Episode Details

AI data centres are running into a network bottleneck as models demand more bandwidth, more connected processors and dramatically more power.

James Regan, CEO of Oriole Networks, thinks the industry is still trying to scale architectures that fundamentally do not work at the size AI is heading towards. Oriole’s approach replaces electrical packet switches with photonic switching technology designed to move data optically across the data centre, with the long-term goal of connecting a million XPUs in a single hop while cutting power consumption at the same time.

The Scaling Europe show is presented by Deel - check them out here:

https://get.deel.com/ruynb7o4lfjk

Sponsors:

Mishcon: https://www.mishcon.com/pop-ups/scaling-europe

Chargebee: https://www.chargebee.com/events/beelieve/london/2026

SurrealDB: https://surrealdb.com/

Airwallex: https://www.airwallex.com/uk?utm_source=other&utm_medium=partner_referral&utm_campaign=v01_emea_multi_ib_dg_prtmk_mofu_scalingeurope

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

0:27 - What Oriole Networks is building

1:48 - Why optical switching matters for AI

4:50 - The network bottleneck problem

7:22 - Prism Ultra and scaling AI infrastructure

10:24 - Industry reaction to Prism Ultra

12:49 - US vs European deep tech investors

16:07 - What James does differently as a repeat founder

20:27 - Spinning companies out of universities

24:15 - Why founders should avoid weak early deals

25:53 - Recognising bad VC deals as a repeat founder