LightSolver
LightSolver Ltd. is an Israeli deep-technology company that has built the Laser Processing Unit (LPU), an analog optical computing platform that solves PDE simulation, combinatorial optimization, and eigenvalue problems at room temperature via a Python API, serving enterprise customers in aerospace, automotive CAE, and licensed crypto/AI compute.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTel Aviv, Israel
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LightSolver does
LightSolver Ltd. is an Israeli private deep-technology company founded in 2020 by Dr. Ruti Ben-Shlomi and Dr. Chene Tradonsky, both PhD physicists from the Weizmann Institute of Science. The company has developed the Laser Processing Unit (LPU), a physics-based analog optical computing platform built around a programmable degenerate optical resonator that traps light in a closed loop and executes multi-pass iterative computations with co-located memory and compute. The LPU delivers the equivalent of ~1,000 TOPS at ~100W with ~200 TB/sec memory bandwidth, operating at room temperature, and is configurable into three application modes: a Rapid Propagator for partial differential equation simulation, an Annealer for combinatorial optimization (Ising, QUBO, Potts), and an Eigenvalue Solver for structural engineering problems such as the Helmholtz equation.
The platform is accessed via a Python-based cloud API or on-premises deployment, requiring no optics expertise from users. LightSolver monetizes through enterprise platform licensing (quote-based, subscription-recurring), co-development and R&D funding from strategic partners, and exclusive technology licensing. Its three primary commercial channels are: direct enterprise sales to aerospace and industrial customers (anchored by a 2026 strategic financial partnership with Boeing for engineering simulations of structural degradation); an Ansys LS-DYNA integration for CAE modeling in automotive and aerospace; and an exclusive global licensing agreement with Q/C Technologies (Nasdaq: QCLS) for cryptocurrency, DePin, and AI compute applications, under which the qc-LPU100 product line has launched. The company also operates a free LPU Lab early-access program and offers benchmarking and pilot engagements to convert prospects into platform licensees.
LightSolver is funded by the European Innovation Council (€2.5M grant plus €10M equity from the 2024 EIC Accelerator program) and has prior backing from Intel Ignite, Entrée Capital, IBI Tech Fund, and Tal Ventures. It is recognized by Gartner as a key player in photonic computing, was a finalist in the 2024 Airbus–BMW Quantum Computing Challenge, and was named to Calcalist's 2025 list of the 50 most promising Israeli startups. The company's headquarters are in Tel Aviv, with a team of approximately 24 named professionals including a nine-person leadership group.
LightSolver firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LightSolver
- Legal name
- LightSolver Ltd.
- Website
- https://lightsolver.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- LightSolver Ltd. is an Israeli deep-technology company that has built the Laser Processing Unit (LPU), an analog optical computing platform that solves PDE simulation, combinatorial optimization, and eigenvalue problems at room temperature via a Python API, serving enterprise customers in aerospace, automotive CAE, and licensed crypto/AI compute.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where LightSolver is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tel Aviv
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices1 record
Markets served
LightSolver business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- LightSolver Platform License: Customers purchase a LightSolver license for their organization to run optimization problems on the laser-based platform. Available as a cloud service (Python package) or on-premises deployment. Pricing is quote-based; revenue type is recurring (license/subscription model implied by 'purchasing a license').
- Exclusive LPU Technology Licensing (Q/C Technologies): LightSolver granted Q/C Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCLS) exclusive global rights to its laser processing unit technology for cryptocurrency applications. Q/C Technologies launched the qc-LPU100, a quantum-class LPU. LightSolver is the inventor and owner of the LPU technology and earns licensing royalties on the derivative products.
- Strategic Co-Development Funding (Boeing): Boeing is funding the continued development and optimization of LightSolver's LPU technology for physics-based engineering simulations in aerospace, with planned extension to energy, transportation, and infrastructure. Functions as a strategic financial partnership / sponsored development arrangement.
- European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Grant: LightSolver has been awarded €2.5m in European grant funding from the EIC Accelerator Program (out of a total €12.5m package including €10m in equity funding). Non-dilutive/non-recurring in nature.
