What Ultrafast Systems does

Ultrafast Systems is a privately held manufacturer of time-resolved laser spectrometers, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, with additional regional offices in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Hefei, China. The company designs and builds turn-key instrumentation — including the HELIOS femtosecond transient absorption spectrometer, the EOS nanosecond transient absorption spectrometer, the HELIOS IR mid-infrared spectrometer, the HALCYONE fluorescence upconversion and TCSPC spectrometers, the APOLLO optical parametric amplifiers, the HYPERION Yb ultrafast amplifier, and the KRONOS educational flash photolysis unit — together with accessories and the Surface Xplorer data analysis software. Its core technical differentiators are patented automated alignment (Smart Delay Line™ with five US/China patents), the FastScan™ continuous-scanning acquisition mode, the EOS photonic-crystal-fiber pump-probe architecture, and a proprietary LabVIEW-based control software stack with API access for custom integration. Ultrafast Systems sells directly to academic, government, and corporate research customers across more than 25 countries — including Argonne, Brookhaven, Sandia, Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, ETH Zurich, Samsung, and Northrop Grumman — through quote-based capital sales with no public pricing, complemented by installation, training, and customization services.

Name

Ultrafast Systems

Legal name

Ultrafast Systems

Website

https://ultrafast.systems

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ultrafast Systems is a privately held Sarasota-based manufacturer, founded in 2002, that designs and sells turn-key time-resolved laser spectrometers (femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption, fluorescence upconversion, OPAs) and ultrafast lasers to academic, government, and corporate research labs worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spectroscopy Instruments

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments (HLAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)

Keywords

• Time-resolved spectroscopy
• Transient absorption spectrometers
• Femtosecond laser spectrometers
• Fluorescence upconversion systems
• Ultrafast optical parametric amplifiers

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarasota

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

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. Spectrometers & Instruments: Sale of time-resolved spectrometry instruments including HELIOS (femtosecond transient absorption), EOS (nanosecond transient absorption), HELIOS IR (mid-IR), HALCYONE (fluorescence upconversion), and HALCYONE Pico (TCSPC). One-time capital purchase of hardware systems.
2. Lasers: Sale of HYPERION ultrafast Yb amplifier. Additionally distributes third-party Ti:Sapphire amplifiers (Coherent Astrella, Spectra-Physics Solstice) as bundled solutions.
3. Optical Parametric Amplifiers (OPAs): Sale of Apollo-Y (for Ytterbium lasers) and Apollo-T (for Ti:Sapphire lasers) OPAs. Fully tunable from UV to Mid-IR.
4. Accessories & Spare Parts: Sale of accessories including translating sample holders, magnetic stirrers, monochromators, optical delay lines, beam routing optics, high-speed spectrometers, and Surface Xplorer software.
5. Software & Support: Surface Xplorer data analysis software provided free to customers. Revenue derived from installation, technical support, and customization services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ultrafast Systems designs and manufactures time-resolved laser spectrometers for ultrafast spectroscopy research. Its product portfolio includes femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectrometers (HELIOS, EOS, HELIOS IR), fluorescence upconversion spectrometers (HALCYONE Femto, HALCYONE Pico), optical parametric amplifiers (APOLLO-Y for Yb lasers, APOLLO-T for Ti:Sapphire lasers), the HYPERION femtosecond laser, and the KRONOS educational flash photolysis spectrometer, all controlled by proprietary LabVIEW-based software. The company also distributes third-party Ti:Sapphire amplifiers and provides free Surface Xplorer data analysis software to its customers.

