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Playground backs scientists and engineers working to turn breakthrough science into companies.

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Playground’s privacy policy describes its practices for collecting, using, storing, sharing, and safeguarding information collected from its websites and other properties.

PicoJool, a startup backed by former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, raises $27.5 million in a Series A led by Socratic Partners, with Hudson River Trading participating. The company develops VCSEL and MicroVCSEL optical chips and modules, including 100G and 200G products, to replace copper interconnects and increase bandwidth while reducing energy use in AI clusters. It plans to expand teams in the U.S. and Taiwan, qualify products with customers, and prepare its 200G VCSEL for mass production with WIN Semiconductors and other foundries.

Sep 2026 · SiliconAngleNews article

GlobalFoundries invests in Playground Global’s Fund IV as a limited partner through GF Accelerate. The investment formalizes GlobalFoundries’ expanding commitment to early-stage deep technology innovation.

May 2026 · GlobalFoundriesNews article

Playground Global, an early-stage venture firm focused on deep tech, raises $475 million for its fourth fund. The fund is oversubscribed from a $350 million target.

May 2026 · AxiosNews article

Playground Global announces its fourth fund, a $475 million vehicle backing the next generation of deep technology companies. The fund will invest across computing, automation, infrastructure, logistics, decarbonization, and engineered biology.

May 2026 · Playground GlobalNews article