
Investment memo
LightSolver
Pioneering laser-based processing for complex optimization problems.
Information updated on May 25, 2026
Unicorn scoreA 100-point read across the founding team, traction, market, execution and how well each is evidenced. Higher means closer to the profile of companies that went on to reach a billion-dollar valuation.
Listen to the LightSolver brief memo
Current valuation
$16M
Verified May 25, 2026
First screened
May 25, 2026
Total raised
$21M
Last round: Corporate Round
Addressable marketToday: Global Quantum Computing Market ($20B). If the category wins: Global data-centre and cloud compute spend ($1000B).
~$20B – $1000B
LightSolver develops pioneering quantum-inspired technology that utilizes coupled lasers to perform computations for intricate multi-variable problems. This innovative approach enables the simultaneous scanning of all possible solutions, providing solutions to optimization challenges beyond the capabilities of classical and quantum computers. The technology serves industries such as logistics, finance, and energy.
How the score breaks down
A 100-point read across the founding team, traction, market, execution and how well each is evidenced. Higher means closer to the profile of companies that went on to reach a billion-dollar valuation.| Category | Strength | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Founder Background | 88% | |
| Strategic Position | 80% | |
| Execution Velocity | 80% | |
| Traction Momentum | 80% | |
| Market & Scalability | 80% |
Data confidence 81/100. This measures how much of the memo rests on sourced evidence rather than inference. It was assembled by reading 136 public sources about the company. Compiled May 25, 2026.
That gathering is automated, so mistakes are possible. The confidence figure is the honest guide: the higher it is, the more of what you are reading came from a source rather than an inference.
Founding team
Prior exits, repeat founders and relevant domain experience are the single strongest early signal in venture data.2 founders
Dr. Ruti Ben Shlomi
CEO & Co-founder
Weizmann Institute, PhD Physics.
Previously worked at
- Weizmann Institute (PhD Researcher)
- Ben-Gurion University (Master's Student)
Education
- Weizmann Institute - PhD Physics
- Ben-Gurion University - Master's
Dr. Chene Tradonsky
CTO & Co-founder
Weizmann Institute, PhD Physics.
Previously worked at
- Weizmann Institute (PhD Researcher)
- Israel Air Force (Electronics Engineer)
Education
- Weizmann Institute - PhD Physics
- Electronics Engineer
Traction
- Latest round
- Corporate Round · $11M
- Revenue
- $1.5M
- Team size
- 11
Investors (10)
Momentum & social pulse
- Press coverage
- +2 articles
- vs the 3 months before
Market
The market it sells into today
$20B
Global Quantum Computing Market, specifically for optimization and physics-intensive workloads using optical processing.
The market it competes for if its category wins
$1000B
Global data-centre and cloud compute spend
EstimatedIf LightSolver's approach becomes the norm, the spend it competes for stops being a niche infrastructure budget and becomes the compute bill of every workload that could run on it.
Why this startup makes sense now
What changed in the world recently that makes this the right moment. A great idea at the wrong time still fails, so a weak answer here is a real risk.The increasing demand for advanced computational power to solve complex optimization problems and physics-intensive workloads, driven by advancements in quantum-inspired optical technologies and the integration with AI, which classical computers struggle to handle efficiently.
What competitors cannot copy
What the company has that a well-funded competitor cannot simply copy: proprietary technology, exclusive data, a regulatory position, a network that grows with every user.LightSolver possesses a proprietary laser-based processing unit (LPU) technology, described as the first pure laser-based computing paradigm. This is reinforced by exclusive global licensing agreements for specific applications, such as with Q/C Technologies and TNF Pharmaceuticals for cryptocurrency, and a strategic partnership with Boeing for advanced engineering simulations.
Who else is in the race
Who else is going after the same customers, and where this company sits among them.LightSolver operates in the nascent but rapidly evolving quantum computing and next-generation computing space. Key competitors include established players like IBM, D-Wave Quantum Inc., Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Rigetti Computing, IonQ, Google, and Intel, all developing various quantum hardware and software solutions. LightSolver differentiates itself with its unique laser-based processing unit (LPU) technology, aiming to outperform these alternatives for specific optimization and simulation tasks.
Path to a billion
The arithmetic that gets to a billion-dollar outcome: who they sell to, at what price, and how many of them there need to be.LightSolver's path to $1B revenue hinges on the successful commercialization and widespread adoption of its laser-based processing units (LPUs) as a superior alternative to traditional high-performance computing (HPC) and other quantum computing solutions. This involves expanding strategic partnerships beyond early adopters like Boeing and a top-tier bank, securing further global licensing agreements across high-value enterprise verticals such as aerospace, finance, and potentially defense, where complex optimization and simulation problems are prevalent. The ability to demonstrate significant speed and efficiency advantages will be critical for market penetration and scaling revenue.
Our track record on this company
The valuation recorded the first time this company was screened, against the most recent verified one. It is never rewritten, so the multiple is a real track record.| First screened | May 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Entry valuation | $16M |
| Current valuation | $16M |
Latest valuation verified from Live re-screening on May 25, 2026. Entry valuation and date are frozen the first time a company is screened and are never rewritten. Valuations are re-checked quarterly against public funding announcements.
Comparable startups on the board
Each one carries a memo like this, built the same way and scored on the same 100 points.
How this works
Screen the next one yourself
Every startup on the board has a memo like this one. Your first screening is free, and there is no account to create.
