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Nvidia Executive Takes On New Role at AI-Focused Chip Startup
Nvidia Corp.'s Vice President, Simona Jankowski, is transitioning to become the chief financial officer at Lightmatter Inc., a chip startup aiming to carve a significant niche in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) computing sector. Jankowski’s move follows her nearly seven-year tenure at Nvidia, where she managed investor relations and strategic finance. Previously, she served as a chip analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Jankowski disclosed last month that she was exiting Nvidia.
In an interview, Jankowski revealed that she hadn’t initially intended to leave Nvidia, which is among the most valuable companies globally, until the opportunity with Lightmatter presented itself. Based in Mountain View, California, Lightmatter is on a mission to revolutionize computing by enabling chips to communicate via light, potentially enhancing speed and efficiency. “It’s just about the only opportunity that I would have left Nvidia for,” Jankowski remarked.
Lightmatter's Innovative Approach
Lightmatter is seeking to expand the application of silicon photonics technology, which substitutes conventional copper wire connections with optical linkages. Although the technology has been seen as promising, it has yet to become mainstream due to the manufacturing challenges at scale. Nick Harris, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, claims that Lightmatter boasts "incredible market traction" and predicts its products will soon be utilized in some of the world's largest data centers. The startup collaborates with other chipmakers, providing parts that enhance their products, although Harris did not disclose specific users of their technology.
Financial Backing and Growth Prospects
Lightmatter is financially robust, having raised approximately half a billion dollars from investors such as GV, formerly known as Google Ventures. Harris asserted that while the company is nearing self-sustainability with its incoming revenue, it will leverage available capital to drive growth. Founded in 2017, Lightmatter is projected to scale significantly, potentially surpassing the size of Mellanox Technologies, which Nvidia acquired in 2020 for around $7 billion. Last year, Lightmatter secured $155 million funding at a $1.2 billion valuation.
Strategic Hire
Harris noted that Jankowski was recruited for her blend of technical expertise and financial and strategic planning acumen. Similar to Nvidia, Lightmatter is convinced that the integration of AI software is inducing a transformative shift in the computing industry. The extensive size of new processors necessary for AI software development, coupled with the significant data and energy requirements, underscores the need for greater efficiency.
As the demand for AI and data processing continues to surge, Lightmatter’s innovative technology and strategic leadership sets the startup on a path to become a key player in the industry.
