PicoJool Raises $27.5M in Series A Funding Led by Socratic Partners

The round also saw participation from Hudson River Trading (HRT), joining existing investor Playground Global.

The company will use the funding to expand its teams and facilities in the U.S. and Taiwan and scale its research, manufacturing, operations, sales, and marketing efforts.

What is PicoJool?

PicoJool develops optical connectivity products for hyperscale AI data centers. Its technology is designed to help move large volumes of data between processors while addressing bandwidth and power requirements.

The company uses Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology to develop high-speed optical connectivity products. Its portfolio is designed to scale from 800G to 1.6T, 3.2T and beyond.

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PicoJool also develops microVCSEL products for optical compute interconnects and PCIe 6.0-based applications. Its technology uses a parallel architecture to increase bandwidth while reducing the energy required to move data.

How Much Funding Has PicoJool Raised?

PicoJool has raised a total of $39.5 million following its latest Series A round.

The company raised $27.5 million in the latest financing, led by Socratic Partners. Hudson River Trading also participated, while Playground Global joined as an existing investor.

Who Invested in PicoJool’s Series A?

The Series A round was led by Socratic Partners.

Other investors included:

• Hudson River Trading (HRT)
• Playground Global

Playground Global was an existing investor in the company.

Why the Funding Matters

PicoJool plans to use the new funding to expand its teams and facilities in the U.S. and Taiwan. The company will also increase investment in research and development, operations, sales, and marketing.

The funding will support efforts to qualify, manufacture, and bring its VCSEL and optical link products to market for hyperscalers and data center operators.

Who founded PicoJool?

PicoJool was founded in 2024 by Al Yuen and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Yuen is a photonics industry veteran. The company is developing optical chips and modules for high-bandwidth connectivity in hyperscale AI data centers.

Leadership Comments

"Moving data efficiently dictates how quickly and economically AI scales," said Greg Waters, General Partner at Socratic Partners. "PicoJool combines a proven team with a unique approach that brings VCSEL technology's cost and manufacturing advantages to AI-scale bandwidth and power needs.

“The network is the AI, and connectivity is becoming one of the defining constraints on performance. The industry needs a solution that can increase bandwidth while sharply improving power and cost,” said Pat Gelsinger, general partner at Playground Global.

Market and Business Growth

AI clusters are increasing the number of processors in data centers and the amount of data moving between them, creating greater demand for high-performance interconnects.

PicoJool has developed high-speed VCSEL products in 100G and 200G configurations, as well as microVCSEL products in 50G NRZ and 64G NRZ/PAM4 configurations.

The company has started early sampling of its chip-level VCSEL products. It is working with WIN Semiconductor and other gallium arsenide foundries to prepare its 200G VCSELs for production.

PicoJool is also working with system companies and hyperscalers on next-generation pluggable, NPO and co-packaged optics solutions.

What Happens Next?

PicoJool plans to expand its U.S. and Taiwan operations while increasing its research, manufacturing, sales, and marketing capabilities.

The company will focus on qualifying and manufacturing its VCSEL and optical link products and bringing them to market for hyperscalers and data center operators.

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