A U.S.-based venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments led the $8.5 million seed funding round for Italian startup to develop ‘quantum photonic chip’ technology and revolutionize computing.
The seed round for Ephos was spearheaded by U.S. venture capital firm Starlight Ventures, with additional backing from Collaborative Fund, Exor Ventures, 2100 Ventures, and Unruly Capital.
The new funding will be used to establish a state-of-the-art research and manufacturing facility in Italy. This facility will focus on producing glass-based quantum photonic circuits, setting Ephos apart from traditional chip manufacturers that rely on silicon-based technologies.
Unlike conventional semiconductors, Ephos’s photonic chips use glass substrates. Glass provides better electrical insulation compared to silicon, reducing interference, supporting higher frequencies, and minimizing signal loss. These advantages make glass-based photonic chips particularly valuable for high-performance computing and secure communication.
Photonic technology, which revolves around generating, controlling, and detecting light, is already being used in various industries. For example, in data centers, photonic chips help reduce the growing energy demands of digital infrastructure.
Ephos is the world’s first company to manufacture quantum photonic chips using glass instead of silicon. Unlike traditional quantum systems that rely on semiconductors and require extreme cooling, these glass-based chips can operate at room temperature. This significantly cuts down energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with quantum computing.
Beyond the seed round, Ephos has also received funding from the European Innovation Council and NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator. This investment will accelerate the launch of its research and production facility, located in the Milano Innovation District.
In late 2023, NATO invested half a million dollars in Ephos as part of its Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) initiative. Recognizing the potential of glass-based photonic chips in tackling critical climate and security challenges, the alliance highlighted the technology’s role in sustainability and global resilience.
Deeph Chana, managing director of the DIANA project, emphasized that Ephos’s innovations could aid in climate modeling and strategic defense applications.
This new facility will provide Ephos with the space and resources needed to scale its proprietary chip manufacturing technology, positioning the company as a leader in the next generation of quantum computing and AI.
Andrea Rocchetto, CEO and co-founder of Ephos, underscored the significance of securing this funding. “Our glass-based photonic chips are set to transform not just quantum computing and AI but the broader computational infrastructure of the future,” he said.
“By addressing energy inefficiencies and enhancing performance across industries—from data centers to secure communications—we’re laying the groundwork for the next era of computing technology.“
Kike Miralles, principal at Starlight Ventures, also highlighted the impact of Ephos’s innovation. “As AI and quantum advancements push the limits of our current infrastructure, Ephos stands out with its ability to significantly reduce signal loss and improve energy efficiency,” he said.
“This breakthrough not only meets the rising demand for faster, more efficient platforms but also unlocks new possibilities in quantum computing and communication technologies across multiple industries.”
Quantum computing is expected to revolutionize industries such as banking, chemical engineering, and transportation. According to Pascale Senellart, quantum physicist and founder of Quandela, quantum computers won’t replace classical computers but will make critical computational tasks exponentially faster and more energy-efficient.
Recent studies suggest that quantum computing could help reduce global carbon emissions by 7 gigatons by 2035 and 150 gigatons over the next 30 years. This efficiency could drive significant advancements in energy use, material science, and industrial processes.
However, quantum systems remain difficult to scale due to their inherent fragility. While superconducting quantum computers benefit from an established semiconductor ecosystem and extensive research, photonic quantum systems require substantial investment to reach commercial viability.
Despite these challenges, Ephos’s glass-based chips offer a promising path by improving computational efficiency and sustainability.
