Our Team

Co-founder and architecture nerd of Akhetonics. With over 2 decades spend in computer science and physics, I’ve worked on everything from the fundamental design of processors, programming operating systems and compilers, to hacking neural networks. Even though I am a nerd at heart, I’ve spend 12 years in the military as an infantry officer in the army airborne.

Co-founder and the scientist in Akhetonics. I have been immersed in the world of lasers for my whole career spanning over 15 year. I started designing lasers to trap ultracold atoms for quantum simulators for my bachelor and master's at the university of Florence (Italy) in the LENS research center. My exploration continued as I delved into all-optical logic gates and memories in my PhD in Applied Photonics and postdoc at the National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom) and the Max Plank Institute for the science of Light (Germany). Now, I decided to bring all this knowledge into a ground-breaking company and a product that will revolutionize the field of computing, much likely the triode valve and the transistor already did in their time.

Photonic Design Engineer at Akhetonics. I am part of the photonic design and science team, and I am responsible for developing design tools, simulations, and photonic component designs. I am extremely passionate about the future of all optical computing! Prior to Akhetonics, I did a Masters in Computer Science studying Machine Learning and Computer Graphics at York University in Toronto, Canada. Before that, I worked as a Software Consultant designing enterprise data management systems, as well as work in various research labs from autonomous robotics to sensorimotor research. I also did a Bachelors in Computer Science and Physics with a focus on Optics and applied laser science at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Benjamin Cichos is a quantum systems engineer at Akhetonics researching photonic quantum computing in the endeavour to develop an all-optical solution to universal quantum computing. He is currently in his final year at the University of Glasgow, where he is completing his bachelor degree in computing science and physics.

Born 92, I'm a seasoned software developer with over 20 years of experience, starting my journey at 13 with a passion for game development. Currently, I'm deeply involved in architectural work at Akhetonics, thriving in a scrum team environment and enjoying the freedom to innovate. My roots are in the pastoral setting of a Bavarian farm near Altötting, but I now embrace city life, having financially secured my own house through my tenure at the successful startup Genesis Mining. I'm a family man, expecting my third child, and have a keen interest in mechanical keyboards. My career has been marked by a love for startups, where I excel in transforming chaos into structured growth and development, both in code and in teams.

Originally from Cyprus, George joined Akhetonics in 2023 after completing his PhD in Physics at Imperial College London and the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light. Having joined at an early stage, he contributed to Photonic Design as well as building the early stages of the Photonics Lab, characterizing chips, automating lab measurements, and establishing methods and standards. Today he works across both low-level and high-level technical projects, mainly centered on photonic hardware.

After graduating from TUM, Anna joined Akhetonics as a quantum optics scientist, where she explores the full (nonlinear) potential of light in photonic integrated circuits. She previously dedicated her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees to asking fundamental questions about how things work at their most basic level, while becoming thoroughly confused by the quantum nature of light. Somehow, this only made her more curious. Alongside her scientific work, she also manages projects and brings energy to team life, often by organizing social activities with a sporty twist (company runs included, participation enthusiasm may vary).

Sergio is a 25-year-old engineer from Spain, who pursued his passion for science through a degree in Engineering Physics in Madrid and a Master's in Photonics in Barcelona. His academic journey has led him to collaborate on various innovative projects, further deepening his expertise in photonics. Outside of his professional life, Sergio is an avid sports enthusiast, regularly running and working out at the gym. His dedication to both physical and intellectual challenges makes him a dynamic and versatile addition to our team

Sophia Chay is the Vice President of Human Resources at Akhetonics. She has years of HR experience and cares deeply about causes like animal welfare, children’s rights, and disaster relief. She holds a double degree in Human Resource Management and Psychological Science from Griffith University in Australia and has additional HR training from the International Chamber of Commerce. Sophia has also volunteered as a home builder in India and supported a child in Mongolia through World Vision for 15 years. Since 2020, she has been helping to cook and distribute food for homeless people in Berlin. She combines her skills with a strong passion for making a positive impact.

I am a 22 year old international student from Bangladesh currently doing my undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering at the Technische Universität Berlin. At Akhetonics, I am part of the architecture team, and my work mainly involves bridging the gap between the software and the hardware sides. Since a young age, I've enjoyed working with computer hardware and circuits, starting from building PCs as a hobby to later taking on more advanced projects. My current role at Akhetonics allows me to use these experiences for my newly discovered interest in optical computing.

