InPhase
Technologies, the leader in holographic data storage drive and media
development, today announced that it has closed a $32.1 million
third round of funding. Bayer MaterialScience AG, a market and technology
leader in developing polymers for optical data storage, represents
both a new strategic investor and development partner for InPhase.
Nanotech Partners Ltd., another new investor, is a leading venture
capital firm sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation which focuses on
emerging nanotechnology at the global level. New Venture Partners
LLC and existing investors Hitachi Maxell Ltd., ALPS Information
Technology Fund LP, Yasuda Enterprise Development Co., and Japan
Asia Investment Co. continued their strong financial support of
InPhase in its Series C round.
The new funds will be used to complete the commercialization of
the world's first holographic data storage drive and media. The
initial product will hold 300 gigabytes (GB) of data with a transfer
rate of 20 megabytes (MB) per second. The InPhase Tapestry(TM) media
and drive provide customers with access to huge amounts of data
on a single disk. InPhase is targeting archive needs in commercial
markets such as professional video, regulatory compliance, medical
imaging, satellite imaging, and scientific applications where the
need for long-term, secure and cost-effective archives of massive
amounts of digital data is a critical issue.
"The recent public demonstration by InPhase of the world's
first commercial holographic drive prototype validated our technical
leadership in the holographic data storage market. Now, with the
commitment and support of our investors, we have funds to move from
technology leadership to commercial leadership," said Nelson
Diaz, president and CEO of InPhase Technologies. "The tremendous
interest in the InPhase Tapestry product from the professional video
community at the recent National Association of Broadcasters convention
was extremely positive and confirmed the insatiable demand for a
secure archive solution for digital media assets."
New Venture Partners LLC is the lead investor for Series C and
demonstrated their continued support with a substantial investment
in this round. They also led the second round that closed in 2004.
"InPhase has consistently demonstrated its ability to advance
to market commercial holographic drives and media, for which the
storage industry has been waiting 20 years. We are excited about
the great customer interest we are seeing for these products,"
said Steve Socolof, managing partner of New Venture Partners LLC.
"The proper combination of solid institutional and strategic
financial partners now enables InPhase to execute the final plan
that brings this revolutionary data storage technology to market."
Bayer MaterialScience AG and InPhase have signed a joint development
agreement for the development and supply of polymer raw materials
used in the production of holographic storage media. In addition,
Bayer MaterialScience has acquired a license to use the results
from jointly developed research for applications that extend beyond
the field of holographic storage media.
"It gives us a tremendous opportunity to build a strategic
competitive position with sustained added value in holographic applications,"
says Ian Paterson, the member of the Bayer MaterialScience Board
of Management, responsible for marketing and innovation.
"Data storage is one of our investment focuses that utilizes
nano-level technology. We see InPhase as a true innovator which
will change the paradigm of data storage through their revolutionary
holographic technology. It is very exciting for us to be joining
the team," says Teruyuki Nakazawa, representative director
of Nanotech Partners.
Nanotech Partners was established by Mitsubishi Corporation (MC)
and its partners to strategically invest in ventures working on
emerging nanotechnology. With the backup of MC, Nanotech Partners
is expected to support InPhase in developing business.
About New Venture Partners
New Venture Partners LLC is a seed and early-stage venture capital
firm with a proven history of creating communications and information
technology startups that leverage institutional innovations. It
has unique expertise in identifying promising technologies within
corporate R & D laboratories, and in driving the creation, capitalization
and growth of independent ventures founded on these assets. For
more information, visit www.nvpllc.com.
About Bayer MaterialScience AG
Bayer MaterialScience AG is one of the world's largest producers
of polymers and high-performance plastics. Its innovative developments
in coating and adhesive raw materials, insulating materials and
sealants, polycarbonates and polyurethanes significantly enhance
the quality of our lives, particularly in the automotive and construction,
electrical and electronics, household, sports and leisure sectors.
Based in Leverkusen, Germany, Bayer MaterialScience AG can be visited
on the Web at www.bayermaterialscience.com.
