Light Trace Secures £600k to Revolutionise Photonic Chip Design with Rapid-Development LightCraft Platform
About Optica
18 November 2024
Light Trace Secures £600k to Revolutionise Photonic Chip Design with Rapid-Development LightCraft Platform
Bristol, UK November 2024 – Light Trace Photonics, a leading innovator in the integrated photonics industry, is thrilled to announce the successful close of its first investment round, securing £600,000, led by QantX Ventures. This capital injection will 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.
A picture of the core photonic chip that sits at the heart of Light Trace Photonics’ LightPort technology.
LightCraft offers customers unprecedented 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.
Combining the LightCraft platform with the LightPort evaluation board:
● Allows engineers to evaluate and test concepts quickly, using pre-existing chips, before committing to fabrication;
● Empowers companies and engineers to demonstrate the superior capabilities of integrated photonics to key stakeholders quickly and more efficiently; and
● Frees up resources for system-level development, expediting product launch.
When asked about the impact LightCraft will have, a leading UK quantum computing startup 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."
Team picture, left to right: CTO & Co-founder, Dr Dominic A. Sulway, Integrated photonic engineer James Blatcher, Integrated photonic engineer Dr Quinn Palmer, and CEO & Co-founder Dr Jake Biele.
Dr Jake Biele, CEO of Light Trace Photonics, believes LightCraft will mark a turning point in the development of integrated photonics:
The LightCraft platform is currently in development, but customers can already access our foundational library of silicon nitride components, developed and validated by the Light Trace team for Applied Nanotool’s rapid prototyping photonic chip fabrication service. To access these components, and to learn more about how LightCraft can help expedite your photonic chip development, contact us through our website: www.ltphotonics.co.uk.
Dr Jake Biele, CEO of Light Trace Photonics, believes LightCraft will mark a turning point in the development of integrated photonics:
"The LightCraft platform, in combination with the LightPort, gives businesses the tools to push the boundaries of what’s possible with integrated 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."
Dr Harry Alexander, Investment Manager at QantX, is clear about the potential of integrated photonics and why QantX was keen to invest in Light Trace Photonics:
“Photonics is a critical and enabling sector for our modern society, with new complex photonic integrated circuits (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.”
Visit www.ltphotonics.co.uk to learn more about how LightCraft can streamline your photonic chip design process and support your product development. Reach out to Light Trace Photonics at contact@ltphotonics.co.uk.
About Light Trace Photonics
Light Trace Photonics is a pioneering company in the integrated photonics sector. With our existing LightPort evaluation board, and new LightCraft component access platform under development, we aim to give our customers the tools to deliver groundbreaking integrated photonic products faster than ever before.
The combination of trusted designs from LightCraft and access to hardware via the LightPort
empowers engineers and businesses across various industries to innovate and develop products with unprecedented speed and precision. Based in Bristol, UK, Light Trace Photonics is dedicated to helping our customers deliver cutting-edge integrated photonic technologies to market quickly and efficiently.
About QantX
QantX is an early-stage venture capital firm with a strong focus on high-impact innovations in Modern Healthcare, Sustainability, and Deep tech from within the South & South West. Our mission is to accelerate groundbreaking startups and University spinouts in the region with capital and invaluable governance, guidance, and global connections. Together, we are building a sustainable future and ecosystem for impactful technology.
For more information, visit www.qantx.co.uk
About Integrated Photonics
Integrated photonics is revolutionising the way we process and transmit information by harnessing the power of light alongside electricity in microchip technology. This breakthrough technology enables technologies with faster data speeds, reduced energy consumption, and enhanced precision across industries from telecommunications to healthcare and beyond.
By combining optical components onto a single microchip, integrated photonics opens up new possibilities for compact, high-performance devices that drive innovation in key emerging markets from next-generation quantum technology to advanced medical devices. Light Trace Photonics is at the forefront of this field, helping businesses unlock the full potential of integrated photonic solutions.
Dr Jake Biele, CEO of Light Trace Photonics,
Dr Harry Alexander, Investment Manager at QantX,
