What DoubleHelix does

Double Helix Optics, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 2013 to commercialize engineered point spread function (ePSF) technology for 3D super-resolution microscopy. The company addresses a fundamental limitation of conventional super-resolution methods (STORM, PALM), which are restricted to 2D imaging or require time-consuming sequential z-sectioning. Its ePSF technology, rooted in Nobel Prize-winning methods pioneered by advisory board member W. E. Moerner, encodes 3D positional information directly into single-molecule emission patterns, enabling single-shot volumetric imaging without mechanical scanning.

The product portfolio is built around four SPINDLE hardware modules — SPINDLE² (dual-channel), SPINDLE (single-channel), µSPINDLE (ultracompact for OEM integration), and InSPINDLE (industrial inspection) — paired with a library of interchangeable Phase Masks (Deep Focus and 3D variants) and the 3DTRAX / 3DTRAX.AI software platform. 3DTRAX runs as a Fiji/ImageJ plugin and is also exposed via API for OEM embedding. The combined system delivers up to 20× extended depth of field, 15 nm axial localization precision, and 5–7× dataset size reduction versus conventional volumetric approaches. Customers include academic life sciences researchers in neuroscience, cell biology, spatial omics, and developmental biology, plus OEM microscopy manufacturers and industrial inspection users.

Revenue is generated through three streams: per-unit hardware sales of SPINDLE modules and phase masks, annual subscription licensing of 3DTRAX software, and OEM licensing/embedding of modules and software into third-party instruments. Go-to-market combines direct technical sales with OEM channel partnerships, supported by content-driven marketing centered on 81+ peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference presentations, and digital webinars. Total disclosed funding since inception is approximately $5.3 million across NSF grants, Luminate, Yu Galaxy, and other investors.

Name

DoubleHelix

Legal name

Double Helix Optics, Inc

Website

https://doublehelixoptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Double Helix Optics develops engineered point spread function (ePSF) hardware modules and 3DTRAX software enabling single-shot, scan-free 3D super-resolution microscopy for academic life sciences researchers and OEM microscopy manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Super-Resolution Microscopy Equipment

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Micro/Nanoscale & Precision 3D Printers (Two-Photon, Micro-SLA) (IMAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Super-resolution microscopy
• 3D imaging modules
• Engineered phase masks
• Fluorescence imaging software
• OEM microscopy components

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of SPINDLE optical modules (1×, 2×, 3× variants), phase masks, and related optical hardware components. Revenue is generated on a per-unit basis as a one-time hardware purchase, with modules priced and sold directly to research institutions and OEM partners.
2. Software Licensing (3DTRAX): Annual software licensing for the 3DTRAX computational platform, sold as module bundles. Provides recurring subscription revenue with annual renewal fees. Software licensing is a primary revenue stream alongside hardware.
3. OEM Integration Partnerships: Embedding and licensing of SPINDLE modules and 3DTRAX software as OEM components within third-party microscopy systems, generating licensing and per-unit revenue from instrument manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Double Helix Optics develops and sells engineered point spread function (ePSF) technology for 3D nano-imaging. Its portfolio includes SPINDLE hardware modules (single-channel, dual-channel, ultracompact, and industrial-inspection variants), interchangeable phase masks, and the 3DTRAX image-processing software platform, with OEM integration services for embedding the technology into third-party microscopy systems.

Product overview

Double Helix Optics offers a unified portfolio of 3D imaging and sensing products based on engineered point spread function (ePSF) technology. The product line centers on SPINDLE hardware modules (SPINDLE² dual-channel, SPINDLE single-channel, µSPINDLE compact, InSPINDLE inspection) that physically modify microscope optics using interchangeable Phase Masks. These phase masks transform the point spread function to encode 3D information in each image frame, enabling scan-free volumetric imaging. 3DTRAX software (including 3DTRAX.AI with AI enhancements) processes the ePSF-encoded images to reconstruct 3D coordinates, particle tracks, and super-resolution structures. OEM integration services enable embedding this technology into third-party systems. All products share the common ePSF technology foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SPINDLE² Dual-channel 3D imaging module that upgrades existing microscopes into advanced 3D nanoscale imaging systems with simultaneous multichannel capture using a single camera. Features two individually adaptable channels for multicolor, multimodal, depth-tunable imaging.
• SPINDLE Single-channel 3D imaging module that upgrades 2D microscopes into advanced 3D nanoscale imaging systems in a cost-effective form factor. Accommodates the full range of Double Helix phase masks.
• µSPINDLE Ultracompact objective lens insert that adds Double Helix ePSF technology directly behind the objective lens, designed for custom OEM integrations where space, weight, and reliable operation are key considerations.
• InSPINDLE

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 20× extended depth of field vs. conventional microscopy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ONI (Oxford Nanoimaging): ONI develops single-molecule localization and super-resolution microscopy platforms (Nanoimager) used by life sciences researchers. Direct competitor to DHO in the SMLM / super-resolution category with overlapping academic customer base and similar product positioning.
• Bruker (Vutara Super-Resolution): Bruker's Vutara line is a 3D single-molecule localization microscope used in academic and biopharma research. Competes directly with DHO in 3D super-resolution microscopy for life sciences customers.

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss offers the Elyra super-resolution microscopy family alongside a broad portfolio of optical microscopes. Larger incumbent with overlapping 3D super-resolution capability and substantially larger global distribution.
• Leica Microsystems: Leica's STELLARIS and STED platforms serve the same life-sciences super-resolution imaging market as DHO, but as part of a much broader microscopy portfolio with established academic and biopharma distribution.
• Nikon Instruments: Nikon's N-STORM and N-SIM systems compete in 3D super-resolution microscopy. Major incumbent with global installed base and direct sales force to academic and biopharma customers.
• Evident (formerly Olympus Scientific Solutions): Evident (spun out of Olympus) sells life science microscopy including confocal and super-resolution systems. Broad incumbent with overlapping customer base in academic and clinical research labs.
• JEOL: JEOL manufactures electron and optical microscopy instruments for research and industry. Broad incumbent with super-resolution-adjacent capabilities and significant presence in academic markets.

Others

• Oxford Instruments Andor: Andor makes scientific cameras and microscopy components commonly integrated into super-resolution systems. Adjacent enabling supplier whose cameras are often used alongside DHO's SPINDLE modules in customer setups.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu supplies photonics components including detectors and cameras used in advanced microscopy. Enabling supplier in the super-resolution imaging ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Caliber I.D. (VivoSight): Caliber I.D. develops confocal and multiphoton microscopy systems for research. Smaller emerging player with overlapping research-customer focus but a different imaging modality than DHO's ePSF technology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DoubleHelixOpt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DoubleHelix