Investment Led by Applied Ventures and ICM HPQC Fund to Drive Innovation in Optical Switch Technology
Salience Labs Limited, a leader in photonic solutions for AI datacenter infrastructure, has successfully closed a $30 million Series A funding round. The investment, led by ICM HPQC Fund and Applied Ventures, LLC the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc. will accelerate the development of Salience Labs’ optical switches, designed to enhance large-scale AI connectivity.
Other key investors joining the round include Strategic Investment Fund, Braavos, and continued support from Oxford Sciences Enterprises, Cambridge Innovation Capital, and global semiconductor industry leaders such as Silicon Catalyst and Jalal Bagherli.
Advancing AI Infrastructure with Photonic Innovation
Salience Labs is developing cutting-edge optical switches to address the growing demands of AI infrastructure, focusing on high bandwidth, low latency, and energy efficiency.
What our customers need is a photonic switch that seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure while delivering superior connectivity and significant power savings, said Vaysh Kewada, Co-founder and CEO of Salience Labs. This funding will accelerate our development and enable us to bring our product to market, unlocking large-scale AI cluster connectivity.
Anand Kamannavar, Vice President and Global Head of Applied Ventures, highlighted the potential impact of Salience Labs’ technology, stating, “Silicon photonics holds the key to transforming AI data centres with energy-efficient performance. Salience Labs’ optical switch technology has the potential to redefine network architectures for faster and more efficient AI systems.”
Industry Leaders Recognise Salience Labs’ Market Potential
With over a decade of research backing its technology, Salience Labs is positioned as a frontrunner in AI connectivity solutions.
Dr. Jalal Bagherli, investor and former CEO of Dialog Semiconductor, praised the company’s advancements, noting, “Salience Labs has developed a strong portfolio of silicon photonics solutions addressing critical needs in AI and data centre infrastructure. Their customer-focused approach and innovative technology make them a leader in this expanding market.”
Dr. William Jeffrey, Chairman of ICM HPQC Fund’s technical advisory committee and newly appointed Board Member of Salience Labs, added, “Salience Labs’ optical switches will unlock unprecedented bandwidth and scalability for next-generation AI and high-performance computing. By leveraging light, they will optimise modern servers while reducing power consumption and costs.”
Strategic Leadership Appointments Strengthen Growth
In addition to securing Series A funding, Salience Labs is strengthening its leadership team with two key appointments:
- Dr. William Jeffrey Joins the Board of Directors
Dr. Jeffrey brings extensive expertise, having held positions at the Executive Office of the U.S. President, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and SRI International. His contributions to semiconductor and photonics research further reinforce Salience Labs’ strategic direction. - Bonnie Tomei Appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
A Silicon Valley veteran with over 20 years of experience in financial strategy, IPOs, and corporate operations, Ms. Tomei will play a vital role in Salience Labs’ expansion, particularly in the U.S. market.
“With her deep expertise in financial strategy and business operations, Ms. Tomei will be instrumental in achieving our strategic objectives, including expansion into the U.S. to serve key customers,” said Ms. Kewada.
Pioneering the Future of AI Connectivity
Salience Labs continues to push the boundaries of AI infrastructure by developing state-of-the-art optical switch technology. With strong investor backing and an expert leadership team, the company is well-positioned to lead the evolution of photonic connectivity in AI and high-performance computing.
