On December 3rd, Yaozhi Optotech (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'Yaozhi Optotech') successfully wrapped up its seed - round investment. This round was co - led by the Pudong AI Seed Fund under Pudong Venture Capital and CAS Star.

Remarkably, Yaozhi Optotech was established in September 2025. So, how did this optical enterprise manage to secure its first - round financing in just three months?

Since its launch, Yaozhi Optotech has devoted itself to the design and production of 3D optical network/optical waveguide neural network computing units for future AI optical chips. By taking advantage of advanced manufacturing techniques, it incorporates cutting - edge ideas like quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, and in - memory computing to construct a groundbreaking AI optical computing platform.

The company's team is a powerhouse, composed of PhDs from top - tier institutions such as MIT, Harvard, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. These experts come from a wide range of interdisciplinary fields, including micro - nano manufacturing, nanomaterials, photonic chips, and optical quantum computing. The team has independently developed a globally pioneering 3D nanofabrication technology named 'Imp - Fab.' This process allows for cost - effective, high - throughput fabrication of functional structures below 100 nanometers (such as metalenses, metasurfaces, and integrated photonic chips). Yaozhi Optotech utilizes innovative laser processing and isotropic stable shrinkage techniques to achieve a 1,000 - 10,000 - fold increase in device volume density. It can achieve sub - 50nm processing accuracy and structural resolution using micrometer - scale fabrication equipment. This technology isn't confined to hydrogel materials; it can also incorporate doping and crosslinking in various material systems, resulting in multi - material, multi - property native 3D devices.

Yaozhi Optotech's core mission is the deep integration of artificial intelligence and optical technology. This field is widely acknowledged as a crucial intersection for next - generation smart manufacturing, autonomous driving, and medical imaging. Traditional optical systems are limited in data processing and intelligent analysis, while pure algorithmic solutions are restricted by physical hardware. Yaozhi Optotech tackles this industry pain point by developing integrated hardware - software intelligent optical solutions.

As a key capital platform driving the development of Shanghai's Pudong New Area's AI industry, the Pudong AI Seed Fund's investment choices often mirror regional industrial priorities. The fund's decision to invest in Yaozhi Optotech at the seed stage highlights its strong focus on the convergence of AI and hardware.

CAS Star, a professional investor specializing in hard technology, is well - known for spotting early - stage projects with core technological barriers.

The co - leading investment by these two institutions not only provides Yaozhi Optotech with financial backing but also brings in invaluable industrial resources and strategic guidance.

Industry insiders point out that the current investment market has become wary of pure business model innovations. Instead, it favors hard technology projects with core technologies that can solve real industrial problems.

Yaozhi Optotech precisely meets this market demand. It doesn't just offer algorithms or software; it strives to create system - level solutions that integrate hardware and software. This approach often creates higher technological barriers and more sustainable competitive advantages, which is the key to its ability to secure initial financing just three months after its establishment.

We eagerly anticipate the future market performance of this emerging optical enterprise.