Cambridge-based deeptech startup Camgraphic has landed €25 million in Series A funding to accelerate its pioneering graphene photonics technology. A breakthrough aimed at powering the next generation of AI computing, satellite communications, and autonomous systems.
The funding round was co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a €1 billion investment vehicle backed by 24 NATO allies. The deal underscores NATO’s growing focus on cutting-edge technologies that could shape future defense and communication infrastructure. Italy’s CDP Venture Capital, Sony Innovation Fund, and Berlin’s Join Capital also participated as co-leads, signaling global investor confidence in Camgraphic’s potential. Additional support came from Bosch Ventures, Frontier IP Group, and Indaco Venture Partners.
Camgraphic is developing a graphene-based microchip capable of transmitting data using both light and electrical signals. According to the company, this approach offers faster, cheaper, and far more energy-efficient performance compared to conventional silicon-based alternatives. The technology could play a critical role in AI computing, high-performance systems, autonomous vehicles, radar imaging, and advanced satellite communications.
CEO Ben Jensen explained that the Series A round took eight months to finalize, with funding raised through Camgraphic’s parent company, 2D Photonics Sa. The fresh capital will fuel research and development expansion in Pisa and help establish a pilot manufacturing line in Milan — key steps toward bringing the company’s technology to market.
Jensen expects the first commercial applications of their graphene photonics chips to roll out within a few years as demand for faster, high-capacity data transfer continues to surge.
Why Graphene Photonics Could Outpace Silicon
Photonics technology is already widely used to convert data into light for high-speed transmission through fiber-optic cables, forming the backbone of AI systems, 5G, 6G networks, and data centers. However, silicon the traditional material in photonic circuits is starting to hit its limits.
Silicon’s physical properties, particularly its band gap and low extinction ratio, create bottlenecks. These limitations cause signal distortion and latency, forcing engineers to design increasingly complex architectures just to keep up with exploding data demands driven by AI and next-gen connectivity.
“Silicon photonics has been performing amazingly, but it has a finite future,” Jensen shared. “Given the rapid rise in data consumption for AI, 5G, and soon 6G, silicon is being stretched to its limits. Every upgrade needs more complicated architectures to push more data through.”
That’s where graphene comes in. As a gapless material, graphene eliminates those challenges — offering a simple yet scalable architecture with significantly higher data throughput. More importantly, it avoids latency and bandwidth constraints, making it ideal for the future of computing and communications.
“The beauty of graphene is that it allows us to build simpler systems that deliver far more performance at better costs,” Jensen added.
With this funding, Camgraphic is now focused on scaling its graphene photonics technology and preparing for commercial production. The company plans to continue advancing its research while building partnerships to outsource manufacturing — an approach designed to accelerate market readiness.
Camgraphic is also ramping up its team. A chief financial officer is among the key hires on the radar, and the startup expects to double its headcount from 17 to 34 in the next 12 months. Over the next two years, Jensen anticipates the team will expand further to 68 employees.
As part of the Series A round, several high-profile investors have joined Camgraphic’s board. These include Ben Balmforth from NATO Innovation Fund, Antonio Avitabile of Sony Investment Fund, Sebastian von Ribbentrop from Join Capital, Gianmarco Del Bono of CDP Venture Capital, and Neil Crabb, CEO of Frontier IP Group.
With strong backing from international investors and growing strategic relevance, Camgraphic is positioning itself as a key player in the race to redefine photonics for the AI era.
