Swiss-American deeptech startup Enlightra has announced a $15 million funding round to address a critical bottleneck in artificial intelligence infrastructure: energy-efficient data transfer. The company is developing chip-scale multiwavelength lasers to replace traditional copper wiring with high-bandwidth optical links. This innovation aims to accelerate data movement between computing chips in AI clusters and data centers while dramatically reducing power consumption.
The Copper Conundrum in AI Scaling
The rapid expansion of modern AI training places immense demands on the connections between GPUs, but most systems still rely on copper links. These conventional connections are constrained by both speed and high power consumption, creating a significant performance bottleneck. As a result, industry leaders like NVIDIA, Google, and META are actively investing in optical interconnects to manage exponential data growth.
According to Maxim Karpov, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Enlightra, the global AI infrastructure is reaching the physical limits of copper-based technology. He emphasized that the company's lasers are designed to unlock a new tier of energy-efficient connectivity. By turning light into the primary medium for GPU communication, Enlightra aims to provide a scalable solution for next-generation computing.
A Novel Approach with Multi-Color Lasers
Enlightra’s core innovation is a multi-color laser platform that consolidates dozens of discrete lasers into a single, integrated source. This technological leap significantly reduces power usage, manufacturing costs, and the physical footprint of the hardware. The approach is designed to make high-speed optical communication more efficient and economically viable for large-scale AI deployments, a market projected to reach $24 billion by 2030.
Each “color,” or wavelength, generated by the laser acts as an independent data channel, enabling dozens of high-bandwidth connections from one compact device. Co-founder and Co-CEO John Jost explained that using more colors is essential to fully utilize the capacity of modern optical fiber. This method allows AI clusters to scale performance without corresponding increases in energy demand and operational costs.
Investment and Path to Market
The company’s $15 million in funding was secured from a syndicate of prominent investors, including Y Combinator, Runa Capital, Pegasus Tech Ventures, and Protocol Labs. This capital will be instrumental in accelerating development and scaling production capabilities. The financial backing validates the company's approach and its potential to become a foundational technology in the high-performance computing sector.
With a 25-person team, Enlightra has already developed 8- and 16-channel lasers that meet customer specifications for AI chip interconnects, achieving error-free data transmission. Built using industry-standard silicon photonics fabrication processes, the lasers are designed for mass production. The company is targeting 2027 for the launch of its pilot production, paving the way for global data center deployment.
A Broader Vision for Optical Communication
Dmitry Galperin, General Partner at Runa Capital, noted that AI is driving an optical revolution and positioned Enlightra’s technology as critical for the coming decade. The company’s vision extends beyond AI clusters to powering optical links across entire data centers, subsea cables, and even chip-to-memory interconnects. This broad applicability underscores the platform's long-term strategic value in the global technology landscape.
The same core technology also shows significant promise for future applications in quantum computing and space-based communications. Founded in 2022 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland, the startup is led by co-founders with distinguished backgrounds in photonics and innovation. Their collective expertise provides a strong foundation for tackling these ambitious and transformative long-term goals.
Enlightra's successful funding round marks a pivotal step toward resolving a fundamental energy barrier in the expansion of AI. By pioneering ultra-efficient optical communication to replace power-hungry electrical links, the company is addressing a critical industry need. Its multiwavelength laser technology is well-positioned to enable the next generation of high-performance computing to scale in a more sustainable and efficient manner.