Lightcore Technologies

What Lightcore Technologies does

Lightcore Technologies SAS is a Marseille-based photonics company (with additional operations in Lille) that develops and sells multimodal nonlinear optical imaging instruments and specialty hollow-core optical fibers for biomedical research and clinical applications. Its portfolio centers on two integrated platforms: the BondXplorer inverted multiphoton microscope, which uniquely combines dual-frequency Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) imaging of CH2 and CH3 bonds with CARS, SHG, two-photon fluorescence, and three-photon fluorescence to enable Stimulated Raman Histology (virtual H&E staining reported as approximately 100x faster than conventional histopathology); and the InSplorer flexible multiphoton endoscope, a compact (~2-3 mm diameter, <2 g) probe that delivers micron-scale resolution at several-hundred-micrometer depth for in-vivo label-free imaging of biological tissues, including neurons in freely-moving rodents. Underpinning these systems is a proprietary fiber technology stack — the FemtoGuide family of broadband, low-dispersion hollow-core fibers, including a double-clad variant that supports simultaneous excitation delivery and signal collection through a single fiber — complemented by accessories such as the BIOZENT handheld Z-scan tool and integration components.

The company monetizes through direct enterprise sales of high-value capital equipment (BondXplorer microscopes and InSplorer endoscopes sold with on-site or remote demonstrations from Marseille) combined with a self-serve e-commerce storefront (store.lightcore-technologies.com) offering specialty fibers and accessories at transparent unit prices ranging from approximately EUR 3,500 for standard FemtoGuide fibers up to EUR 16,000 for the combined injection/collection box and EUR 17,500 for advanced BIOZENT motorized configurations. Customer segments are predominantly academic and biomedical research institutions (e.g., Northeastern University, University of Zurich, Leibniz Institute, Université de Rennes, Maastricht University, INMED), with growing explicit positioning toward clinical care use cases such as intraoperative histology and image-guided surgery. The firm was co-founded with three French academic laboratories — Institut Fresnel, PhLAM, and XLIM — and has received non-dilutive institutional support from Bpifrance and the European Commission; Christophe Tournant serves as President.

Name

Lightcore Technologies

Legal name

Lightcore Technologies SAS

Website

https://lightcore-technologies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lightcore Technologies SAS is a French photonics company that designs and sells multimodal multiphoton microscopes (BondXplorer), flexible multiphoton endoscopes (InSplorer), and specialty hollow-core fibers (FemtoGuide) for academic biomedical research, neuroscience, and emerging clinical imaging applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Imaging Equipment

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endoscopy Systems & Accessories (Scopes, Cameras, Light Sources, Insufflation) (HLAHADAB), Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)

Keywords

• Multiphoton microscopy systems
• Coherent Raman imaging
• Hollow-core optical fibers
• Flexible multiphoton endoscopes
• Virtual histology imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Multiphoton Microscopes and Endoscopes: Sale of high-value capital equipment including BondXplorer microscopes and InSplorer endoscopes, sold directly to research institutions and clinical facilities with demonstration and customization options.
2. Specialty Optical Fibers: Sale of FemtoGuide delivery fibers, double-clad fibers, GRIN-functionalized fibers, and Mini2P fibers through e-commerce store with transparent pricing. Fibers range from 3500 to 16000 EUR.
3. Imaging Modules and Accessories: Sale of BIOZENT handheld tools, fiber injection/collection boxes, and related accessories as modular add-ons to core imaging systems.
4. Lasers and Integration Components: Resale of third-party lasers (APE picoEmerald FT, deltaEmerald) and integration services for combining table-top lasers with InSplorer systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lightcore Technologies manufactures and sells photonics-based multimodal imaging instruments for biomedical research and clinical care. Its core products are the BondXplorer multiphoton microscope (capable of dual-frequency SRS / CARS / SHG / two-photon fluorescence imaging for virtual histology) and the InSplorer flexible multiphoton endoscope for in-vivo label-free tissue and brain imaging. The company also sells a proprietary line of specialty hollow-core optical fibers (FemtoGuide), handheld endoscopic tools (BIOZENT), fiber injection/collection boxes, and resells APE picosecond lasers through its own e-commerce store.

