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April 24, 2008

Apple Forks Over $278M For PA Semi

Apple Computer is set to pay $278M to buy PA Semi. Santa Clara-based PA Semi's chips are designed for the embedded computing market. PA Semi is venture backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, Venrock Associates, and Focus Ventures.

Back in 2005, we wrote up PA Semi: "The talk of the Fall Processor Forum in San Jose is the emergence from 2 years in stealth mode of the tiny firm P.A. Semi. The outfit's frontman is Dan Dobberpuhl, the lead designer of the DEC Alpha series of microprocessors, the ultra-power-efficient StrongARM microprocessors. Like that chip, PA Semi has power consumption in its cross-hairs. The company's PR gears have been smoking with articles everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to PCWorld to the IEEE SSSC."

Only a handful of people know what Apple will do with PA Semi. Now that Apple is using chips from Intel and given that PA Semi has not focused on Intel chips, change is brewing.

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December 26, 2007

Israel's Silentium Raises $1.8M For Peace and Quite Chip

Noise pollution is not a term we hear too much any more. Perhaps we have all grown to live with loud and constant noise. But Noise control firm Silentium wants to cut down the racket from server/networking equipment, air conditioners and more. Silentium has raised $1.8M out of the $5M target. Naor Group made the investment.

Digging into it, the problem addressed is that while some companies have server rooms that can keep noise and heat at bay, more companies need to place loud and hot equipment amidst the workforce. OEMs can buy Silentium chips which purports to reduce noise levels.

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You can also buy this sound proof cabinet to rack your servers

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December 14, 2007

Atheros Pays $54M For GPSS Chip Maker u-Nav Microelectronics,

Santa Clara's Atheros Communications is buying Irvine-based u-Nav Microelectronics. Atheros says it will pay $54M; $15.4M in cash with the rest in stock. u-Nav makes the GPS chipset and software that powers the Casio Wristwatch Speed Meter for runners among other products. u-Nav's venture backers include iSherpa Capital, Nordic Venture Partners, and Shelter Capital Partners. Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) made a strategic investment in 2004.

Wristwatch with u-Nav enabled GPS

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-Nav Microelectronics Enables World's Smallest and Lightest GPS Wristwatch

Press Release Source: u-Nav Microelectronics

u-Nav Microelectronics Enables World's Smallest and Lightest GPS Wristwatch
Tuesday October 31, 8:00 am ET

IRVINE, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 31, 2006 -- u-Nav Microelectronics, supplier of the world's smallest and lowest power Global Positioning System (GPS) solutions, today announced that its GPS chipset and software has enabled the Casio Wristwatch Speed Meter for runners.

Casio Computer Co., Ltd. just announced the release of the GPR-100 -- a small, lightweight wrist-worn device that uses u-Nav GPS technology to display real-time data on distance, speed, and pace. This new model in the CASIO SPORT® series will be available in retail stores shortly.

The GPR-100 is the result of Casio's ongoing development efforts, boasting an ultracompact GPS antenna (19mm in length), compact, high-performance GPS module (12mm x 11mm) containing the u-Nav GPS solution. The GPR-100 displays distance, speed, and pace data in real time on the run. It also displays the exact time anywhere in the world automatically using satellite data.

"Thanks to the GPS technology of low power and high sensitivity offered by u-Nav, with the wafer level package (WLP) technology, we have achieved the smallest GPS wrist watch," said Etsuro Nakajima of Casio Computer Co., Ltd.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Casio Computer on this outstanding state-of-the-art product," says Greg Winner, u-Nav CEO. "This application is a perfect fit for our very small footprint low power solution."

u-Nav offers a wide variety of support tools including evaluation Kits, reference designs, Gerber files, schematics and a powerful software development kit.

About u-Nav Microelectronics

u-Nav is a privately held, fabless semiconductor company that develops GPS ICs and software solutions for the emerging mobile location based services market. u-Nav's technology delivers ultra-low power, miniature form-factors and leading performance enabling operation indoors, in urban canyons and under dense foliage.

About Casio

Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan is one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipments solutions and was established in 1957. Casio Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products in the US. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of "creativity and contribution" through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products.

Contact:

For more information please contact:
u-Nav Microelectronics
Email Contact
(949) 453-2728
Website: http://www.unav-micro.com

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November 28, 2007

Broadband Over Powerline's Intellon Prices IPO

We still haven't met anyone who is getting their net connectivity via their electrical outlet so it still seems futuristic, however, the market appears to be more mature than we had gauged with a first IPO by a sector playing coming up. Intellon has set its IPO terms at 7.5M common shares being offered at $9 - 11 per share and could have an initial market cap of $329M at the high end of its range.

Intellon makes chipsets that are used to enable net connectivity via regular power outlets.

For the year ended 2006, the company posted revenue of $33.7M on net loss of $7.8M compared with revenue of $16.6M on net loss of 12.5M in 2005. The Ocala, FL-based company said it applied for a Nasdaq listing under the symbol "ITLN." Shareholders include Fidelity Ventures, EnerTech Capital Partners, Comcast Interactive Capital, Goldman Sachs, Summerhill Ventures and UMC Capital. Intellon has actually been a bit of a slow growth story - it was founded back in 1989 - but the numbers show it is growing fast now.

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November 19, 2007

Spreadtrum Pays $70M for Quorum Systems

Spreadtrum Communications (Nasdaq: SPRD), a wireless chipset maker which did an IPO just last June, has acquired Quorum Systems for $70M. San Diego-based Quorum sells CMOS RF transceivers. Quorum will get $55M in cash and $15M in stock plus a $6M cash earn-out.

