imaging. It develops turnkey instruments that generate, manipulate, and characterize spatial modes of light for use in physics labs, industrial optics, and research environments.

Structured light refers to custom-designed laser beams with spatially varied amplitude, phase, or polarization profiles—such as vortex beams or vector beams. These beams are central to many emerging photonics applications, including high-capacity optical communication, quantum experiments, and advanced microscopy. Button Optics addresses a key gap in the market: while structured light has grown in academic interest, generating and measuring these beams typically requires expert knowledge and complex setups. The company’s hardware reduces this barrier by delivering plug-and-play diagnostic systems that provide accurate, real-time analysis of beam characteristics.

Its flagship systems integrate spatial light modulators, imaging sensors, and computational tools to allow researchers and engineers to assess properties like beam shape, phase distribution, and modal purity. These capabilities are especially useful in quantum optics, optical trapping, laser machining, and beam alignment. By streamlining structured light diagnostics, Button Optics enables broader access to advanced optical techniques and speeds up experimentation in both industrial and academic contexts.

Button Optics operates at the intersection of academic research and industrial application. Its founding team includes leading South African physicists and engineers with deep expertise in singular optics and laser systems. In 2024, the company secured seed funding from the University Technology Fund to scale production and deepen its market reach. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it maintains close ties with the academic ecosystem while supplying high-precision tools to a growing international customer base. Button Optics exemplifies the potential for deep tech spinouts from African universities to drive global impact in the field of photonics.

Keywords: structured light, optical metrology, quantum imaging, beam shaping, laser diagnostics, spatial modes, vortex beams, vector beams, photonics, singular optics, university spinout, laser systems, quantum optics, optical instruments, South Africa, turnkey diagnostics, optical physics