Ephos, a leading producer of glass-based photonic chips, has announced a major expansion with an $8.5 million funding round and the opening of a state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facility in Milan. This facility is the world’s first dedicated to producing glass-based quantum photonic circuits. The funding included contributions from the European Innovation Council (EIC) and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), with Ephos being one of only 10 companies selected from over 1,300 applicants. They will also receive €450,000 ($500,000 USD) in non-dilutive funding over two phases.

The seed round was led by Starlight Ventures, with additional participation from Collaborative Fund, Exor Ventures, 2100 Ventures, Unruly Capital, Green Sands Equity, Silicon Roundabout Ventures, and Club degli Investitori, and angel investors. The funding has accelerated the launch of Ephos’s new facility in the Milano Innovation District (MIND), which will serve as a central hub for manufacturing and product innovation. This expansion marks a significant milestone in Ephos’s growth, providing the capacity to scale its proprietary chip manufacturing technology and expand its partnerships in the quantum technologies industry. The funding will also support the growth of Ephos’s San Francisco team.

Ephos’s glass-based photonic chips offer superior performance for signal loss, a major challenge in building quantum computers. Their novel 3D design and manufacturing capabilities enable unique scaling opportunities and better system performance. Beyond quantum computing, photonic technologies have applications in data centers, where they help reduce energy footprints. With its chips built in-house and a supply chain relying on US and EU suppliers, Ephos’s technology supports Allied security interests by ensuring critical quantum infrastructure is developed within NATO’s tech ecosystem.

Ephos was also selected for Phase II of DIANA’s acceleration program, receiving additional non-dilutive funding. CEO Andrea Rocchetto highlighted the transformative potential of Ephos’s glass-based photonic chips for quantum computing, AI, and broader computational infrastructure. Kike Miralles of Starlight Ventures emphasized the chips’ ability to reduce signal loss and improve energy efficiency, meeting the growing demands for faster, more efficient platforms and opening new possibilities in quantum computing and communication technologies.

A news release from Ephos with additional information about this funding and their technology is available on their website here.

September 23, 2024