Haylo Labs Acquires Plessey Semiconductors, Boosts Micro-LED and Optical Computing Market Presence

Haylo Labs has acquired Plessey Semiconductors, a developer of micro-LED display technology. Haylo Labs plans to invest more than £100 million ($134 million) in the U.K. over five years to scale Plessey’s manufacturing capacity and grow the company’s workforce.

Plessey Semiconductors' site in Plymouth, England. Courtesy of Plessey Semiconductors.

Founded in 1956, Plessey Semiconductors has developed an integrated platform capable of designing, manufacturing, and engineering next-generation display technologies entirely in-house. The processes and tools used to fabricate micro-LEDs can also be repurposed to create optical processing units (OPUs), which are suited for performing the complex mathematical calculations required by AI operations that currently consume vast amounts of energy.

Haylo Ventures, a venture operator dedicated to building and scaling deep tech businesses, established Haylo Labs to focus specifically on the micro-LED, optical compute, and interconnect sectors.

According to Plessey Semiconductors, the acquisition strengthens the U.K.’s position as a global leader in immersive computing and next-generation technology. The international micro-LED market,. the company said, in a press release, is forecast to grow from $3.7 billion in 2024 to more than $800 billion by 2034. Demand drivers include augmented and virtual reality, automotive displays, premium consumer electronics such as virtual reality headsets and smart glasses, and optical computing.

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About Plessey Semiconductors Ltd.

Published: August 2025

Glossary

semiconductor: A semiconductor is a type of material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. In other words, semiconductors have properties that are intermediate between metals (good conductors of electricity) and insulators (poor conductors of electricity). The conductivity of a semiconductor can be controlled and modified by factors such as temperature, impurities, or an applied electric field. The most common semiconductors are crystalline solids, and they are...
artificial intelligence: The ability of a machine to perform certain complex functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as judgment, pattern recognition, understanding, learning, planning, and problem solving.
micro-led: Micro-LED (micro-light-emitting diode) refers to a technology that involves the use of very small light-emitting diodes to create displays and lighting systems. These LEDs are miniature versions of traditional LEDs, typically on the order of micrometers in size. Micro-LED displays offer several advantages over other display technologies, including improved brightness, energy efficiency, and the potential for high resolution. Here are key characteristics and features of micro-LED technology: ...

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