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Nicslab develops electronics and photonics integrated circuits, offering optical solutions for high-performance computing. The company engineers compact, programmable multichannel Source Measurement Units (SMUs) and Photonic IC Driver Solutions, such as XSOM, which integrate power, signal processing, and control. This technology provides enhanced accuracy and channel density, managing light for faster, more efficient information processing and data transfer in low-power applications.
Andri Prasetyo founded Nicslab, driven by the insight that integrated photonics and electronics could profoundly advance data communication. The company’s establishment stemmed from a vision to accelerate information processing and transfer at light speed, addressing demands of critical infrastructure through scalable optical solutions.
Nicslab’s integrated circuit technologies are adopted by academic and corporate clients for applications in data centers, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and semiconductors. The company envisions fundamentally upgrading communication infrastructure, driving substantial improvements in data processing efficiency and speed for future advancements.
Nicslab has raised $120K across 1 funding round.
Nicslab has raised $120K in total across 1 funding round.
Nicslab, Inc. is a fabless chip company specializing in chip-scale electronic and photonic integrated circuits for optical solutions in data centers, AI, instrumentation, quantum computing, autonomous vehicles, space, and semiconductors.[1][2][3] It builds products like the Multichannel Source Measurement System (SMU), Nicslab Mini-ATE for mixed-signal IC testing, and XSOM (Multichannel System on Module) for photonic ICs, serving researchers, developers, and engineers in photonics by providing precise source, measure, and control capabilities with up to 1000 channels, 3x cost efficiency, Python API integration, and plug-and-play ease.[2][6] These solve challenges in controlling light for faster data transfer, efficient information processing, and reliable testing in high-demand optical applications, with strong customer feedback on channel capacity, software GUI, reliability, and support.[2]
Founded in 2020 in Palo Alto, California, by Andri Mahendra, PhD, Nicslab emerged from his expertise in electrical engineering, including a PhD from the University of Sydney, roles at IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and prior CEO experience at Nicslab Pty Ltd.[1][3][4] The idea stemmed from addressing exploding internet data traffic demands, transitioning from gigabit to petabit systems, by creating user-friendly, compact hardware subsystems, automation software, and data tools for photonics.[4] Early traction came via accelerators: INCUBATE (University of Sydney, 2017), Batchery (Berkeley, 2020), Techstars Space (2021), Garage+ (Taipei, 2023), and Luminate (2024), with funding from Luminate and others, humanizing its path from academic roots to Silicon Valley innovation.[3][4]
Nicslab rides the photonics revolution, enabling optical computing to handle AI-driven data explosions, petabit-scale data centers, and quantum systems where electronics alone falter in speed and efficiency.[1][4] Timing aligns with surging demands for faster data transfer amid AI growth and edge computing in autonomous vehicles/space, amplified by market forces like semiconductor shortages and photonics adoption in telecom/IoT.[2][3][5] It influences the ecosystem by accelerating photonic IC development—providing tools that lower barriers for startups/researchers—fostering innovation in optics-enabled tech via accelerators like Luminate, and bridging electronics-photonics for scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure.[1][3][4]
Nicslab is primed to scale with product expansions like advanced SMUs and drivers, targeting deeper AI/quantum penetration as photonics matures.[2][4] Trends like co-packaged optics and chiplet integration will propel it, potentially amplifying influence through partnerships (e.g., DigiKey) and further funding.[3][6] As data demands escalate, its compact, cost-effective light-control tech could redefine optical infrastructure, evolving from tester to full ecosystem enabler—unlocking light's power just as exploding traffic demands it.[1][4]
Nicslab has raised $120K in total across 1 funding round.
Nicslab's investors include Far Out Ventures, Lupa Capital, Yellow Ventures.
Nicslab has raised $120K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $120K Seed in June 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2021 | $120K Seed | — | FAR OUT Ventures, Lupa Capital, Yellow Ventures | Announced |
