Relativity Networks, a start-up based in Orlando, Florida, has secured $4.6 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate the deployment of hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology, addressing the data transmission and power challenges faced by AI-driven data centers. As data centers expand to meet the surging demand for AI workloads, power shortages are expected to impact 40% of facilities by 2027. Relativity Networks’ patent-pending HCF technology allows data to travel nearly 50% faster and 1.5 times farther than conventional fiber, extending the feasible distance between data centers to 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the current 60 kilometers (37 miles). This increased range allows data centers to be built closer to new and underutilized power sources, easing energy constraints in urban cores.
The company has already secured multimillion-dollar contracts and deployed HCF technology in several U.S. field installations. Its business model focuses on rapid scaling through industry partnerships to ensure high-volume production. Relativity Networks’ HCF solutions integrate seamlessly with existing fiber networks, providing hyperscalers and telecommunications providers with an immediate pathway to expanding their infrastructure without latency compromises. The funding round, led by private investors and an initial investment from CEO Jason Eichenholz, will support the company’s efforts to commercialize HCF and drive broader adoption across the industry.
• $4.6M Pre-Seed Funding: Raised to accelerate deployment of hollow-core fiber (HCF) for AI data centers.
• 50% Faster Data Transmission: HCF allows near speed-of-light data transfer, reducing latency and extending data center reach.
• Scalability and Integration: Seamless adoption into existing fiber networks for hyperscalers and telecom providers.
• Multimillion-Dollar Contracts: Technology is already deployed in several U.S. installations.
- Relativity Networks was founded in 2023 by Jason Eichenholz and Rodrigo Amezcua Correa to commercialize hollow-core fiber technology originally developed at the University of Central Florida’s CREOL College of Optics and Photonics. Eichenholz, who holds a Ph.D. in optical sciences, previously co-founded Luminar, a company specializing in lidar (light detection and ranging) technology for autonomous vehicles. He has over 90 patents in photonics and has led the development of numerous commercialized laser and optical technologies. Amezcua Correa, a leading fiber optics researcher, developed the patent-pending HCF technology that Relativity Networks is scaling for high-volume production.
