Analog Photonics
Analog Photonics is a Boston-based silicon photonics company that designs solid-state optical phased arrays, tunable lasers, and FMCW LiDAR modules for automotive, robotics, UAV/satellite communication, and data center customers via direct enterprise sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Analog Photonics does
Analog Photonics LLC is a Boston-based private company that designs and manufactures silicon photonics-based optical phased arrays (OPAs), tunable lasers, and coherent FMCW LiDAR systems. Its core technology combines CMOS electronics, silicon photonics, and indium phosphide (InP) heterogeneously integrated on 300mm wafers, enabling solid-state 2D beam steering with no moving parts. The commercial product portfolio includes the SR-1S short-range and FS-4S long-range FMCW LiDAR modules, the OPA-B1 optical phased array beam steerer, the FSOC-B1 free-space optical communication module, and the RAY-L1 and RAY-H1 silicon-based tunable lasers, alongside the AP SUNY Process Design Kit (PDK) developed with AIM Photonics.
The company's revenue model is hardware-centric, with direct enterprise sales of LiDAR modules, beam steerers, tunable lasers, and free-space optical communication modules to automotive, robotics, UAV/satellite, security, and optical data communication customers. PDK licensing through the AIM Photonics MPW program (aggregated by MOSIS) provides a secondary licensing/royalty stream targeting 100G–400G+ optical transceiver developers. Go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement with engineering and procurement teams under multi-year Joint Development Agreements, with two Tier 1 automotive suppliers signed in 2018 and 2020 and a first solid-state LiDAR prototype delivered in 2020. The firm also generates non-dilutive R&D funding via DARPA programs (MOABB awarded 2016) and participates in technical conferences (AutoSens, OFC, CLEO) and peer-reviewed publications to establish technology leadership.
Analog Photonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Analog Photonics
- Legal name
- Analog Photonics LLC
- Website
- https://analogphotonics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Analog Photonics is a Boston-based silicon photonics company that designs solid-state optical phased arrays, tunable lasers, and FMCW LiDAR modules for automotive, robotics, UAV/satellite communication, and data center customers via direct enterprise sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Analog Photonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photonics and LiDAR Hardware
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Networking & Data Center Silicon (Switch/NIC/DPU/SerDes) (HDAHABAB)
Keywords
Where Analog Photonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Analog Photonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- LiDAR Systems Sales: Sale of optical phased array LiDAR products including short-range (SR-1S) and long-range (FS-4S) systems for automotive, robotics, and industrial applications. Hardware-focused revenue with custom integration services for enterprise customers.
- Tunable Lasers: Sale of silicon-based tunable lasers for FMCW LiDAR and coherent optical communication systems, including low-power (RAY-L1) and high-power (RAY-H1) variants.
- Optical Phased Array Beam Steerers: Sale of solid-state beam steering modules (OPA-B1) for automotive LiDAR, robotics, and free-space optical communication applications.
- Free Space Optical Communication Modules: Sale of FSOC-B1 communication modules for UAV and satellite communications with high bandwidth and long-distance capabilities.
- PDK Licensing and Design Services: Licensing of AP SUNY Process Design Kit (PDK) and associated design services for silicon photonics integrated circuits through AIM Photonics MPW program, enabling 100G, 200G, and 400G+ optical transceivers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise custom pricing through direct sales engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Analog Photonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Analog Photonics manufactures silicon photonics-based solid-state optical phased array LiDAR systems, tunable lasers, optical phased array beam steerers, and free-space optical communication modules for automotive, UAV, satellite, robotics, security, and telecom customers. The company also licenses its AP SUNY Process Design Kit (PDK) and provides design services for silicon photonics integrated circuits through the AIM Photonics MPW program.
