Spark Photonics
Spark Photonics is a Waltham, MA-based integrated photonics design enablement firm providing end-to-end PIC design services, North American Luceda Photonics software distribution, and U.S. distribution of AIM Photonics PIC Kits for industry, government, and academic clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWaltham, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Spark Photonics does
Spark Photonics is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based integrated photonics design enablement firm founded in 2019 with 11-50 employees. The company provides end-to-end photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design services spanning silicon, silicon nitride, thin film lithium niobate, indium phosphide, and III-V material platforms, delivering feasibility studies, component design, simulation, fabrication-ready layout, and Process Design Kit (PDK) development for industry, government, and academic clients.
The company's product portfolio operates across two pillars: (1) PIC Design Services and Software—including professional design/layout services and North American distribution of Luceda Photonics' IPKISS, AWG Designer, IP Manager, and design kits (PDKs, ADKs, TDKs) with integrations to Ansys Lumerical, Dassault Systèmes Simulia, Siemens EDA, and Check Mate DRC; and (2) PIC Kits—hardware sales of Passive Kit 1, Active Kit 2, and Active Kit 3 fabricated at AIM Photonics, for which Spark serves as the official U.S. distributor. Foundry partnerships with Tower Semiconductor (PH18M platform) and AIM Photonics (300mm platform) anchor its multi-project wafer run and PDK development capabilities.
Spark Photonics generates revenue through three streams: professional services (custom design and consulting), recurring software distribution (Luceda subscriptions), and hardware sales (PIC Kits on a quote basis). Customer segmentation is horizontal across commercial, government/defense (including a U.S. Air Force AFWERX STTR Phase II contract), and academia. The company has executed strategic collaborations with NLM Photonics (silicon organic hybrid), Quantum Computing Inc. (TFLN quantum photonics), and participated in OFC 2026 ecosystem demonstrations with OpenLight, Oriole Networks, and GDS Factory. Al Kapoor serves as Chairman.
Spark Photonics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spark Photonics
- Legal name
- Spark Photonics
- Website
- https://sparkphotonics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Spark Photonics is a Waltham, MA-based integrated photonics design enablement firm providing end-to-end PIC design services, North American Luceda Photonics software distribution, and U.S. distribution of AIM Photonics PIC Kits for industry, government, and academic clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spark Photonics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Integrated Photonics Design Services
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG)
Keywords
Where Spark Photonics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waltham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Spark Photonics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- PIC Design Services: End-to-end design and layout services for integrated photonics, including consulting, component design, and fabrication-ready layout services for industry, government, and academia.
- Luceda Photonics Software Distribution: Official North American distributor of Luceda Photonics design software platform, including IPKISS, AWG Designer, and IP Manager products, along with PDKs, ADKs, and TDKs.
- PIC Kit Sales: Sale of photonic integrated circuit kits containing chips fabricated at AIM Photonics, along with documentation and measurement data. Includes Passive Kit 1, Active Kit 2, and Active Kit 3.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Passive Kit 1 - Standard passive devices including spirals, rings, MZI, and grating couplers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Active Kit 2 - Standard passive and active devices including PD, ring with heater, phase shifters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Active Kit 3 - Wide range of passive and active devices with loopback waveguides |
| Subscription | Annual | Luceda Photonics Design Platform - IPKISS and related tools |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Spark Photonics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spark Photonics is an end-to-end integrated photonics design enablement firm providing PIC design, simulation, layout, and Process Design Kit (PDK) development services for silicon, silicon nitride, thin film lithium niobate (TFLN), indium phosphide (InP), and III-V material platforms serving industry, government, and academia. The company is also the official North American distributor of Luceda Photonics design software (IPKISS, AWG Designer, IP Manager, PDKs/ADKs/TDKs) and the official U.S. distributor of AIM Photonics PIC Kits (Passive Kit 1, Active Kit 2, Active Kit 3).