The deal is face-saving for Quorum investors who had put in about $50M. Investors are the Band of Angels, CampVentures, Crescendo Ventures, Greylock, Enterprise Partners, and Kleiner Perkins.

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Press Release - November 18, 2007

Spreadtrum Communications Acquires Quorum Systems, a Leading CMOS RF Transceiver Designer

SHANGHAI, China—November 18, 2007—Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRD), one of China's leading wireless baseband chipset providers, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Quorum Systems, Inc. ("Quorum"), a San Diego-based fabless semiconductor company that specializes in the design of highly integrated CMOS radio frequency (RF) transceivers. Under terms of the agreement, Spreadtrum will pay $55 million in cash and $15 million in stock to Quorum's shareholders, with up to an additional $6 million in cash for performance based earn-outs expected to be achieved over the next two years.

Commenting on the transaction, Spreadtrum's President and CEO, Dr. Ping Wu, said, "We are very pleased and excited to have the Quorum team join us. We have been working with the Quorum team for the past two years, and this merger is the next logical step in this partnership. Quorum's design team brings an average of 10 years of CMOS RF semiconductor experience to Spreadtrum, further increasing our R&D capabilities. We believe Quorum's RF technology, combined with our strengths in complete baseband and software solutions, will allow us to strengthen our unique position in the competitive mobile wireless communications market, from 2G to 3G, from RF to baseband, from physical layer software to protocol and applications."

"In just a few years, Spreadtrum has already established itself as a leader in the baseband business, and we are eager to be part of the Spreadtrum team," stated Dr. Bernard Xavier, President and CEO of Quorum Systems. "Since Quorum's founding in 2003, our team has developed world-class CMOS multi-band multi-mode RF transceivers, including our QS1000 transceiver for multi-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE applications and the QS3000 transceiver for combined GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 3G HSDPA applications. When compared with competing solutions, we believe that the QS1000 delivers best-in-class power consumption in a very small foot print and extends talk-time by 10-15% in GSM mode and 10- 20% in EDGE mode. Meanwhile, we also believe that the QS3000 offers handset designers one of the highest levels of integration for a 3G transceiver and achieves world-class GSM and WCDMA radio performance. Our industry leading CMOS RF transceivers are an excellent complement to Spreadtrum's unique baseband solutions, with strong synergies, and together, we can make further inroads into the market."

The boards of directors of both companies and the shareholders of Quorum have approved the definitive agreement. The transaction, which is subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and customary closing conditions, is expected to close by December 31, 2007.

Webcast and Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the transaction at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time on Monday, November 19, 2007. An audio webcast will be available simultaneously on the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site (www.spreadtrum.com). The conference call can be accessed via the following telephone numbers:

USA (Toll Free): 1 888 713 4209
USA (Toll): 1 617 213 4863
Hong Kong (Toll Free): 800 962 844
China (Toll Free): 10 800 130 0399
Participant Passcode: 4173 6091

A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days via the following telephone numbers:

USA (Toll Free): 1 888 286 8010
USA (Toll): 1 617 801 6888
Participant Passcode: 8782 2132
Pre-Registration (optional): https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=PEQ4QFG6

About Spreadtrum Communications, Inc:

Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRD; the "Company") is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops, and markets baseband processor solutions for the mobile wireless communications market. The Company combines its semiconductor design expertise with its software development capabilities to deliver highly-integrated baseband processors with multimedia functionality and power management. The Company has developed its solutions based on an open development platform, enabling its customers to develop customized wireless products that are feature-rich and meet their cost and time-to-market requirements.

About Quorum Systems, Inc:

Quorum Systems is a fabless semiconductor company that develops highly integrated CMOS radio frequency (RF) transceivers. Based in San Diego, California, USA, Quorum has focused on developing key intellectual property that enables multi-band radios to be low cost, low power and high performance. For more information about the company and its products please visit www.quorumsystems.com.

Safe Harbor Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding trends in the semiconductor industry in China, the Company's share in the Chinese mobile handset market, the synergies to be derived from combining the Company and Quorum, the future positioning of the Company in the mobile wireless communications market, and the Company's future results of operations, financial condition, and business prospects. These statements are forward-looking in nature and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual market trends and the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward- looking statements for a variety of reasons. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, continuing competitive pressure in the semiconductor industry and the effect of such pressure on prices; unpredictable changes in technology and consumer demand for mobile phones; uncertainty regarding whether and when the transaction would receive the necessary regulatory approvals; the Company's ability to integrate Quorum's operations into its own; the Company's ability to successfully produce Quorum's RF transceivers in volume; the Company's ability to sell Quorum's products to its existing customers; Quorum's ability to maintain its leadership position in designing low power consumption transceivers; the state of and any change in the Company's relationship with its major customers; and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in China. For additional discussion of these risks and uncertainties and other factors, please consider the information contained in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the registration statement on Form F-1 filed on June 26, 2007, as amended, especially the sections under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and such other documents that the Company may file with the SEC from time to time, including on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release.

Investor Contact:
Investor Relations
Tel: +86 21 5080 2727 x2268
E-mail: ir@spreadtrum.com

Source: Spreadtrum Communications, Inc.

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November 15, 2007

South Korea's Magnachip Files Major $575M IPO

This is a doozy. South Korea's MagnaChip Semiconductor has filed for a $575M IPO. It plans to trade on the NYSE under ticker symbol MX. MagnaChip sells flat-panel display drivers and image sensors. The company also does a large business in contract manufacturing services.

