PhotonIC Corp

What PhotonIC Corp does

PhotonIC Corp, doing business as APIC Corporation (Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits), is a U.S. small business founded in 1999 and headquartered in Culver City, California, that designs and manufactures advanced photonic and electro-optic components for the U.S. defense community and commercial telecommunications markets. Its proprietary platform, Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics (HIP-E), integrates compound semiconductor and silicon photonic components with CMOS electronics at the chip scale, enabling high-bandwidth-density optical interconnects for high-performance computing, secure multi-level processing, and cryogenic (4 Kelvin) links for quantum-classical computing bridging.

The company offers a vertically integrated product portfolio spanning individual components — ultra-low-noise distributed feedback (DFB) continuous-wave, direct-modulated, and high-power lasers (RIN below -165 dB/Hz, up to 200 mW), 40 GHz InGaAs photodetectors, and AL-series analog lasers — through integrated modules such as the ruggedized MicroATx 20 GHz RFoF transmitter (MIL-STD-810G / MIL-STD-461G qualified), 6-channel 20 GHz analog electro-optic transmitter/receiver systems, and 5G C-RAN fronthaul (RF-PON) solutions. HIP-E and inter-chip (2.5D) and intra-chip (3D) optical interconnect technology are protected by registered patents.

APIC generates revenue through two principal streams: (i) U.S. government R&D contracts and prototype programs awarded by DARPA, the U.S. Navy / Naval Undersea Warfare Center (via Sea Corp), Air Force Research Laboratory, and NSA, often executed under Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) or subcontracts; and (ii) commercial sales of photonic components and subsystems to telecom, defense electronics integrators, and research institutions, distributed direct in the U.S. and through an exclusive European channel partner, More Photonics (Paris). The company is privately held and founder-controlled, led by Dr. Birendra (Raj) Dutt, and operates a single manufacturing facility near LAX in Culver City.

Name

PhotonIC Corp

Legal name

APIC Corporation

Website

https://apichip.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PhotonIC Corp (APIC Corporation) is a Culver City, California designer and manufacturer of advanced photonic and electro-optic components — including ultra-low-noise DFB lasers, RF over fiber transmitters, and the HIP-E chip-scale photonic-electronic integration platform — serving primarily the U.S. defense and intelligence community and commercial telecommunications markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Silicon Photonic Components

NAICS

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)

SIC

Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors (HDAHAHAL), RF, Microwave & Wireless ICs (HDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Silicon photonics
• RF over fiber
• Photonic integrated circuits
• Electro-optic components
• Semiconductor lasers

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

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, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. U.S. Government Research and Development Contracts: APIC generates significant revenue through government-funded R&D programs, including DARPA, US Navy, Air Force, NSA, and AFRL contracts. These involve development of prototype photonic integrated circuits, trusted HIP-E photonic PCBs, and advanced electro-optic transmitters and receivers for defense applications.
2. Commercial Photonic Component and System Sales: Sale of photonic components including ultra low noise lasers, photodetectors, RF over fiber transmitters and receivers, and integrated modules to commercial telecommunications companies and systems integrators.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PhotonIC Corp (APIC Corporation) designs, develops, and manufactures advanced photonic integrated circuits and electro-optic components for defense and commercial telecommunications markets. The company produces ultra-low noise DFB lasers, high dynamic range photodetectors, RF over Fiber (RFoF) transmitters and receivers, and integrated modules based on its proprietary Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics (HIP-E) technology platform. Products serve applications including 5G fronthaul, distributed antenna systems, electronic warfare, radar, submarine communication systems, and high-performance computing interconnects.

Product overview

PhotonIC Corp (APIC Corporation) is a vertically integrated photonics company offering a portfolio of products centered on Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics (HIP-E) technology and RF over Fiber (RFoF) solutions. The product line spans individual components (DFB lasers, photodetectors) through integrated modules (MicroATx transmitters, 6-channel analog systems) to the core HIP-E platform technology. The company serves both defense/military markets and commercial telecommunications applications including 5G, DAS, and high performance computing. Key products include ultra low noise lasers (CW, direct modulated, and high power variants), RFoF transmitters and receivers operating from DC to 40 GHz, and silicon photonic integrated circuits for heterogeneous processor integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HIP-E: Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics technology combining photonic integrated circuits with electronic components for AI and high performance computing.
• HIP

