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Leading VC firms 3i and Partech and strategic investor QUALCOMM support Discera’s resonator technology as building blocks for next-generation wireless devices
Campbell, CA , April 6, 2004
Discera, Inc., a fabless semiconductor firm that develops ultra-miniaturized components targeted to the wireless industry, announced today that it received $12M in Series B funding from leading venture capital firms 3i and Partech International and strategic investor QUALCOMM Incorporated. Existing investor Ardesta LLC also participated in the round.
Discera’s Silicon Resonator™ platform dramatically shrinks wireless architectures by miniaturizing and consolidating passive components in circuitry. The company’s MRO-100 micro-oscillator was named one of the Top Products of 2003 by Microwaves & RF Magazine. Discera, founded in 2001, plans to use the funding to build toward volume manufacturing and to expand its California and Michigan operations.
“The past year of sampling to our qualified partners has validated technology performance and product direction,” said Didier Lacroix, CEO of Discera, Inc. “The use of silicon resonators ensures higher compatibility with other electronic devices while supporting extended temperature ranges for better integration. The technology platform is the first step towards the industry’s goal of the fully integrated radio.”
“Demand for new mobile equipment features and functionality is driving the push to reduce component size, cost and power,” said Prashant Kantak, senior director of business development for QUALCOMM Ventures. “We feel that Discera’s silicon resonator offers an innovative building block for the development of compact, cost-effective wireless devices.”
Concurrent with the funding, David Aslin, partner with 3i, and Tim Wilson, general partner with Partech, will join Discera’s Board of Directors. They join existing board members Rick Snyder, CEO of Ardesta LLC, and Didier Lacroix, CEO of Discera.
Discera’s resonator products are in part based on the use of tiny micro-machined silicon beams that vibrate (resonate) at various frequencies. Multiple beams, each about 20 microns in length, can be fabricated in banks onto a single 1mm x 1mm chip, replacing several single-frequency quartz crystals or filter components that are typically many times bigger. The silicon resonators allow wireless circuitry providers to keep RF component counts lower at a time when mobile equipment users are demanding more functions.
A demonstration of the tunable oscillator and its performance will be given at the M-RF booth at the MWE 2004 Conference in Yokohama, Japan, November 10-12. Prototypes are available to qualified development partners. First commercial parts are slated for the second half of 2005.
About Discera Corporation
Discera is a fabless analog semiconductor company focusing on tiny, high performance silicon resonators for the frequency and timing control markets. The company’s PureSilicon™ resonator technology is a fundamental building block that can be used in creating fully integrated, low cost, small form factor wireline and wireless products, such as oscillators, filters, and RF components. Unlike crystal based oscillators, Discera’s PureSilicon™ based CMOS oscillators can be integrated into other CMOS based circuits. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Discera is a privately held company with investments from Ardesta, Partech, 3i, and Qualcomm Ventures. More information is available at www.discera.com.
About 3i
3i is a leading international venture capital company with U.S. offices in Menlo Park, CA and Waltham, MA. Operating since 1945, 3i has invested worldwide over $26 billion, including co-investment funds, with a total staff of 800 employees operating out of over 30 offices in 14 countries. 3i leverages this worldwide presence to add value to its portfolio companies and investment partners. Since opening its US businesses in 1999, 3i has become one of the most active early and late stage VCs in the US. Recent investments in early stage companies include Neoguide Systems, DAFCA, SiGe Semiconductor, Cometa Networks, Bitfone, Knowmadic, Sonim and OmniGuide. 3i has been equally active on the late stage, with recent investments in Vonage, Skystream Networks, Merchant e-Solutions, Placeware, Top Layer and SCP Global Technologies. Visit 3i and its portfolio at www.3i.com.
About Partech International
Founded in 1982, Partech International is a venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco and Paris. The firm manages approximately $850 million in early-stage venture, late-stage venture and public investments. Among Partech's portfolio companies are Ascend, Alvarion, Business Objects, Cadence, Digital Island, Informatica, IP Unity, ISDnet, Mediapps, Peregrine, Vignette, VISICU, and VeriFone. Additional information can be found at www.partechvc.com.
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