What's happened
German startup Akhetonics has raised €6 million in seed funding to develop a general-purpose optical chip. This innovative approach aims to enhance performance and energy efficiency in computing, particularly for high-demand sectors like networking and avionics. The company plans to deliver its first product by mid-2025.
Why it matters
What the papers say
TechCrunch reports that Akhetonics has raised €6 million to develop a general-purpose optical chip, which could revolutionize high-performance computing. CEO Michael Kissner emphasized the importance of a diverse supply chain, stating, 'For us, the most interesting part is that we have a supply chain that is very diverse.' Meanwhile, Business Insider UK highlights Nvidia's upcoming CES keynote, where CEO Jensen Huang is expected to discuss the performance of their new AI chip, Blackwell, which is crucial for the company's future growth. The contrasting focus on optical chips by Akhetonics and AI chips by Nvidia illustrates the diverse directions in the semiconductor industry as companies seek to meet increasing demand for advanced computing solutions.
How we got here
Akhetonics, co-founded by Michael Kissner, is focused on creating a general-purpose chip using an all-optical approach. The startup's recent funding round follows previous investments aimed at proving the feasibility of optical computing.
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