The company was spun out of Hynix in 2004 by Citigroup Venture Capital, CVC Asia Pacific and Francisco Partners.

For the nine months ended September 30, MagnaChip reported a loss of $138.9M on sales of $545.9M. MagnaChip said it expects to book higher research and marketing costs in the next several quarters and may not become profitable.

Several IPOs have been pulled recently and given MagnaChip's profit warnings we wouldn't be surprised to see this one get put on hold unless conditions look perfect at the time.

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October 19, 2007

Goldman Invests $100M In Israel's Driving Tool MobileEye at $500M Valuation

Goldman Sachs is investing $100M in Israeli's MobilEye at a pre-money company valuation of $500M reports Globes. The company confirmed plans for a 2008 IPO.Prior to this deal, MobileEye had raised $50M.

Mobileye's first application is for calculating the speed and distance of a vehicle in front of a car, and alerting the driver when other vehicles are too close. Using an algorithm that analyzes a road’s curvatures, the processor can warn against deviating from a lane.

MobilEye could be used by insurance companies because it takes a continuous image of a journey, and can provide a clear picture of events in the ten seconds preceding a possible accident.

MobilEye has signed two large contracts with GM and BMW. Aviram has predicted that the company would sign contracts with 70% of the world’s vehicle manufacturers within a few years. Mobileye says that it will have $10M in sales this year and that it will become profitable in 2008.

Read - announcement

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October 01, 2007

ChipMaker Memsic Files $100M IPO

Andover, MA-based Memsic has filed for a $100M IPO. Memsic uses micro electro-mechanical, or MEMS, technology to create semiconductor sensor and system solutions. Its products are used to measure tilt, shock, vibration and acceleration and have a wide range of applications such as mobile phones, automotive safety systems and video projectors.

The company says it has shipped more than 20M units since launch. For the 6 months ended June 30, the company reported income of $158K, compared with a loss of $151K the year-ago period. Sales for the first half of 2007 totaled $9.4M, compared to sales of $5.2M in the first six months of 2006.

It plans to trade on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol MEMS, with Citi serving as lead underwriter. The company has raised over $24M in VC funding led by Celtic House Venture Partners which holds a 16.84% pre-IPO stake.

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August 27, 2007

In IPO Dog Days, Sonics Inc. Files $80M IPO

Sonics makes Interconnect products and memory management products for systems on a chip in the embedded systems markets. The company today filed to do an $80M IPO. It has raised funding from Cadence, Toshiba, Samsung, Xilinx and a host of venture firms.

For the three months ended June 30, Sonics reported profit of $2.8M compared with loss of $900K during the prior-year period. During the same period, Sonics increased its revenue to $4.3M from $4.2M.

Sonics has three main customers: Broadcom, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba.

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August 23, 2007

Budget Micro-controller Maker Luminary Raises $25M To Take Biz To China

Austin chip startup, Luminary Micro, has raised a $25M VC investment that will go toward expansion into the Chinese market. Adams Street Partners led the round, with New Enterprise Associates, EXA Ventures and ATA Ventures. Luminary has raised $44M to date in three rounds.

Luminary Micro produces 32-bit MCUs at what it touts is an high price/performance. Its chips are used in industrial motor controls, building access and security systems, exercise equipment and heating and air-conditioning system compressors. Its controllers sell for about $1, which compares to less powerful 8-bit and 16-bit controllers.The startup is led by Jim Reinhart who was VP, Product Development at Cirrus Logic.

Read - Austin Statesman

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August 22, 2007

Telegent Raises $20M To Increase International Exposure To Its TV>Cell Phone Chips

Telegent, a chip maker which focuses on mobile TV, has raised $20M in a third round of funding. The Sunnyvale-based startup said that China-based Northern Light Venture Capital was the latest investor. Total outside investment in Telegent now amounts to $50M. Prior backers include Giuseppe Zocco, a venture capitalist at Index Ventures, has also invested in Joost.

Telegent's chips allow mobile phones to receive terrestrial broadcasts. Its technology reduces power consumption, and allows up to 4.5 hours of viewing time on cell phones. In February it announced a partnership with NEC.

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July 30, 2007

Digital Home Chip Maker Entropic Files $100M IPO

Entropic Communications filed to raise up to $100M in an IPO on Nasdaq. Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers would be the lead underwriters and Entropic plans to list its stock on the Nasdaq under the symbol "ENTR"

Entropic makes chips to enable connected home entertainment and aims to change the way high-def quality TV video, movies, music, games and photos are brought into and delivered throughout the home. It enables connected home networking over existing coaxial cables.

The company was founded in 2001 and last year posted revenues of $67.6M with a loss of $22.96M. In the first quarter of 2007, Entropic lost $2.896M on $29.24M in revenues.

Entropic's investors include: Anthem Venture Partners; Cisco, CMEA Ventures, Comcast Interactive Capital, Conexant, Cox Communications, The Dow Employees Pension Plan, EchoStar Satellite, Freescale Semiconductor, Focus Ventures, Granite Ventures, Intel Capital, Liberty Associated Partners, Mission Ventures, Motorola, Mototech, Panasonic, Redpoint Ventures, Revolution Ventures, Saints Capital, Belvedere LP, Texas Instruments, Time Warner, Verizon and YAS Broadband Ventures.

