I don't think the share price is a measurement of whether the market believes or disbelieves in the commercial value contained in POET’s optical engines. The market is always opportunistic and will take advantage of any weakness or any market condition that provides a steady supply of shares.

Past financings have created a significant overhang of shares.

OK so let's try to answer a question with a question. Why has LWLG gone from a low of US .90 to a high of $20.30 within a 1yr period?

Does it have something to do with Michael Lebby being recognized as a leading authority in the field of photonics, providing a roadmap for industry with engagements at many events. Read his bio...listen to him speak. The share price moved well ahead of their NASDAQ uplisting. 

POET simply has a lot of retail investors and the vast majority are in Canada. 

I did my homework when I talked to Vivek shortly after he joined POET. I had a good understanding of what Macom's L-PIC capability was. Simply stated POETs optical interposer blew it out of the water and  Vivek was really  impressed with the capabilities that were being demonstrated by the optical interposer.

So I believe the share price today is a result of low cost financings...An abundance of paper held by a small number of overleveraged high worth Canadians who are well in the money today. Also a concern is being voiced by some on this forum projecting a worst case consolidation. I certainly don't think that will happen since timing is very much in the control of the company. Suresh has provided some guidance in that regard but a lot of people here want to give air to the possibility that the R/S will be excessive and detrimental instead of beneficial to existing shareholders and attractive to a new US investor base.

POET has been identified by a high ranking and expensive industry publication Global Photonic Integrated Circuit Market Research Report 2020-2024 as a major player in photonics. It is the lowest market cap by a big margin in that group. 

Global Photonic Integrated Circuit Market Research Report 2020-2024

The major players profiled in this report include:

Market cap included (Dec 8 2020), (Jan 3 2021), (Aug 15), (Jan 8)

NeoPhotonics Corporation….($450 Million), ($456 Million), ($442 Million) ($805M…being bought out)

POET Technologies Inc……($150 Million), ($238 Million), ($382 Million) ($321M)

II-VI Incorporated………….. ($7.5 Billion), ($7.9 Billion), ($6.64 Billion) ($7.6 Billion)

Infinera Corporation…………($1.73 Billion), ($2 Billion), ($1.82 Billion) ($1.9 B)

Intel Corporation……………..($206 Billion), ($204 Billion), ($217.01 Billion) (no change)

A lot of the companies we talk about here as competition to POET are nowhere to be found on this list.