Nvidia and Intel Back Optical Interconnect Startup CScale with $145M Funding Round

Optical interconnect startup CScale has emerged from stealth mode after securing a $145 million Series C funding round led by Nvidia and Intel Capital. The investment brings the total raised by CScale to $188 million, co-led by Atreides Management, Valor Equity Partners, and Premji Invest, with additional participation from Sutter Hill Ventures and Maverick Silicon.

The startup is developing an optical interconnect to support AI scale-up networking, which becomes essential as AI domains extend across dozens of racks. According to CScale's CEO Martin Lund, 'reliable, predictable communication is fundamental to system economics' in such scenarios.

CScale's technology architectures its interconnect to contain and prevent optical failures from interrupting compute processes. The startup claims that the funding will enable it to accelerate the development and commercialization of its optical interconnect offering.