Eindhoven-based Photon Bridge has raised 10 million euros to develop laser sources for optical connections in AI infrastructure. The company plans to deliver its first samples in 2027 and prepare for volume manufacturing from 2028. The round was co-led by the Amadeus Apex Technology Fund and 360 Capital, with existing investors Innovation Industries, Faber and BOM also participating. Credit: Photon Bridge Today’s laser supply chain for optical communication was largely built for telecom and subsea networks, where volumes are far lower. AI could transform the laser from a specialist photonics component into something that has to be manufactured at semiconductor scale. Photon Bridge is addressing this challenge by combining and multiplexing multiple lower-power semiconductor lasers, rather than generating the required optical power using a small number of increasingly powerful lasers. According to the company, lower power densities reduce sensitivity to manufacturing defects, improving yield as production volumes increase. “The industry will soon need millions of laser sources every year. Instead of making individual lasers increasingly powerful and difficult to manufacture, we move that scaling challenge into the architecture,” says Photon Bridge CEO Paul Marchal.