Spark lasers
Spark Lasers is a French manufacturer of compact femtosecond and picosecond fiber lasers, supplying neuroscience and life-sciences researchers, bioimaging equipment OEMs, and industrial customers in semiconductor, medical-device, micromachining, and ophthalmology applications. Founded 2015, headquartered in Martillac, France.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersMartillac, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Spark lasers does
Spark Lasers (legal entity SPARK LASERS) is a privately-held French photonics company founded in August 2015 by Pascal Dupriez and headquartered at the Technopole Bordeaux Montesquieu in Martillac, France. The company designs and manufactures compact ultrafast fiber lasers in both femtosecond (<100-400 fs) and picosecond (<10 ps) pulsed regimes, serving neuroscience and life-sciences researchers, bioimaging equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and industrial users in semiconductor processing, medical-device fabrication, micromachining, and ophthalmology. Its five core product families — ALCOR (compact fixed-wavelength femtosecond up to 5 W for two-photon microscopy), ALTAIR (high-power 1040 nm femtosecond up to 20 W), DIADEM (high-energy femtosecond up to 40 µJ including the 1300 nm model for three-photon imaging), ANTARES (high-repetition picosecond up to 30 W), and SIRIUS (high-energy picosecond hybrid up to 60 µJ) — share proprietary technology platforms including HPC (High Pulse Contrast) introduced in 2022, computer-controlled integrated GDD precompensation, the XSight integrated acousto-optic modulator, and the FLeX fiber-delivery option, all packaged in air-cooled compact form factors positioned between bulk Ti:Sapphire systems and lower-performance alternatives.
The company monetizes primarily through quote-based hardware sales of laser systems and modular options (wavelength variants, fiber delivery, multibeam modules, frequency conversion, Mini2P turnkey bundles), supported by professional-services revenue from technical documentation, engineering support, and product training. Go-to-market combines direct sales for the USA market with an eight-distributor international channel covering China (Aunion Tech), Singapore (OptoSigma), Japan (PNEUM), Korea (ShinHoTek), India (Trokut Solutions), Germany (Laser 2000), Italy (Quantum Design), and Israel (LAS Photonics). Pricing is non-public and contractually negotiated per configuration, consistent with the high-touch, application-specific nature of the instrumentation.
Spark Lasers is led by founder-CEO Pascal Dupriez (PhD, Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton; prior senior roles at Fianium, Alphanov, Corning, and Waveguide Solutions) and operates with 11-50 employees. It is supported by regional ecosystem partners including Bpifrance, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Starquest Capital, Aquitaine Amorçage, and Bordeaux UNITEC, and was awarded the 2021 France Relance industrial reshoring grant for its LASINFRANCE production-modernization project. Strategic OEM design-ins include Femtonics (FEMTO3D Atlas microscopes) and Bruker Luxendo (MuVi SPIM light-sheet systems), and the company's laser products have been cited in 72 scientific publications across major research institutions including UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, the University of Tokyo, and Université Côte d'Azur.
Spark lasers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spark lasers
- Legal name
- SPARK LASERS
- Website
- https://spark-lasers.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Spark Lasers is a French manufacturer of compact femtosecond and picosecond fiber lasers, supplying neuroscience and life-sciences researchers, bioimaging equipment OEMs, and industrial customers in semiconductor, medical-device, micromachining, and ophthalmology applications. Founded 2015, headquartered in Martillac, France.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spark lasers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ultrafast Laser Systems
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
Keywords
Where Spark lasers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Martillac
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Spark lasers 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, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ultrafast Laser Hardware Sales: Spark Lasers manufactures and sells compact femtosecond and picosecond lasers for scientific and industrial applications. Revenue is generated through direct sales of laser systems, with customization options and various power/wavelength configurations.
- Customization and Options: The company offers various laser configurations and options including wavelength variants, repetition rate options, frequency conversion modules, fiber delivery, and specialized modules (XSight, Multibeam, GDD extension), which can be bundled with base products.
- Product Specifications and Support: Technical documentation, product sheets, and engineering support services provided alongside laser purchases for industrial and scientific customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels10 records
Marketing channels5 records
Spark lasers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spark Lasers manufactures compact ultrafast fiber lasers — both femtosecond (<100-400 fs) and picosecond (<10 ps) — sold to research institutions, microscopy OEMs, and industrial manufacturers. The portfolio covers the ALCOR, ALTAIR, DIADEM, ANTARES, and SIRIUS families at wavelengths of 520, 780, 920, 1040, 1064, and 1300 nm, with options for fiber delivery, integrated AOM, GDD precompensation, and multibeam configurations. Products are configured per customer via a quote-based sales model with regional distributor support.
