Bristol-based Light Trace Photonics, a startup pioneering integrated photonics , has announced its first investment round securing £600K. The investment round was led by QantX Ventures, which backed EnsiliTech. Previously, the company’s growth journey has been supported by Innovate UK Business Growth, with guidance on IP, marketing, and business strategy.
This capital injection will drive the development and launch of LightCraft, its photonic chip component access platform aimed at accelerating product development for companies in the quantum, communications, and photonic processing sectors.
Tackles shortage of photonics engineers
Light Trace Photonics was founded in 2021 by University of Bristol alumni Dr. Jake Biele and Dr. Dominic Sulway, who both have PhDs in Quantum Engineering from the Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training. The company specialises in photonic chips and is on a mission to tackle the shortage of photonics engineers in the UK by developing devices that help introduce photonics to undergraduate-level students using photonic chips.
It provides efficient and deployable solutions to major issues, including the climate crisis, mounting NHS pressures, and lagging productivity.
Library of pre-tested photonic chip components
LightCraft offers customers unprecedented access to a comprehensive library of tried-and-tested photonic chip components and subsystems, streamlining the design process and 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 and LightCraft represents the next evolution in enabling technology, empowering engineers and companies to develop new photonic products faster and more efficiently.
The company 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.
Dr. Jake Biele, CEO of Light Trace Photonics, believes LightCraft will mark a turning point in the development of integrated photonics said: “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 said: “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.”
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