SuperLight Photonics: Illuminating the future with wideband lasers

In the ever-evolving world of technology, breakthroughs often begin with a vision. For Haider Zia, the founder of SuperLight Photonics, the dream was to revolutionize how we use light. His concept of developing a compact, lightweight, and portable wideband laser could redefine industries. With Cees Links, known as "The Father of WiFi", at the helm as CEO, SuperLight Photonics is on a mission to bring their groundbreaking technology to the world. At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Cees Links shared his insights into the company's journey, achievements, and ambitious plans for the future with PhotonDelta's Jorn Smeets.

Haider Zia’s journey began with the idea of creating an alternative to the bulky, power-hungry, and expensive wideband lasers traditionally used in various industries. His innovation led to the development of the first on-chip wideband laser, a technology that combines efficiency, portability, and versatility.

Wideband lasers, also known as supercontinuum lasers, differ from conventional lasers in that they cover all colors in the spectrum rather than emitting light at a single wavelength. This unique feature allows users to "see" far more detail and depth, making wideband lasers ideal for applications requiring precision and accuracy.

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Conquering the world with wideband lasers

In early 2023, Haider met Cees Links, a renowned technology innovator and the mind behind the success of WiFi. Recognizing the potential of SuperLight Photonics, Links joined as CEO, bringing decades of experience and a visionary approach to the company. He describes the mission of SuperLight Photonics as "conquering the world with wideband lasers."

At CES 2025, Cees explained the core of their innovation: “Everybody knows a laser pointer—red or green. That’s one color. But one color is a little primitive. A wideband laser covers all the colors in the spectrum, like white light, which allows you to see much more than monochrome light.”

SuperLight Photonics has engineered wideband lasers to be small, portable, and low-noise, making them ideal for handheld devices powered by batteries. These lasers are already making waves in several industries:

• Industrial Applications: Wideband lasers enable precise quality control, such as detecting micro-cracks in semiconductors and testing the integrity of thin layers in materials.
• Medical Applications: In the medical field, wideband lasers enhance imaging technologies like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), allowing surgeons to differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissue with remarkable precision. This innovation improves outcomes in surgeries and diagnostics.
• Food and Agriculture: From assessing the quality of produce to ensuring food safety, the versatility of wideband lasers opens doors to advanced, non-invasive inspection methods.

“The general rule is simple: with good light, you can improve quality,” Links emphasized.

CES 2025 as a launchpad for innovation

CES 2025 provided a global stage for SuperLight Photonics to showcase its cutting-edge technology. Cees Links highlighted the significance of the event: “CES is where the whole world, and especially big companies, scout for new technologies. It’s a great way to start the year and meet people shaping future roadmaps.”

At the Dutch Pavilion, SuperLight Photonics attracted the attention of major players in the tech world. “We’ve had some really big names stop by, and some are genuinely enthusiastic about what we’re doing.”

For SuperLight Photonics, 2025 is a pivotal year. The company is focused on raising funds to scale operations, grow revenue, and expand its team. “Startups always need money,” Links admitted. “This year, we’re raising our next round to implement scaling plans and continue our growth.”

The vision for the future includes ramping up production capabilities, forging partnerships, and extending the reach of their technology to new markets.