Egyptian semiconductor startup, InfiniLink, has raised $10 million in seed funding to develop its optical data connectivity technology for AI-driven data centres. The investment, backed by major global and regional firms, strengthens the company’s position in the semiconductor industry as it seeks to enhance bandwidth efficiency and energy consumption in modern AI infrastructure.
The funding round saw participation from Taiwan’s semiconductor leader MediaTek, Saudi Arabia’s Sukna Capital Ventures, Egyptian investors, Egypt Ventures and Empire Angels. Founded in 2022 by Ahmed Aboul-Ella and Botros George, the Cairo-based company specialises in Silicon Photonics integrated optical transceiver chiplet (iOTC) technology, designed to optimize data transfer for high-performance computing.
With the surge in artificial intelligence applications, data centres are facing growing demands for bandwidth and energy efficiency. InfiniLink aims to address these challenges through its optical transceiver chiplet technology, which enables faster and more efficient data transfer.
“This strategic funding will fuel InfiniLink’s commercialisation of its Silicon Photonics integrated optical transceiver chiplet (iOTC) technology, which addresses critical bandwidth and energy efficiency bottlenecks in modern data infrastructure,” said InfiniLink CEO Ahmed Aboul-Ella.
The company’s technology enables the development of pluggable transceiver modules and high-bandwidth-density co-packaged optical engines, both crucial for next-generation data centres. With AI workloads continuing to expand, advancements in optical data transfer are essential for sustaining high-performance computing while managing energy costs.
Aboul-Ella highlighted the importance of the company’s partnership with MediaTek, stating, “Collaborating with MediaTek will be instrumental in advancing our vision for cutting-edge optical connectivity solutions”
The global semiconductor industry has faced significant disruptions due to supply chain constraints, rising technology demands, and geopolitical tensions, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating chip shortages and production delays.
InfiniLink sees these challenges as an opportunity for Africa to establish itself as a key player in the
Countries in the Middle East and North African region, MENA, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been making significant investments in AI, cloud computing, and semiconductor technology, with Egypt emerging as one of the promising bases for deep-tech startups in Africa.
InfiniLink is pioneering AI-driven data centres
As artificial intelligence continues to shape industries, data centres require faster and more efficient connectivity solutions. InfiniLink’s Silicon Photonics technology seeks to meet these evolving needs by improving data transmission speeds while cutting energy consumption.
The company plans to expand its research and development efforts and form strategic global partnerships to accelerate commercialisation. “We are just getting started,” said Aboul-Ella. “This funding will allow us to scale our solutions and contribute to the future of AI connectivity.”
As AI systems become more complex, traditional electrical connections in data centres are struggling to keep pace with growing data transfer demands. InfiniLink’s innovation is rooted in Silicon Photonics, a technology that offers a high-speed and energy-efficient alternative to traditional data transfer methods.
What You Need To Know About Silicon Photonics
Silicon Photonics integrates optical components onto semiconductor chips, replacing electrical signals with light for data transmission. This shift results in significantly higher transfer speeds and reduced power consumption, key benefits for AI-driven data centres.
According to recent research, the global Silicon Photonics market is expected to surpass $4 billion by 2027, fueled by rising demand in cloud computing, AI and telecommunications sectors.
Artificial intelligence, deep learning in particular, relies on the rapid movement of vast datasets across processors, storage systems, and network components. Traditional copper-based interconnects struggle to keep up, leading to bottlenecks and increased power consumption.
With ongoing advancements in Silicon Photonics, data centres can improve efficiency, support larger AI workloads, and reduce their environmental footprint. For Africa, investments in semiconductor innovation are opportunities for the continent to establish itself in an industry that is increasingly vital to the digital economy.
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