Read - Reuters post

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July 13, 2007

Broadband Over Powerlines Chip Maker Intellon Files $100M IPO

Ocala, FL-based chi maker Intellon filed today for a $100M IPO. Founded in 1989, Intellon designs and sells chips for broadband communications over existing electrical wiring to enable home connectivity in sharing and moving of content among personal computers and other consumer electronics products. These chips allow consumers to share downloaded video content from a PC with a TV in another room. Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Jefferies & Co., and Piper Jaffray are underwriting the IPO. Intellon intends to list its stock on the Nasdaq under the symbol "ITLN."

As of June 1, 2007, Intellon says it has shipped more than 16M powerline communications chips, led by over 10M HomePlug-based chips. It shipped over 5.3M powerline communications chips in 2006, an 87% increase over 2005 shipments of 2.9M.

Revenue grew to $33.7M for 2006 from $16.6 M for 2005 and to $9.7< for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from $7.3M for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Its primary powerline competitors include Afa Technologies, Inc., Arkados, Conexant Systems and Maxim Integrated Products. Intellon also lists four key customers who comprise the lion-share of its business.

Intelleon has many shareholders but they are led by BCE, Comcast Interactive Capital, EnerTech Capital, Fidelity, Goldman Sachs, and UMC Capital.

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June 25, 2007

Voice Chip's Legerity Bought By Zarlink For $134M

Legerity has been bought by Canadian chip firm Zarlink Semiconductor [NYSE: ZL] for $134.5M in cash. Legerity sells chips for analog voice technologies in carrier, enterprise and residential gateway equipment. The two companies say they share a very similar customer base but are not direct competitors. Legerity has grown its revenue from $88M in 2004 to $113M in 2006. For 2006, Legerity recorded a profit of $4.1M.

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June 14, 2007

Meltdown In Beaverton: Flat Panel Chip Maker Enuclia Runs Out of Cash

Enuclia Semiconductor, which was funded to make chips for flat-panel televisions, is out of business. The company had raised $18M in VC funding, including a 2006 Series B round at a $33M post-money valuation from Menlo Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds and Scale Venture Partners.

Enuclia had agreed on terms for a $14M Series C deal with existing shareholders, but that the deal went south when one investor got cold feet.

Enuclia had to lay off the last of its 53 employees - it has recently laid off another 50+ on top of this. The Oregonian says the news marks another milestone in the steady decline of Oregon's cluster of electronic display companies.

What went wrong at Enuclia? At least one analyst says that the market is just too complex for a startup to bit off. "I'm sorry that Enuclia closed down, but I'm not surprised," said Shyam Nagrani, principal analyst covering the digital TV market for the research firm iSuppli in Santa Clara, Calif.

High-end TV technology has become increasingly complex, Nagrani said. Companies designing chips for that market have to coordinate hardware and software, then adapt their products to work with all of the different TV formats used in Europe, Asia and North America. For many small companies like Enuclia, he said, it's too much to handle.

"Today you can't just build a display processor," Nagrani said. "You have to build an entire TV system."

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June 08, 2007

Swedish Nanoradio - Chipmaker To WiFi - Raises $27M

Sweden's Nanoradio, which makes chips for low power WiFi (W-LAN) on cell phones and other consumer devices, has raised $27M. Investors are the Norwegian firm, Ferd Venture, together with the previous investors: Nordic Venture Partners, Innovacom, Teknoinvest and Industrifonden.

Founded in March 2004, Nanoradio's chipset targets demand for mobile VoIP. Demand is being driven by fixed-to-cellular convergence. The technology is supported by standards such as UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem). In addition to mobile VoIP, Nanoradio's applications include wireless headsets.

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June 07, 2007

Chinese Wireless Chip-maker Spreadtrum Files $100M IPO

Shanghai-based wireless chip maker Spreadtrum Communications has filed for a $100M IPO on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol SPRD, with Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers as co-led underwriters.

It looks to us like this IPO well do well. Founded in 2001, Spreadtrum went into mass production in 2006. From 2003 to 2006, revenues have surged from $2.4M to $107.1M and the company reached profitability in the first quarter of 2006.

Shareholders Pre-IPO stake
New Enterprise Associates 24.24%
Fortune Venture Group 11.61%
Pacific Venture Partners 7.7%

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April 26, 2007

Ellacoya Asks Why Not Raise $145M?

Deep packet inspection and traffic management specialist Ellacoya Networks today has closed a $13M round of growth funding led by Atlas Venture , BCE Capital , Canaan Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Presidio Venture Partners. Ellacoya has raised more than $145M to date. Most of that funding came before its recap round in 2002. Since then, the company has raised $48M over four rounds.

Ellacoya says that its time has finally come because the crazy spikes of online video demands help to manage traffic peaks. Indeed its competitors are making out. Allot and Sandvine have both gone public. Ellacoya is saying it expects to double revenues this year.

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April 13, 2007

Networking Chip-maker Cavium Prices $75M IPO

Santa Clara's Cavium Networks which makes security, network services and content processing semiconductors has set its IPO terms to 6.25M shares at $10 - $12 per share. For 2006, Cavium logged $34M in revenues with a net loss of $9M.

Cavium has raised over $60M in VC funding led by these firms:

VC firm Pre-IPO stake
Menlo Ventures 29.98%
Alliance Ventures 13.89%
Diamondhead Ventures 9.19%

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March 22, 2007

HDTV Heavy Chip Maker For Chinese Market, Legend Silicon Goes Big With $40M Round

Legend Silicon has raised $40M in Series D funding led by Intel Capital. The company says it plans to use the proceeds to develop terrestrial digital TV demodulation IC products that comply with the newly approved China Digital Television Terrestrial Broadcasting standard.

