Redback Systems
Redback Systems designs and sells compact, no-moving-parts echelle spectrometers (RS4k–RS40k) for quantum photonics research, university physics teaching, and industrial spectroscopy, distributing direct-to-customer and via authorised resellers in France and Japan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Redback Systems does
Redback Systems is an Australian deep-tech instrumentation company that designs and manufactures compact, no-moving-parts echelle spectrometers for research and industrial photonics applications. Founded in 2019 as a spin-out from Macquarie University with support from the CSIRO ON startup accelerator, the company has built a four-tier product line (RS4k, RS10k, RS15k and RS40k) covering the UV to short-wave infrared (220–1650 nm) at resolving powers from R~4,000 up to R~100,000. Its core technology uses cross-dispersive echelle gratings on 2D CMOS/sCMOS/InGaAs detector arrays to deliver simultaneous broadband, high-resolution spectra in a footprint smaller than a smartphone (RS10k) or roughly A4-sized (RS40k), eliminating re-alignment between experiments.
The company sells primarily to research institutions, university physics teaching labs, photonic quantum computing developers and industrial spectroscopy users. Named customers include QuiX Quantum, Quandela, the University of Queensland, the National University of Singapore Centre for Quantum Technologies, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technologies, and several Australian universities. Distribution combines a direct e-commerce storefront (RS10k publicly priced at $16,500) with authorised distributors in France (Opton Laser International) and Japan (MSH Systems); other SKUs are quote-based. The proprietary RedSolve control software and Python API bind the hardware into customer workflows.
Redback's revenue model is one-time hardware sales with no disclosed recurring or service components. Operational signals are early-stage: approximately six named team members, no disclosed funding rounds, revenue or headcount, and the flagship RS40k listed as sold out. The company is recognised by the 2021 ANZOS John Love Award and a 2024 SPIE Prism Awards finalist position in Test and Measurement.
Redback Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Redback Systems
- Legal name
- Redback Systems Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://redback.systems
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Redback Systems designs and sells compact, no-moving-parts echelle spectrometers (RS4k–RS40k) for quantum photonics research, university physics teaching, and industrial spectroscopy, distributing direct-to-customer and via authorised resellers in France and Japan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Redback Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Optical Spectrometers
- 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
- Quantum Sensor Components & Subsystems (Lasers, Vacuum, Photonics, Diamond/NV, MEMS) (HDAGAHAM), Instrumentation, Sensors & Calibration (EDAOAHAH)
Keywords
Redback Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Spectrometer Hardware Sales: Redback Systems generates revenue from the sale of high-resolution echelle spectrometers. Products include the RS4k, RS10k, RS15k, and RS40k, sold as complete instruments including fibre, cables, calibration files, and software. Additional accessories such as water cooling connectors are available as optional add-ons.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | RS10k Spectrometer – $16,500.00 (one-time purchase) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | RS40k Spectrometer – Price not publicly listed (sold out) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | RS15k Spectrometer – Quote-based pricing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | RS4k Spectrometer – Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Redback Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Redback Systems designs, manufactures, and sells compact, fibre-coupled echelle spectrometers (RS4k, RS10k, RS15k, RS40k) for research institutions, universities, and industrial customers in quantum photonics, physics teaching, and spectroscopy applications. Each spectrometer is sold as a complete instrument including fibre, cables, calibration files, and the proprietary RedSolve control software, with optional accessories such as water cooling connectors.
Product overview
Redback Systems offers a portfolio of compact, high-resolution echelle spectrometers spanning medium to ultra-high resolution tiers (RS4k, RS10k, RS15k, RS40k), each designed for specific wavelength ranges and applications from UV-visible-NIR to SWIR. The spectrometers share a common echelle optical architecture enabling simultaneous broadband coverage with high spectral resolution. All models are fibre-coupled and integrate with the RedSolve control software, which provides data acquisition, visualization, and Python-based automation capabilities. The product line ranges from the entry-level RS4k (R~4,000) for applications like Raman spectroscopy, through the versatile RS10k (R~10,000) for teaching and quantum photonics, the NIR-optimized RS15k (R~20,000), to the flagship RS40k (R~40,000–100,000) for advanced quantum materials R&D and precision spectroscopy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RS4k Spectrometer Compact, fibre-coupled echelle spectrometer for medium-resolution spectroscopy across the UV-visible-NIR range, available in two wavelength configurations (220–850 nm or 300–850 nm) with resolving power of R~4,000, using back-illuminated CMOS detector technology. Targeted at cost-effective applications including Raman spectroscopy, plasma spectroscopy, optical emission analysis, LIBS, and semiconductor endpoint detection.
- RS10k Spectrometer Compact, single-mode fibre-coupled echelle spectrometer providing 580 nm simultaneous wavelength coverage with R~10,000 resolving power, using Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor technology. Footprint smaller than a typical smartphone, USB 3.0 connected. Targeted at laboratory and portable applications including quantum photonics research, physics teaching, and laser source monitoring.
- RS15k Spectrometer High-resolution, single-mode fibre-coupled echelle spectrometer for near-infrared precision spectroscopy, capturing broadband spectra from 950–1650 nm with R~20,000 resolving power in a single exposure. Equipped with a cooled 1.3-megapixel SWIR InGaAs detector with peak quantum efficiency of 90%. Includes Pelican 1520 case and Diamond 1060-XP single-mode fibre.
- RS40k Spectrometer High-resolution, fibre-coupled echelle spectrometer with 520 nm simultaneous wavelength coverage and picometre spectral resolution. Features back-illuminated sCMOS detector for high-sensitivity low-noise measurements, available in SR (430–950 nm), ER (430–1050 nm), and HR (450–800 nm) configurations with resolving power up to R~100,000. No-moving-parts optical design ensures exceptional stability. Targeted at advanced quantum materials R&D and precision spectroscopy.