- Benchmarking / Pilot Engagements: LightSolver offers complimentary benchmarks and tailored optimization studies (e.g., Quadratic Assignment Problem, rotor blade sorting, EDCVRP field service scheduling) as proof-of-concept engagements that convert into platform licenses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | LightSolver Platform License (cloud or on-premises) — quote-based |
| Freemium | — | LPU Lab (free research access) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
LightSolver product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LightSolver develops and sells access to a Laser Processing Unit (LPU), a physics-based analog optical computing platform built around a programmable degenerate optical resonator. The LPU performs multi-pass, memory-bound computations natively in light, delivering ~1,000 TOPS at ~100W with ~200 TB/sec equivalent memory bandwidth, and is accessed by enterprise and research customers via a Python cloud API or on-premises deployment for optimization and PDE simulation workloads.
Product overview
LightSolver offers a single unified product — the Laser Processing Unit (LPU) — built on a physics-based analog optical computing engine. The LPU is a platform-plus-modules architecture, with a single core hardware (the optical resonator-based processing engine) that can be configured into three application modes: the Rapid Propagator (for PDE simulation and engineering/scientific modeling), the Annealer (for combinatorial optimization problems such as Ising, QUBO, and Potts models), and the Eigenvalue Solver (for structural engineering problems such as the Helmholtz equation). Users access the LPU through a Python-based cloud API (or on-premises deployment), and an LPU Lab program offers early access to an Alpha version and digital emulator for researchers. The LPU has also been co-developed into the qc-LPU100 with Q/C Technologies for crypto and AI applications, and integrated with Ansys LS-DYNA for CAE modeling in automotive and aerospace.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Laser Processing Unit (LPU) LightSolver's flagship physics-based analog optical computing engine. The LPU uses an optical resonator to trap light and perform multi-pass computations, offering nanosecond clock cycles, ~1,000 TOPS at ~100W with ~200 TB/sec equivalent memory bandwidth, and configurable modes (Rapid Propagator, Annealer, Eigenvalue Solver). Sold to enterprise and research customers via cloud or on-premises deployment.
- LPU Lab Early-access program that provides researchers with hands-on access to an Alpha LPU and a digital emulator for evaluating the LPU architecture against their computational problems.
- LightSolver Python-based Cloud API (with on-premises option) Python-based cloud API (with on-premises option) that translates formulated optimization problems into laser couplings on the LPU and returns a solution including a state vector and objective function score. Includes a routing formulation package for expressing problems as QUBO.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 50x faster computation than traditional hardware (per LightSolver technology page)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use LightSolver
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LightSolver technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability5 records
Feature9 records
LightSolver partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Boeing (led by Boeing Israel)flagshipStrategic financial partnership announced April 28–29, 2026 for LightSolver to develop its Laser Processing Unit (LPU) for large-scale engineering simulations of structural degradation, asset lifespan, and maintenance planning. Boeing is funding the continued development and optimization of the LPU; the technology is expected to extend beyond aerospace to energy, transportation, and infrastructure. Boeing Israel President Ido Nehushtan publicly endorsed the partnership, citing the combination of Boeing's engineering scale with LightSolver's laser-based computing expertise.
- Q/C Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCLS) — formerly TNF PharmaceuticalscoreExclusive global licensing agreement granting Q/C Technologies exclusive global rights to LightSolver's laser processing unit (LPU) technology for cryptocurrency applications. Together they launched the qc-LPU100 quantum-class LPU, which Q/C Technologies claims is up to 100x faster than state-of-the-art GPUs at 1/100th the energy, targeting crypto mining, DePin tokens, and AI compute. LightSolver is named as the inventor and owner of the LPU technology.
- AnsyscoreLightSolver partnered with Ansys to integrate its laser-based computing technology with Ansys LS-DYNA simulation software, advancing CAE modeling for the automotive and aerospace industries. The integration exposes the LPU to Ansys' installed base of CAE users.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
LightSolver competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lightmatter: Lightmatter is a direct photonic-computing competitor building silicon-photonics AI accelerators and interconnect. Both LightSolver and Lightmatter are recognized by Gartner as key players in photonic computing and target HPC workloads where traditional GPUs hit memory-bandwidth and energy limits, though Lightmatter focuses on AI inference while LightSolver focuses on physics simulation and combinatorial optimization.