"With this home grown technology, people all over China will be able to experience High Definition Terrestrial Television at minimal cost," said Lin Yang, Legend Silicon's chairman and chief technology officer. "The technology will prepare China for full digital TV transmission of the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing."

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March 19, 2007

Israeli WiFi Chip Maker Celano Raises $14.2M

Israel's Celeno has raised $14.2M in a second round to get to market its WiFi multimedia components and systems for home wireless networks. he company's technology enables service providers to deploy wireless home networks that can deliver multiple HDTV and SDTV streams as well as VoIP content throughout the home. Its potential customers are telecommunications carriers and cable and satellite operators.

Pitango Venture Capital and Greylock Partners led the round and were joined by the company's existing investors. The company has raised $2M from a number of undisclosed private investors since it was founded in 2005.

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March 13, 2007

Motorola Invests In Israeli Wireless HD Chip Maker AMIMON

Here at alarm:clock, we were disappointed when we installed our first flat panel HDTV at the amount and cost of wiring the system. A startup out of Israel feels our pain and says it is making it possible for wireless flat-panel TVs, PCs and other components to offer the same image and sound quality as hardwired version.

Founded in Israel, but with its US HQ in Santa Clara, AMIMON has received a strategic investment from Motorola. AMIMON's semiconductor products provide wireless uncompressed HDTV links between digital set top boxes, high definition TVs, and other electronics. AMIMON is backed by Cedar Fund, Walden Israel Venture Capital, Evergreen Partners, Stata Venture Partners, and Argonaut Ventures. The company is led by Dr. Nissan-Cohen who was previously CEO of Tower Semiconductor.

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March 02, 2007

SPONSORED POST - Levensohn Venture Partners Leads $10.1M Funding In Akros Silicon

AKROS SILICON SECURES $10.1 MILLION IN SERIES B FINANCING

LED BY LEVENSOHN VENTURE PARTNERS

Pascal Levensohn Joins Board of Directors

FOLSOM, Calif. – March 2, 2007 – Akros Silicon, a fabless semiconductor company bringing power to the Ethernet world by enabling large-scale deployment of network-attached appliances, today announced that it has secured $10.1 million in Series B financing led by Levensohn Venture Partners. The investment includes existing Series A investors, Bay Partners, SPM Capital and US Venture Partners.

Akros Silicon also announced that Pascal Levensohn, managing director of Levensohn Venture Partners, has joined its board of directors.

The new financing will be used for accelerating the development of new and innovative system level ICs that manage power at the edge of the network. The investment also enables Akros Silicon to expand its worldwide marketing and sales presence.

“Akros Silicon has successfully developed a fundamentally disruptive family of products that will revolutionize power and Ethernet management at the edge of the network,” said Levensohn. “Through higher levels of integration, efficiency and functionality, we believe Akros Silicon will help further drive the proliferation of connected devices in the enterprise, digital home and industrial settings. These are large growth markets and an area that LVP has been focused on for several years. We look forward to working closely with the Akros Silicon team to help execute on management’s aggressive growth plan.”

In less than 18 months, Akros Silicon has developed the industry’s first mixed signal system-level IC solution that provides a unique seamless integration of Power over Ethernet (PoE) control, power management and interface to the Ethernet world. The company is sampling highly integrated and differentiated ICs used for bringing power to network attached appliances such as VoIP phones, wireless LAN access points, RFID tag readers, point-of-sale terminals, security cameras, remote access and home networked systems which will accelerate the convergence of data, audio and video transmission.

“We are pleased to welcome Pascal Levensohn to Akros’ board of directors,” said J. Francois Crepin, president, CEO and chairman of Akros Silicon. “Along with his tremendous business experience in semiconductor and communication companies, Mr. Levensohn and his team will be strong assets in assisting Akros develop strategic approaches, partnerships and establish a global presence.”

Akros Silicon was recently awarded the Fabless Start-Up to Watch Award from FSA. The award was giving following an exhaustive nomination process by the FSA Venture Capital Advisory Board. Akros Silicon was identified as the most promising fabless semiconductor company that demonstrated the potential to positively change its market or the semiconductor industry through the innovative use of or new application for semiconductor technology.

About Levensohn Venture Partners

Levensohn Venture Partners (LVP) is an early stage venture firm investing in semiconductor and software companies that are transitioning from seed development to early commercialization of their product or services. Founded in 1996, LVP’s portfolio companies include Atheros, BigFix, Broadlogic, KnowNow, Rapt, Reconnex, Ubicom, and Veraz Networks. For more information, please visit http://www.levp.com.

About Akros Silicon

Headquartered in Folsom, California, Akros Silicon (Akros is a Greek word for “edge”) is a leading provider of highly differentiated system-level integrated circuits that provide advance power management to the edge of the network. Akros Silicon’s disruptive silicon technology enables large scale deployment of network-attached appliances, such as VoIP phones, wireless LAN access points, RFID tag readers, point-of-sale terminals, networked cameras, remote access and home-networked systems—accelerating the convergence of data, audio, and video applications. For more information, visit http://www.akrossilicon.com.