Product overview

Lightcore Technologies provides photonics-based multimodal imaging and analytical solutions for research, life sciences, and clinical care. The product portfolio centers on two core platforms: the BondXplorer multiphoton microscope for virtual histology applications and the InSplorer flexible endoscope for in-vivo brain and tissue imaging. These systems support multiple imaging modalities including 2-photon and 3-photon fluorescence, SHG, THG, CARS, and SRS. The portfolio also includes specialty optical fibers (FemtoGuide family) for pulse delivery and Mini2P applications, accessories such as the BIOZENT handheld tool for depth scanning, and compatible APE lasers for Raman imaging. The products are designed to be compact, easy to use, and do not require installation or alignment by trained personnel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BondXplorer Multiphoton Microscope Inverted multimodal multiphoton microscope that is the only coherent Raman microscope capable of imaging two chemical bonds (CH2 and CH3) simultaneously for virtual histology applications, combining chemical imaging with auto-fluorescence/fluorescence and second harmonic generation. Sold to research institutions and clinical facilities for cancer diagnosis, metabolic imaging, microplastic screening, pharmaceutical tablet characterization, and organoid visualization.
• InSplorer Endoscope System Flexible and compact multiphoton endoscope system with standalone cabinet for in-vivo multimodal label-free imaging of biological tissues with micron-scale resolution, hundreds of micrometers penetration depth, and low phototoxicity. Targets neuroscience, dermatology, and intraoperative clinical imaging use cases.
• InSplorer Endoscope with Control Electronics Tabletop multiphoton endoscope bundled with a control electronics cabinet, intended for setups that already have an external laser source. Provides multimodal label-free nonlinear imaging of in-vivo tissues at micron-scale resolution.
• InSplorer Nonlinear Endoscope (probe only) Modular flexible miniature probe for multimodal nonlinear imaging (2PEF, SHG, CARS, 3PEF, THG), sold without the surrounding cabinet for researchers who want to integrate it into their own optical setups.
• InSplorer Endoscope for Induced Effects Customized version of the InSplorer endoscope tailored to induce effects (e.g., photodynamic therapy, targeted excitation) in tissue rather than to image it, with the signal-collection channel removed.
• BIOZENT Handheld Endoscopic Tool BIO-compatible Z-scan handheld endoscopic tool with integrated translation stage for depth adjustment and 3D scanning. Available with manual or motorized z-translation control, sold as a standalone add-on for multiphoton micro-endoscopy.
• FemtoGuide Delivery Fiber Broadband, low-loss, low-dispersion hollow-core fiber for ultrafast femtosecond and picosecond pulse delivery without spectral or temporal broadening, with FC/PC connectors and lengths from 50 cm to 5 m. Priced from 3,500 to 4,100 EUR.
• FemtoGuide Double Clad Delivery Fiber Double-clad hollow-core fiber with silica-guiding outer cladding that enables simultaneous broadband excitation delivery and signal collection through a single fiber for compact endoscopic implementations. Priced from 4,300 to 4,900 EUR.
• FemtoGuide Delivery Fiber with GRIN Lens FemtoGuide fiber with an integrated graded-index (GRIN) lens for precise beam shaping and tight focal output, available in single- or double-clad variants. Priced from 3,900 to 4,900 EUR.
• Broad-band Delivery Fiber for Mini2P