Product overview
Spark Lasers is a pioneer and leading manufacturer of compact ultrafast lasers for scientific and industrial applications. The product portfolio spans two pulse regimes — femtosecond and picosecond — across five core product families: ALCOR (compact high-power femtosecond lasers for two-photon microscopy with fixed wavelengths at 780/920/1040/1064 nm, up to 5 W, <100 fs), ALTAIR (high-power femtosecond lasers at 1040 nm, up to 20 W, <150 fs), DIADEM (high-energy versatile femtosecond lasers at 920/1030/1040/1064 nm, up to 40 µJ and 30 W), ANTARES (compact picosecond fiber lasers at 1035/1064 nm, up to 40 W, <10 ps), and SIRIUS (compact high-energy picosecond hybrid lasers at 1064/532 nm, up to 60 µJ, >5 W). Sub-products and variants include ALCOR 920-Mini2P for freely moving animal imaging, ALCOR MULTIBEAM for multi-output beam delivery, and DIADEM 1300 for three-photon microscopy. The company also offers optional accessories including fiber delivery (FLeX), integrated AOM modulators (XSight), and frequency conversion modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ALCOR Compact high-power femtosecond laser series for two-photon excitation, with fixed wavelengths at 780, 920, 1040, and 1064 nm, pulse durations <100 fs and up to 5 W average power. Incorporates HPC (High Pulse Contrast) technology, integrated computer-controlled GDD precompensation, and optional XSight integrated AOM and FLeX fiber delivery. Targeted at neuroscience, life-sciences imaging, and OEM bioimaging integrators.
- ALTAIR High-power compact fiber femtosecond laser at 1040 nm with <160 fs pulses (standard <150 fs) and high repetition rate (80 MHz standard, adjustable optional), available in 10 W and 20 W air-cooled models. GDD adjustable from 0 to -60,000 fs² with optional extension to -90,000 fs². Suited to multi-photon microscopy with high stability and excellent beam quality.
- DIADEM High-energy versatile femtosecond fiber laser available at 920 nm, 1030 nm, 1040 nm, and 1064 nm with pulses of <400 fs up to 40 µJ. Features adjustable pulse duration, selectable repetition rate from single pulse to 40 MHz, and fine pulse energy tuning in a compact air-cooled format. Models include DIADEM 920 (up to 4 W, <250 fs), DIADEM 1040 (up to 5 W), DIADEM 1030-10/20/30, and DIADEM 1064-10/20. Sub-variant DIADEM 1300 targets three-photon excitation at 1300 nm with up to 1 µJ at up to 2 MHz.
- ANTARES Compact picosecond fiber laser series producing high average power at high repetition rates up to 80 MHz with narrow linewidth in a very compact, robust, air-cooled format. ANTARES 1035-10 (10 W), ANTARES 1035-20 (20 W) and ANTARES 1035-30 (30 W) at 1035 nm; 1064 nm and other wavelength options including green and UV via frequency conversion.
- SIRIUS Compact high-energy hybrid picosecond laser producing <10 ps pulse duration with energy exceeding 60 µJ and >5 W average power. Fully configurable with selectable pulse generation modes including frequency selection, pulse-on-demand, burst, gating, and fine energy control. Available at 1064 nm (SIRIUS 1064-5: >5 W, >60 µJ) and 532 nm (SIRIUS 532-2: >2 W, >32 µJ) with optional frequency conversion between wavelengths.
- ALCOR 520 Femtosecond green laser fixed at 520 nm delivering up to 2 W average power for ophthalmology (corneal and cataract surgery) and nanofabrication applications.
- ALCOR 780 Femtosecond laser at 780 nm, 800 mW output, designed for two-photon microscopy and two-photon polymerization applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- ALCOR 920-4 achieves world record of 4W average power at 920nm from a compact fixed wavelength femtosecond laser
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Spark lasers
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Spark lasers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Spark lasers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- Aunion Tech Co., LtdcoreRegional distribution partner for China, providing local sales, support, and service for Spark Lasers products in the Chinese market.
- OptoSigma Southeast Asia Pte.Ltd.coreRegional distribution partner for Singapore and Southeast Asia region.
- PNEUM Co., LtdcoreRegional distribution partner for Japan, handling sales and support of Spark Lasers products.
- ShinHoTek Co., Ltd.coreRegional distribution partner for Korea, providing local market access.
- Trokut Solutions Pvt LtdcoreRegional distribution partner for India, providing sales and support services.
- Laser 2000 GmbHcoreRegional distribution partner for Germany, handling sales and technical support.
- Quantum Design s.r.l.coreRegional distribution partner for Italy, providing local sales and support.
- LAS Photonics LtdcoreRegional distribution partner for Israel, handling sales and customer support.
