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Mesh Optical, a hardware startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, emerged from stealth today with backing from Thrive Capital to revolutionize data center connectivity. The company aims to establish high-volume domestic manufacturing of optical interconnects, a critical component for powering bandwidth-hungry AI GPU clusters, while simultaneously reducing the technology sector's reliance on foreign supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- Thrive Capital Backing: The venture firm is leading the initial funding round for Mesh Optical as it exits stealth mode.
- High-Speed Tech: The company is producing linear pluggable optics capable of 1.6 terabits per second to support next-generation GPU clusters.
- Supply Chain Shift: Mesh Optical plans to move optical manufacturing capacity from China to the United States by 2027.
- SpaceX DNA: Founded by the team behind Starlink’s laser mesh, the startup applies rapid manufacturing principles to data center hardware.
Accelerating AI Infrastructure
As artificial intelligence models grow in complexity, the hardware required to run them faces increasing bandwidth bottlenecks. Mesh Optical is addressing this by deploying high-volume optical interconnects designed specifically for GPU clusters. According to the company, current architecture requires four to five optical transceivers for every single GPU, creating massive demand for efficient, high-speed connectivity.
The company’s flagship offering is a "linear pluggable optic" capable of data transfer rates of 1.6 terabits per second. This specification is projected to become the industry standard for state-of-the-art data centers in the coming years. By moving from traditional radio frequency (RF) to optical solutions, the technology addresses the critical power constraints facing modern data centers.
"We are standing up high volume optical manufacturing of these optical interconnects that are used for all GPU clusters... connecting everything from the ground to space is going to need to transition to optical because RF reaches a limit and optical photons are much more efficient."
Securing the Supply Chain
Beyond technical specifications, Mesh Optical is positioning itself as a strategic geopolitical asset. The current global supply chain for optical components is heavily dominated by Asian markets, specifically China. Mesh Optical intends to disrupt this monopoly by establishing a secure, US-based manufacturing pipeline with a target for significant domestic capacity by 2027.
Founder Trevor, a former SpaceX engineer, emphasized that the vulnerability of the current supply chain presents a major risk to US compute capabilities. By onshore manufacturing, the company aims to offer data center operators a more secure and resilient alternative.
"There's a big vulnerability in the supply chain with regards to optics and the way those optics are assembled and manufactured all overseas. Standing up a secure supply chain outside of Asia and China specifically really helps us leverage our product into all of these data centers."
SpaceX Roots and Future Ambitions
The company’s operational philosophy mirrors that of SpaceX, where the founding team previously worked on the Starlink laser communication mesh. The startup is adopting a vertically integrated approach, colocating engineering talent directly alongside the manufacturing line to accelerate iteration and production speed.
While the immediate focus remains on terrestrial data centers, Mesh Optical maintains a long-term roadmap focused on the aerospace sector. The company plans to eventually pivot its high-volume production capabilities toward space-based laser communications and photon propulsion systems for spacecraft.
Mesh Optical will now focus on scaling the production of its first device to meet the immediate demands of US data centers, utilizing the capital injection from Thrive Capital to accelerate deployment speeds and secure domestic infrastructure.