Quantifiable outcome

• 100x faster histology compared to conventional H&E staining
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Refined Laser Systems (RLS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Lightcore Technologies partnered with Refined Laser Systems to integrate the PICUS DUO EOM picosecond laser into the InSplorer multiphoton endoscope for spectrally resolved Raman/CARS endoscopy. The 1-4 ps pulse laser at 40 MHz provides enhanced spectral resolution while maintaining sufficient peak power for endoscopic CARS imaging.
• APE (Angewandte Physik und Elektronik)coreTechnology or IntegrationAPE supplies lasers integrated into Lightcore products including the picoEmerald FT and deltaEmerald for SRS/CARS imaging. The BondXplorer uses the APE picoEmerald FT laser enabling rapid SRS imaging across 300-4000 cm-1 spectral range with 1.5-second tuning speed.
• Institut FresnelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research laboratory that is a founding partner of Lightcore Technologies, contributing core photonics expertise in nonlinear optical imaging.
• PhLAM (Photonique, Lasers, Atomes et Molécules)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory at Lille University, France, contributing to the technological foundation of Lightcore Technologies as a founding academic partner.
• XLIM Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research institute contributing to the academic foundation of Lightcore Technologies as one of the three founding laboratory partners alongside Institut Fresnel and PhLAM.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance's national research agency appearing as a collaboration partner alongside university and institutional logos, indicating ongoing research collaboration beyond founding.
• Aix Marseille UniversitemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench public university appearing as a collaboration partner, indicating ongoing joint research activities with Lightcore Technologies.
• INMED (Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValidated the InSplorer concept and hosts in-vivo brain imaging experiments using the InSplorer technology. Key validation partner for neurodegenerative disease research applications.
• Horiba ScientificminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific instrumentation company appearing as a collaboration partner, suggesting potential joint development or distribution relationship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Leica Microsystems: Leica (Danaher) is a global leader in microscopy and surgical imaging, including multiphoton systems like the TCS SP8 DIVE. Its STELLARIS platform directly competes with BondXplorer's multiphoton/SHG capabilities for biomedical research customers.
• Bruker Corporation: Bruker manufactures advanced scientific instruments including multiphoton and confocal microscopy systems. Lightcore competes for similar biomedical research customers with its BondXplorer multimodal microscope, but Bruker's broader portfolio and larger sales channel give it incumbency advantages.
• Thorlabs: Thorlabs supplies photonics components, specialty fibers, and microscopy tools to research customers globally. Their hollow-core fibers and multiphoton microscopy accessories directly overlap with Lightcore's FemtoGuide and Easy fiber injection box product lines, with Thorlabs offering a much broader catalog.
• Jenoptik: Jenoptik provides photonic systems and components including laser-based imaging and fiber optic solutions for life sciences. Its Light & Optics division serves similar biomedical and industrial imaging customers as Lightcore Technologies.
• Carl Zeiss Meditec: Zeiss offers LSM multiphoton microscopes and the KINEVO surgical microscope platform. Zeiss competes in both the research microscopy market (BondXplorer) and intraoperative imaging market (InSplorer endoscopy use cases) with substantially larger R&D and distribution resources.
• Olympus Corporation: Olympus is a global endoscopy leader with established relationships in clinical care markets. While Lightcore's InSplorer addresses a different technical approach (multiphoton vs. conventional white-light endoscopy), Olympus's clinical distribution network represents both competition and a potential channel partner.

Others

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu supplies detectors, light sources, and imaging components for scientific and medical applications. While not a direct competitor in microscopy systems, Hamamatsu provides enabling components (detectors, lasers) that integrate into Lightcore's imaging platforms.
• Refined Laser Systems: Refined Laser Systems (RLS) is a strategic integration partner announced in November 2024, supplying PICUS DUO EOM picosecond lasers integrated into Lightcore's InSplorer endoscope. They are a complementary technology provider rather than competitor.

Emerging players

• Scientifica: Scientifica manufactures multiphoton microscopy systems and accessories for neuroscience research, including two-photon miniscopes similar in concept to Lightcore's InSplorer endoscope. They target overlapping neuroscience research customers but with different technical approaches.

Direct peers

• NKT Photonics: NKT Photonics manufactures specialty optical fibers including hollow-core photonic crystal fibers for ultrafast pulse delivery. As a direct competitor to Lightcore's FemtoGuide fibers, NKT has broader product breadth and global distribution that Lightcore must compete against in the photonics components market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lightcore-technologies-2022

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 Lightcore Technologies