Ephos Raises $8.5M for Milan Chip Facility Amid NATO Support

Chip startup Ephos, part of a NATO programme to foster defence innovation, raises $8.5 million for a Milan research and production facility. The European firm, focusing on photonic chips, also received a €450,000 grant from NATO's Accelerator. CEO Andrea Rochetto calls it a critical milestone.

Chip startup Ephos, which is part of a NATO programme to encourage defence innovation, announced on Monday its success in raising $8.5 million to fund a research and production facility in Milan. The European company is pioneering the use of photonic chips, which employ light instead of electricity, offering faster performance with less heat generation.

Ephos also utilizes glass rather than silicon as a base for its chips, leading to reduced signal loss and denser connections. This technology holds significant promise for quantum computing applications and reducing electricity costs in data centers that support AI operations.

According to CEO Andrea Rochetto, the newly secured funding represents a critical milestone for Ephos, which operates in both Milan and San Francisco. Additionally, the support from NATO ensures that the company will exclusively use U.S. and European suppliers. The funding round saw contributions from venture capital firms, including Starlight Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Exor Ventures, 2100 Ventures, Unruly Capital, and several angel investors.

(With inputs from agencies.)