Amazon supports the programmable optics startup lmotive

Programmable optics start LUMOTIVO He has added some more strategic sponsors to his recent round of series B.

Lumotive, based in Redmond, Washington, reopened its recent round of B series funds to bring in Amazon, through its Industrial Innovation Fund of Amazon, and ITHCA Group, the technological investment arm of the Sovereign Fund of Sovereign wealth of Oman, as investors.

These new funds carry the company B of the company to $ 59 million, above the pounding of $ 45 million initially closed in February. The startup has raised more than $ 100 million in risk capital to date.

Lumotive CEO, Sam Heidari, told TechCrunch that the startup saw much more demand to participate in the round of what initially predicted. While the company had rejected some investors, it said it made sense to open it for IHCA Group and Amazon.

“Amazon has a lot of strategic value for us,” said Heari. “We appreciate the relationship more than money.”

The solid state chips of Lumotive Light control goals are formed by nano -scale pixels that can be controlled electronically to bend and manipulate the light. These chips have a variety of use cases, from autonomous vehicles that detect their surroundings, offering a smaller alternative more profitable to Lidar, to optical change in places such as data centers.

“It is a paradigm shift to manipulate light electronically,” said Heidari. “Being able to shape the light, stir the light, form the beams in the way you want, focus electronically. We can basically do what mirrors and engines do today, to work around the lights.”

Founded in 2018, the company began selling its chips in 2024 and says that it has maintained its list of small and focused customers. Heidari said that the new cash will help expand sales and marketing, and put more money for research and development.

“It is no longer a scientific project,” said Heidari about Lumotive technology. “It is a technology proven in the field. We knew that there is a great demand. Not only can it work, but it can work in a drop -down way.”