- Xanadu: Xanadu builds photonic quantum computers and cloud-accessible quantum software, and is named alongside LightSolver in Gartner's photonic-computing recognition. Both pursue light-based computing paradigms positioned against GPUs and conventional quantum systems for optimization and machine-learning workloads, with overlapping customer interest in physics-based simulation and combinatorial optimization.
- Lightelligence: Lightelligence develops optical computing hardware for AI and optimization, and is one of the four peers Gartner grouped with LightSolver in photonic computing. Both companies target the same fundamental opportunity — replacing GPU/CPU execution of memory-bound HPC workloads with light-based analog or photonic processors.
- Q.ANT: Q.ANT is a German photonic-computing company building light-native processors for AI and optimization, and is the fourth peer named alongside LightSolver in Gartner's photonic-computing coverage. Both companies pursue analog/photonic processors as alternatives to GPU-based HPC, targeting similar enterprise customers in engineering simulation and combinatorial optimization.
- Salience Labs: Salience Labs builds photonic AI processors and is the fifth peer grouped with LightSolver in Gartner's photonic-computing recognition. Both startups are pursuing commercial deployment of light-based computing for memory-bound HPC workloads within a roughly similar stage and customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- D-Wave: D-Wave is a publicly traded quantum annealer that, like LightSolver's Annealer mode, targets combinatorial optimization (QUBO/Ising) problems. Both are positioned as alternatives to classical solvers like Gurobi and CPLEX for NP-hard optimization, though D-Wave uses superconducting qubits rather than lasers.
- PsiQuantum: PsiQuantum is building a fault-tolerant photonic quantum computer. LightSolver explicitly competes for the same "post-GPU" high-performance computing opportunity, particularly in simulation and optimization workloads, with both pursuing photonics as the core compute primitive.
- IBM Quantum: IBM Quantum is the most established quantum-computing platform and a benchmark alternative for HPC and optimization customers LightSolver targets. LightSolver's value proposition explicitly includes outperforming quantum computers on certain workloads, making IBM Quantum the strategic incumbent in the adjacent quantum category LightSolver is positioning against.
- Rigetti: Rigetti builds superconducting quantum computers and offers quantum-cloud services targeting HPC and optimization workloads. As a quantum-computing incumbent, it represents the alternative technology path that LightSolver's laser-based LPU is being benchmarked against.
- NVIDIA: NVIDIA GPUs (and CUDA software stack) are the incumbent HPC platform that LightSolver explicitly benchmarks against, claiming up to 100x speedups at 1/100th energy for PDE simulation and combinatorial optimization. NVIDIA is the dominant commercial competitor whose customers LightSolver must displace or augment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights1 record
Customer concentration
LightSolver social profiles
Digital presenceLightSolver financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LightSolver leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
LightSolver funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LightSolver M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about LightSolver
What does LightSolver do?
LightSolver develops and sells access to a Laser Processing Unit (LPU), a physics-based analog optical computing platform built around a programmable degenerate optical resonator. The LPU performs multi-pass, memory-bound computations natively in light, delivering ~1,000 TOPS at ~100W with ~200 TB/sec equivalent memory bandwidth, and is accessed by enterprise and research customers via a Python cloud API or on-premises deployment for optimization and PDE simulation workloads.
Is LightSolver a public or private company?
LightSolver is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was LightSolver founded?
LightSolver was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is LightSolver based?
LightSolver is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does LightSolver make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. LightSolver Platform License is the primary driver. The others are exclusive LPU Technology Licensing (Q/C Technologies), strategic Co-Development Funding (Boeing), european Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Grant and benchmarking / Pilot Engagements.
Who are LightSolver's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lightmatter, Xanadu, Lightelligence, Q.ANT and Salience Labs. Broad incumbents are D-Wave, PsiQuantum, IBM Quantum, Rigetti and NVIDIA.
Does LightSolver have an API?
Yes. Python-based cloud API that allows users to apply formulated optimization problems to the Laser Processing Unit (LPU) without requiring knowledge of optics. The API translates problem variables into laser couplings that are processed on the LPUs and returns a solution including a state vector and objective function score. LightSolver also provides a routing formulation package to formulate problems as QUBO. Accessible as a cloud service or on-premises.