Scintil Photonics
Scintil Photonics is a fabless French semiconductor company that designs heterogeneous silicon photonic integrated circuits, most notably the LEAF Light single-chip DWDM laser source, serving AI datacenter and hyperscale operators through its SHIP™ heterogeneous integration technology manufactured at Tower Semiconductor.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersGrenoble, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Scintil Photonics does
Scintil Photonics is a fabless semiconductor company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Grenoble, France, that designs and commercializes heterogeneous silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for AI datacenter and high-performance computing applications. Its core technology, SHIP™ (Scintil Heterogeneous Integrated Photonics), combines standard silicon photonics with III-V (Indium Phosphide) materials through a proprietary BackSide-on-BOX die-to-wafer bonding process originated from CEA-Leti research, enabling monolithic integration of DFB lasers, modulators, and photodetectors on a single chip. The company's flagship product, LEAF Light™, is positioned as the world's first single-chip DWDM-native laser source, delivering 8 or 16 wavelengths per fiber with 100/200 GHz channel spacing, 6.4 Tbps/mm edge bandwidth density, and claimed 90% latency reduction versus copper interconnects — targeting co-packaged optics (CPO) and ELSFP module integration in AI scale-up networks.
The company operates a fabless model with manufacturing executed through Tower Semiconductor's PH18M commercial silicon photonics foundry (partnership formalized February 2026). Revenue mechanics center on hardware sales of LEAF Light PICs, the LEAF Light Laser Module (ELSFP form factor), and the LEAF Light Evaluation Kit (launched Q2 2026 for qualified customers). The go-to-market is direct enterprise sales targeting hyperscale AI operators, AI datacenter builders, and HPC facilities, supplemented by event-driven demand generation at OFC, ECOC, and Photonics West. The company has approximately 40 employees, a US subsidiary in Santa Clara, a Toronto office, and has raised approximately $58 million in cumulative funding as of September 2025, with NVIDIA among its strategic investors. Current revenue is pre-commercial or negligible, with volume production targeted for 2028.
Scintil Photonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Scintil Photonics
- Legal name
- SCINTIL Photonics
- Website
- https://scintil-photonics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Scintil Photonics is a fabless French semiconductor company that designs heterogeneous silicon photonic integrated circuits, most notably the LEAF Light single-chip DWDM laser source, serving AI datacenter and hyperscale operators through its SHIP™ heterogeneous integration technology manufactured at Tower Semiconductor.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Scintil Photonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
Keywords
Where Scintil Photonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grenoble
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Scintil Photonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Sales: Sale of LEAF Light™ single-chip DWDM laser sources and photonic integrated circuits to AI datacenter operators and optical networking equipment manufacturers. Fabless model with manufacturing through Tower Semiconductor.
- Evaluation Kit Sales: Sale of LEAF Light™ Evaluation Kits (EVK) for customer technology validation. EVK enables customers to evaluate performance and integrate products before volume commitment.
- Control Electronics and Reference Packages: Sale of dedicated control electronics and reference package implementations for accelerated adoption of photonic integrated circuits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | LEAF Light Evaluation Kit (EVK) for technology evaluation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Scintil Photonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Scintil Photonics designs and commercializes heterogeneous silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that integrate III-V laser materials with standard silicon photonics on a single chip. Its flagship commercial product, LEAF Light™, is the world's first single-chip DWDM-native laser source delivering 8 or 16 precisely spaced wavelengths per fiber for co-packaged optics in AI datacenter scale-up networks. The company sells bare PIC dies, packaged laser modules, and evaluation kits directly to enterprise customers in AI infrastructure and HPC markets.
Product overview
Scintil Photonics is a fabless company developing and commercializing heterogeneous integrated photonics for AI datacenters. Its portfolio is built around the SHIP™ (Scintil Heterogeneous Integrated Photonics) proprietary process technology, which integrates III-V laser materials with standard silicon photonics foundry processes to create laser-augmented photonic integrated circuits at volume. The core commercial product is LEAF Light™, the world's first single-chip DWDM-native laser source delivering 8–16 precisely spaced wavelengths per fiber for co-packaged optics (CPO) in AI scale-up networks. LEAF Light™ is offered as a bare PIC die, packaged into a LEAF Light™ Laser Module with control electronics for ELSFP form-factor integration, and evaluated via the LEAF Light™ Evaluation Kit (EVK). All products are fabricated through Tower Semiconductor's commercial silicon photonics foundry (PH18M platform) to enable high-volume, wafer-scale manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LEAF Light: World's first single-chip, DWDM-native laser source for high-density optical connectivity in scale-up networks for AI datacenters. Delivers over 1.6 Tbps per GPU with 90% lower latency than copper.
- SHIP (Scintil Heterogeneous Integrated Photonics)
Products and services
- LEAF Light™ The world's first single-chip, DWDM-native (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) laser source for high-density and low-power optical connectivity in AI datacenter scale-up networks. Each photonic integrated circuit integrates two sets of 8 DFB laser arrays, available with 8 or 16 wavelengths per port at 200 GHz or 100 GHz channel spacing respectively, delivering over 1 terabit per second per fiber with 90% lower latency than copper interconnects. Sold to AI datacenter operators, hyperscalers, and HPC facilities.
- LEAF Light™ Laser Module A highly integrated system consisting of the LEAF Light photonic integrated circuit (PIC) and its dedicated control electronics on a paddle card circuit board, designed to be integrated into an External Laser Small Form Factor Pluggable (ELSFP) module as specified by the OIF forum for remote laser source packaging in co-packaged optical I/O. Sold to optical networking equipment manufacturers and system integrators.
