Light Trace raises £600,000 for PIC component access platform
The start-up says that its library of photonic chip components and subsystems will enable faster and more efficient testing and development, accelerating PIC products to market
Light Trace Photonics has announced the successful close of its first investment round, securing £600,000, led by QantX Ventures. The start-up says it will use this capital injection to drive the development and launch of LightCraft, a cutting-edge photonic chip component access platform aimed at accelerating product development for companies in the quantum, communications, and photonic processing sectors.
According to Light Trace, LightCraft offers customers access to a comprehensive library of tried-and-tested photonic chip components and subsystems, streamlining the design process and significantly reducing time to market. Building upon the foundation laid by Light Trace Photonics' existing hardware product, the LightPort – a photonic chip component evaluation board for rapid prototyping and training – LightCraft represents the next evolution in enabling technology, empowering engineers and companies to develop new photonic products faster and more efficiently, the company says.
Together, the LightCraft platform and the LightPort evaluation board aim to offer advantages including: quick evaluation of concepts, using pre-existing chips, before committing to fabrication; quick and efficient demonstration of integrated photonics’ capabilities to key stakeholders; and freeing up resources for system-level development, expediting product launch.
When asked about the impact LightCraft will have, a UK quantum computing start-up said: “For companies like ours, having access to ready-made, proven components drastically cuts development time and costs. It’s a game-changer that will fast-track innovation and speed up our time to market.”
While the LightCraft platform is currently in development, Light Trace says that customers can already access their foundational library of silicon nitride components, developed and validated by the Light Trace team for Applied Nanotool’s rapid prototyping photonic chip fabrication service.
“The LightCraft platform, in combination with the LightPort, gives businesses the tools to push the boundaries of what’s possible with integrated photonics,” says Jake Biele, CEO of Light Trace Photonics. “Customers can bring their ideas to life quickly and effectively, driven by the expertise of the Light Trace team. At Light Trace, we don’t just design – we build. This hands-on approach provides us with unique insights into the intricacies of photonic chip development, insights that we share with our customers to help fuel their success.”
Harry Alexander, investment manager at QantX, adds: “Photonics is a critical and enabling sector for our modern society, with new complex PICs representing a paradigm shift in the form and functionality of devices. Having worked with Light Trace since 2022, we’re excited to back them in delivering LightCraft, a novel platform to enable rapid PIC development.”
Image credit: Light Trace Photonics
