Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she's focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher's Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
Lightmatter is not publicly traded.
Hiive is a marketplace that connects accredited investors with shareholders of pre-IPO, VC-backed companies like Lightmatter who want to sell their shares.
Sign up with Hiive here and get access to Lightmatter before its IPO.
Any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Hiive Markets Limited (“Hiive”) or any of its affiliates. This communication is for informational purposes only, and is not a recommendation, solicitation, or research report relating to any investment strategy or security. Investing in private securities is speculative, illiquid, and involves the risk of loss. Not all private companies will experience an IPO or other liquidity event; past performance does not guarantee future results. WallStreetZen is not affilated with Hiive and may be compensated for user activity resulting from readers clicking on Hiive affiliate links. Hiive Markets Limited, member FINRA/SIPC.
Interested in the future of computing? Keep Lightmatter on your radar. This Boston-based tech company that aims to revolutionize the semiconductor industry with its photonic computing technology.
It uses light instead of electricity for data processing, which has generated a buzz among notable investors. Lightmatter recently raised $400 million in its Series D funding, valuing it at $4.4 billion.
Its photonic chips deliver over 10x speed and energy advantages compared to traditional processors. This capability positions Lightmatter as a game-changer in the AI hardware landscape.
Lightspeed has raised over $850 million in total funding and is backed by investors such as Google Ventures and Fidelity.
But can individual investors get a piece of this promising tech company? Let’s explore your options.
How to Buy Lightmatter Stock? Is Lightmatter Publicly Traded?
You’ll be disappointed if you’re searching for how to buy Lightmatter stock on public exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq. Lightmatter is not publicly traded, so your brokerage account does not have a Lightmatter stock symbol to look up.
Lightmatter shares aren’t available through traditional investment channels as a private entity. However, that doesn’t mean investing in Lightmatter in 2025 is impossible.
Let’s look at how to buy Lightmatter stock or how to invest in Lightmatter based on what type of investor you are.
How to Invest in Lightmatter as an Accredited Investor
Lightmatter is not publicly traded. However, accredited investors can invest in private companies, including Lightmatter, through Hiive.
Hiive is a marketplace that connects shareholders of private, VC-backed companies who want to sell their pre-IPO shares to accredited investors.
With no buying fees, the ability to negotiate, and a robust marketplace with thousands of companies, Hiive is a great way to invest in companies before they go public.
Sign up with Hiive, check out Lightmatter, add it to your watchlist, and get notified about any new listings and trades.
How to Buy Lightmatter as a Retail Investor
There is no direct way to buy Lightmatter stock if you are not an accredited investor. Lightmatter is privately held, with its shares available only to institutional investors, employees, and accredited individuals.
However, there are still ways to gain exposure to Lightmatter’s growth potential.
Let’s explore alternative approaches for retail investors interested in this innovative company.
Who Owns Lightmatter?
Lightmatter’s ownership structure includes a diverse group of stakeholders, such as:
Founders:
Lightmatter was founded by Nicholas Harris (CEO), Darius Bunandar, and Thomas Graham, who likely hold significant equity in the company.
Venture Capital Firms:
- GV (Google Ventures)
- Viking Global Investors
- T. Rowe Price Associates
- Fidelity Management & Research Company
- Matrix Partners
- Spark Capital
Employees:
Like most startups, employees likely hold shares through stock options or equity incentives.
Given its $4.4 billion valuation following its Series D round, Lightmatter has attracted capital as investors bet on its photonic computing technology that may transform data centers and AI applications.
Does Google Own Lightmatter?
Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) does not own Lightmatter outright. However, Google Ventures (GV), Alphabet’s venture capital arm, is a major investor.
GV has participated in several rounds of funding for the company, including its Series A in 2019.
Lightmatter remains an independent entity with a diverse group of investors. While GV’s investment provides strategic support and validation for Lightmatter’s technology, it does not imply full ownership or control of the company.
3 Alternatives to Lightmatter for Retail Investors
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Since you can’t directly buy Lightmatter stock as a retail investor, here are three alternatives that might provide exposure to similar technology trends. All charts courtesy TradingView.
Note: This article does not provide investment advice. The stocks listed should not be taken as recommendations. Your investments are solely your decisions.
1. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) competes with Lightmatter through its quantum computing initiatives under Amazon Web Services (AWS).
While Lightmatter focuses on photonic computing for AI and high-performance computing (HPC), Amazon leverages its cloud infrastructure to advance quantum computing technologies.
Amazon scores highly according to our quant ratings system, Zen Ratings. It earns an overall grade of B (Buy), as it scores highly on factors such as Financials. This factor evaluates Amazon’s free cash flow in terms of return on assets and return on equity.
Stocks with an overall B rating have historically outperformed the market, delivering an average annual return of 19.88%.
2. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)
As the dominant player in AI chips, NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) represents the current gold standard in high-performance computing.
While Lightmatter’s photonic approach eventually aims to outperform traditional GPU architecture, NVIDIA continues to innovate with each generation of chips and maintains strong market leadership in AI acceleration.
According to our quant ratings system, Zen Ratings, Nvidia has an overall grade of C (hold). The ratings are based on 115 factors, including Growth, Momentum, and Sentiment.
Interestingly, Nvidia ranks lower on Value, which measures factors such as estimated earnings yield, cash flow yield, and the PEG ratio.
While we generally don’t suggest investing in C-rated stocks, ratings are updated daily. Add NVDA to your free watchlist below to get regular updates on the company.
3. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) competes with Lightmatter through its advancements in quantum computing and hybrid computing technologies, primarily via its Azure Quantum platform.
The tech giant emphasizes scalable quantum systems and hybrid applications that combine quantum, classical HPC, and AI.
According to our quant ratings system, Zen Ratings, Microsoft has an overall grade of C (hold). Similar to Nvidia, Microsoft is also rated highly on its Financials.
How to Buy the Lightmatter IPO
Here are the steps on how to buy Twitter stock if and when it becomes available:
- Create or login to your brokerage account (if you don’t have one, we recommend eToro)
- Search for Lightmatter
- Select how many shares you want to buy
- Place your order
- Monitor your trade
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Lightmatter Stock Price Chart
There is no Lightmatter stock price chart, as the stock is not publicly listed. However, the AI market is forecast to grow at a steady pace in the upcoming decade.
The global AI product and service market could reach $990 billion by 2027, up from $185 billion in 2023.
Specifically, the global AI hardware market could touch $473.5 billion in 2033, up from $53.7 billion in 2023. The AI inference chip market is expected to expand from $1.58 billion in 2023 to $90.6 billion in 2030.
Moreover, the global photonic integrated circuit market is estimated to grow from $8.6 billion in 2023 to $47.6 billion in 2032.
Conclusion
Lightmatter’s photonic approach aims to solve limitations in traditional semiconductor technology. Its growing valuation suggests solid potential. But as a private company, investment opportunities remain limited for most retail investors.
If you’re an accredited investor, platforms like Hiive offer potential access to pre-IPO shares. For retail investors, the best approach may be to watch for an IPO announcement while investing in publicly traded companies operating in similar segments.
As with any investment, thoroughly research the company, industry trends, and financial goals before deciding.
FAQs:
How can I buy Lightmatter stock?
Lightmatter is not publicly traded. Only accredited investors can buy Lightmatter stock through private investment platforms like Hiive, which connects pre-IPO shareholders with buyers.
Retail investors cannot purchase Lightmatter shares until the company goes public.
How much is Lightmatter stock?
Since Lightmatter is a private company, there is no public Lightmatter stock price. However, its most recent Series D funding round in 2024 valued the company at approximately $4.4 billion.
The actual share price for private transactions varies based on negotiation between buyers and sellers on private marketplaces.
What is the Lightmatter stock symbol?
There is no Lightmatter stock symbol or Lightmatter stock price chart because it is not publicly traded on any stock exchange. However, if the company decides to go public in the future, it will receive a stock symbol then.
Who owns Lightmatter stock?
Lightmatter stock is owned by its founders (Nicholas Harris, Darius Bunandar, and Thomas Graham), employees, and investors, including GV (Google Ventures), Viking Global Investors, T. Rowe Price Associates, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Matrix Partners, and Spark Capital.
As a private company, detailed ownership percentages are not publicly disclosed.
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