CEO Interview with Jonathan Klamkin of Aeluma

 

Jonathan Klamkin, Ph.D. is founder and CEO of Aeluma, Inc. (ALMU). He is a Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and has previously worked at Boston University, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and BinOptics Corp. (a laser diode manufacturer that was acquired by Macom in 2015). He is the recipient of numerous awards including the NASA Young Faculty Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, and the DARPA Director’s Fellowship. He has published more than 230 papers, holds more than 30 issued and pending patents, and has delivered more than 120 invited presentations to industry, government and the academic community. Dr. Klamkin has nearly 25 years of experience in integrated photonics, compound semiconductors, and silicon photonics. He and team members have grown Aeluma from its conception into a transformative semiconductor company with a U.S.-based operation capable of producing high-performance chips at scale.

Tell us about your company.

At Aeluma, we are redefining semiconductor technology by integrating high-performance materials with scalable silicon manufacturing. Our goal is to bridge the gap between compound semiconductors and high-volume production, enabling AI, quantum computing, defense and aerospace, 3D sensing and next-generation communication applications. Traditionally, these high-performance semiconductors have been limited to low-volume, niche markets, but Aeluma’s proprietary approach allows us to scale this cutting-edge technology for mass-market adoption.

We have built a U.S.-based semiconductor platform, leveraging both internal R&D and foundry partnerships, to develop and commercialize next-generation chips. With strategic collaborations with NASA, DARPA, DOE, and the Navy, we are accelerating the development of AI-driven photonics, quantum dot lasers, optical interconnect solutions and high sensitivity detectors.

What problems are you solving?

As AI, quantum computing, high-performance computing (HPC), and sensing systems evolve, the demand for higher-speed, lower-power, and more scalable semiconductor solutions is growing rapidly. Traditional semiconductor architectures struggle to meet these demands, particularly in areas like AI acceleration, high-speed optical interconnects, quantum networking, and 3D sensing. Aeluma solves this by integrating compound semiconductors with large-diameter substrates (ex. 200 and 300mm), enabling mass production of photonic and electronic devices that significantly outperform existing solutions. By bringing monolithically integrated light sources to silicon photonics, we are eliminating a key bottleneck in AI and high-performance computing, improving speed, efficiency, and scalability beyond the limitations of conventional semiconductor technology.

What application areas are your strongest?

Aeluma’s technology is making a transformative impact in AI infrastructure, defense, quantum computing, and next-generation sensing. In AI and HPC, our quantum dot laser technology and high-speed optical interconnects enable ultra-fast, low-power data transfer, solving the bandwidth and power challenges facing next-generation AI accelerators and cloud infrastructure. In defense and aerospace, we work with NASA, DARPA, and the Navy to advance high-sensitivity sensing, quantum networking, and next-generation communications. These solutions are critical for autonomous systems, secure satellite communications, and precision navigation systems. In quantum computing, our silicon-integrated photonic materials are paving the way for scalable quantum networking and next-gen optical processors, essential for unlocking the next era of computational power. Additionally, our technology is driving advancements in mobile, AR/VR, and automotive lidar, where precision, performance, and scalability are paramount.

What keeps your customers up at night?

The biggest challenge for our customers is scaling AI and high-performance computing without hitting power, speed, and latency bottlenecks. As AI models grow, data centers are pushing the limits of existing semiconductor technology. Customers are looking for breakthroughs in chip architecture to maintain performance and efficiency as AI, quantum computing, and 6G networks continue to scale. For 3D sensing, customers desire low-cost and scalable approaches that are also eye safe. Another major concern is supply chain resilience. The semiconductor industry has seen significant disruptions, and companies are looking for reliable, scalable solutions with a strong U.S.-based supply chain. Aeluma is positioned to address both performance challenges and supply chain reliability, making next-gen AI and quantum computing infrastructure more scalable and accessible.

What does the competitive landscape look like and how do you differentiate?

The semiconductor industry is evolving rapidly, with NVIDIA, Intel, and Broadcom investing heavily in AI acceleration and optical networking. However, traditional chip architectures were not designed for the demands of modern AI and quantum computing. While some competitors are focused on incremental improvements, Aeluma is delivering fundamental advancements in semiconductor technology. Our differentiation comes from monolithic integration of quantum dot lasers with silicon photonics, which enables faster, more efficient AI acceleration, optical interconnects, and quantum networking. Our scalable U.S.-based manufacturing approach also sets us apart, allowing us to deliver breakthrough performance while maintaining cost efficiency at scale.

What new features/technology are you working on?

We are at the forefront of AI acceleration, quantum networking, and high-speed optical data transfer. Some of our key innovations include advancing the integration of quantum dot lasers with silicon photonics, enabling high-speed, low-power optical interconnects that are essential for next-generation AI accelerators, cloud data centers, and HPC systems. Additionally, we are developing advanced SWIR (shortwave infrared) photodetectors for defense and aerospace, energy, mobile, AR/VR, and automotive applications, providing high-sensitivity imaging and sensing for facial identification, 3D imaging, and autonomous systems, and communications. Our work in next-gen optical computing solutions is also driving breakthroughs in photonics-based AI acceleration and quantum processing, addressing the speed and power limitations of traditional semiconductors. These innovations position Aeluma at the forefront of semiconductor evolution, shaping the future of AI, quantum computing, and HPC.

How do customers normally engage with your company?

Aeluma partners with leading AI, defense and aerospace, and semiconductor companies, collaborating to integrate high-performance photonics and semiconductor solutions into their next-generation platforms. We engage with AI and HPC leaders to optimize optical interconnect solutions for next-gen AI accelerators, helping them achieve faster processing speeds with lower power consumption. Our strategic partnerships with various government agencies and the DOD support the development of high-sensitivity imaging, quantum networking, and autonomous systems, ensuring. Additionally, we work closely with semiconductor manufacturers and foundries to scale high-performance semiconductors for mass-market adoption. Whether through joint development programs, direct technology licensing, or research collaborations, our customers engage with us to accelerate their technology roadmaps, improve system performance, and bring cutting-edge semiconductor innovations to market faster.

How do you see semiconductor technology evolving in the future, and what role will Aeluma play in that transformation?

Semiconductor technology is undergoing a fundamental shift, driven by rapid growth in AI, quantum computing, and HPC. Traditional silicon-based architectures are reaching their physical limits for higher processing speeds, lower power consumption, and greater data throughput. The future of semiconductors will be defined by advanced materials, integrated photonics, and large-scale heterogeneous integration, enabling faster, more efficient computing at scale.

Aeluma is positioned at the forefront of this transformation with a breakthrough semiconductor platform that integrates compound semiconductor materials with large-diameter silicon wafers. This approach eliminates performance bottlenecks in AI and quantum computing by providing performance at scale and at low cost. Aeluma’s large-diameter wafer capability and ISO 9001-certified operation allow us to produce high-speed, energy-efficient optical interconnect technologies that will be critical for next-generation AI accelerators, data centers, and quantum networks.

The market opportunity is massive. Global semiconductor sales are projected to reach $1 trillion as early as 2030, according to analysts at the Semicon West trade show in July 2024, including Needham & Co.’s Charles Shi and Gartner’s Gaurav Gupta, who suggests the milestone could occur closer to 2031 or 2032. Meanwhile, the silicon photonics market is expected to grow to approximately $8 billion by 2030, as reported by Grand View Research.

By bringing advanced photonics and compound semiconductors into mainstream semiconductor production, Aeluma is enabling the next era of computing, where speed, efficiency, and scalability define success. Our partnerships with government agencies and commercial customers further reinforce our leadership in shaping the future of AI-driven semiconductor technology.

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