QPhotonics
QPhotonics, LLC is a privately held online distributor, founded in 2000 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, selling semiconductor laser diodes, superluminescent diodes, optical amplifiers, and LEDs across 375nm-1650nm to research institutions, telecom firms, and industrial/medical device manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersAnn Arbor, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What QPhotonics does
QPhotonics, LLC is a privately held specialty distributor of semiconductor light-emitting devices, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan with 11-50 employees. The company operates an online storefront (qphotonics.com) where research institutions, telecommunications firms, and industrial/medical device manufacturers can browse, configure, and purchase laser diodes, superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, fiber-coupled LEDs, deep UV LEDs, and supporting accessories such as controllers, mounts, turnkey sources, photodiodes, and epitaxial wafers.
The technical core of the offering spans wavelengths from 375nm (deep UV) through 1650nm (mid-infrared) and includes Fabry-Perot, distributed feedback (DFB), fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and quantum-well laser structures. Wavelength-stabilized lasers, polarization-maintaining fiber pigtails, and hermetic butterfly packages are sold alongside broadband light sources and high-power pump modules (including the PUMA product line). QPhotonics does not appear to manufacture these devices in-house; it curates and distributes products sourced from upstream manufacturers including Innolume (SOAs, SLDs), Oclaro (PL520 green laser chips), and SETi (deep UV LEDs).
The business model is direct-to-customer e-commerce: one-time unit sales priced from approximately $60 for entry-level diodes to nearly $6,000 for high-power DFB/FBG-stabilized lasers, with phone-based consultative support, account registration, and global shipping from the Ann Arbor facility. No institutional funding, M&A, or leadership changes are disclosed, and the company has remained a small, founder-controlled specialty retailer with a continuous stream of new product listings (90+ new SKUs marketed) and partnerships extending the catalog into adjacent wavelengths and applications.
QPhotonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- QPhotonics
- Legal name
- QPhotonics, LLC
- Website
- https://qphotonics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- QPhotonics, LLC is a privately held online distributor, founded in 2000 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, selling semiconductor laser diodes, superluminescent diodes, optical amplifiers, and LEDs across 375nm-1650nm to research institutions, telecom firms, and industrial/medical device manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
QPhotonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Laser Diodes & Photonics Components
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors (HDAHAHAL), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM)
Keywords
Where QPhotonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ann Arbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
QPhotonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laser Diode and Optical Component Sales: QPhotonics generates revenue through direct sales of semiconductor light emitting devices including laser diodes, superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, fiber-coupled LEDs, and related components. Products are sold as one-time hardware purchases with prices ranging from approximately $60 to over $5,000 depending on specifications and power ratings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level single mode laser diodes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range single mode laser diodes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | High-performance DFB/FBG stabilized lasers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Superluminescent Diodes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
QPhotonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
QPhotonics supplies semiconductor light emitting devices for research, development, and production through its online storefront. The product catalog spans wavelengths from 375nm to 1650nm and includes laser diodes (single mode, multimode, fiber coupled, wavelength stabilized via DFB/FBG), superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, fiber-coupled LEDs, deep UV LEDs, high power pump laser diode modules, photodiodes, and accessories such as laser diode controllers and turnkey laser/LED sources.
Product overview
QPhotonics is an online laser diode store specializing in semiconductor light emitting devices for research, development, and production. The company operates as a product distributor and does not manufacture its own products. The product portfolio centers on laser diodes across multiple technologies (Fabry-Perot, DFB, FBG, gain chips) and superluminescent diodes, with complementary accessories including drivers, mounts, and turnkey sources. Core product lines include: Single Mode Laser Diodes (5-150mW, 735-1600nm) and Multimode Laser Diodes for free-space applications; Fiber Coupled variants of single mode and Fabry-Perot lasers; Wavelength Stabilized Laser Diodes using FBG and DFB technology for narrow linewidth applications; Superluminescent Diodes and Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers for broadband light generation; Fiber Coupled LEDs; and High Power Pump Laser Diode Modules including PUMA series. Supporting products include Laser Diode Controllers & Mounts (e.g., QCombo-6310), Turnkey Fiber Coupled Laser/LED Sources, InGaAs PIN Photodiodes, Special Selection Devices, and Epi Wafers for Laser Diodes. Deep UV LEDs from SETi (240-355nm) are also offered for UV curing, disinfection, and sensing applications. The company sources products from manufacturers including Innolume, Oclaro, and SETi.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PUMA Laser Modules: High power pump laser diode modules product line
Products and services
- Single Mode Laser Diodes Fabry Perot single mode laser diodes with single transverse mode, 5-150mW power output across 735-1600nm wavelength range, InGaAs/AlGaAs/InGaAsP MQW active region, mesa-buried structure, built-in monitor photodiode, optional AR coated front facet, available in 5.6mm and 9mm TO packages.
