Lumotive raises $45 million for programmable optical semiconductors
The company says it will use the investment to expand its operations and sales of its chip-level beam steering technology worldwide, as well as accelerating growth in the areas of datacentre AI infrastructure and defence and aerospace
Lumotive, a company focusing on programmable optical semiconductor products, has announced it has closed a $45 million Series B funding round to accelerate sales growth of its Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology. The oversubscribed round included new investors Swisscom Ventures, East Bridge, EDOM, Grazia, Hokuyo Inc. and TSVC, as well as support from existing investors such as Gates Frontier, MetaVC Partners, Quan Funds, USAA, and HiMax Inc.
“This funding marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of programmable optics,” said Sam Heidari, CEO of Lumotive. “Our LCM technology has already driven innovation across autonomous vehicles, advanced robotics, and industrial applications. With this new investment, we will accelerate sales in other new markets, particularly in AI datacentres and satellite communications.”
Lumotive plans to use the new funding to scale its operations worldwide to meet growing demand from customers and partners in critical industries. By strengthening its international presence, the company says it will provide responsive, localised support and customised solutions tailored to specific technical and business needs.
Another strategic area Lumotive aims to accelerate growth in is datacentre AI infrastructure; by advancing high-performance optical switching solutions, the company says it is reshaping datacentre architectures. According to Lumotive, its two-dimensional LCM beam steering technology enables ultra-reliable optical circuit switches with thousands of ports and rapid switching speeds, addressing the demands of hyperscale and AI-driven networks. This technology is being deployed to support AI model training, real-time analytics, and energy-efficient hyperscale infrastructure management.
Additionally, the company says that the new investment will help it to continue advancing next-generation optical semiconductors for defence and aerospace applications, enhancing secure communications, advanced sensing, and mission-critical precision.
“Lumotive's unique technology represents a fundamental advance in optical semiconductors,” said Pär Lange, investment partner at Swisscom Ventures. “Their proven success in automotive and industrial markets, combined with their ability to precisely control light at the chip level, enables applications that were previously impossible.”
Conrad Burke, managing partner at MetaVC Partners, added: “Having supported Lumotive since its earliest days, we've witnessed the rapid evolution of the company's core technology and its expansion into diverse global markets. This new funding round marks an exciting milestone in the company's growth.”
