Ephos, a pioneer in glass-based photonic chips, has raised $8.5 million in a seed funding round led by Starlight Ventures. The funding will accelerate the development of Ephos’s glass-based quantum photonic circuits and expand its operations, including opening a cutting-edge research and manufacturing facility in Milan. This facility, located in the MIND Milano Innovation District, is the first globally dedicated to producing glass-based quantum photonic chips and will be central to the company’s innovation in quantum computing, AI, and data centers. Collaborative Fund, Exor Ventures, 2100 Ventures, and Unruly Capital participated in the round, alongside angel investors and institutional support from NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) and the European Innovation Council.

Glass-Based Photonic Chips: A Paradigm Shift in Chip Technology

Ephos is leading a paradigm shift in chip technology by using glass substrates rather than traditional silicon. This approach significantly reduces signal loss, increases speed, and enhances energy efficiency, making it ideal for both quantum and classical computing applications. Glass-based photonic chips utilize light instead of electricity, resulting in faster chips with less heat generation, which is particularly important for advancing quantum computing and addressing the increasing energy demands of AI-driven data centers. As computing infrastructure faces unprecedented strain, Ephos’s technology is poised to offer revolutionary solutions that are faster and more efficient.

Expanding Operations with a New Milan Facility

To support growing demand, Ephos has opened its new facility in Milan, which will serve as the focal point for R&D, production, and collaboration in photonic chip manufacturing. This milestone allows Ephos to scale its proprietary chip technology while solidifying its partnerships across the quantum computing industry. The facility’s location in one of Europe’s premier technology hubs further reinforces the company’s strategic growth, as it expands its presence both in Europe and the US, where it is also growing its San Francisco-based team.

Strategic Partnerships and NATO Support

Starlight Ventures led Ephos’s $8.5 million seed round, with additional investments from Collaborative Fund, Exor Ventures, and 2100 Ventures, as well as angel investors Joe Zadeh (Airbnb), Diego Piacentini (Amazon), and Alec Ross. Ephos also secured €450,000 in non-dilutive funding from NATO’s DIANA program, which supports defense innovation across Allied nations. The company’s use of exclusively US and EU suppliers aligns with NATO’s strategy for secure quantum infrastructure development, reinforcing its role in maintaining strategic independence for future defense and communication technologies.

Ephos’s glass-based photonic chips are set to revolutionize industries from quantum computing to secure communications by reducing energy consumption and improving performance across high-demand sectors like AI and data centers. As power usage in data centers is expected to grow significantly by 2030, Ephos’s technology offers critical solutions for enhancing efficiency. With its entirely in-house production process and reliance on secure supply chains, Ephos is well-positioned to drive the future of computing, playing a key role in both quantum advancements and global tech infrastructure development.