About Folio Photonics
Folio Photonics makes storage media for businesses that keep large data archives. Its optical-disc technology stores data across multiple layers.
The company operates from Solon, Ohio. Founder Ken Singer is chief innovation officer, while Steve Santamaria is CEO.
Funding Rounds (SEC Form D)
| First sale | Filed with SEC | Amount sold | Investors | Avg. check | Terms | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 | $9,078,957of $15.9M target | 3 | $3.0M | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D ↗ |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Apr 15, 2026 | $5,973,832of $8.0M target | 14 | $426K | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D ↗ |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Feb 25, 2026 | $2,560,823of $2.7M target | 17 | $150K | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D ↗ |
| Jan 13, 2022 | Jan 28, 2022amended Apr 26, 2023 | $5,221,466of $5.5M target | 117 | $44,628 | Debt convertible to equityRule 506(b) | Form D/A ↗1 earlier filing |
| Jan 2, 2020 | Jan 13, 2020 | $250,000of $5.0M target | 1 | $250K | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D ↗ |
| Jan 23, 2019 | Jan 22, 2019amended Jan 29, 2019 | $1,000,000of $2.0M target | 1 | $1.0M | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D/A ↗1 earlier filing |
| Jul 25, 2018 | Jul 24, 2018amended Nov 14, 2018 | $911,889of $1.0M target | 49 | $18,610 | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D/A ↗1 earlier filing |
| Feb 28, 2017 | Mar 13, 2017 | $4,177,581of $5.9M target | 45 | $92,835 | EquityRule 506(b) | Form D ↗ |
| Total, eight offerings | $29,174,548 | |||||
First sale is the date the first investor in the offering committed to invest. Companies must file Form D within 15 days of that date, so filing dates run later.
Rounds announced by Folio Photonics
What the company said publicly about its funding. Announced amounts can differ from Form D figures: an announcement can combine several closings, and some money is raised without a Form D.
| Announced | Round | Amount | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Series A | $8 million | StorageNewsletter announcement ↗ | |
| May 22, 2019 | Seed | $8 million | Refinery Ventures (lead), Pavey Investments; Capital One Partners | Company announcement ↗ |
Why Investors Backed Folio Photonics
Folio Photonics is developing storage media for business archives based on multilayer optical discs. The investment case combines a defined storage problem with a materials-based design and a lower-cost goal. Folio is betting that buyers will value capacity, access and media life together.
The problem it targets
Ken Singer describes archival data storage as a rapidly growing problem. Santamaria argues that hard drives and magnetic tape cannot meet the economics of a data-heavy business environment. In his view, companies need large-capacity archives that keep information readily available without high costs. That gap is the demand Folio is trying to serve.
What the product does
Folio positions the medium around three goals: more capacity, longer life and lower cost. It also presents cybersecurity and sustainability as benefits. Santamaria says the intended result is an archive that gives companies quick access to large amounts of data at low cost.
Progress so far
Folio appointed Greg Kittilson vice president of engineering. The same announcement said it had received a patent award for advances in multilayer optical-disc technology.
We wrote this summary from public statements by Folio Photonics and its investors. It is not investment advice.
Folio Photonics in the News
- OAIS Cloud Announces Strategic Partnership with Savartus and Folio Photonics to Deliver Next-Generation Long-Term Digital Preservation Infrastructure
- Folio Photonics leads Northeast Ohio startup fundraising in Q2 with $8M raise
- Folio Photonics raises $8 million to scale optical archive ...
- Folio Photonics raises $8 million in Series A funding
- Folio Photonics gets A-round cash for multi-layer optical ...
- Folio Photonics raises $8M to scale data-storage technology
- Folio Photonics with Multi-Layer Optical Disc Storage Technology
Leadership Team
Executive officers and directors listed on Folio Photonics's Form D filed Oct 21, 2026.
Earlier filings also listed Robert Pavey (director, last listed Apr 2026), Timothy Schigel (director, last listed Apr 2023), Ronald Richard (director, last listed Apr 2023), Kenneth Singer (executive officer and director, last listed Apr 2023), Joseph Taylor (director, last listed Apr 2023) and Kenneth Wexberg (executive officer and director, last listed Mar 2017).