Guardion

Guardion is a developer of advanced sensor technology, focusing on applications that demand high sensitivity, miniaturization, and streamlined manufacturing. The company, founded in 2017 and based in Burlington, Massachusetts, provides solutions that enhance the capabilities of analytical instruments, as well as chemical and radiation detectors. At its core, Guardion leverages nanomaterial-based ion detectors to make these critical tools more portable and scalable.

The firm's technology centers on a revolutionary charge sensor that improves the portability, durability, and sensitivity of analytical equipment. This allows what were once lab-bound instruments to be deployed in the field. A key feature is its 2D material technology that enables a million-fold amplification with a 10,000-fold reduction in voltage requirements. This breakthrough eliminates the need for bulky vacuum systems and high-voltage components, which significantly reduces the size, weight, and power (SWaP) consumption of the instruments. By replacing traditional electron multipliers with this 2D material-based charge sensor, Guardion facilitates ultra-sensitive detection without high-voltage or vacuum conditions. This has opened up new applications in point-of-care medical diagnostics, real-time environmental monitoring, and rapid biological threat detection.

Guardion's primary market includes industries such as aerospace, medical, and national security, where the ability to collect data in challenging environments is crucial. The business model appears to be centered on developing and supplying these proprietary sensor components and systems to organizations in these sectors. For instance, Guardion is developing a low-voltage, low-power ion detector for mass spectrometers under a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I & II award. This technology is designed to operate under ambient pressure, which will help NASA in its planetary exploration missions by improving analytical capabilities and reliability.

The company has achieved several significant milestones, underscoring its potential. It was selected for the Air Force-sponsored Techstars Autonomous Technology Cohort and was a winner of the Technology in Space Prize from the Center for Advancement in Science in Space and Boeing. Furthermore, Guardion was a $50k Gold Winner at MassChallenge in 2017 and has received a National Science Foundation Phase I SBIR grant. The company has raised approximately $220K in funding through various grants and accelerator programs.

Keywords: nanomaterial sensors, ion detectors, chemical detection, radiation detection, mass spectrometry, portable analytical instruments, 2D materials, charge sensor technology, aerospace sensors, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, national security technology, NASA SBIR, Techstars, MassChallenge, sensor miniaturization, low-power detectors, high-sensitivity sensors, field-deployable instruments, ambient pressure operation