Lausanne-based Enlightra has raised $15 million to develop chip-scale, multi-wavelength laser technology aimed at easing data-movement and power constraints in large AI clusters and data centers. The startup targets one of the core bottlenecks in modern AI infrastructure: moving data efficiently between GPUs and accelerators as cluster sizes scale.
Enlightra’s approach replaces traditional copper interconnects with compact optical links driven by a single integrated laser that emits multiple wavelengths. Each wavelength functions as an independent optical channel, allowing dozens of parallel connections from one source. The company says this architecture increases aggregate bandwidth while reducing energy consumption and physical footprint, addressing thermal and power limits that increasingly constrain dense AI systems.
The funding round includes participation from Y Combinator, Runa Capital, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Protocol Labs, Halo Labs, TRAC VC, and Asymmetry Ventures. Enlightra has already demonstrated 8- and 16-channel laser devices designed for AI chip interconnects and plans to begin pilot production in 2027. The company was founded in 2022 and operates out of Lausanne, Switzerland, with a team of 25 engineers focused on silicon photonics–compatible manufacturing.
- Raised $15M to advance chip-scale, multi-wavelength laser technology for AI interconnects
- Targets GPU-to-GPU and accelerator connectivity bottlenecks driven by power, heat, and data-movement limits
- Single integrated laser generates dozens of optical channels using multiple wavelengths
- Designed for fabrication using industry-standard silicon photonics processes
- Pilot production planned for 2027 following customer-driven demonstrations
“The world’s AI infrastructure is hitting the limits of copper,” said Maxim Karpov, co-founder and co-CEO of Enlightra. “Our lasers turn light into the backbone of GPU communication.”
🌐 Analysis
As AI clusters push toward higher rack densities and faster scale-up fabrics, optical interconnects are moving closer to the package and the chip, alongside developments in co-packaged optics and external laser sources. Enlightra’s multi-wavelength laser approach aligns with broader industry investment by GPU, switch, and networking silicon vendors seeking to reduce power per bit while extending bandwidth beyond what electrical links can support.
