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Digital Audio Chipmaker JAM Technologies Raises $11.3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 21, 2006 - 6:44am.
Austin, Texas - JAM Technologies, a developer of digital audio amplifier chips for consumer electronics devices, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $11.3 million in its second round of venture capital financing. TL Ventures and Origin Partners led the investment round; Intel Capital, EDBV Management, Launchpad Ventures and Hub Angels also participated. Austin-based JAM develops audio chips used in flat-panel TVs, home theater systems, set-top boxes, portable audio players and cell phones. The company said the funds will be used for product development, to increase production, and to support Asian customers through its new Singapore headquarters.
tags: Audio | Raise | Digital | JAM | Chipmaker |

Israeli Mobile TV Chipmaker Siano Mobile Secures $20 Million Investment

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 3, 2006 - 6:50am.
Tel Aviv - Siano Mobile Silicon, an Israel-based developer of integrated semiconductor receivers for mobile digital TV, announced that it has raised approximately $20 million in second round funding. The announcement comes just six months after the company raised more than $9.6 million. Jerusalem Venture Partners led the latest round, with existing investors Walden Israel and Star Ventures also participating. Siano's chips bring digital TV functionality to satellite navigation devices, mobile phones, smart phones/PDAs and other mobile and portable devices.
tags: Mobile | Chipmaker | Secure | Investment | Israeli | Siano |

Home Media Networking Chipmaker CopperGate Raises $14.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 6, 2006 - 6:32am.
Tel Aviv - CopperGate Communications, an Israel-based supplier of chipsets for multimedia home networking, announced that it has raised about $14.5 million in second-round venture capital financing. Carmel Ventures led the round, with Motorola Ventures and existing investors Tamir FishmanVentures and the Challenge Fund also participating. Motorola Ventures Managing Director Matthew Growney said CopperGate's technology brought a "compelling new approach" to the distribution of IP video content throughout the home with existing wires. CopperGate said it would use the funds for international expansion.
tags: VC | Chipmaker | Home Media | CopperGate |

IPTV Chipmaker S3 Raises $12 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 3, 2006 - 8:09am.
Dublin - Silicon & Software Systems (S3), a privately owned, Ireland-based IPTV and broadband chip specialist, announced that it has raised $12 million in venture capital financing. S3 said the investment, led by ACT Venture Capital, would allow it to develop its design capabilities and expand its operations in Asia, Europe and the U.S. Under the terms of the investment, Dutch firm Philips Electronics will maintain a strategic shareholding in S3 and continue to be a key customer and technology partner of the Irish company, S3 said.
tags: VC | IPTV | Chipmaker | S3 |

Israeli Multimedia Chipmaker CopperGate Raises $14.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 28, 2005 - 10:26am.
Tel Aviv - CopperGate Communications, an Israel-based supplier of multimedia chips, announced that it has raised $14.5 million in its third round of funding, led by new investor Carmel Ventures. Previous investors Tamir Fishman Ventures and the Challenge Fund also participated. The company said it planned to use the capital to accelerate its expansion into international markets and increase its product development and customer support capacity. Founded in 2000, CopperGate addresses the emerging Internet TV market with its home networking distribution technology.
tags: VC | Chipmaker | Israeli | Multimedia |

Chipmaker Micronas to Buy Video Developer WISchip for $80 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2005 - 3:47am.
Geneva - Switzerland-based chipmaker Micronas announced that it has agreed to acquire WISchip International, a California-based developer of video streaming and compression technologies, for approximately $80 million. "WISchip's exciting portfolio of products and important IP for HDTV from whatever source -- be it broadcast, IPTV or delivered from storage media -- makes the company the perfect complement for (Micronas's) state-of-the-art HD display products," said Micronas CEO Wolfgang Kalsbach. "Its activities significantly strengthen our worldwide R&D efforts." WISchip, which has an R&D facility in Shanghai, has raised more than $50 million in venture capital funding to date from AsiaVest Venture Partners, Pacific Venture Partners and UMC Capital.
tags: Deals | Chipmaker | Micronas | WISchip | Video Developer |

IPod Chipmaker PortalPlayer Plans $75 Million IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 4, 2004 - 3:42am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- PortalPlayer, a developer of chips and software used in hard disk-based portable media players, on Wednesday announced plans to raise up to $75 million through an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares. The SEC filing did not disclose the number of shares to be offered or a price range for them. Founded in 1999, Santa Clara, Calif.-based PortalPlayer, which to date has raised $85 million from investors, reported a loss of $8 million on revenue of $20.9 million in 2003. The company plans to use the proceeds from its IPO to first repay $4.4 million in debt, and then for general corporate purposes including potential acquisitions.
tags: IPO | iPod | PortalPlayer | Chipmaker |

Chipmaker Sand Video Acquired for $77.5 Million by Broadcom

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 8, 2004 - 6:38am.
Andover, Mass. -- Three years after its founding, Sand Video, a venture capital-backed developer of video-related semiconductors for broadband communications, has agreed to be acquired for $77.5 million in cash and stock by California-based Broadcom, a provider of semiconductors for broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Terms of the deal include $7.5 million in cash and about $70 million in Broadcom stock. Founded in 2001, Massachusetts-based Sand Video has raised $8 million in venture capital from Baker Capital, CommonAngels, and Navigator Technology Ventures.
tags: Video | Broadcom | Deal | Chipmaker |