I'm a Software Engineer at Akhetonics with a strong interest in AI, embedded systems, and computer vision. Before joining the team, I worked on deep learning technologies for human tracking and gained hands-on experience in firmware development and system architecture.

I'm a Low-Level Software Developer at Akhetonics with a strong background in hardware-software co-design, embedded systems, and high-performance computing. My recent work includes developing a deadlock resolution mechanism for ARM-based chiplet systems, as well as simulation and firmware projects involving SystemC, C++, and Python.

Christos Pappas is a Photonics Scientist at Akhetonics. In 2026, he received his PhD in “Photonic AI Accelerators and Optical Memory Architectures” from the Department of Informatics at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). His work focuses on high-performance computing systems and neuromorphic photonics, with expertise in optical memory architectures, linear optics, and photonic AI accelerators. At Akhetonics, he is responsible for high-speed photonic measurement and system-level characterization activities, including the development of RF and electro-optic measurement infrastructure, while contributing to automated testing frameworks, photonic circuit validation workflows, and design feedback in collaboration with design teams. His work aims to enable scalable and energy-efficient photonic hardware platforms for next-generation artificial intelligence. In 2025, he received the IEEE Photonics Society Graduate Student Scholarship and the Young Researcher Excellence Award from the STEM program at AUTH.

I’m a Photonics Architect with a Ph.D. in Applied Physics (optics/photonics) from the FEMTO-ST Institute (France), and extensive experience in photonic hardware accelerators and nonlinear photonic integrated circuits. I’ve led projects in both academia and startups, designing end-to-end photonic systems for AI, CPUs, and high-speed interconnects. My work drives the end-to-end RTL-to-GDS design pipeline for large-scale packaged photonic integrated circuits.

Dr. Timothy Amoah is an experienced engineer with a PhD in Physics from the University of Surrey. He has a proven track record in the semiconductor industry, with expertise in photonics, numerical simulation, and R&D. Timothy has held key roles at companies like Codasip and Imagination Technologies, and is passionate about driving innovation and supporting customers with technical excellence.

I am part of the Software Research team at Akhetonics, where I get to develop efficient algorithms for the next frontier of computing. I hold a Master's in Data Engineering & Analytics from TU Munich, specializing in low-level internals of data-intensive systems and probabilistic methods. I love a good cup of black tea, hardware-aware software, and being part of a team leading the world toward a non-von Neumann architecture.

Chirag Patil is a Senior Photonic Systems Engineer at Akhetonics, specializing in photonic integration and packaging, and leading the implementation of quality management systems. Originally from India, his curiosity for building and experimenting led him from engineering to a PhD at the University of Copenhagen, followed by a postdoctoral research stint at Tyndall National Institute. His research journey spanned the entire lifecycle of photonics from chip design and fabrication to system-level packaging. Driven by a desire to bring the real capabilities of photonics to solving global challenges, he transitioned from research to industry, starting with a LiDAR startup before joining Akhetonics to work on photonic processors. Outside the professional space, you'll find him exploring the outdoors, enjoying good food, and staying active.

Giulio Terrasanta is a 29-year-old Italian physicist currently working as a Photonics Engineer at Akhetonics. He holds a BSc in Engineering Physics from the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) and an MSc in Applied Physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). Prior to joining Akhetonics, he spent five years pursuing his PhD at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where he focused on the development of photonic integrated devices for optical satellite communication. He is currently completing his doctoral studies in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Outside of his professional work, Giulio enjoys staying active and practicing sports, especially running. You think light is fast? Try chasing him during a run.

I’m an experienced software engineer with a genuine passion for challenges. I belong to the generation that learned to program as a kid on the ZX Spectrum—first in BASIC, and later straight to assembler. No books, no Stack Overflow, just trial and error. That experience taught me one fundamental truth: everything can be learned. Today, I believe every software solution must be solidly grounded in modern architecture and properly adhere to current established standards.

I am a Photonic Design & Verification Engineer at Akhetonics. Before joining Akhetonics, I worked across the full PIC process during my doctoral research at the Technical University of Munich—from design and simulation to nanofabrication and experimental implementation.

Personal Assistant to Dr. George Ghalanos and key contributor to his work.