Thanks, nodrog16, interesting read!

So, while not speculating whether repricing the options was too late to avoid this brain drain, GF Fotonix seems to be behind POET. Indications:

• “In the next few years, they hope to increase their chips’ bandwidth from 100 Gigabits per wavelength (G/λ) to 200 G/λ, and eventually to 400 G/λ and beyond.” – Good to know they are still a few years away while POET has already shown 200 G/λ (highlighting in the quote by me)!
• “GF Fotonix is unique in the industry in that it monolithically combines active and passive photonics devices …”: Monolithical integration seems to mean that GF can only use their own active components, while POET can integrate best-of-breed components from whatever supplier they chose. On the other hand, GF Fotonix “includes features for 2D/2.5D integration (like copper pillars and copper receive pads) and “light in and light out”—v-groove-based fiber couplers with capability for on-die InP laser attach.” These pillars and receive pads reminds me of the corresponding feature of the POET OI. Not sure where to draw the line, how good the integration is, and how GF and POET differentiate in this regard.