Product overview

Ultrafast Systems is a specialized manufacturer of time-resolved laser spectrometers founded in 2002, headquartered in Sarasota, Florida with offices in Bratislava, Slovakia and Hefei, China. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of spectrometers and accessories for time-resolved spectroscopy research. The core product family includes: (1) HELIOS - femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer (320-2400 nm); (2) EOS - nanosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer (350-2200 nm); (3) HELIOS IR - mid-IR Transient Absorption Spectrometer (2-13 µm); (4) HALCYONE Femto - Fluorescence Upconversion Spectrometer (270-1600 nm, fs resolution); (5) HALCYONE Pico - TCSPC Fluorescence Spectrometer (230-1700 nm, ps resolution). These can be extended with microscopy modules (HELIOS Widefield and Confocal), optical parametric amplifiers (APOLLO-Y for Yb lasers, APOLLO-T for Ti:Sapphire lasers), and the HYPERION Yb laser. Supporting accessories include Surface Xplorer analysis software, Optical Delay Line with patented Smart Delay Line technology, Monochromator, High Speed Spectrometers, Beam Routing Optics, Translating Sample Holder, Magnetic Stirrer, and KRONOS educational spectrometer. The company also resells third-party Ti:Sapphire lasers (Coherent ASTRELLA, Spectra-Physics SOLSTICE). All instruments feature LabVIEW-based automation with API access for customization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HELIOS: Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer covering UV-VIS-NIR-SWIR spectral range (320-2400 nm)
• EOS
• HELIOS IR
• HALCYONE
• APOLLO-T
• APOLLO-Y
• HYPERION
• KRONOS
• Surface Xplorer
• Smart Delay Line

Products and services

• HELIOS Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer Automated femtosecond transient absorption spectrometer for use with amplified femtosecond lasers (Ti:Sapphire and Yb amplifiers); probe spectral range 320-2400 nm, 8 ns time window extendable to ms with EOS add-on, and patented optical delay line with Smart Delay Line automation. Designed for academic and national lab photoscience researchers.
• EOS Nanosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer Broadband pump-probe nanosecond transient absorption spectrometer with sub-ns time resolution and 350-2200 nm probe range; uses a photonic crystal fiber-based supercontinuum as probe light source, eliminating need for fast photodetectors and digitizers. Time window easily adjustable by lowering pump laser repetition rate.
• HELIOS IR Mid-IR Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectrometer Broadband mid-infrared pump-probe femtosecond transient absorption spectrometer covering 2-13 µm (extendable to 20 µm), with 8 ns time window extendable to ms with EOS IR add-on; supports MCT single-pixel and multi-pixel array detectors.
• HALCYONE Femto Fluorescence Upconversion Spectrometer Fully automated fluorescence upconversion spectrometer measuring fluorescence decays with femtosecond time resolution over an 8 ns time window; fluorescence spectral range 270-1600 nm, supports PMT single-wavelength and CCD multi-wavelength detection modes, and features patented automated beam alignment.
• HALCYONE Pico TCSPC Fluorescence Spectrometer All-in-one fluorescence spectrometer with Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) for fluorescence decay measurements with picosecond time resolution; built-in tunable excitation source 360-860 nm, computer-controlled non-linear crystal, and 230-1700 nm spectral range depending on detector.
• HELIOS Widefield Transient Absorption Microscope Widefield transient absorption microscope for simultaneously acquiring single-wavelength transient absorption kinetics over large areas with sub-micron spatial resolution (0.5 µm) and femtosecond time resolution; transmission mode, 55 x 41 µm observation area, 1000 Hz maximum frame rate.
• HELIOS Confocal Transient Absorption Microscope Confocal transient absorption microscope measuring transient absorption in any single spot with sub-2 µm spatial resolution; can operate standalone or as add-on to HELIOS spectrometer; 450-750 nm white light probe, 68 x 90 µm camera viewing window, supports transmission and reflection modes.
• APOLLO-Y Optical Parametric Amplifier (for Ytterbium lasers) Optical parametric amplifier extending the tuning range of ultrafast Ytterbium amplifiers from UV to NIR (258 nm to 2600 nm); 25 x 66 cm footprint, single-beam/single-port output, fully computer-controlled tuning, built-in harmonic generation options (FHF, THF, SHF).
• APOLLO-T Optical Parametric Amplifier (for Ti:Sapphire lasers) Optical parametric amplifier extending the tuning range of kHz Ti:Sapphire amplifiers from UV to mid-IR (240 nm to 10 µm); single-enclosure design (36 x 97 cm), fully automated operation, consistent output pulse timing and beam pointing across the tuning range; optional built-in SHG/THG generation.
• HYPERION Ultrafast Yb Amplifier Laser Compact amplified femtosecond laser optimized for Ultrafast Systems' time-resolved spectrometers (HALCYONE, HELIOS, EOS); direct-diode pump architecture for turn-key operation, pulse energy up to 2 mJ, pulse duration down to <190 fs, variable repetition rate from single-shot to 100 kHz.
• KRONOS Educational Flash Photolysis Spectrometer Portable flash photolysis spectrometer for transient absorption and emission measurements on microsecond and longer timescales; designed for university or high school teaching laboratories with 450-750 nm spectral range, Xe arc flash lamp excitation, and no laser required for safe operation.
• Surface Xplorer Data Analysis Software Proprietary data analysis software for transient absorption/emission data; supports chirp correction, spectra correction, kinetic analysis, SVD and Global Analysis, Origin integration, batch conversion from CSV to UFS format; free to download for customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated alignment restores delay line in 3-5 minutes, vs. time-consuming manual realignment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CoherentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoherent is a manufacturer of ultrafast Ti:Sapphire amplifiers. Ultrafast Systems distributes and recommends the Coherent Astrella laser as a compatible pump source for their HELIOS transient absorption spectrometer. The partnership is complementary rather than formal/co-exclusive.
• Spectra-PhysicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpectra-Physics manufactures the Solstice Ace ultrafast Ti:Sapphire amplifier, which Ultrafast Systems recommends and integrates with their HELIOS spectrometer as a compatible light source. Complementary product relationship.
• LabVIEW (National Instruments)coreTechnology or IntegrationAll Ultrafast Systems instruments are controlled via proprietary LabVIEW-based software. The company provides API access to certain parts of the code, allowing users to insert custom VIs and integrate with external applications. LabVIEW is the core software platform for the entire product line.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edinburgh Instruments: Edinburgh Instruments manufactures fluorescence lifetime spectrometers (FLS1000), TCSPC systems, and transient absorption spectrometers that compete directly with Ultrafast Systems' HELIOS, EOS, and HALCYONE product lines in academic and industrial research labs.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu supplies streak cameras, ultrafast detectors, and spectroscopy modules used in pump-probe and fluorescence lifetime experiments that overlap with Ultrafast Systems' transient absorption and fluorescence upconversion offerings.
• Becker & Hickl: Becker & Hickl specializes in TCSPC and time-resolved fluorescence lifetime systems (e.g., SPC-130EM) that directly compete with Ultrafast Systems' HALCYONE Pico and other fluorescence lifetime instruments in research labs.
• PicoQuant: PicoQuant produces pulsed diode lasers, TCSPC electronics, and fluorescence lifetime spectrometers targeting the same biophysics, photochemistry, and single-molecule spectroscopy customers served by Ultrafast Systems' HALCYONE line.
• Light Conversion: Light Conversion manufactures TOPAS/ORPHEUS optical parametric amplifiers and HARPIA spectrometers that are among the closest direct competitors to Ultrafast Systems' APOLLO OPAs and HELIOS transient absorption spectrometers in ultrafast research labs.