Product overview
Spark Photonics is an end-to-end integrated photonics design enablement firm offering a combination of design services and design software. The product portfolio consists of two main pillars: (1) PIC Design Services and Software — including design/layout services for PICs in silicon, silicon nitride, III-V, and lithium niobate; Luceda IPKISS, Luceda AWG Designer, and Luceda IP Manager (distributed in North America); and PDK development and consulting; and (2) PIC Kits — physical photonic integrated circuit chips (Passive Kit 1, Active Kit 2, Active Kit 3) fabricated at AIM Photonics with documentation, sold to educators and industry professionals. The company also distributes AIM Photonics PIC Kits in the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PIC Design Services End-to-end integrated photonics design and layout services for industry, government, and academia in silicon, silicon nitride, III-V, lithium niobate, and other materials. Includes design, simulation, layout, PDK development, and consulting.
- Luceda IPKISS First-time-right photonic integrated circuit design software distributed in North America through Spark Photonics. Automates and integrates all aspects of the photonic design flow in one tool.
- Luceda AWG Designer Manufacturable arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) design tool with a streamlined workflow, distributed in North America through Spark Photonics.
- Luceda IP Manager Automated testing tool for photonics IP, ideal for building process design kits (PDKs), distributed in North America through Spark Photonics.
- Luceda PDKs, ADKs, and TDKs Design kits for photonic integrated circuit fabrication (PDKs), assembly and packaging (ADKs), and testing (TDKs), distributed in North America through Spark Photonics.
- Passive Kit 1 PIC chip kit containing standard passive devices including spirals, rings, MZI (Mach-Zehnder interferometer), and grating couplers. Fabricated at AIM Photonics. Sold bare without electrical or optical assemblies. Available to entities in the United States.
- Active Kit 2 PIC chip kit containing standard passive and active devices including photodetectors (PD), ring with heater, and phase shifters. Fabricated at AIM Photonics. Sold bare without electrical or optical assemblies. Available to entities in the United States.
- Active Kit 3 PIC chip kit containing a wide range of passive and active devices with loopback waveguides. Fabricated at AIM Photonics. Sold bare without electrical or optical assemblies. Available to entities in the United States.
Companies that use Spark Photonics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Spark Photonics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
Spark Photonics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NLM PhotonicscorePartnership to accelerate development and integration of NLM's silicon organic hybrid (SOH) photonic solutions across silicon photonic foundry platforms. Collaboration has produced results on Tower Semiconductor's PH18M platform through multi-project wafer run, with Spark providing design services and NLM executing the oxide open etch for its patented Selerion-HTX organic electro-optic material.
- Quantum Computing Inc.coreMOU executed for PIC design and manufacturing collaboration ahead of QCI's Q1 2025 quantum photonic chip foundry opening. Spark Photonics Design (U.S.) partnered with Alcyon Photonics (Europe) for design collaboration on thin film lithium niobate electro-optical modulator chips.
- Tower SemiconductorcoreSilicon photonic foundry partner for SOH photonic solutions development. Multi-project wafer runs conducted on Tower's PH18M platform under NLM Photonics partnership.
- AIM PhotonicscoreStrategic foundry partnership including work on AIM Photonics' 300mm platform under U.S. Air Force AFWERX STTR Phase II contract. Goal to develop Process Development Kits for both Tower Semiconductor and AIM Photonics platforms to enable high-volume manufacturing and commercial adoption.
- Luceda PhotonicscoreOfficial North American distributor of Luceda Photonics design software, including IPKISS, AWG Designer, and IP Manager. Provides sales and support services for the complete Luceda Photonics Design Platform.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Spark Photonics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Ligentec: Ligentec is a silicon nitride (SiN) foundry offering custom PIC fabrication and process design kits. It is comparable as a specialty photonic foundry peer, particularly in the SiN material space where Spark also offers design services.