Product overview
Analog Photonics is a Boston-based technology company that develops silicon photonics-based optical systems for LiDAR and free-space optical communication. The product portfolio centers on proprietary Optical Phased Array (OPA) technology and tunable lasers built using wafer-scale silicon photonics manufacturing. The core products include two LiDAR modules (SR-1S short-range and FS-4S long-range), the OPA-B1 beam steerer for 2D electronic beam steering, the FSOC-B1 free-space optical communication module, and two tunable laser variants (RAY-L1 and RAY-H1). These products share common technology foundations—OPA beam steering and 1550nm FMCW coherent detection—and serve complementary markets from automotive autonomous vehicles to UAV communications. The company also offers the AP SUNY Process Design Kit for photonic integrated circuit design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SR-1S Short-Range LiDAR Short-range FMCW solid-state LiDAR module using wafer-scale silicon photonics manufacturing for high-volume, low-cost deployment in robotics and factory automation applications.
- FS-4S Long-Range LiDAR Long-range FMCW LiDAR module delivering industry-leading range, measurement rate, and accuracy in a low-profile, solid-state form factor designed for autonomous vehicles.
- OPA-B1 Optical Phased Array Beam Steerer Compact, solid-state beam steering module with no moving parts that enables fast 2D electronic beam steering over a 50°×14° field of view with rapid point-to-point steering (<10 µs) and 80 mW output power for automotive LiDAR, robotics, and free-space optical communication.
- FSOC-B1 Free Space Optical Communication Module High-precision free-space optical communication module with 0.1 mrad beam pointing accuracy supporting up to 1 Gb/s over 4 km and 1 Mb/s over 10 km distances, designed for UAV and satellite communications in a low-SWaP form factor.
- RAY-L1 Low-Power Tunable Laser Silicon-based low-power tunable laser with wide C and L band coverage (60 nm), fast random-access tuning (<300 µs), high output power (>25 dBm), and narrow linewidth (<40 kHz) for FMCW LiDAR and coherent optical communication systems.
- RAY-H1 High-Power Tunable Laser Silicon-based high-power tunable laser with wide C and L band coverage (60 nm), fast random-access tuning (<300 µs), narrow linewidth (<40 kHz), and linear chirp capability up to 1.5 GHz for FMCW LiDAR and coherent optical communication systems.
- AP SUNY Process Design Kit (PDK) Comprehensive silicon photonics component library, including interfaces, passive and active components, schematics, and models for developing optical modules and systems supporting 100G, 200G, and 400G+ optical transceivers, licensed via the AIM Photonics MPW program.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 Gb/s data rate over 4 km distances for free-space optical communication
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Analog Photonics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Analog Photonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Analog Photonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Major Tier 1 Automotive Supplier (Second)coreSigned second Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with another major Tier 1 automotive supplier in 2020. AP delivered first fully operational Solid State LiDAR Prototype to Tier 1s in 2020.
- AIM PhotonicscoreStrategic collaboration with AIM Photonics (American Institute for Manufacturing Photonics), a $600M public-private partnership, to develop and release the AP SUNY Process Design Kit (APSUNY_PDKv2.0a). Analog Photonics expanded silicon photonics component libraries within SUNY Poly's process for high-speed optical communication needs. This PDK enables development of 100G, 200G, and 400G+ optical transceivers for data centers, metro, and long-haul optical networks. The partnership provides access to multi-project wafer (MPW) runs and PIC systems development through AIM Photonics' facilities in Albany and Rochester.
- Major Tier 1 Automotive Supplier (First)coreSigned Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with a major Tier 1 automotive supplier in 2018 for OPA LiDAR technology development and integration.
- MOSISsupportingMOSIS serves as the MPW aggregator for AIM Photonics, providing access to PDK and MPW fabrication services for companies wanting to develop silicon photonics integrated circuits. PDK and MPW fab access is solely available through MOSIS.
