Photon Bridge raises €10M to mass-produce AI data centre lasers
The Eindhoven startup secured funding to build optical light sources, aiming for 2027 samples and volume production by 2028.
Key points
- Photon Bridge raised €10M in a round co-led by Amadeus APEX Technology Fund and 360 Capital.
- The company plans to ship initial product samples in 2027 and begin volume production in 2028.
- Existing investors Innovation Industries, Faber, and the Brabant Development Agency participated in the round.
Photon Bridge, an Eindhoven-based startup, announced on Wednesday that it has raised €10 million to develop laser light sources for optical links within artificial intelligence data centres. The funding round was co-led by the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund and 360 Capital, with additional participation from existing investors.
The company previously operated under the name Photon IP and secured €4.75 million in seed funding last year. Current investors Innovation Industries, Faber, and the Brabant Development Agency also contributed capital to this latest round. The firm intends to use the proceeds to advance product development, conduct customer testing, and expand its workforce in Eindhoven.
Technology and production strategy
AI data centres are increasingly shifting from copper wires to optical links for moving data between chips, creating a high demand for laser light sources. According to The Next Web, the existing supply chain was designed for the telecommunications sector, which requires far fewer units than the AI industry will need soon. Photon Bridge chief executive Paul Marchal stated that the industry will soon require millions of these laser sources annually.
To address production challenges, Photon Bridge employs a design that combines light from several weaker lasers, each operating on a different wavelength, and transmits them through a single fibre. The company claims that weaker lasers are less prone to failure during manufacturing, resulting in higher testing pass rates. This approach targets up to 40 milliwatts of power per wavelength.
Photon Bridge does not operate its own manufacturing facility. Instead, it collaborates with external chipmakers and can source lasers from multiple suppliers. This strategy allows the company to leverage established manufacturing capabilities while focusing on its specific optical design and integration.
Market context and competitors
Investors are heavily funding companies focused on AI optical infrastructure. According to The Next Web, Nvidia has invested at least $6.5 billion in photonics firms since March. CScale raised $145 million last month to prevent laser failures from disrupting AI systems. Additionally, San Francisco-based Volantis secured $88 million this month for photonic memory built on its own lasers.
Photon Bridge plans to ship its first samples to customers in 2027. The company aims to prepare for mass volume production starting in 2028. This timeline aligns with the growing demand for efficient data transfer solutions in large-scale AI computing environments. The influx of capital into the sector suggests a broader industry shift toward optical interconnects.
What should you do?
Security and technology professionals should monitor developments in optical interconnect security, as new hardware components introduce potential supply chain risks. Organizations planning AI infrastructure should evaluate the reliability and failure rates of proposed laser sources. It is important to verify that vendors have robust testing protocols for optical components.
What to do and how to stay safe: Photon Bridge
- Review vendor documentation to understand the failure rates and testing standards of proposed optical laser sources.
- Assess your supply chain for dependencies on single-source components for critical AI data centre interconnects.
- Monitor industry reports on optical link vulnerabilities and emerging security threats in photonics hardware.
- Ensure your procurement process includes verification of manufacturing partners for key optical components.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding did Photon Bridge raise?
Photon Bridge raised €10 million in a round co-led by the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund and 360 Capital.
When will Photon Bridge start volume production?
The company plans to prepare for volume production from 2028, with first samples shipping in 2027.
Why does the AI industry need more laser sources?
AI data centres are using optical links instead of copper wires, requiring millions of laser sources annually.