- LEAF Light™ Evaluation Kit (EVK) An evaluation system hosting up to two LEAF Light™ Laser Optical Sub-Assemblies (LOSAs), each containing a LEAF Light die with fiber attachment, delivering up to 8 optical fiber outputs for Co-Packaged Optics solutions. Compatible with 8- or 16-wavelength LOSAs, the EVK includes operating temperature control, per-laser current adjustment, frequency spacing control, and intelligent feedback loops for wavelength precision and power uniformity. Sold to qualified customers for technology validation prior to volume commitment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% lower latency than copper interconnects
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Scintil Photonics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Scintil Photonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Scintil Photonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tower SemiconductorcoreStrategic manufacturing partnership for production of DWDM laser sources using Scintil's SHIP™ technology on Tower's silicon photonics platform. Tower's PH18M silicon photonics foundry technology provides high-volume manufacturing capacity. Partnership enables high-volume hyperscale deployment with supply continuity aligned with hyperscale AI infrastructure needs. SHIP™ technology validated on Tower's production lines.
- Presto EngineeringcoreIndustrialization partner in CanopAI project. Brings expertise in semiconductor test, qualification and reliability engineering. Develops automated electro-optical test solutions to characterize and test photonic integrated circuits at wafer and package levels.
- CEA-LeticoreResearch partner in CanopAI project. Global leader in applied research for microelectronics and photonics. Contributes advanced III-V material development and innovative bonding and integration techniques. Technology originated from CEA-Leti over 15 years ago.
- SoitecminorAppointed as board observer, gaining industrial recognition from this global leader in semiconductor materials.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Scintil Photonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Intel: Intel's Silicon Photonics group produces integrated optical transceivers and is actively developing co-packaged optics and on-chip laser integration for AI data center interconnects. Comparable as a broad incumbent pursuing the same CPO scale-up opportunity with substantially more resources and captive fabs.
- Broadcom: Broadcom is a leading supplier of optical components and silicon photonics-based DSPs/photonic ICs for hyperscale data center networks, including custom ASICs paired with optical engines. Directly competes with Scintil for hyperscaler optical interconnect sockets via a broad portfolio.
- Marvell Technology: Marvell (via its Inphi acquisition) is a dominant supplier of high-speed DSPs and coherent optical components for cloud and AI data centers, and is investing heavily in silicon photonics-based CPO platforms. Comparable as an established incumbent targeting the same hyperscaler optical interconnect market.
Direct peers
- Lumentum: Lumentum is a major merchant supplier of lasers and optical components to AI infrastructure, including DWDM laser sources. NVIDIA has invested $4B combined into Lumentum and Coherent, underscoring their role as direct competing laser source suppliers to Scintil's LEAF Light.
- Coherent: Coherent (formerly II-VI) is a leading merchant laser and photonics supplier with strong positions in DWDM lasers, optical interconnects, and AI data center components. Direct competitor to Scintil in providing laser sources for next-generation optical interconnects.
- Cisco (Acacia Communications): Acacia Communications, now part of Cisco, designs and manufactures high-speed coherent optical interconnect transceivers using silicon photonics for data center and telecom networks. Comparable as a direct competitor in silicon photonics-based optical interconnect technology.
Emerging players
- Lightmatter: Lightmatter develops photonic computing and interconnect technologies using silicon photonics for AI accelerators and data centers. Comparable as an emerging player targeting AI infrastructure optical interconnect opportunities with differentiated photonic integration approaches.
- Celestial AI: Celestial AI develops photonic fabric technology for AI accelerator memory and interconnect, using silicon photonics to enable high-bandwidth, low-latency data movement. Comparable as an emerging competitor pursuing optical interconnect solutions for AI infrastructure.
- Ayar Labs: Ayar Labs develops in-package optical I/O solutions using silicon photonics with integrated micro-ring modulators and external lasers for AI and HPC applications. Comparable as an emerging competitor pursuing chip-to-chip optical interconnect for AI infrastructure.
Others
- Nvidia (Silicon Photonics investments): While primarily a GPU and AI platform company, NVIDIA has invested heavily ($4B combined) in laser chip makers Lumentum and Coherent and participated in Scintil's Series B. Functions as an adjacent strategic enabler/partner shaping the optical interconnect ecosystem rather than a direct silicon photonics competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Scintil Photonics social profiles
Digital presenceScintil Photonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Scintil Photonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Scintil Photonics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Scintil Photonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors14 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Scintil Photonics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Scintil Photonics
What does Scintil Photonics do?
Scintil Photonics designs and commercializes heterogeneous silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that integrate III-V laser materials with standard silicon photonics on a single chip. Its flagship commercial product, LEAF Light™, is the world's first single-chip DWDM-native laser source delivering 8 or 16 precisely spaced wavelengths per fiber for co-packaged optics in AI datacenter scale-up networks. The company sells bare PIC dies, packaged laser modules, and evaluation kits directly to enterprise customers in AI infrastructure and HPC markets.
Is Scintil Photonics a public or private company?
Scintil Photonics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Scintil Photonics founded?
Scintil Photonics was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Scintil Photonics based?
Scintil Photonics is headquartered in Grenoble, France, in the Europe region.
How does Scintil Photonics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Sales are the primary driver. The others are evaluation Kit Sales and control Electronics and Reference Packages.
Who are Scintil Photonics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Intel, Broadcom and Marvell Technology. Direct peers are Lumentum, Coherent and Cisco (Acacia Communications). Emerging players are Lightmatter, Celestial AI and Ayar Labs. Nvidia (Silicon Photonics investments) is listed as an others.
Does Scintil Photonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Scintil Photonics.
What industry is Scintil Photonics in?
Scintil Photonics's product category is Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAM, Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules), with a secondary code of HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.