Aeluma, Inc.

Aeluma, Inc.

Overview

Aeluma develops high-performance photonic and electronic technologies for communications and sensing across telecom, AI datacom, mobile, defense/aerospace, robotics, automotive, AR/VR, and quantum applications. The company focuses on heterogeneous integration of compound semiconductor materials on large-diameter substrates to align with mainstream microelectronics manufacturing.

Platform drivers and technology

• Heterogeneous integration of compound semiconductors on large-diameter substrates (e.g., silicon and GaAs).
• Photodetectors and photodetector arrays for near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) detection.
• Quantum dot lasers and related nonlinear photonics for optical communications and sensing.
• Platform extensibility to other photonic and electronic devices, including transistors and solar cells.
• Compatibility with silicon and silicon nitride photonics for integrated photonic systems.

Products and applications

• Photodetectors and imaging arrays capable of NIR and SWIR detection.
• Quantum dot–based lasers and optical amplifiers.
• Nonlinear photonics components and integration-ready devices for communications and sensing systems.

Manufacturing and facilities

• Internal capabilities include materials growth, process development, prototyping, wafer-level testing, and validation.
• Production-scale activities rely on external foundries and packaging/integration partners; the company aims to qualify repeatable production flows with those partners.
• 2026 expansion included acquisition of automated and semi-automated wafer probers, packaging and prototyping equipment, test and validation instruments, and expanded outsourced wafer fabrication.
• Primary facilities total approximately 9,000 square feet for R&D and manufacturing with a cleanroom; the lease is extended through March 2031.
• Additional office space of about 2,400 square feet is located near headquarters.

Commercial and industrial strategy

• Capital-efficient model: maintain internal materials growth, process development, prototyping, and wafer testing while using external foundries and packaging partners for production scale.
• Strategic relationships with external foundries and partners were announced in 2026 with Tower Semiconductor and Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technologies for wafer production and fabrication.
• Transitioning from primarily government-funded R&D toward commercialization. The company has delivered engineering samples, wafers, and chips, has completed NRE projects, and has begun accepting initial commercial orders.

Customers and markets

• Target customers include U.S. government agencies and prime contractors, semiconductor and optical component suppliers, system integrators, module manufacturers, Tier-1 suppliers, and manufacturers in mobile/consumer electronics, data-center/communications equipment, defense/aerospace systems, and quantum technologies.
• Customer engagement increased in AI datacom, mobile/consumer electronics, defense/aerospace, and quantum applications during fiscal year 2026; the company has delivered wafers, chips, and engineering samples and performed customer-funded development work. Initial commercial orders have been small.

Intellectual property

• IP portfolio of approximately 36 issued and pending patents covering heterogeneous integration on large-diameter substrates, scalable manufacturing, photodetectors and imaging arrays, photonic components, 3D sensing, large-format imaging, quantum dot lasers, and integrated semiconductor platforms.
• Additional protections include trade secrets, know-how, and confidential information, plus trademark applications for “Aeluma” and “Sensing Reimagined.”

People and location

• 27 employees as of June 30, 2026 (24 full-time), all based in the United States.
• Hiring priorities focused on engineering, manufacturing, and business development. No employees are under a collective bargaining agreement.

Funding and regulatory programs

• Entered into a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce for proposed CHIPS and Science Act funding; the funding is milestone-based.
• Export controls and other regulatory considerations are relevant to the company’s government and commercial activities.

Operational considerations and strategic goals

• Operations are concentrated in Goleta, California, and the company relies on third-party foundries and suppliers for some production activities.
• Strategic goals include advancing a differentiated heterogeneous integration platform, focusing on high-value markets (AI datacom, defense/aerospace, quantum, mobile/consumer), scaling through a capital-efficient ecosystem, accessing government programs and customer-funded development, forming strategic partnerships, protecting IP, and building organizational capability.