- DARPAcoreAnalog Photonics was awarded the DARPA MOABB contract in 2016 to develop OPA LiDAR technology. Founder Michael Watts was principal investigator of DARPA E-PHI, DODOS, and ViPER programs at MIT. The company's LiDAR technology was featured at DARPA's 60th anniversary conference.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Analog Photonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ouster: Ouster is a publicly traded digital flash LiDAR company competing for automotive, robotics, and industrial customers with a different scanning architecture but same end markets and LiDAR unit economics pressure as Analog Photonics.
- Innoviz Technologies: Innoviz is a solid-state automotive LiDAR company with Tier 1 partnerships (BMW, Volkswagen) using MEMS-based scanning. Comparable in targeting the same automotive LiDAR design-in market, though with a different beam-steering architecture.
- Aeva Technologies: Aeva develops silicon photonics-based FMCW LiDAR (4D perception with velocity), targeting automotive and industrial applications. Closely comparable on FMCW coherent detection, silicon photonics chip integration, and automotive go-to-market.
- Luminar Technologies: Luminar is a well-funded automotive LiDAR company pursuing solid-state long-range LiDAR for ADAS and autonomy with major OEM engagements. Direct competitor for the same Tier 1 and OEM automotive LiDAR design wins that Analog Photonics targets.
- Cepton: Cepton develops long-range automotive LiDAR with Tier 1 partnerships (Koito/General Motors). Direct competitor pursuing the same automotive LiDAR design wins via a different (MEMS) scanning architecture but the same OEM customer base.
- SiLC Technologies: SiLC Technologies is the closest direct competitor: a silicon photonics-based FMCW LiDAR company also using OPA/waveguide integration and targeting automotive and industrial sensing with similar chip-scale solid-state architecture.
- Quanergy Systems: Quanergy developed optical phased array solid-state LiDAR based on silicon photonics, directly competing with Analog Photonics in the automotive OPA LiDAR niche before restructuring. Same product category, target customers, and core OPA technology.
Broad incumbents
- Mobileye: Mobileye (Intel) is a broad incumbent in ADAS and autonomous driving, integrating perception stacks that consume LiDAR data, and its internal LiDAR development efforts represent a downstream adjacent competitor for automotive LiDAR design wins.
- Cisco (Acacia Communications): Cisco's Acacia Communications unit develops silicon photonics-based coherent optical interconnect products for data center and telecom networks, competing in the same high-speed optical transceiver space supported by Analog Photonics' AP SUNY PDK.
- Intel (Silicon Photonics Division): Intel has a silicon photonics foundry and transceiver product line built on its own integrated silicon photonics platform, making it a broad incumbent that competes in the same silicon photonics component and transceiver space as Analog Photonics' PDK and laser products.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Analog Photonics social profiles
Digital presenceAnalog Photonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Analog Photonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Analog Photonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Analog 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 Analog Photonics
What does Analog Photonics do?
Analog Photonics manufactures silicon photonics-based solid-state optical phased array LiDAR systems, tunable lasers, optical phased array beam steerers, and free-space optical communication modules for automotive, UAV, satellite, robotics, security, and telecom customers. The company also licenses its AP SUNY Process Design Kit (PDK) and provides design services for silicon photonics integrated circuits through the AIM Photonics MPW program.
Is Analog Photonics a public or private company?
Analog Photonics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Analog Photonics founded?
Analog Photonics was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Analog Photonics based?
Analog Photonics is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Analog Photonics make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. LiDAR Systems Sales are the primary driver. The others are tunable Lasers, optical Phased Array Beam Steerers, free Space Optical Communication Modules and PDK Licensing and Design Services.
Who are Analog Photonics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ouster, Innoviz Technologies, Aeva Technologies, Luminar Technologies, Cepton, SiLC Technologies and Quanergy Systems. Broad incumbents are Mobileye, Cisco (Acacia Communications) and Intel (Silicon Photonics Division).
Does Analog Photonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Analog Photonics.
What industry is Analog Photonics in?
Analog Photonics's product category is Photonics and LiDAR Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of HDAHACAG, Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser). Its NAICS code is 3344 and its SIC code is 3674.