- FemtonicsstrategicFemtonics, a microscope manufacturer, has qualified and designed-in Spark Lasers' ALCOR 920 into their FEMTO3D Atlas 3D acousto-optic microscopes, indicating a strategic product integration partnership.
- Bruker Luxendo (subsidiary of Bruker)strategicCollaboration with University Côte d'Azur and Luxendo (Bruker company) to couple ALCOR 920-2W laser with MuVi SPIM (Multi-view Light Sheet Imaging) microscopy systems for precise dissection of biological samples.
- University Côte d'AzurstrategicResearch collaboration with University Côte d'Azur (Institut de Biologie Valrose, CNRS, Inserm) for femtosecond laser applications in cell and tissue manipulation studies.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Spark lasers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IPG Photonics: Global leader in high-power fiber lasers for industrial materials processing with ultrafast picosecond/femtosecond offerings (GLPN pico, YLPN) competing against Spark's ANTARES and SIRIUS in semiconductor ablation and micromachining.
- Thorlabs: Broadline photonics component and instrumentation supplier offering ultrafast lasers (NPL, FemtoControl) and integrated multiphoton microscopy systems — adjacent to Spark with overlapping customer base but much broader catalog across optics, optomechanics, and instruments.
- MKS Instruments (Spectra-Physics): Major laser manufacturer offering ultrafast Ti:Sapphire and fiber lasers (Mai Tai, Solstice, Spirit) for multiphoton microscopy and industrial applications — incumbent competing against Spark's compact fiber-laser positioning.
- Coherent: Global incumbent laser manufacturer with broad ultrafast (Mira, Astrella, Monaco) and industrial laser portfolios serving biophotonics, semiconductor, and medical device markets — overlapping Spark's customer segments but with vastly greater scale and catalog breadth.
Emerging players
- Menlo Systems: German specialist in ultrafast lasers and optical frequency combs, with femtosecond fiber laser products (Bluecut, MenloTCSPC) addressing biophotonics and microscopy niches partially overlapping Spark's OEM and research customer base.
- Femtonics: Hungarian OEM partner and microscope manufacturer that has qualified Spark's ALCOR 920 into its FEMTO3D Atlas systems — a downstream ecosystem participant and customer whose product strategy directly amplifies Spark's addressable microscopy OEM demand.
Direct peers
- NKT Photonics: Danish ultrafast fiber laser manufacturer (aeroPULSE, ORIGAMI, Onefive) serving biophotonics, microscopy, and materials processing — direct overlap with Spark's fiber-based ALCOR, ALTAIR, and ANTARES platforms.
- Light Conversion: Lithuania-based manufacturer of ultrafast femtosecond and picosecond lasers (PHAROS, FLINT, CARBIDE) widely used in multiphoton microscopy and industrial micromachining — directly competing with Spark's ALCOR, DIADEM, and SIRIUS product lines for the same OEM and research customer base.
- Amplitude Laser: French competitor manufacturing ultrafast (femtosecond and picosecond) lasers for scientific and industrial applications, including Satsuma and Tangor product families that compete directly with Spark's ALCOR and ALTAIR in two-photon microscopy and micromachining.
- Toptica Photonics: German manufacturer of ultrafast femtosecond fiber lasers (FemtoFiber pro) and diode lasers for biophotonics, quantum optics, and microscopy — competing directly with Spark in two-photon excitation and neuroscience applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spark lasers social profiles
Digital presenceSpark lasers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spark lasers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Spark lasers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spark lasers 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 Spark lasers
What does Spark lasers do?
Spark Lasers manufactures compact ultrafast fiber lasers — both femtosecond (<100-400 fs) and picosecond (<10 ps) — sold to research institutions, microscopy OEMs, and industrial manufacturers. The portfolio covers the ALCOR, ALTAIR, DIADEM, ANTARES, and SIRIUS families at wavelengths of 520, 780, 920, 1040, 1064, and 1300 nm, with options for fiber delivery, integrated AOM, GDD precompensation, and multibeam configurations. Products are configured per customer via a quote-based sales model with regional distributor support.
Is Spark lasers a public or private company?
Spark lasers is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Spark lasers founded?
Spark lasers was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spark lasers based?
Spark lasers is headquartered in Martillac, France, in the Europe region.
How does Spark lasers make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Ultrafast Laser Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are customization and Options and product Specifications and Support.
Who are Spark lasers's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IPG Photonics, Thorlabs, MKS Instruments (Spectra-Physics) and Coherent. Emerging players are Menlo Systems and Femtonics. Direct peers are NKT Photonics, Light Conversion, Amplitude Laser and Toptica Photonics.
Does Spark lasers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spark lasers.
What industry is Spark lasers in?
Spark lasers's product category is Ultrafast Laser Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL). Its SIC code is 3827.