Cell Phone Camera Chipmaker TransChip Raises $19 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 11, 2004 - 9:16am.
Ramat Gan, Israel -- TransChip, a developer of single chip cameras for cell phones and other multimedia-enabled devices, announced that it has raised $19 million in its fourth round of venture capital financing. Redpoint Ventures led the investment round; also participating were previous TransChip investors Mission Ventures, Cadence Design Systems, Analog Devices chairman Ray Stata and Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi. Israel-based TransChip said its TC5740 module is already being incorporated into CDMA and GSM mobile phone models by leading handset makers. The company will use the funds to increase its marketing, sales and research and development activities.
tags: VC | Chipmaker | Cell Phone | Camera |

Mobile Multimedia Chipmaker Atsana Raises $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 14, 2004 - 3:29am.
Ottawa, Ontario -- Atsana Semiconductor, a developer of multimedia processors for mobile devices, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $10 million in new equity financing. Investors included Siemens Mobile Acceleration, GrowthWorks WV Funds, Covington Capital, Greenstone Venture Partners and a number of the company's original investors. Canada-based Atsana's products enable mobile phones, PDAs and other devices to deliver multimedia applications such as multimedia messaging, camcorder functionality, video conferencing, video streaming and 2D/3D gaming. The company will use the funds to expand marketing, sales, and business development activities, as well as for further product development.
tags: Mobile | VC | Chipmaker | Multimedia | Atsana |

Chipmaker Cirrus Logic Sues Rival Wolfson for Patent Infringement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 10, 2003 - 4:36am.
Edinburgh -- Texas-based chipmaker Cirrus Logic announced on Friday that it has filed a patent infringement suit against Edinburgh-based Wolfson Microelectronics in U.S. District Court in California. The complaint alleges that several Wolfson products that incorporate digital-to-analog converters infringe U.S. patents held by Cirrus. The complaint seeks damages and requests a permanent injunction against Wolfson from making, selling or importing into the U.S. any infringing products. "Cirrus Logic has made substantial R&D investments to build a rich portfolio of intellectual property, and we will continue to solidify our competitive position through vigorous pursuit of companies we believe are infringing upon our patents," said Cirrus CEO David D. French CEO. Wolfson declined to comment on the lawsuit.
tags: Chipmaker | Infringement | Cirrus | Wolfson |

Digital Video Chipmaker Techwell Raises $20 Million in Fifth Round

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 8, 2003 - 4:50am.
San Jose, Calif. -- Techwell, a maker of digital video semiconductors, said on Tuesday that it has raised $20 million in its fifth round of funding, led by Technology Crossover Ventures. Hiro Kozato, the CEO of Techwell, said that the capital will allow his company to "significantly expand" its sales and engineering support capabilities. Founded in 1997, Techwell designs digital video chips for televisions, PCs and consumer electronics. Its semiconductors enable the conversion of analog video sources to digital form.
tags: VC | Chipmaker | Digital Video | Techwell |

Chipmaker Nvidia In Tentative Deal With SEC Over Accounting Probe

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 28, 2003 - 9:52am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Graphics chipmaker Nvidia announced on Friday that it has reached a tentative deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding an investigation launched into the company's accounting practices. The SEC had been planning to take enforcement action related to the investigation, but Nvidia said in an SEC filing that the tentative deal's terms would not call for any fines or penalties to be paid -- only calling for the company to cease and desist any future violations of the securities laws in question. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia, which makes graphics chips including the chip used in Microsoft's Xbox game console, restated its earnings in April 2002 going back two years, a result of accounting errors uncovered in an internal investigation. The company said it may take months for the SEC to approve the tentative deal, if the deal is approved at all.
tags: Deals | NVIDIA | SEC | Chipmaker | Accounting Probe |

Cell Phone Camera Chipmaker TransChip Raises $5.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 9, 2003 - 2:49am.
Ramat Gan, Israel -- TransChip, a developer of single microchip camera solutions for mobile phones and other multimedia-enabled devices, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $5.5 million in its third round of venture capital financing. Mission Ventures led the investment round; Cadence Inc., and previous TransChip investors Ray Stata and Dr. Andrew Viterbi also participated. The company points out that 20 million camera handsets were sold in 2002, and market reports that indicate that by the end of 2003, nearly 50 percent of all phones in production will be camera-equipped. The new funding will support Israel-based TransChip's product development, marketing and sales initiatives.
tags: VC | Cameras | Chipmaker | Cell Phone | TransChip |

Game Boy Advance Chipmaker Matrix Gets $15 Million From Nintendo

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 24, 2003 - 2:35am.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Matrix Semiconductor, provider of the low-cost, high-density 3-D integrated circuits used in Nintendo's Game Boy Advance handhelds, announced on Monday that it has received a $15 million investment from Nintendo. "We recognize Nintendo's dominant position in electronic entertainment and feel very fortunate to have them as an investor in Matrix," said Matrix VP of marketing Dan Steere. "Matrix's cost and density advantages over existing technologies support the memory requirements of our portable video game machine, Game Boy Advance," said Nintendo's Yasuhiro Minagawa.
tags: Games | Nintendo | Chipmaker | Game Boy | Matrix |

Digital Still/Video Camera Chipmaker NuCore Raises $22 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 19, 2003 - 2:56am.
Sunnyvale, Calif. -- NuCore Technology, a developer of image processor chips for the digital still camera and digital video camera markets, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $22 million in its fourth round of venture capital financing. Crosslink Capital led the investment round; existing investors Horizon Ventures, Jafco, Sigma Partners, Techfarm and VantagePoint Venture Partners also participated. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based NuCore, which has now raised a total of $54 million, plans to release its second-generation family of high performance image processors in the spring of 2003.
tags: VC | Video | Digital | Chipmaker | Camera | NuCore |