BinOptics

In the year 2000, a company called BinOptics was founded in Ithaca, New York, based on technology developed at Cornell University. The company's focus was on manufacturing semiconductor lasers, which are critical components for the telecommunications and data communications industries. Specifically, they specialized in Indium Phosphide lasers used in data centers, mobile backhaul, and fiber optic networks. What set BinOptics apart was its proprietary "Etched Facet Technology." This process used photolithography to create the tiny mirrors on the lasers, a more precise and scalable method than the conventional approach. This innovation allowed BinOptics to produce highly reliable lasers at a lower cost and in high volumes. Their technology was particularly valuable for emerging applications like silicon photonics, which required new ways to integrate lasers onto chips. The company successfully attracted venture capital from both local and national firms, raising over $53 million. By 2014, BinOptics had shipped over 60 million lasers and was a key supplier, especially in the growing Chinese optical market. This success caught the attention of MACOM Technology Solutions, a major supplier of high-performance analog and RF products. In November 2014, MACOM announced it would acquire BinOptics for approximately $230 million in an all-cash deal. The acquisition was completed in December 2014, marking a successful exit for the Ithaca-based innovator.