Tema Launches DISK and LAZR ETFs to Capitalize on AI Infrastructure Growth

Why AI Needs More Than Just Faster Chips

The rapid growth of generative AI has exposed new bottlenecks within data centers.

Building more powerful processors is only part of the equation.

AI systems also require vast amounts of memory to store and access data efficiently, as well as faster ways to move information between chips, servers, and networking infrastructure.

As AI models continue to grow in size and complexity, these supporting technologies are becoming increasingly important to overall system performance.

This dynamic has created new investment opportunities beyond traditional semiconductor exposure, particularly in areas that remain underrepresented in many technology portfolios.

DISK Targets the Memory Backbone of AI

The Tema Memory ETF (DISK) focuses on companies involved throughout the memory semiconductor ecosystem.

The fund invests in businesses tied to technologies such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM), DRAM, NAND flash, solid-state drives, memory packaging, semiconductor equipment, and related software and intellectual property.

Memory has emerged as one of the most important components in AI infrastructure.

Advanced AI accelerators increasingly rely on large amounts of high-speed memory to process and train sophisticated models efficiently. As a result, demand for next-generation memory solutions has become a major theme across the semiconductor industry.

DISK takes an actively managed approach, allowing Tema's investment team to identify opportunities across the global memory value chain, including companies in the United States, South Korea, Japan, Europe, China, and emerging markets.

Unlike passive semiconductor ETFs, the fund is not constrained by an index and can allocate capital based on conviction, valuation, liquidity, and risk considerations.

LAZR Focuses on the Future of Data Movement

While memory helps AI systems process information, photonics and optical technologies help move that information quickly and efficiently.

The Tema Photonics & Optical ETF (LAZR) targets companies developing technologies that use light rather than traditional electrical connections to transmit data.

This includes businesses involved in silicon photonics, optical interconnects, lasers, optical transceivers, fiber-optic infrastructure, imaging systems, and photonic computing technologies.

As AI data centers become larger and more complex, traditional copper-based networking infrastructure is increasingly approaching physical and efficiency limitations. Industry participants are turning toward optical technologies to handle growing data transfer requirements while reducing power consumption and latency.

As a result, photonics has become one of the fastest-growing areas of AI infrastructure investment, with demand extending beyond data centers into telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare, automotive applications, and defense technologies.

Active Management in Specialized Markets

Both ETFs are actively managed and developed in partnership with insights from SemiAnalysis, a research provider focused on semiconductors and AI infrastructure.

Rather than tracking broad technology benchmarks, the portfolios are built using Tema's internal research process, which evaluates companies based on conviction, valuation, liquidity, diversification, and long-term growth potential.

According to Steve Munroe, President of Tema ETFs, the goal is to provide investors with access to segments of the AI ecosystem that are often overlooked by traditional technology funds.

Memory and photonics sit at two of the most important frontiers in scaling AI infrastructure. DISK and LAZR combine Tema's active investment expertise with SemiAnalysis' specialized semiconductor and AI infrastructure insights to deliver institutional-quality exposure to areas overlooked both by broad technology and semiconductor funds and narrow memory funds.

Looking Beyond the Semiconductor Giants

The launches reflect a broader evolution in AI investing. While much investor attention remains focused on large-cap semiconductor companies, the infrastructure supporting AI development has expanded into a complex ecosystem of suppliers, component manufacturers, networking providers, and specialized technology firms.

By focusing on memory and photonics, Tema is offering investors exposure to two areas that could play increasingly important roles as AI adoption continues to accelerate globally.

About Tema ETFs

Founded in 2022, Tema ETFs develops institutional-quality ETF strategies focused on structural growth themes, durable core exposures, and liquid alternatives. The firm is backed by investors including Index Ventures, Accel Partners, and Zinal Growth, and aims to provide investors with actively managed exposure to transformative long-term investment themes.

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.