What Guardion does

Guardion, Inc. is a Burlington, Massachusetts-based deep-technology company developing 2D material-based charge sensors that replace traditional electron multipliers in mass spectrometers and related analytical instruments. The core sensor achieves a 1,000,000x amplification gain with a 10,000-fold reduction in operating voltage and operates in open air without vacuum systems, enabling analytical tools that are portable, rugged, and field-deployable. The platform is enabled by a co-invented technology from CEO Daniel Esposito, Lead Scientist Dr. Daniel Cohen, and 2D Materials Expert Dr. Swastik Kar, supported by a portfolio of granted and filed-pending patents in quantum dot materials and 2D materials.

Guardion's business model is hardware-based and proceeds in two stages. First, the company sells wafer-scale detectors at $2,000-$5,000 per unit (production cost under $100) to established instrument manufacturers as drop-in upgrades, an OEM-embedded motion that validates the technology and builds credibility. Second, Guardion plans to develop and sell its own portable mass spectrometer instruments at $30,000-$50,000, targeting inline chemical analysis for bioreactors, point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and biological/chemical threat detection. Target customers include instrument OEMs, semiconductor and biochemical manufacturers, defense and security agencies, healthcare diagnostics providers, and environmental monitoring organizations.

The company has been primarily financed through non-dilutive U.S. government and accelerator capital rather than venture equity. Disclosed funding totals approximately $1.95M across NSF SBIR Phase I and Phase II awards, NASA SBIR Phase I/II and SMD Entrepreneurs Challenge, an Air Force SBIR Phase I, CASIS/Boeing Technology in Space Prize, Techstars, MassChallenge Gold, MassVentures START, and the MIT.nano START.nano program. Headcount is 1-10 and no revenue is disclosed, positioning Guardion at a pre-commercial validation stage with a defined pathway to OEM revenue followed by proprietary instrument launches.

Name

Guardion

Legal name

Guardion, Inc.

Website

https://guardiontech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Guardion develops 2D material-based charge sensors that replace electron multipliers in mass spectrometers, enabling portable, open-air, low-voltage chemical analysis for instrument OEMs, manufacturers, defense agencies, and point-of-care diagnostics providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Instrumentation / Mass Spectrometry Detectors

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process Analytical Instrumentation (Gas analyzers, spectroscopy, pH/ORP, conductivity) (IMAGAFAE), Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO)

Keywords

• Mass spectrometry detectors
• Nanomaterial ion sensors
• Radiation detection technology
• Portable analytical instruments
• Charge sensor technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Detector Sales (OEM Upgrade): Wafer-scale detector technology sold to instrument manufacturers as upgrades to existing instrumentation. Production cost under $100 per unit; selling at $2,000-$5,000 per detector. Early revenue focus validating technology and building credibility with established players.
2. Portable Instrument Sales: Plans to develop and sell proprietary portable instruments priced at $30,000-$50,000 targeting inline chemical analysis (bioreactors), point-of-care diagnostics, and biological/chemical threat detection markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Guardion manufactures and sells a 2D material-based charge sensor (ion detector) that replaces traditional electron multipliers inside mass spectrometers and similar analytical instruments. The detector delivers 1,000,000x amplification with 10,000x less voltage and operates in open air without vacuum or high-voltage systems, allowing instrument manufacturers and end users to convert lab-bound equipment into field-portable devices. Detector units are sold to OEM instrument manufacturers at $2,000–$5,000 each (production cost under $100), with planned follow-on portable mass spectrometer instruments at $30,000–$50,000.

Product overview

Guardion offers a core product line centered on 2D nanomaterial-based charge sensors (detectors) that replace traditional electron multipliers in analytical instruments like mass spectrometers. The detectors achieve 1,000,000x amplification with 10,000x voltage reduction and operate in open air without vacuum systems. The company initially sells these detectors ($2,000-$5,000) to established instrument manufacturers as drop-in upgrades, then plans to develop its own portable mass spectrometer instruments ($30,000-$50,000) for point-of-care diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and defense applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2D Material-Based Charge Sensor (Ion Detector)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000,000x amplification vs electron multipliers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MIT.nano START.nano ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as MIT Engine Blueprint Team and participant in MIT.nano START.nano program supporting hard-tech startups in areas including health, climate, energy, and quantum computing through shared facilities and networking opportunities
• Instrument Manufacturers (Detector OEM Partners)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerEarly revenue strategy focuses on partnerships with established instrument manufacturers to supply detectors as upgrades to existing instrumentation, validating technology and building credibility in the market
• MIT.nano (START.nano Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIT.nano's START.nano program supports hard-tech startups in areas such as health, climate, energy, and quantum computing through shared facilities and networking opportunities. Guardion participates alongside 16 startups in 2025, doubling the previous year's number.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Largest mass spectrometry and analytical instrument OEM globally. Direct strategic counterparty for Guardion's OEM detector program and a likely strategic acquirer of Guardion's portable instrument roadmap.
• Agilent Technologies: Major mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and analytical instrument manufacturer. Direct OEM counterpart whose installed base Guardion's drop-in detectors are designed to upgrade.
• Bruker Corporation: Mass spectrometry, radiation detection, and CBRN instrumentation leader with deep defense and biopharma exposure. Comparable customer set to Guardion's targeted segments and a likely acquisition target alongside Guardion.
• Shimadzu Corporation: Japanese mass spectrometry and analytical instrument OEM with significant share in pharma, food safety, and environmental testing. Direct OEM counterpart for Guardion's detector upgrade strategy.
• MKS Instruments (Pfeiffer Vacuum / Spectra Products): Owns Pfeiffer Vacuum and a portfolio of residual gas analyzers (RGAs), leak detectors, and process analytical instrumentation - exactly the segments Guardion targets. A key OEM/customer candidate and direct competitive threat.
• FLIR Systems (Teledyne FLIR): Provider of radiation detection and CBRN sensing equipment for defense and homeland security - directly aligned with Guardion's threat detection use case and government customer base.
• Smiths Detection: Global leader in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threat detection systems for airports, ports, and military customers. Comparable end market and use cases to Guardion's defense/security roadmap.
• PerkinElmer (now Revvity): Analytical instruments and life sciences tools provider with mass spectrometry, chromatography, and CBRN detection offerings. Comparable customer footprint across environmental, clinical, and security markets.

Direct peers

• 908 Devices: Public company specializing in portable and handheld mass spectrometry for chemical, biomolecular, and forensic detection. The closest direct competitor to Guardion's planned portable mass spec, with overlapping use cases in point-of-need analysis and CBRN.
• Advion (now part of Bohui Innovation): Compact and bench-top mass spectrometry provider serving chemists with affordable, easy-to-use systems. Comparable in targeting the democratization of mass spec - a thesis closely aligned with Guardion's portable instrument vision.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/guardiontech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors5 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 Guardion