EFFECT Photonics raises US$37m for single-chip coherent optics development

News and Business

DWDM SoC transceiver maker EFFECT Photonics has closed the first round of its Series C funding, co-led by Smile Invest and existing investor Innovation Industries Fund, 12 months after launching its Manta full photonic integration coherent PIC. Other investors include Photon Delta, btov Partners, Brabant Development Agency (BOM) and individual investors.

James Regan, EFFECT’s CEO stated, “With our disruptive technology, we have already enabled DWDM in high-capacity 5G Radio Access Networks through our low-cost autotuning SFP+ modules, which are deployed around the world. This funding and our partnership with our investors will allow us to take the next leap forward, bringing even higher capacity coherent products to the network edges, as well as scaling existing production.”

Tim Koene, CTO explained, “Conventional coherent approaches require external narrow-linewidth tuneable lasers and amplification, wasting light and adding cost, space and power consumption. Already demonstrated to key customers, the non-hermetic Manta prototypes integrate all of these functions on a single chip, bringing a revolution in low electrical power consumption together with high optical output power, high transmission performance in a small formfactor that will enable the next generation of edge network capacity.”

Bart Cauberghe, Managing Partner at Smile Invest commented, “We see in EFFECT Photonics a company with unique technology, with a team that has shown that they can also convert this into innovative products for a fast-growing market. In that respect, the company fits perfectly in the activities of Smile Invest, given our focus on innovative, ambitious companies that have the potential to become the market leader in their segment. We are delighted to be joining with the strong group of existing investors”.

Nard Sintenie, General Partner at existing investor Innovation Industries added, “What EFFECT Photonics has developed is a real platform technology, with which new products can rapidly be launched. We are pleased to continue to support the company and see great potential for the future”.

For more information, visit https://effectphotonics.com