Palomino Laboratories
Palomino Laboratories is a pre-revenue, Palo Alto–based semiconductor company developing GaN-based MicroLED optical interconnect technology for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack data communication in AI data centers, targeting sub-picojoule energy-per-bit performance as a replacement for copper wiring.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Palomino Laboratories does
Palomino Laboratories Inc. is a U.S.-based, Delaware-incorporated semiconductor company headquartered in Palo Alto that designs and develops GaN (gallium nitride) MicroLED-based optical interconnect technology for AI data centers and next-generation data infrastructure. Its core platform uses advanced solid-state materials (Al, Ga, Sc, N) to emit light for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack optical data communication, targeting an energy-per-bit performance of less than one picojoule as a replacement for traditional copper wiring. The company holds patented MicroLED technologies engineered for high-fidelity data transmission in harsh environments and positions its offering at the intersection of compound-semiconductor device physics and AI infrastructure bottlenecks.
The company was founded in 2025 by semiconductor veterans Jeff Shealy (former Akoustis CEO, which he scaled to ~$50M/year in product sales and a >$800M market cap with >$380M raised), Steven DenBaars (UCSB SSL pioneer and co-founder of Nitres, Soraa, SLD Laser, and Akoustis), and Richard Ogawa (former Inphi general counsel). It is pre-revenue, reported a $3.16 million net loss in fiscal 2025, and employs 11–50 people. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise sales, led by VP of Business Development Colin Hunt, targeting AI data center operators as the primary segment with secondary applications in advanced displays/consumer electronics and government/defense (CHIPS/NIST-aligned onshore manufacturing). In April 2026, the company completed a private placement of approximately $16.98 million in gross proceeds at $4.00/share, with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. as placement agent, to fund commercialization and the transition from R&D to product scaling and market entry.
Palomino Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Palomino Laboratories
- Legal name
- Palomino Laboratories Inc.
- Website
- https://www.palominolabs.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Palomino Laboratories is a pre-revenue, Palo Alto–based semiconductor company developing GaN-based MicroLED optical interconnect technology for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack data communication in AI data centers, targeting sub-picojoule energy-per-bit performance as a replacement for copper wiring.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Palomino Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Compound Semiconductor Optical Interconnects
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), RF, Microwave & Wireless ICs (HDAHAAAF)
Keywords
Where Palomino Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Palomino Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Palomino Laboratories is a pre-revenue company developing GaN-based MicroLED hardware products for optical data communications. Once commercialized, revenue will be generated from selling optical interconnect hardware solutions to AI data center operators and other enterprise customers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Palomino Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Palomino Laboratories designs and manufactures GaN-based MicroLED optical interconnect technology for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack data communication. The patented platform uses advanced solid-state compound semiconductor materials (Al, Ga, Sc, N) to replace copper wiring with energy-efficient light-based data transfer targeting less than one picojoule per bit, aimed primarily at AI data center infrastructure.
Product overview
Palomino Laboratories offers a unified product portfolio centered on its patented GaN-based MicroLED optical interconnect technology. This core technology platform enables ultra-fast, high-efficiency optical data communications for AI infrastructure, consumer electronics, and advanced display applications. The company is transitioning from R&D toward commercialization and scaling of its MicroLED-based optical interconnect solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GaN-based MicroLED Optical Interconnect Technology Compound semiconductor product using gallium nitride (GaN) MicroLEDs engineered to emit light for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack optical interconnect data communication. Designed to replace copper wiring in AI data centers with high-fidelity, energy-efficient light-based data transfer (target under 1 picojoule per bit) and to operate in harsh environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy-per-bit performance target of less than 1 picojoule
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Palomino Laboratories
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Palomino Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Palomino Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Palomino Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lumentum: Leading supplier of optical components, lasers, and photonic integrated circuits for data center interconnects and telecom. Broad incumbent in the optical interconnect market that Palomino is targeting with its GaN MicroLED approach.
- Intel (Silicon Photonics): Dominant silicon photonics player shipping integrated optical transceivers and co-packaged optics for data center and AI cluster interconnects. Broad incumbent with massive R&D, fab capacity, and hyperscaler design wins.
- Marvell Technology: Provider of optical DSPs, coherent DSPs, and data infrastructure silicon for cloud and AI data center interconnects. Broad incumbent with established shipping products in the optical interconnect market.
- Broadcom: Major supplier of optical DSPs, transceivers, and switching ASICs for hyperscale data centers and AI infrastructure. Broad incumbent whose optical interconnect portfolio addresses the same AI data center bottleneck Palomino targets.
- Coherent (II-VI): Large diversified photonics and compound semiconductor manufacturer serving data center optical interconnect, communications, and sensing. Broad incumbent with established GaAs/InP fabs and data center customer relationships.
Emerging players
- SLD Laser: GaN-based laser and LED company co-founded by Steven DenBaars, focused on specialty lighting and sensing applications. Emerging player sharing the same GaN-on-GaN material expertise and DenBaars IP foundation as Palomino.
Direct peers
- Akoustis: Previously CEO-led GaN RF filter company that scaled to ~$50M/year revenue under Jeff Shealy. Direct peer in GaN compound semiconductor process technology and commercialization playbook, though focused on RF rather than optical interconnects.
- Aeluma: U.S.-based semiconductor company developing GaN-on-silicon and compound semiconductor devices for sensors, communications, and AI infrastructure. Direct peer to Palomino in compound semiconductor material platforms, with shared co-founder DenBaars on the board.
- Soraa: GaN-on-GaN LED company co-founded by Steven DenBaars, focused on high-performance lighting and specialty applications. Direct peer in GaN epitaxial material technology and DenBaars' foundational IP in GaN LEDs.
Others
- Nitres (acquired by Cree): Early-stage GaN LED company co-founded by Steven DenBaars (acquired by Cree/Wolfspeed). Historically comparable in GaN LED R&D roots and founder lineage to Palomino, though Cree/Wolfspeed is now a large broad-incumbent in SiC power and GaN RF/LED.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Palomino Laboratories social profiles
Digital presencePalomino Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Palomino Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Palomino Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Palomino Laboratories M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Palomino Laboratories
What does Palomino Laboratories do?
Palomino Laboratories designs and manufactures GaN-based MicroLED optical interconnect technology for chip-to-chip and rack-to-rack data communication. The patented platform uses advanced solid-state compound semiconductor materials (Al, Ga, Sc, N) to replace copper wiring with energy-efficient light-based data transfer targeting less than one picojoule per bit, aimed primarily at AI data center infrastructure.
Is Palomino Laboratories a public or private company?
Palomino Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Palomino Laboratories founded?
Palomino Laboratories was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Palomino Laboratories based?
Palomino Laboratories is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Palomino Laboratories make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Product Sales.
Who are Palomino Laboratories's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lumentum, Intel (Silicon Photonics), Marvell Technology, Broadcom and Coherent (II-VI). SLD Laser is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Akoustis, Aeluma and Soraa. Nitres (acquired by Cree) is listed as an others.
Does Palomino Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Palomino Laboratories.
What industry is Palomino Laboratories in?
Palomino Laboratories's product category is Compound Semiconductor Optical Interconnects. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL), with a secondary code of HDAHACAG, Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.