- Multimode Laser Diodes Multi-transverse mode laser diodes with InGaAsP or AlGaAs MQW active region, mesa-buried structure, low capacitance, 100x1.5 um emitting area, available in coaxial, TO can, and C-mount packages.
- Superluminescent Diodes Double-angled-stripe MOCVD structure superluminescent diodes with double AR coating at 0.5% reflectance, available in 14-pin DIL or butterfly packages with built-in monitor photodiode, thermistor, thermoelectric cooler, singlemode fiber pigtail, optional FC/APC connector, CW or pulsed operation, 10ns switching time.
- Fiber Coupled Single Mode Laser Diodes Fiber coupled Fabry-Perot laser diodes and wavelength-stabilized laser diodes with FBG or DFB technology, wavelength range 405-1550nm, 14-pin DIL or butterfly packages with built-in thermistor, thermoelectric cooler, and photodiode, single-mode fiber pigtails with optional FC/PC or FC/APC connectors.
- SM Fabry-Perot Laser Diodes Single mode Fabry-Perot laser diodes with wavelength range 670-1550nm, available in mini-DIL packages with built-in monitor photodiode.
- Wavelength Stabilized Laser Diodes Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) or Distributed Feedback (DFB) wavelength-stabilized laser diodes, 14-pin DIL or 14-pin butterfly packages with built-in thermistor, thermoelectric cooler, and photodiode, polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber pigtails available.
- Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers Traveling-wave MQW design SOAs for amplification, switching, wavelength conversion, and regeneration in optical networks, single mode input/output, low chip-to-fiber coupling loss, built-in thermistor and TEC, hermetic butterfly package, optional FC/APC connectors, can also serve as broadband SLD source.
- Broadband Light Sources Broadband light sources including superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, and fiber coupled LEDs for applications requiring wide spectral bandwidth.
- Fiber Coupled LEDs Fiber coupled light emitting diodes with wavelength range 400nm to 1530nm, spectral width 40-80nm, single mode fiber pigtail (NA = 0.14) or multimode fiber pigtail options, data rate 160Mbs.
- High Power Pump Laser Diode Modules High power pump laser diode modules including multimode fiber coupled laser diodes, PUMA laser modules, and 1425-1510nm EDFA pump laser diodes for high power fiber laser and amplifier pumping.
- Deep UV Light Emitting Diodes Deep UV LEDs manufactured by SETi, USA, at 240-355nm wavelengths employed in UV curing, disinfection, ozone monitoring, protein analysis; low cost, compact size and reliability; includes UVTOP LEDs and LED drivers.
- Laser Diode Controllers and Mounts Laser diode drivers with integrated temperature controller and mounts; example product QCombo-6310 combines driver, temperature controller, and mount in one unit.
- Turnkey Fiber Coupled Laser/LED Sources Complete turnkey fiber coupled laser and LED sources integrating laser diodes or LEDs with drivers and control electronics in ready-to-use packages for OEM integration.
- InGaAs PIN Photodiodes InGaAs PIN photodiodes for detecting optical signals across various wavelength ranges, complementary to the laser diode and LED product lines.
- Special Selection Devices Selected laser diodes and superluminescent diodes that meet special selection criteria for demanding applications requiring tighter specifications than standard catalog items.
- Epi Wafers for Laser Diodes Epitaxial wafers for laser diode manufacturing, supplied to customers building their own devices.
Companies that use QPhotonics
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
QPhotonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
QPhotonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Innolume, Inc.coreQPhotonics offers products from Innolume, Inc., including semiconductor optical amplifiers, fiber coupled laser diodes, and superluminescent diodes at wavelengths including 995nm, 1000nm, 1020nm, 1030nm, 1064nm, 1121nm, 1130nm, 1150nm, 1170nm, 1185nm, 1231nm, 1240nm, and 1256nm. Received very positive customer feedback on these Innolume products.