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March 01, 2007

Taiwain Flash Memory Maker PowerTech Raises $65M From Intel

Taiwan's largest flash memory maker, Powertech, has received a $65M investment from Intel. Intel Capital is making the investment by buying part of a NT$3.5 billion convertible bond offering that Powertech priced in the middle of February. The acquisition is aimed at expanding Intel's Nand flash memory business, giving it access to components and the supply chain. Nand flash is used to store data such as music and photos in MP3 players, digital cameras and other consumer electronics.

Intel did not say how large a stake it will own in Powertech after the investment.

Read - Intel to invest $65 mln in Taiwanese memory-chip tester Powertech

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February 14, 2007

Stealthy Chip Maker Teradici Raises $18M

Vancouver, BC-based Teradici has raised US$18M in 2nd-round funding. Alloy Ventures led the deal, and was joined by Working Opportunity Fund, Skypoint Capital, BDC Venture Capital and Alta Berkeley Venture Partners.

The company will only say that it is making next-generation computer form factors. It has picked off some leadership from Intel and Broadcom to make it happen.

Read - site

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Chip Maker Cavium's $86M IPO On Deck

Santa Clara-based Cavium Networks has filed for an $86.25M IPO on the Nasdaqs. It sells security, network services and content processing semiconductors. Cavium has raised over $60M in venture funding.

Customers include Cisco, 3Com, Aruba Networks, F5 Networks, Fujitsu, Furukawa Electric, IBM Datapower, Netgear, Sun, and Samsung. It claims 250+ design wins at over 120 OEMs.

Stakeholders' Pre-IPO stake
Menlo Ventures 29.98%
Alliance Ventures 13.89%
Diamondhead Ventures 9.19%

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January 31, 2007

Malaysia Invests in Anchor Bay's Home Theater Chips

Campbell-based Anchor Bay raised $10M led by new investor Atlantic Quantum, a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, which is itself a strategic investment holding arm of the government of Malaysia. Also participating were Storm Ventures and Venrock Associates.

Anchor Bay's chips are usable in all devices in the video signal chain, including source and display components for home theaters. The company is founded by former founding team of DVDO, the creators of the first DVDO iScan Progressive Scan Display Interface, a home theater video line doubler that was bught by Silicon Image in 2000.

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January 16, 2007

Microscope Geeks At Xradia Fund-up

Xradia out of Concord, CA has raised $4M in VC funding from Harris & Harris Group. The investment is part of a larger Series D round.

Xradia’s microscopes feature full 360° 3D tomography and what they say is the world’s only sub 100nm x-ray microscope system. It is used primarily for semiconductor packaging inspection, defect detection and failure analysis. The company closed a $2M sale last Summer.

The company's site features some pretty pictures of IC's and other small things up close.

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December 19, 2006

ASML Pays $270M for Lithographies' Brion Technologies

Netherlands-based ASML will pay $270M to purchase Santa Clara-based Brion Technologies, a developer of advanced lithography tools for semiconductor design and wafer manufacturing. Brion is backed by USVP, Jafco Ventures, Morgenthaler Ventures, JPMorgan, WK Technology Fund, Mohr Davidow, and Stanford University.

Founded in 2002, Brion’s computational lithography technology enables semiconductor manufacturers to simulate the realized pattern of integrated circuits and to correct the mask pattern to optimize the manufacturing process and yield.

Read - ASML to buy Brion for $270 million (EE Times)

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December 11, 2006

Artimi Raises $26.5M For Wireless USB

Artimi has closed $26.5M from Accel Partners, Amadeus Capital, and Index Ventures. The Santa Clara, CA-based start-up is a developer of wireless semiconductors for portable wireless USB consumer electronics such as digital still cameras, camcorders, MP3 players and mobile phones

.

Artimi Secures $26.5 Million in Series B Funding
Funding Positions Company to Ramp Volume Production
of Certified Wireless USB Solutions

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – December 11, 2006 – Artimi Inc.,
developer of wireless semiconductors for portable
Certified Wireless USB consumer electronics, has
closed $26.5 million in equity financing. Three
current investors, Accel Partners, Amadeus Capital
Partners, and Index Ventures, led the Series B
investment. Additional funding came from existing
investor, Oak Investment Partners, and a new investor,
Bank of Scotland Growth Equity. To date, the company
has raised $45 million.

"Validated by leading consumer electronics
manufacturers, Artimi's low-power A-150 MAC has
demonstrated the highest data throughput in the
market," said Giuseppe Zocco, general partner with
Index Ventures, and Artimi chairman. "The company is
ideally positioned for significant market traction
with tier-one consumer electronics manufacturers just
as Wireless USB chips are starting to ship in volume.
We remain committed to Artimi's long-term success and
are pleased to be a return investor."

Artimi is experiencing strong demand for its
interoperable, low-power, globally-compliant
semiconductors for Certified Wireless USB and
next-generation Bluetooth applications such as digital
cameras, camcorders, storage devices, MP3 players and
mobile phones. This new funding allows Artimi to
invest heavily in the ongoing enhancement of its
product portfolio, expand sales and marketing efforts,
and continue delivering new technology for high data
rate wireless personal area networks.

"We will use the funding to expand production to
support the substantial growth in customer demand for
dual-mode Certified Wireless USB and next-generation
Bluetooth markets," said Colin Macnab, CEO of Artimi.
"This financing, one of the largest in the
ultra-wideband segment, provides Artimi with the
financial resources necessary to solidify and sustain
a leadership position as the market transitions to
mass production."