Broad incumbents

• Coherent: Coherent (formerly II-VI/Coherent) is a dominant ultrafast laser manufacturer whose Astrella Ti:Sapphire amplifier is bundled with Ultrafast Systems' spectrometers, and whose vertically integrated materials and photonics portfolio threatens Ultrafast Systems in adjacent pump-probe and microscopy applications.
• MKS Instruments (Spectra-Physics & Ophir): Spectra-Physics (an MKS business) sells Solstice ultrafast Ti:Sapphire amplifiers integrated with Ultrafast Systems' spectrometers and offers a broader spectroscopy and laser portfolio that competes for similar photonics R&D budgets globally.
• HORIBA Scientific: HORIBA manufactures a broad portfolio of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence/photoluminescence spectrometers sold into the same academic, government, and corporate research customers that Ultrafast Systems serves.
• Bruker Optics: Bruker's photonics division supplies FTIR, UV-VIS, and time-domain spectroscopy instruments that compete for the same research dollars and overlap with Ultrafast Systems' mid-IR (HELIOS IR) and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy offerings.

Emerging players

• Swabian Instruments: Swabian Instruments builds Time Tagger and Pulse Streamer photon-counting modules used in single-photon and ultrafast fluorescence experiments, addressing a partially overlapping customer base with Ultrafast Systems' HALCYONE Pico TCSPC offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ultrafastsys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ultrafast Systems