- SETi (Sensor Electronic Technology)coreQPhotonics supplies deep UV LEDs manufactured by SETi, USA. Light emitting diodes at 240-355nm wavelengths are employed in UV curing, disinfection, ozone monitoring, and protein analysis applications. The full line of SETi UV LED products is available from QPhotonics including custom design and solutions. This partnership enables QPhotonics to offer deep UV LED products beyond their core laser diode catalog.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
QPhotonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu Photonics is a major Japanese manufacturer of optoelectronic devices including laser diodes, LEDs, and photodetectors across a broad wavelength range. It competes with QPhotonics at the high-end OEM and research tier while also manufacturing rather than only distributing.
- Thorlabs: Thorlabs is a much larger vertically integrated photonics components and instruments company with a deep laser diode, SOA, LED, and photodiode catalog. It dwarfs QPhotonics in scale and engineering resources while serving overlapping research and OEM buyers.
- Lumentum: Lumentum is a leading manufacturer of laser diodes, SOAs, and optical components for telecom, datacom, and 3D sensing. Its SOA and pump laser lines overlap directly with products QPhotonics resells from Innolume and others.
- Coherent: Coherent (including the former II-VI/Finisar businesses) is a large diversified laser and photonic component manufacturer offering laser diodes, SOAs, and pump modules that overlap with QPhotonics' catalog, particularly in telecom and industrial wavelengths.
Direct peers
- Roithner LaserTechnik: Roithner LaserTechnik is a Vienna-based specialist distributor of laser diodes, LEDs, and UV/visible/NIR optoelectronic components. It overlaps directly with QPhotonics in deep UV LEDs (via SETi-type supply) and research-grade laser diode distribution.
- Frankfurt Laser Company: Frankfurt Laser Company is an online distributor of laser diodes, photodiodes, and optical components across a wide wavelength range. Its catalog-driven, consultative sales model is the closest functional match to QPhotonics.
- Laser Components: Laser Components is a European distributor and manufacturer of laser diodes, photodiodes, and optical components serving research and industrial customers. Its catalog breadth and consultative sales approach closely mirror QPhotonics.
Others
- Toptica Photonics: Toptica Photonics manufactures high-end tunable diode lasers, SLDs, and laser systems for research and biophotonics. It addresses overlapping research customers with QPhotonics but focuses on complete laser systems rather than discrete diode distribution.
Emerging players
- nanoplus: nanoplus is a specialist manufacturer of distributed feedback (DFB) and interband cascade laser diodes for gas sensing and research. It competes with QPhotonics in wavelength-stabilized laser diodes for research and sensing customers.
- Eblana Photonics: Eblana Photonics is an Irish manufacturer of discrete-mode and DFB laser diodes for sensing, spectroscopy, and telecom. It targets similar niche research and OEM customers as QPhotonics and offers directly competing wavelength-stabilized laser products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
QPhotonics social profiles
Digital presenceQPhotonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
QPhotonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
QPhotonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
QPhotonics 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 QPhotonics
What does QPhotonics do?
QPhotonics supplies semiconductor light emitting devices for research, development, and production through its online storefront. The product catalog spans wavelengths from 375nm to 1650nm and includes laser diodes (single mode, multimode, fiber coupled, wavelength stabilized via DFB/FBG), superluminescent diodes, semiconductor optical amplifiers, fiber-coupled LEDs, deep UV LEDs, high power pump laser diode modules, photodiodes, and accessories such as laser diode controllers and turnkey laser/LED sources.
Is QPhotonics a public or private company?
QPhotonics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was QPhotonics founded?
QPhotonics was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is QPhotonics based?
QPhotonics is headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does QPhotonics make money?
One revenue line is on record: laser Diode and Optical Component Sales.
Who are QPhotonics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hamamatsu Photonics, Thorlabs, Lumentum and Coherent. Direct peers are Roithner LaserTechnik, Frankfurt Laser Company and Laser Components. Toptica Photonics is listed as an others. Emerging players are nanoplus and Eblana Photonics.
Does QPhotonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for QPhotonics.
What industry is QPhotonics in?
QPhotonics's product category is Semiconductor Laser Diodes & Photonics Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL), with a secondary code of HDAHAHAL, Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors. Its NAICS code is 33441 and its SIC code is 3674.