About Artimi
Artimi provides semiconductors, software and reference
designs for consumer electronics devices delivering
wireless connectivity based on WiMedia(R)-based
Certified Wireless USB, next-generation Bluetooth(R)
and WiNet. Artimi's highly integrated, easy to use
ultra-wideband (UWB) solutions greatly reduce time to
market for portable devices where high-speed bulk data
transfer and low power consumption are needed, such as
storage devices, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3
players, PDAs and mobile phones. Artimi, founded in
2002, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California,
with research and development in Cambridge, UK, and
sales offices in Japan and Taiwan. www.artimi.com.

About Accel Partners
Founded in 1983, Accel Partners is one of the world's
leading venture capital firms. The firm is dedicated
to partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs to build
world-class Internet, software and networking
companies. Accel Partners has more than $4bn under
management from its offices in Palo Alto, London, and
China, and its portfolio companies have completed IPOs
that have created well over $150 billion in market
capitalization. Representative current and former
investments include Brightcove, Comscore, Double
Fusion, Facebook, Glam, Macromedia, RealNetworks, and
The Cloud. For more information, please visit
www.Accel.com.

About Amadeus
Amadeus is one of Europe's leading technology
investors. Since its inception in 1997, the firm has
backed nearly 60 companies covering computer hardware
and software, mobile and fixed communications
technologies and medical technologies. Investments
include Cambridge Silicon Radio, producing single chip
bluetooth radios for short range connections and
floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2004, Optos, a
manufacturer of laser retinal scanners which this year
had a successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange,
Valista, an electronic payments company and Solexa,
the developer of next generation genetic analysis
systems, recently merged with Illumina Inc.
(www.amadeuscapital.com)

About Index Ventures
Index Ventures is a leading European venture capital
firm active in technology venture investing since
1996. The firm is dedicated to helping top
entrepreneurial teams in the Information Technology
and Life Science sectors build their companies into
market defining global leaders. The firm has offices
in Geneva, London and Jersey and focuses its
investment activity primarily on Europe and Israel.
Investments include Betfair (the world’s largest
betting exchange); Skype (recently acquired by eBay);
MySQL (the world’s most popular open source database);
Photoways (Europe’s largest online photo-processing
service) and Lovefilm (Europe’s largest DVD rental
business). For more information, please visit
www.indexventures.com.

About Oak Investment Partners
Established in 1978, Oak Investment Partners is a
venture capital firm with a strong track record as a
multi-stage investor with a total of $8.4 billion in
committed capital. Their primary investment focus is
on high growth opportunities in communications,
information technology, consumer internet, new media,
financial services information technology,
semiconductors, healthcare services and consumer
retail. Oak concentrates on building long-term
relationships with experienced management teams to
develop successful companies that deliver consistent
performance over time. These include 2Wire, Aquantive,
Compaq, Fastclick (acquired by ValueClick), Genzyme,
IGE, Inktomi (acquired by Yahoo!), Parametric
Technology Corporation, Polycom, RazorGator, Seagate
Technologies, SMIC, Sybase, Synaptics, Synopsys,
TeleAtlas, Virata, Wireless Facilities (WFII), etc.
For more information, please visit www.oakvc.com.

About Bank of Scotland Corporate
Bank of Scotland Corporate, part of HBOS Plc, has a
reputation for excellence in the provision of
corporate finance, delivering innovative funding
solutions across a range of markets. Bank of
Scotland's Growth Equity team invests in fast moving
companies with at least two years track record of
sales growth. It usually invests up to £7m of equity
and always takes minority stakes. Bank of Scotland
Corporate employs over 8,300 employees. Total lending
at the end of 2005 stood at £79.2 billion. For more
information, please visit
www.bankofscotland.co.uk/corporate

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May 01, 2006

Sweet New Samsung HD's Thanks To MITs Luminus

The MIT spin-out Luminus today announced that it had raised $38M in series D for its HD TV chipsets. Samsung will be the first to launch a TV set with Luminus' PhatLight chips-sets. Already the TV has received rave reviews.

You Can Pre-order One of These Bad Boys Today for $4K and Take Shipment Come May

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April 16, 2006

Raza Micro Up To $120M Raised

Chip luminary Atiz Raza is back at the table for more, carving out $20M in VC investments for Raza Micro - the company has raised $120M to date. Previous investors are back, along with new investor Advanced Equities Financial, a little known Chicago brokerage house. Our radar tells us that Raza has not been a big winner for investors and they were heavily diluted in the latest round, but are surely expecting some liquidity in the coming year.

Atiq Raza was President of AMD and currently is on the board of directors of Matrix Semiconductors, AMI Semiconductor, Mellanox Technologies, and eASIC. Raza is a combination of three chip companies.

Read - Raza's Firm Slims Focus (Light Reading)

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March 17, 2006

California Micro Devices Buys Arques for $8M

California Micro Devices (Nasdaq: CAMD) will acquire privately held Arques Technology for $8M plus an earn-out. Arques is a Santa Clara, CA-based fabless manufacturer of analog semiconductors. The acquisition gives CMD white LED drivers for mobile handsets and DDR memory voltage regulators for digital consumer electronics.

Read - California Micro Devices to Acquire Arques Technology (Release)

Posted at 04:34 PM | Permalink

March 16, 2006

Once You Go High-Def, You'll Never Go Back

You might want to hold back on buying a new camera until the next wave of low cost, high def cameras hits the market powered by Ambarella chips.

