LightSolver Seeks €12.5m for Optical Supercomputer

Israeli startup LightSolver has recently made waves in the tech industry by securing a substantial €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Programme. This funding is earmarked for the development of an innovative all-optical supercomputer, positioning LightSolver as a key player in the race towards more energy-efficient computing solutions.

Being among the select group of 68 companies supported by the EIC Accelerator Programme, LightSolver is now actively seeking an additional €10 million in equity investment to further propel its groundbreaking project. The competition for equity funding in subsequent rounds underscores the high stakes and intense interest surrounding LightSolver's cutting-edge technology.

The core concept behind LightSolver's ambitious endeavor is the creation of an all-optical supercomputer that surpasses the energy efficiency of conventional computers. This revolutionary system is based on a Laser Processing Unit (LPU) that utilizes all-optical coupled lasers, eliminating the need for traditional electronics in computing processes. The result is a compact yet powerful supercomputer that boasts scalability, low power consumption, and the ability to operate at room temperature.

LightSolver's CEO and co-founder, Ruti Ben-Shlomi, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the EIC-funded cohort, emphasizing the company's commitment to addressing pressing global challenges through technological innovation. Ben-Shlomi highlighted the exponential growth in global energy consumption related to computing and stressed the urgency of transitioning to a more sustainable computing model.

Ben-Shlomi further explained the advantages of LightSolver's laser-based processor, noting its superior performance in handling large and complex computations compared to traditional GPUs. Moreover, the all-optical supercomputer offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to quantum computers, as it operates without the need for vacuum chambers or ultracold temperatures, making it suitable for integration into standard data center environments.