Hyperlume Raises $12.5 Million Seed Round to Revolutionize AI Data Center Connectivity

OTTAWA, Canada – February 19, 2024 – Hyperlume, Inc. (“Hyperlume” or the “Company”) has completed a $12,500,000 USD seed round to commercialize its high bandwidth, low latency, low power interconnects for AI data centers and high-performance computing systems. The oversubscribed round, led by BDC’s Deep Tech Venture Fund and ArcTern Ventures with participation from MUUS Climate Partners, SOSV and Intel Capital also includes a strategic investment from LG Technology Ventures. 

Hyperlume was founded in 2022 by Mohsen Asad and Hossein Fariborzi to develop breakthrough technology that addresses connectivity bottlenecks in accelerated computing and AI data centers. Hyperlume's unique technology uses specialized, ultra-fast microLEDs and ultra-low power circuitry to achieve significant performance, cost and energy-efficiency gains relative to the traditional copper interconnects. 

"This funding represents a significant step in Hyperlume’s journey as we continue to push the boundaries of optical communication and deliver transformative solutions for the AI and semiconductor industries," said Mohsen Asad, Co-founder and CEO of Hyperlume. "We are grateful for the trust and support of our investors who share our vision of a more efficient and sustainable future for computing."

A New Paradigm in Computing

As AI models exceed 1 trillion parameters and high-performance computing clusters surpass 100,000 GPUs, today's interconnect technology is becoming a critical bottleneck to computing performance. The future of computing requires a new level of connectivity—higher bandwidth, lower latency, and step-change improvements in energy efficiency.

Hyperlume’s novel technology is designed to overcome the energy and bandwidth bottlenecks inherent in traditional electronic interconnects, offering pluggable, mid-board and co-packaged optical alternatives.

With this funding, the company plans to:

• Accelerate development of optical interconnect technologies
• Expand its product, engineering and R&D teams
• Strengthen strategic partnerships with leading hyperscalers, chip manufacturers and AI infrastructure providers
• Prepare steps for production of its optical technology to meet industry demand for 800G and 1.6T interconnects.

“BDC’s Deep Tech Venture Fund is committed to supporting visionary companies that are reshaping industries through cutting-edge technology. Hyperlume’s optical interconnect technology represents a transformative leap forward in energy-efficient AI and semiconductor infrastructure. We are proud to be part of their journey as they redefine the future of computing," said Charles Lespérance, Partner at BDC Capital’s Deep Tech Venture Fund. Murray McCaig, Managing Partner at ArcTern Ventures added, “The carbon emissions from data centers are projected to more than double by 2030, underscoring the urgent need to invest in technologies that reduce energy consumption. Hyperlume’s groundbreaking ultra-low-power microLED interconnect technology not only significantly reduces energy usage in networking but also delivers exceptional high-bandwidth performance.”

“As the demand for AI grows, so do its energy requirements, placing a significant burden on traditional copper interconnects,” said Srini Ananth, Managing Director at Intel Capital. “Hyperlume's technology effectively tackles the bottlenecks hindering optimal performance in AI and data centers, representing a significant step forward for the semiconductor industry as it supports the demands of an AI-driven future.”    

About Hyperlume

Hyperlume is a cutting-edge technology company focused on developing a low-energy optical interconnect solution to revolutionize chip-to-chip communication. The Company aims to enable efficient, low-power AI infrastructure through innovative optical solutions. For more information, visit www.hyperlume.com.

About BDC: 80 Years as Canada’s Bank for Entrepreneurs

BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the most innovative firms. BDC’s development role means we are in a state of perpetual evolution – wherever entrepreneurs go and whatever the Canadian economy needs – we will be there to help them defy the odds. 80 years later, that commitment remains very much alive. BDC’s services in 2024 alone will add an estimated $25.5 billion in GDP to Canada’s economy over the next five years. We are one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, and the first financial institution in Canada to receive the B Corp certification in 2013. For more information on our products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media. 

About ArcTern

ArcTern Ventures is a venture capital firm committed to addressing the climate crisis and advancing sustainability. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Oslo and San Francisco, ArcTern invests globally in innovative technology companies focused on climate action and sustainability—what we call Earthtech. The firm was founded on the premise that accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral economy can disrupt industries and present an unprecedented opportunity for outsized financial returns, benefiting companies, investors, and the planet. ArcTern's latest fund, Fund III, closed in January 2024 with US$337M from leading institutional investors, with a focus on Series A and B startups. Visit www.arcternventures.com.

About Intel Capital

Over three decades, Intel Capital has invested more than US $20 billion in the future of compute, funding standout, early-stage startups across four key areas of the tech ecosystem; Silicon, Frontier, Devices and Cloud. Intel Capital-funded companies created more than US $170 billion in market value in the past 10 years. For more information, visit www.intelcapital.com or follow @Intelcapital.    

For more information contact:

Mohsen Asad
CEO & Co-Founder
Hyperlume, Inc.
Email: mohsen@hyperlume.com

Myles Shedden
Chief Financial Officer
Hyperlume, Inc.
Email: myles@hyperlume.com