Sunnyvale's Ambarella has secured $15.4M of a $20.4M Series B round, according to reg filing found by PE Wire. The company really has chip geeks in awe. Ambarella sells high-definition video compression and image processing semiconductors. Return backers include Benchmark Capital, Matrix Partners and Walden International.

The company's management is pedigreed. CEO is Fermi Wang who was CEO of Afara Websystems, which did throughput computing for servers and was bought by Sun Microsystems in July 2002 and is now used in Sun's UltraSPARC processors. He and other managers also worked at C-Cube.

Hi-Def Hybrid Still Camera/Video Cam Powered by Ambarella

In December, the company launched its first chip for hybrid cameras with HD video and high-resolution still pictures. The cost for the chip at around $25 and its low power usage will enable low cost, high performance high def cameras.

Read - Tailored Entrant Tackles Tape's Troubles (EDN)

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February 01, 2006

Stealth-mode Amalfi Semi Gets $20M Funding

The $20M round was led by Globespan Capital Partners. Existing venture investors, Doll Capital Management and Trinity Ventures, also participated in this second-round funding. The company makes CMOS RF product line for cellular handsets.

Read - CMOS RF startup raises $20 million (EETimes)

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January 16, 2006

Motorola Invests in A-GPS Via GlobalLocate

GPS is a commonly understand technology. A-GPS (or assisted GPS) sounds like a minor derivative but it is a big deal. GPS is slow and has a hard time penetrating building. A-GPS marries GPS with terrestrial cell-towers.

Wireless operators are already selling GPS-enabled cell phones as life-savers so that when someone calls 911 and then passes out they can be located thanks to their GPS cell phone. That works great unless that person is in a building or subway.

The San Jose, CA-based company was founded in 1999 and also took a strategic investment from Siemens. VCs are led by Firsthand Capital Management and GC Investments.

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January 12, 2006

Agilent's Verigent Gets Branded And Readies IPO

Some marketing gurus just got a big pay-day to come up the brand "Verigy."Agilent Technologies has just launched the branding for its proposed semiconductor test equipment spin-off - which it hopes will have a successful IPO - bestowing the name "Verigy" on the entity which it says will separate in mid-2006.

The name is built from the Latin prefix "veri," meaning true or genuine, and the suffix "gy," which comes from "logy," meaning the name of sciences or bodies of knowledge, as in biology and geology. According to Agilent, Verigy "describes a company dealing with the true nature of things." The sound of the name connotes energy, Agilent said. Verigy's tagline would be "the brilliance of innovation." Uhhh - it sounds to us like a corporate-sounding name that still had an available URL.

Verigy will join two other ATE vendors, Eagle Test Systems Inc. and Nextest Systems which have filed for IPOs.

Read - Agilent's ATE unit dubbed 'Verigy' for IPO (EE Times)

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Plano's ColdWatt Raises $16M After Product Launch

Power IC and power supply startup ColdWatt raised Series B round of $16M led by RRE Ventures with existing investors GTI Ventures, Austin Ventures and Matrix Partners. The company had raised Series A of $15.5M in 2004.

The company has had a fast start as it acquired much of its basic technology from Rockwell Scientific. ColdWatt claimed that its systems generate less heat and take up less space than conventional power conversion equipment. Co., which conducted research on power conversion systems for the U.S. Navy.

ColdWatt's Founder and CEO is Dan Artusi who was CEO of Silicon Laboratories. He was also VP and GM of both Motorola's Networking and Computing Systems Group and its Wireless Infrastructure Division Artusi said the funding should allow the company to reach profitability by mid-2007 and that he is aiming to top $100M in revenue over the next several years.

Read - Coldwatt ships products, raises $16 million (EE Times)

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December 20, 2005

Centrality = Wireless Chips + The Kitchen Sink

HQ: Santa Clara, CA

Founded: September 1999

Management: Centrality is led by chairman Chi-Shin Wang, founder of math coprocessor company Weitek. In December 2004, the board named Rob Baxter President and CEO - he was CEO of Xan3D Technologies (formerly Xanoptix).

Investors:The company raised $20M in Series D In December 2005 led by Focus Ventures with existing investors Acer Venture Partners, Enspire Group, Harbinger Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Venture Tech Alliance and Walden International. The latest round of investment brings the total amount of funding in the company to more than $50M.

Business Model: Centrality is a fabless chip company that integrates functionality such as 1.3M pixel digital camera, Bluetooth, and GPS on the same silicon. Initial markets include auto GPS systems. It claims that its chip enables manufacturers to introduce sub-$800 systems comparable to the $1,500-$2,000 today's systems. Also targeting smart phones, Centrality's chip combines DSP acceleration for MP3, VoIP, GPS, and Advanced Power Management.

Dirt: Centrality has escaped the market even though it has been in business for 6 years. It is finally making a go of it and we believe it is a good time. Centrality's success remains to be seen, but the market it is targeting is tremendous and Centrality's bag of tricks should awe buyers, if it can deliver.

Posted at 09:26 PM | TrackBack | Permalink

December 13, 2005

Passave's IPO Blocked by UTStarcom Suit

Spin doctors know that Friday is the best day to break and bury bad news and on Friday the Santa Clara chip maker Passave put its IPO on hold after its biggest customer UTStarcom, headquartered just across the Bay in Alameda, hit the company with a $30M suit in a dispute over faulty equipment. UTStarcom is red-assed because its stock has been falling and falling, in part because of the failure of its equipment in a new $100M high-speed Internet network in Japan with UTStarcom's largest customer Softbank. As a rule of thumb, it's a lousy idea to piss on your largest customer's