Products and services

• HIP-E (Heterogeneously Integrated Photonics and Electronics) Chip-scale integration technology combining photonic integrated circuits with electronic IC components using CMOS, compound semiconductor, and silicon-photonic processes for ultra-efficient links and networks for high-performance computing and AI applications.
• Ultra Low Noise Continuous Wave (CW) DFB Lasers Distributed feedback (DFB) continuous wavelength lasers with ultra-low relative intensity noise (RIN) below -165 dB/Hz and output power up to 200 mW for high-fidelity RF over fiber applications.
• Direct Modulated Lasers Directly modulated DFB lasers optimized for high-fidelity analog RF over fiber transmission, providing cost-effective signal modulation with excellent dynamic range.
• Ultra Low Noise High Power DFB Lasers High-power DFB semiconductor lasers with output power up to 200 mW, SMSR greater than 60 dB, and relative intensity noise below -165 dB/Hz in 0.5 to 18 GHz frequency range.
• AL Laser (Analog Laser) Low RIN laser packaged with internal bias T for use as both direct modulated laser and high power low RIN CW source, targeting cable TV, GPON, and DAS applications.
• MicroATx 20 GHz RFoF Transmitter High-fidelity broadband optical transmitter combining ultra-low-RIN (-168 dB/Hz) CW laser, low Vpi amplitude modulator, low noise amplifier, and control electronics in a compact 14 x 5 x 2 cm rugged package built to MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461G standards for telecommunications, DAS, 5G, and MIMO applications.
• 6-Channel 20 GHz Analog Transmitter/Receiver System Custom designed 6-wavelength analog electro-optic transmitter and receiver system with lasers tuned to ITU grid wavelengths, enabling each wavelength to carry radio signals from 50 MHz to 20 GHz over a single fiber for shipboard platform applications.
• 40 GHz, 25 mW Photodetector InGaAs photodetector operating at 40 GHz with 25 mW capability for RF over fiber applications, developed under DARPA and US Navy sponsored research.
• 5G C-RAN Fronthaul (RF-PON) Solution Radio access network fronthaul solution using RF over PON technology for 5G network deployment enabling BBU to RRH separation exceeding 100 km.

Quantifiable outcome

• RFoF links can achieve noise figures below 5 dB with ultra low RIN lasers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• More PhotonicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 June 2018More Photonics, based in Paris, France, serves as APIC's marketing and distribution partner across Europe. The partnership covers high fidelity RF over fiber products and technologies. More Photonics brings 30 years of photonics and high-technology experience and is described as the partner of choice for research teams, development and production groups across Europe. The relationship is We to Them — APIC supplies products to More Photonics for distribution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Intel (Silicon Photonics): Intel's silicon photonics group produces integrated optical transceivers and is developing co-packaged optics for data centers — directly comparable to APIC's HIP-E chip-scale photonic-electronic integration, but at vastly larger scale and with broader commercial pull.
• Cisco (Acacia Communications): Acacia, now part of Cisco, develops high-performance coherent optical interconnects and silicon photonics-based transceivers — overlapping with APIC's RFoF and photonic integrated circuit product lines for telecom and defense-adjacent applications.
• Lumentum: Lumentum designs and manufactures high-performance optical components including DFB lasers and photodetectors that directly compete with APIC's ultra-low noise laser and photodetector portfolio for telecom and 5G fronthaul applications.
• Coherent (formerly II-VI): Coherent is a major vertically integrated photonics supplier of lasers, photodetectors, and integrated modules — competing with APIC's DFB lasers, photodetectors, and RFoF subsystems across defense and commercial telecom markets.
• Broadcom: Broadcom produces high-speed optical components and is a major supplier of optical interconnects for data centers and telecom — competing with APIC in the silicon photonics and high-performance transceiver space.
• Infinera: Infinera develops large-scale photonic integrated circuits (InP-based) for optical transport networks — a broader incumbent competitor targeting telecom carriers with deeply integrated PICs, an adjacent architectural approach to APIC's HIP-E platform.

Direct peers

• Effect Photonics: Effect Photonics builds highly integrated optical systems using its indium phosphide (InP) photonic integration platform for telecom and 5G — a direct comparable in the integrated photonics-for-telecom space, with similar ambitions to displace traditional discrete optical component stacks.
• NeoPhotonics (acquired by Lumentum): NeoPhotonics specialized in photonic integrated circuit-based components for high-speed optical networks — directly comparable to APIC's PIC-based RFoF transmitters, receivers, and lasers for telecom and defense applications.

Emerging players

• Lightwave Logic: Lightwave Logic is developing polymer-based photonic devices and integrated photonic platforms for high-speed data communications — an emerging photonics platform player pursuing adjacent (and partially overlapping) applications to APIC's HIP-E chip-scale integration.
• CS Connect (formerly Kaiam / Compunetix): Smaller photonic integrated circuit suppliers in the InP/silicon photonics ecosystem serve similar defense and telecom customers with integrated transceivers — comparable to APIC's component-and-module strategy in the high-fidelity RFoF niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apic-corp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 PhotonIC Corp