- Alcyon Photonics: Alcyon Photonics is a European PIC design services firm that partnered with Spark on the Quantum Computing Inc. collaboration. It is a comparable specialist design services peer operating across thin film lithium niobate and other emerging photonic material platforms.
- Luceda Photonics: Luceda Photonics is the Belgium-based PIC design software vendor (IPKISS, AWG Designer, IP Manager) whose software Spark distributes in North America. While a commercial partner, Luceda is also a partial competitor—Spark's distribution adds value but Luceda itself sells design tools and PDKs that overlap with the broader PIC enablement stack.
- Photon Design: Photon Design offers PIC and waveguide simulation tools (FIMMWAVE, FIMMPROP, Harold) used by photonics researchers and engineers. It is a partial competitor in the PIC EDA tooling space where Spark also operates through its Luceda distribution and PDK development services.
- CompoundTek: CompoundTek is a Singapore-based silicon photonics foundry offering wafer services and PDKs for emerging PIC applications. It is comparable as a regional/photonics foundry peer in the silicon photonics design and manufacturing ecosystem where Spark operates.
Direct peers
- VLC Photonics: VLC Photonics is a European PIC design house offering design, simulation, and layout services across multiple material platforms. It is the closest direct competitor to Spark Photonics in the independent PIC design services market, serving similar industry, academic, and government customers.
Broad incumbents
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence provides photonic IC design capabilities integrated within its Virtuoso and Spectre platforms, serving large semiconductor and systems companies. It competes indirectly with Spark by enabling in-house PIC design teams at large customers, potentially reducing demand for external specialist design services.
- Synopsys: Synopsys offers OptoCompiler and photonics-aware EDA tools as part of its broader semiconductor design platform. As a broad incumbent EDA vendor, Synopsys competes for PIC design workflow budgets that might otherwise flow to specialist firms like Spark, and represents a long-term competitive threat to independent design services.
- Ansys (Lumerical): Ansys, through its Lumerical product line, provides FDTD and EME photonic simulation tools that integrate with the Luceda platform Spark distributes. As a broad incumbent simulation vendor, Ansys is both an integration partner and a long-term competitor for photonics simulation and design workflow budgets.
Regional players
- JePPIX: JePPIX is a European-based photonic integration ecosystem that offers foundry services, PDK access, and design support across European InP and silicon photonics platforms. It is a regional peer that competes for PIC design services and ecosystem partnerships outside North America.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spark Photonics social profiles
Digital presenceSpark Photonics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spark Photonics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Spark Photonics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spark Photonics 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 Photonics
What does Spark Photonics do?
Spark Photonics is an end-to-end integrated photonics design enablement firm providing PIC design, simulation, layout, and Process Design Kit (PDK) development services for silicon, silicon nitride, thin film lithium niobate (TFLN), indium phosphide (InP), and III-V material platforms serving industry, government, and academia. The company is also the official North American distributor of Luceda Photonics design software (IPKISS, AWG Designer, IP Manager, PDKs/ADKs/TDKs) and the official U.S. distributor of AIM Photonics PIC Kits (Passive Kit 1, Active Kit 2, Active Kit 3).
Is Spark Photonics a public or private company?
Spark Photonics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Spark Photonics founded?
Spark Photonics was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spark Photonics based?
Spark Photonics is headquartered in Waltham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spark Photonics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. PIC Design Services are the primary driver. The others are luceda Photonics Software Distribution and PIC Kit Sales.
Who are Spark Photonics's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Ligentec, Alcyon Photonics, Luceda Photonics, Photon Design and CompoundTek. VLC Photonics is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Cadence Design Systems, Synopsys and Ansys (Lumerical). JePPIX is listed as a regional player.
Does Spark Photonics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Spark Photonics.
What industry is Spark Photonics in?
Spark Photonics's product category is Integrated Photonics Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAAAH, Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs), with a secondary code of HDAHACAG, Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser). Its SIC code is 3827.