NLM Photonics’ vision is to substantially reduce the power consumption and footprint of high-performance data-centre and AI-training infrastructures by shifting from purely electronic to hybrid photonic-electronic interconnects

Seattle — NLM Photonics, is a Seattle-based startup developing next-generation hybrid organic electro-optic (OEO) photonic modulators

At its core, NLM Photonics’ vision is to substantially reduce the power consumption and footprint of high-performance data-centre and AI-training infrastructures by shifting from purely electronic to hybrid photonic-electronic interconnects. The company’s patented Selerion HTX material and module design enable ultra-low-voltage, high-bandwidth modulation—helping address the surging energy demands of large-scale cloud services, AI inference and quantum-computing workloads.

By enabling lower-voltage optical interconnects with higher bandwidth, NLM’s technology has the potential to slash network energy usage, reduce cooling and infrastructure cost, and improve sustainability performance at scale.

“With the expansion of cloud computing and AI, communication within the data centre is quickly becoming the bottleneck to continued growth in the sector,” said Frank Balas, Investment Director at Emerald Technology Ventures. “NLM tackles the issue by offering photonic technology that is not only faster and more energy-efficient but can be manufactured in standard CMOS fabs.”

Series A funding round announced January 25, 2025 was led by Emerald Technology Ventures and supported by the Oregon Venture Fund along with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, Pack Ventures, StoryHouse Ventures and other existing backers.

Data centre energy consumption is already massive and growing rapidly. According to Emerald’s own analysis, global data-centre demand could surpass 800 TWh annually by 2030 if left unchecked. By enabling lower-voltage optical interconnects with higher bandwidth, NLM’s technology has the potential to slash network energy usage, reduce cooling and infrastructure cost, and improve sustainability performance at scale.

While the opportunity is significant, transitioning from prototype to mass-manufacture remains a rigorous undertaking. Key hurdles include: achieving full fab-compatibility, securing OEM offtake contracts, scaling yield and reliability to datacentre standards, and navigating component supply-chain dynamics in silicon photonics. NLM’s success will depend on execution across these dimensions.

Broader implications for clean energy & infrastructure

While NLM is not a “generation” technology company in the traditional sense (wind, solar, hydrogen), its focus on reducing the energy footprint of cloud, AI and data-centre infrastructure places it squarely within the clean-technology and energy-efficiency paradigm. As energy demand side innovations grow, NLM provides a compelling case of how digital-infrastructure decarbonisation can be a high-impact vector for climate-tech investment.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Seattle, WA, NLM Photonics develops hybrid organic electro-optic modulators and materials to enable next-generation optical interconnects for AI, data-centre, communications and quantum systems. The company’s patented Selerion family of materials and device architectures enable industry-leading modulation efficiency, high bandwidth and manufacturability in CMOS-compatible fabs. URL: https://www.nlmphotonics.com/

Media contact
Theo McGillivray – Communications Director, NLM Photonics
Email: [email protected]