# Conversation with Ayar Labs CEO Mark Wade on Silicon Photonics, Co-Packaged Optics, and Next-Gen AI Infrastructure

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2026-09-21
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 186
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e7ad3356

## Summary

Mark Wade, CEO of Ayar Labs, and Jesse Leiter, VP of Capital Strategy, discuss the company's strategy to solve the interconnect bottleneck in AI data centers using co-packaged optics (CPO). Wade explains the technical complexity of integrating silicon photonics into TSMC's advanced CMOS nodes and the strategic importance of partnerships with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. Leiter details Ayar Labs' funding journey, including a recent $650 million raise and strategic investments from major tech giants, positioning the company for an eventual IPO in a market projected to reach $30-50 billion by 2030.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=8) Introduction and the Interconnect Bottleneck
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=284) Why Optical Connectivity is Necessary Now
- [12:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=736) Manufacturing Challenges of Co-Packaged Optics
- [16:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=967) Interconnect Landscape and Long-Term Vision
- [21:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=1264) Digital Twins and Manufacturing Optimization
- [24:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=1496) Strategic Bet on TSMC and Foundry Integration
- [33:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=2030) Customer Adoption Hurdles and Risk Mitigation
- [38:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=2288) Funding Strategy and Path to IPO
- [44:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2026-09-21-conversation-with-ayar-labs-ceo-mark-wade-on-silicon-photonics-co-packaged-optic#t=2652) Investor Relations and Market Opportunity

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Ayar Labs (company)
- TSMC (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- AMD (company)
- Intel (company)
- ChatGPT (product)
- MediaTek (company)
- Alchip (company)
- Win (company)
- Newburger Berman (company)
- Sequoia (company)
- Inside Partners (company)
- Arc (company)
- 1789 (company)
- QIA (company)
- GIC (company)
- Jeffries (company)
- OCP (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Apple to OpenLight: Silicon Photonics and Integrated Lasers with Dr. Tom Mader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-04-18-from-apple-to-openlight-silicon-photonics-and-integrated-lasers-with-dr-tom-made) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Can Silicon Photonics Solve the Bandwidth Bottleneck in AI Data Centers?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-05-21-can-silicon-photonics-solve-the-bandwidth-bottleneck-in-ai-data-centers) (Moore's Lobby)
- [‘Smart’ Water Bottles | The Hottest Hot Chip | A Sensors & Photonics Merger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-08-23-smart-water-bottles-the-hottest-hot-chip-a-sensors-photonics-merger) (EE Times Current)
- [China’s $28B Big Fund | The Cockiest Startup | Sony’s Ambitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-11-22-chinas-28b-big-fund-the-cockiest-startup-sonys-ambitions) (EE Times Current)
- [The Silicon 100: How Startups Rule the Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-02-the-silicon-100-how-startups-rule-the-future) (EE Times Current)

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