# OLIX Computing Raises $312M Series B for Photonic AI Inference Chips

> OLIX Computing has raised a $312 million Series B at a $3.3 billion valuation, which the company calls the largest semiconductor funding round in European history. The London-based startup is building photonic chips for AI inference, using light rather than electrons to move data, an approach that promises big gains in speed and energy efficiency as inference costs balloon. The round was led by Fundomo Management, with Arm, Hummingbird Ventures, and Hudson River Capital taking part, plus an eye-catching angel check from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. The money funds the launch of OLIX's DX-1 chip, manufacturing, supply chain, and hiring across the UK and North America. Photonics has long been the perpetual next big thing in computing, but soaring demand for cheaper inference is finally giving optical approaches a real commercial opening. A round this size signals investors think at least one European challenger can compete in AI silicon dominated by US firms.

_Section: [AI Funding Tracker](https://www.wortins.com/funding) · Source: OLIX · Published Sunday, August 23, 2026_

## Wortins' read

OLIX Computing has raised a $312 million Series B at a $3.3 billion valuation, which the company calls the largest semiconductor funding round in European history. The London-based startup is building photonic chips for AI inference, using light rather than electrons to move data, an approach that promises big gains in speed and energy efficiency as inference costs balloon. The round was led by Fundomo Management, with Arm, Hummingbird Ventures, and Hudson River Capital taking part, plus an eye-catching angel check from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. The money funds the launch of OLIX's DX-1 chip, manufacturing, supply chain, and hiring across the UK and North America. Photonics has long been the perpetual next big thing in computing, but soaring demand for cheaper inference is finally giving optical approaches a real commercial opening. A round this size signals investors think at least one European challenger can compete in AI silicon dominated by US firms.

## Source

[Read the full story at OLIX](https://olix.com/news/company-raises-series-b)

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