Avicena
Los Angeles, US · Founded 2014 · Delaware LLC · 10 known investors
Avicena develops microLED-based optical interconnect technology, including the LightBundle transceiver ICs that pair microLED emitters and photodetectors with multi-core fiber for high-speed chip-to-chip communications. Its products connect GPU clusters across multiple racks to enable scalable, energy-efficient data center and computing interconnects.
Founders & leadership
Avicena was founded in 2014 by Rob Kalman, Alex Tselikov, and Bardia Pezeshki.
RK
Rob KalmanFounder & Chief Scientist
AT
Alex TselikovFounder & Principal Engineer
BP
Bardia PezeshkiFounder
SB
Sean BradyExecutive
MC
Marco ChisariCEO
FL
FGG, LLCNamed on SEC filing
Board
MT
Matthew TasoojiBoard director
KC
Ken CharhutBoard director
MG
Morteza GharibBoard director
HW
Henry WolfBoard director
Investors · 10
Clear Ventures✓ verifiedPalo Alto · $100K – $5M
Hitachi Ventures✓ verifiedMunich
Prosperity7 Ventures✓ verifiedDhahran
Samsung Catalyst Fund✓ verifiedSan Jose
Cerberus Capital Management✓ verifiedNew York
Maverick Silicon✓ verifiedSan Francisco
Micron Ventures✓ verifiedSan Jose
Tiger Global Management✓ verifiedNew York · $1M – $100M
Lam Capital
Open Field CapitalNew York
Competitors · 2
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Cloudflare Turnstile122 shared keywordsCloudflare provides a global cloud network platform delivering security, performance, and development services through sixty-plus integrated services including SASE, application security, and full-stack development infrastructure.
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Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$3.1M disclosed across 4 of 9 rounds · 2014–2023
▶$10MofferedDec 2023 · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$10MofferedDec 2023 · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Mory GharibDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $10M
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$15MofferedNov 2022 · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$15MofferedNov 2022 · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Morteza GharibDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $15M
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$12MofferedNov 2021 · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$12MofferedNov 2021 · Biotechnology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Morteza GharibDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Offering amount
- $12M
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$14MofferedAug 2019 · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$14MofferedAug 2019 · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Mory GharibDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Offering amount
- $14M
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2014
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$4MofferedFeb 2018 · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$4MofferedFeb 2018 · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Mory GharibDirector
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Offering amount
- $4M
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2014
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$573KraisedJul 2017 · 8 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$573KraisedJul 2017 · 8 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Keith DawkinsDirector
- Henry WolfDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Mory GharibDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $573K
- First sale
- Jun 2017
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2014
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$1.7MraisedSep 2016 · 14 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$1.7MraisedSep 2016 · 14 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Morteza GharibDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Henry WolfDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $1.7M
- First sale
- Sep 2016
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2014
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$300KraisedOct 2014 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
▶$300KraisedOct 2014 · 1 investors · Other
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Henry WolfDirector
- Sean BradyExecutive Officer
- Mory GharibDirector
- Matthew TasoojiDirector
- Ken CharhutDirector
- Offering amount
- $300K
- Amount sold
- $300K
- First sale
- Oct 2014
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2014
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Non-dilutive funding · 2 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | Phase II | 2022 | $989.2K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase I | 2021 | $255.6K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Avicena do?
- Avicena develops microLED-based optical interconnect technology, including the LightBundle transceiver ICs that pair microLED emitters and photodetectors with multi-core fiber for high-speed chip-to-chip communications. Its products connect GPU clusters across multiple racks to enable scalable, energy-efficient data center and computing interconnects.
- Who founded Avicena?
- Avicena was founded by Rob Kalman, Alex Tselikov, Bardia Pezeshki in 2014.
- Who are Avicena's investors?
- Avicena's investors include Clear Ventures, Hitachi Ventures, Prosperity7 Ventures, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Cerberus Capital Management, Maverick Silicon, Micron Ventures, Tiger Global Management and 2 more.
- How much funding has Avicena raised?
- Avicena has disclosed $3.1M raised across 4 of its 9 known rounds.
- Where is Avicena headquartered?
- Avicena is headquartered in Los Angeles, US.