https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7143295392028192768/

In contrast to another news piece published late in the year (please see: https://lnkd.in/egVFYDMp), we have Lightmatter’s announcement (https://lnkd.in/efc6QHGr) reflecting an “embarrassment” of riches. Arguably, there is a brilliance to the timing in a matter-of-fact way – another day, another $155 million raised. Undoubtedly, the optics industry cheerleaders will milk this occurrence for all that it is worth. Yet, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that such an astonishingly high valuation takes on a life of its own. While fibeReality continues to believe that this situation will be an aberration involving a silicon photonics (please see: https://lnkd.in/e4bdA_Wb) and optical computing
(please see: https://lnkd.in/gH5e5GaY) combination, without ramifications for other startups, Lightmatter could be saved by an acquisition just based on a top-level executive at a large corporation with lots of cash, either failing to do an adequate amount of due diligence or just wishing to take the firm out as a defensive move because it is deemed to be destructive to the company’s more realistic market strategy.

fibeReality has engaged in its own continuing assessment of Lightmatter since before the first Series C round and we continue to recommend that it use its vast sum of money to move in a more practical direction, similar to Lightelligence (please see: https://lnkd.in/etNACyg4). We view the cultural differences between the two companies as profound and meaningful that caused the original, early separation into two entities. fibeReality would also respectfully encourage GV, which is undoubtedly an independent division at Google, to have confidential discussions with knowledgeable and experienced engineers on the optical networking side of the house, with the goal of getting as frank of a point of view on the prospects of Lightmatter as possible. We suspect that you will receive comments based on the unhappiness that has resulted in such a large amount of funds being devoted so impractically, and that you may even get recommendations that would result in helping Google support its goals in AI in general.