About Nanotech Partners
Nanotech Partners is a unique private equity fund that focuses
exclusively on nanotechnology around the world. With the sponsorship
of Mitsubishi Corporation, the fund was established after Nanotech
Partners, Ltd. was founded as a General Partner in September 2001.
The fund size is currently JPY 5.4 billion (approximately $50 million)
with commitments by companies including Mitsubishi Corporation,
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Honjo Chemical Corporation.
The fund is globally managed by Nanotech Partners Limited, with
the support of the Fullerene International Corporation in the U.S.
and the local offices of Mitsubishi Corporation in the U.S., U.K.
and France. For more information visit www.nt-p.com
About Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
Since its foundation in 1960, Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. (TSE: 6810),
based in Tokyo, Japan, has led the electronics industry at home
and abroad in the fields of memory and mobility. Hitachi Maxell,
Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of information storage media products
including computer tapes, broadcasting video tapes, optical disks,
floppy disks and memory cards, audio and video products including
mini discs, audiocassettes and videocassettes, and battery products
including lithium ion rechargeable batteries, micro batteries and
dry cell batteries. For more information, visit www.maxell.com.
About ALPS Electric
ALPS Electric Co. Ltd. is a Japanese corporation that has manufactured
various electronic components since its foundation in 1948. Based
on innovative proprietary technology and market outlook, the Company
provides cutting-edge electronic components that contribute to the
advancement of a multimedia society in four key areas, namely, Magnetic
Devices, Communication Devices, Peripheral Products, Mechatronic
Devices and Automotive Electronics. ALPS globally operates through
affiliates in Japan, America, Europe and countries around Asia.
ALPS global activities strive to create partnerships with customers,
countries and regions throughout the world. In addition, ALPS group
has over 80 companies including mobile electronics manufacturer
ALPINE Electronics and ALPS Logistics, a specialized electronic
component distribution company. For more information, visit www.alps.com.
About Yasuda Enterprise Development Co., Ltd.
Yasuda Enterprise Development is a leading Japanese venture capital
firm based in Tokyo, with sub-offices in Osaka, Palo Alto in California,
USA, and Taipei in the ROC. Managed capital of JPY 40,000M (approx.
US$350M) is in insurance firms, commercial banks and corporate investors.
The firm invests in the early and expansion stages of information
and communication technology, electronics devices, and life science
sectors in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Yasuda Enterprise
Development has achieved over 200 exits of portfolio companies through
IPO in the Japanese OTC market, NASDAQ, OTC market in Taiwan, other
stock exchanges, as well as M&A. For more information, visit
www.yedvc.co.jp.
About Japan Asia Investment Co., Ltd.
Japan Asia Investment Co., Ltd. (JAIC) is Japan's largest independent
venture capital company. JAIC has invested in over 1,000 companies
with funds totaling more than $1.7 billion since its establishment
in 1981. JAIC helps unlisted venture companies with high growth
potential to procure capital and contributes to their growth and
improvement of corporate value by offering information and supporting
IPOs and providing consultation, along with M&A and MBO proposals.
JAIC is continuing to work toward its objective of becoming a distinctive
financial group, with venture capital operations as its core business
and aims for mutual prosperity among shareholders, fund investors
and invested companies. For more information, visit www.jaic-vc.co.jp.
About InPhase Technologies
InPhase Technologies is the leading developer of holographic data
storage (HDS) recording media and systems. Based in Longmont, Colorado,
InPhase was founded in 2000, and is comprised of some of the storage
industry's leading executives and scientists. InPhase is funded
by venture capital investors New Venture Partners LLC, Signal Lake
Ventures, Madison Dearborn Partners, Newton Technology Partners,
Yasuda Enterprise Development, Japan Asia Investment Company, and
Mr. B.J. Cassin. Corporate investors are Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Bayer
MaterialScience AG, ALPS Information Technology Fund, and Imation
Corp. For more information on InPhase, please visit the company's
Web site at www.inphase-tech.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For a color photograph of Nelson Diaz, InPhase president
and CEO, or the InPhase Tapestry drive or media, please contact
Liz Murphy at 720-494-7465 or lizmurphy@inphase-tech.com.
|