Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
Strategic acquirers, private equity (buyout funds and growth funds) firms, and valuation benchmarks for Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware
1.1 - About Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
Companies in the Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware category design and manufacture components and systems that generate, control, and detect quantum states of light. They enable secure quantum communication, precision sensing, and advanced research by delivering single‑photon sources, high‑efficiency detectors, stabilized lasers, integrated photonic chips, and control software. Buyers rely on low noise, tight timing synchronization, and scalable platforms to move lab‑grade quantum optics into practical deployments.
These companies typically supply single‑photon sources such as SPDC modules and quantum‑dot emitters for entanglement experiments, along with high‑efficiency SNSPD and SPAD detection stacks to achieve low dark counts. They offer turnkey QKD terminals and QRNG units for secure networks, stabilized narrow‑linewidth lasers and frequency combs for precision control, and integrated waveguide chips, optical cavities, timing controllers, and calibration software to support laboratory setups, field trials, and OEM integrations.
They serve telecom carriers and network equipment providers, quantum research institutions, and OEMs building quantum computing and sensing systems. Outcomes include secure key distribution at metropolitan and backbone scales, higher detection efficiency with reduced dark counts in measurement setups, improved sensitivity and stability in quantum sensors, and faster prototyping and integration through standardized modules, APIs, and reference designs that de‑risk deployments.
2. Buyers in the Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
2.1 Top strategic acquirers of Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware companies
nLIGHT
- Description: Provider of active and passive optical fibers for continuous-wave, quasi-CW and short-pulsed fiber laser and amplifier applications, offering LIEKKI® Yb, Er and Tm-doped fibers produced with a proprietary direct nanoparticle deposition process that delivers high absorption, high efficiency and proven reliability for multi-kilowatt laser systems across diverse industries.
- Key Products:
- LIEKKI Active Optical Fibers: Yb
- Er or Tm-doped fibers built with direct nanoparticle deposition, providing highest absorption, shorter application lengths and reliable performance for CW, quasi-CW and ultrafast pulsed lasers
- nLIGHT Passive Delivery Fibers: multimode fibers engineered to match fiber-laser components, sustaining multi-kW power for thousands of hours while ensuring low loss high-power beam delivery
- Direct Nanoparticle Deposition Process: single-step fabrication technology that independently controls core profile, reduces background loss and boosts efficiency through hundreds of nanoparticle layers
- Optical Fiber Selector Tool: interactive selector that guides users to appropriate active or passive fiber configurations based on power, pulse and beam quality requirements for specific laser applications.
- Company type: Private company
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Total funding raised: $●●●m
- Backers: ●●●●●●●●●●
- Acquisitions: ●●
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
M&A buyer group 1: Photonics
Ciena
- Type: N/A
- Employees: ●●●●●
- Description: Provider of high-speed connectivity solutions offering networking systems, photonic components, automation software, and related services that enable adaptive, secure data transmission and network management across cloud, AI, metro, long-haul, and submarine environments.
- Key Products:
- Metro Data Center Interconnect: Delivers seamless, high-capacity connectivity between data centers using low-power, footprint-optimized coherent pluggables to maximize scale and performance
- Navigator NCS Multi-Layer Network Control: Simplifies and accelerates lifecycle operations with intuitive visualization and open APIs, coordinating multi-layer network control for autonomous
- AI-driven operations
- GeoMesh Extreme Submarine Networking: Unifies submarine, terrestrial, and cloud networks to provide unprecedented capacity, low latency, and sustainable optimization of fiber assets
- Data Security and Encryption: Provides multi-layer, in-flight data encryption that is easy to deploy, minimizing security risks and ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information.
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●● companies3. Investors and private equity firms in Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
3.1 - Buyout funds in the Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
2.2 - Strategic buyer groups for Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
4 - Top valuation comps for Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware companies
4.2 - Public trading comparable groups for Quantum Optics Photonics Hardware sector
Valuation benchmark group 1: Industrial Test and Measurement Companies
Hexagon
- Enterprise value: $●●●m
- Market Cap: $●●●m
- EV/Revenue: ●.●x
- EV/EBITDA: ●●.●x
- Description: Provider of digital reality solutions integrating sensor, software, and autonomous technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity across multiple sectors, including industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications.
- Key Products:
- Geospatial Solutions: Advanced tools for geospatial data collection and analysis
- Metrology Systems: High-precision measurement systems for industrial applications
- Autonomous Technologies: Solutions for enhancing operational autonomy in various industries
- Software Platforms: Comprehensive software solutions for data management and visualization
- Industrial Applications: Tailored solutions for manufacturing and infrastructure projects