Enlightra launches with $15M to develop laser links for data centers, AI apps
December 24, 2025
A Swiss-US startup, Enlightra, has emerged from stealth with $15 million in funding to commercialize its integrated multi-wavelength laser technology, targeting one of the most critical bottlenecks in modern computing: the data transfer between processors in AI clusters and large-scale data centers.
The exponential growth of artificial intelligence is straining the physical infrastructure that connects high-performance computing chips. While industry giants like NVIDIA, Broadcom, Google, and Meta are heavily investing in optical solutions, most current connections still rely on power-hungry and bandwidth-limited copper cables. Enlightra contends that its chip-scale laser sources are designed to replace these copper links with compact, ultra-high-bandwidth optical alternatives, enabling faster data movement while consuming dramatically less power. The market for such energy-efficient interconnects is projected to reach $24 billion by 2030, according to McKinsey.
The funding round, supported by investors including Y Combinator, Runa Capital, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Protocol Labs, Halo Labs, Asymmetry Ventures, and TRAC VC, has enabled the Lausanne-based company to develop and demonstrate its core technology. Enlightra’s innovation integrates multiple laser wavelengths onto a single silicon photonics chip. This approach, the company says, can replace dozens of discrete lasers with one integrated source, significantly cutting power consumption, cost, and physical footprint. Pilot production for these external-laser pluggable modules is scheduled to begin in 2027.
“The world’s AI infrastructure is hitting the limits of copper,” said Maxim Karpov, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Enlightra. “Our lasers unlock a new level of energy-efficient connectivity by turning light into the backbone of GPU communication.” His co-CEO, John Jost, emphasized the scalability of their solution, stating, “Using more colors is the only way to fully utilize the capacity of modern optical fiber networks. Our technology enables AI clusters and data centers to scale efficiently by separating performance growth from energy and cost increases.”
With a team of 25, Enlightra has already designed and built functional 8- and 16-channel laser prototypes that meet target specifications for AI chip interconnects, achieving error-free data transmission. Leveraging standard semiconductor fabrication processes allows for potential mass production at a scale of millions of units annually for global data center deployment.
The industry significance of this development is substantial. As AI models grow larger, the demand for faster, more efficient inter-chip communication becomes paramount. Enlightra’s technology promises to provide a foundational component for the next generation of high-performance computing infrastructure. Dmitry Galperin, General Partner at Runa Capital, echoed this sentiment: “AI is driving an optical revolution. Enlightra’s multiwavelength lasers are a foundational technology for the next decade of high-performance computing, bringing the efficiency and scalability the industry urgently needs.”
Founded in 2022 and a participant in Y Combinator and Intel Ignite programs, Enlightra operates at the intersection of photonics, semiconductor manufacturing, and AI infrastructure. The company’s leadership brings strong technical pedigree, with Jost’s past work contributing to Nobel Prize-winning advances and Karpov recently recognized as an MIT Innovator Under 35.
Source: optics
