Data centres are under intense pressure. As AI workloads explode, they’re running into serious problems—sluggish communication, high power bills, and growing latency. At the heart of the issue lies a constant back-and-forth between electrical and optical signals. This process eats up energy and slows things down.
Enter Astrape Networks, a fast-growing Dutch deep-tech startup aiming to rewrite the rules of data centre networking. The company just secured €7.9 million in seed funding—including a €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC). Backers include PhotonVentures, Join Capital, BOM (Brabant Development Agency), and Shift Invest. Their goal? Make data flow faster, greener, and smarter—especially for AI-heavy environments.
Founded in 2022 as a spin-off from Eindhoven University of Technology and backed by HighTechXL, Astrape’s technology brings photonics into the data centre core. Instead of converting signals repeatedly across a network, their innovation shifts optical conversion to the network edge. This means fewer energy-draining steps and less friction as data moves between servers.
Rethinking Data Traffic for the AI Era
Astrape’s flagship product, the EFFINITI switch, takes a bold approach to network design. Using Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), it offers multi-wavelength channels and dynamic circuit switching—no need for bulky transceivers or expensive hardware upgrades. The result? Speeds that scale, energy savings of up to 60%, and the ability to support 16 million GPUs or xPUs in a single network.
CEO and co-founder Francesco Pessolano explained the vision: “We’re building the foundation for tomorrow’s AI-enabled data centres. This funding allows us to finish product development, expand our team, and begin early deployments with pilot customers.” These pilots will inform product refinement ahead of wider market rollout in 2027.
The team behind Astrape—Pessolano, Marco Camilli, and Willem Jan Withagen—bring deep expertise in optical communications, semiconductor systems, and networking infrastructure. Their office sits in Europe’s photonics hub: the Brainport Eindhoven High Tech Campus.
Boosting Performance Without the Pain of Upgrades
Rather than replace what exists, Astrape’s technology slips easily into current data centre environments, including Ethernet setups. “EFFINITI integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructure,” said Pessolano. “We enable operators to expand performance without ripping out their networks.”
And the numbers back him up. The platform doubles GPU/xPU utilisation, cuts power usage by up to 60%, and reduces data movement. It even expands hop capacity and traffic volume while simplifying server infrastructure.
While most data centre vendors push for faster and more expensive components, Astrape takes a smarter path. “Unlike other systems, EFFINITI doesn’t rely on faster optics or electronics. That makes it more future-proof and reliable,” Pessolano noted.
Targeting the Hyperscaler Market with a Strategic Edge
Astrape is positioning itself as a direct challenger to industry giants like Cisco and Arista. Its primary focus includes hyperscalers such as AWS, Azure, and large multi-tenant facilities. “The market can’t keep throwing speed and hardware at the problem,” said Pessolano. “Our solution offers scale and sustainability without massive cost.”
The company’s patented innovations focus on eliminating bottlenecks, lowering latency, and slashing energy waste—problems that traditional packet-switched designs fail to solve at scale.
Backing Astrape’s bold plans, Sebastian von Ribbentrop of Join Capital remarked, “This team has shown real-world feasibility in the lab, and we believe they’re solving one of the most critical challenges in modern data infrastructure.”
Ivana Sersic Vollenbroek of BOM agreed: “Astrape fits perfectly into the Netherlands’ growing photonics ecosystem. Their tech doesn’t just cut energy costs—it maximises existing infrastructure. That’s a win for both sustainability and business.”
With its unique approach, seasoned founding team, and growing momentum, Astrape Networks is quietly positioning itself as a cornerstone of the next generation of AI-optimised data centres.
