Akhetonics gets fresh funding for a contrarian bet on all-optical chips

Akhetonics raises €6M for all-optical chips, aiming for high-performance and efficiency.

: Akhetonics, a German startup, has secured €6 million in seed funding to develop all-optical chips for general-purpose computing. Unlike other companies mixing electronics and photonics, Akhetonics focuses on a fully optical approach that remains compatible with current workloads. Matterwave Ventures leads the funding, confident in the feasibility following prior backing from Runa Capital. Akhetonics plans to release its first product by mid-next year, focusing on creating a locally sourced, efficient computing alternative.

Akhetonics, a German startup, has raised €6 million to develop an all-optical, general-purpose chip designed for high-performance and energy-efficient computing environments. The company takes a unique approach, focusing solely on optics as opposed to a hybrid of electronics and photonics, with the aim of being useful in networking, avionics, and space applications.

Matterwave Ventures, leading the funding round, is optimistic about fully optical technology becoming viable for general-purpose computing. This support follows the feasibility confirmation from Runa Capital, who funded Akhetonics in 2023. The startup plans to deliver its first commercial product by mid-next year.

The approach involves rethinking chip architecture, potentially reducing costs and enhancing local supply chain options. Akhetonics emphasizes the design aspect to negate the need for billions of optical transistors, making development more affordable with a small team. Despite these advancements, questions remain about the demand for such high-performance computing solutions.

photonicsOptical ChipsAkhetonics