- RedSolve Control Software Spectrometer control software enabling data recording, exploration with regions of interest (ROIs), CSV export/import, and integration capabilities, with built-in virtual mode for evaluation without hardware, live view for real-time alignment, plotting, and a Python-based API for lab automation. Supports light/dark mode and multi-device collaboration. Sold/bundled alongside Redback Systems spectrometer hardware.
Quantifiable outcome
- Resolving power up to R~100,000 in RS40k-HR configuration (450–800 nm)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Redback Systems
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Redback Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Redback Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Opton Laser InternationalcoreOfficial authorised distributor for Redback Systems products in France. French customers must place orders through Opton Laser International rather than the direct online store.
- MSH SystemscoreOfficial authorised distributor for Redback Systems products in Japan. Japanese customers must place orders through MSH Systems rather than the direct online store.
- Macquarie UniversitycoreRedback Systems was founded as a spin-out from Macquarie University in 2019, indicating a deep ongoing relationship and shared origin in optical science research.
- Cicada InnovationsminorCicada Innovations is listed as a supporter of Redback Systems. Cicada Innovations supports deep-tech startups in Australia, likely providing incubator or accelerator services.
- EQUS (Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems)minorEQUS is listed as a supporter of Redback Systems. It is an Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence focused on engineered quantum systems, aligning with Redback's quantum photonics focus.
- ANZOS (Australian and New Zealand Optical Society)minorRedback Systems holds a corporate membership with ANZOS, the professional society for optics and photonics in Australia and New Zealand.
- SPIN (Sydney Precision Instrument Network)minorRedback Systems holds a corporate membership with SPIN, a Sydney-based network for precision instrumentation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Redback Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Renishaw: Global established player in Raman spectroscopy and high-precision optical instrumentation. Comparable to Redback at the high-end of research-grade spectroscopy but with a much larger installed base and direct sales coverage across academic and industrial buyers.
- HORIBA Scientific: Large established scientific instruments division within HORIBA Group, offering Raman, fluorescence, and high-resolution spectrometers across UV-VIS-NIR. Comparable to Redback at the high-resolution end (HORIBA iHR series) but with a much broader portfolio and global sales/service footprint.
- B&W Tek (Metrohm): Raman and modular spectrometer maker, now part of Metrohm. Overlaps with Redback in Raman and laser-based spectroscopy segments served to research and industrial customers, though broader portfolio and global reach put it in incumbent territory.
Emerging players
- Tornado Spectral Systems: Canadian OEM/developer of high-performance spectrometer modules and process UV-VIS-NIR analyzers. Partial overlap with Redback at the OEM module level for industrial and analytical instrumentation, including no-moving-parts designs.
- Ibsen Photonics: Danish manufacturer of high-resolution UV-VIS-NIR spectrometers based on transmission gratings, selling OEM modules and instruments. Comparable to Redback in compact fibre-coupled spectrometer form factor and high-resolution targeting, especially for laser diagnostics.
- Wasatch Photonics: US-based manufacturer of spectrometers and diffraction gratings including high-resolution Raman and optical spectroscopy products. Comparable in echelle-class and high-resolution niches and competes for the same quantum photonics and laser diagnostics budgets.
Direct peers
- Avantes: Dutch manufacturer of fibre-coupled UV-VIS-NIR spectrometers and light sources for spectroscopy. Closely comparable to Redback's RS series in wavelength coverage, fibre-coupling architecture, and research/industrial customer base, with similar global distributor-led sales.
- Ocean Insight (formerly Ocean Optics): Global leader in compact fibre-coupled spectrometers for research, life sciences, and industrial applications. Directly comparable to Redback in product category (compact modular spectrometers), target customer base (research labs, universities, industrial QA), and sales channels (online + distributors).
- StellarNet: US-based maker of compact fibre-coupled spectrometers, light sources, and software for research and industrial spectroscopy. Closely comparable to Redback in compact form factor, fibre-coupling, and university/research customer overlap.
Others
- Opton Laser International: French distributor of scientific laser and optics equipment that already serves as Redback's authorised distributor in France. Included as a peer because it is the primary route-to-market for Redback in Europe and a partner of strategic relevance rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Redback Systems social profiles
Digital presenceRedback Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Redback Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Redback Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Redback Systems 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 Redback Systems
What does Redback Systems do?
Redback Systems designs, manufactures, and sells compact, fibre-coupled echelle spectrometers (RS4k, RS10k, RS15k, RS40k) for research institutions, universities, and industrial customers in quantum photonics, physics teaching, and spectroscopy applications. Each spectrometer is sold as a complete instrument including fibre, cables, calibration files, and the proprietary RedSolve control software, with optional accessories such as water cooling connectors.
Is Redback Systems a public or private company?
Redback Systems is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Redback Systems founded?
Redback Systems was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Redback Systems make money?
One revenue line is on record: spectrometer Hardware Sales.
Who are Redback Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Renishaw, HORIBA Scientific and B&W Tek (Metrohm). Emerging players are Tornado Spectral Systems, Ibsen Photonics and Wasatch Photonics. Direct peers are Avantes, Ocean Insight (formerly Ocean Optics) and StellarNet. Opton Laser International is listed as an others.
Does Redback Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Redback Systems.
What industry is Redback Systems in?
Redback Systems's product category is Scientific Optical Spectrometers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAB, Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Instruments, with a secondary code of HDAGAHAM, Quantum Sensor Components & Subsystems (Lasers, Vacuum, Photonics, Diamond/NV, MEMS). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.