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Investment and Financing

Financing, IPOs and mergers and acquisitions involving optics and optics-plus-AI companies.

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Items 1–7 of 7
Oct 15Thu
  1. C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AI67

    Silicon Photonics Chip Maker Xihe Technology Files Registration Version of STAR Market Prospectus

    Shanghai Xihe Technology has released the registration version of its IPO prospectus for the STAR Market, describing itself as one of the world's leading suppliers of silicon photonic integrated chips. Its customers include leading optical module makers and cloud service providers, and its products are already shipping at scale into AI clusters and hyperscale data centers. According to estimates by optical module makers, silicon photonics solutions can reduce total cost by nearly 20% and the volume of components within the module by nearly 30% at the same data rate and distance.

    Why we recommend it: The original article provides cost and size data for silicon photonics versus discrete components, helping readers understand the domestic supply chain for AI data center optical interconnects

  2. optics.org (SPIE Industry News)Optics industry59

    Siloton Wins £8.4M from Innovate UK to Take GiraffeOCT into Clinical Use

    Siloton will receive £8.4 million in funding from Innovate UK over two years to advance GiraffeOCT, its OCT technology based on quantum photonic integrated circuits, toward clinical use. The funding is expected to shorten the development timeline by about two years.

    Why we recommend it: The original article lays out the funding path for moving photonic integrated OCT from the lab to the clinic, serving as a reference for commercializing medical optical devices

Oct 14Wed
  1. Electro OpticsOptics industryOptics and AI61

    Photonic Chip Firm Salience Labs Raises £95 Million to Expand US Production

    Salience Labs, a University of Oxford spin-out developing photonic chips for AI data centers, has announced £95 million in funding to scale production of optical circuit switches and expand its presence in Silicon Valley.

    Why we recommend it: The original article explains the positioning of optical circuit switching chips for AI data centers, helping understand where optical switching fits in compute networks

  2. Photonics.comOptics industryOptics and AI61

    Salience Labs Raises $125 Million Series B to Develop Photonic Switching Chips for AI Data Centers

    Salience Labs, which develops photonic chips for AI data center interconnects, has closed an oversubscribed $125 million Series B round. The company previously demonstrated a 64-port all-optical silicon photonic circuit switch live at ECOC 2026.

    Why we recommend it: The original article links the funding to the demonstration of a 64-port all-optical switch at ECOC, helping gauge commercial progress in silicon photonic optical switching

  3. optics.org (SPIE Industry News)Optics industryOptics and AI61

    UK Silicon Photonics Firm Salience Labs Raises $125 Million Series B

    UK-based silicon photonics company Salience Labs has closed a $125 million Series B round to scale development of optical circuit switch (OCS) technology and ease network bottlenecks in AI data centers.

    Why we recommend it: The original article highlights optical circuit switching's positioning against AI data center bottlenecks, helping understand capital interest in silicon photonic switching

Oct 12Mon
  1. OFweek Optics Network · NewsOptics industryOptics and AI65

    Kuang-Chi Photonics Completes C+ Round of Over RMB 1 Billion; 12-Inch Wafer-Level Optics Line to Come Online in 2027

    Kuang-Chi Photonics has announced the completion of a C+ funding round exceeding RMB 1 billion, with investors undisclosed. The company's 12-inch wafer-level optics production line, backed by a RMB 2 billion investment in Shanghai Lingang, is expected to be completed and come online in 2027, targeting the AR, fiber optics, optical communications, automotive optics and optical computing markets. This follows its C round in January 2026 and a C+ round of nearly RMB 400 million in April.

    Why we recommend it: The source lists three funding rounds within the year and progress on the 12-inch wafer-level optics production line, helping to understand capital investment and capacity planning in wafer-level optics

Sep 27Sun
  1. C114 Communications Network · Optical CommunicationsOptics industryOptics and AI63

    Hengtong Optic-Electric Plans to Raise 6.636 Billion Yuan for Next-Generation Fiber and AI Optical Interconnect

    Hengtong Optic-Electric released a private placement plan to raise up to 6.636 billion yuan for next-generation optical fiber R&D and production, construction of high-end optical new materials in Inner Mongolia, and advanced AI optical interconnect projects, with no more than 35 targeted investors.

    Why we recommend it: The article lists the intended uses of the proceeds, helping to show the fiber leader's investment in AI optical interconnect