MMC: it seems to me that they all represent potential customers.

I agree. None of them are capable of producing superior optical engines for whatever purpose. POET has no serious competitor for OE production.

The module makers will face stiff competiton from POET when POET produces its own brand of 800G+ modules. The adopters of POET OEs for their own modules expect to have a competitive advantage over their competitors. Key adoptors are required to elevate POET's stature to "Nasdaq darling".