Latest round of funding primes Altair’s global expansion and future developments in mobile WiMAX, LTE and XGP chip technologies
Hod Hasharon, Israel, September 24, 2008 – Altair Semiconductor, a fabless chip company developing the world’s most advanced 4G mobile semiconductors for handsets and handheld devices, today announced that it closed a U.S.$22M Series C funding round. The round, in the form of a combined equity and credit investment, was led by Pacific Technology Fund (PTF), and joined by ETV Capital and returning investors. The funding will be used to support Altair’s global expansion, sales and customer support, as well as future development of Altair’s chipsets for WiMAX, LTE and XGP.
“Pacific Technology Fund is very impressed with Altair’s strong record of achievement, and the potential of Altair’s technology,” said Adriaan Lightenberg, Managing Partner of Pacific Technology Fund. “We believe Altair’s chipsets are going to change the rules of the game in the 4G market with lower power consumption, smaller size and decreased cost of bringing products to market.”
Altair’s business has gained considerable momentum since its U.S.$18M Series B round of funding in May of 2007. Less than six months after releasing the ALT2150, the world’s smallest and most power-efficient mobile WiMAX processor, Altair’s solution is considered an industry benchmark for mobile, handheld devices, and is integrated in some of the world’s leading device and module manufacturers’ products. Recently, Altair had been awarded the leading supplier position of chipsets for wireless devices operating on Willcom Inc.’s next generation PHS (“XGP”) in Japan, a 4G technology similar to mobile WiMAX. On the LTE front, Altair has created strategic partnerships with key ecosystem members to accelerate the development and interoperability of its LTE solution.
“Altair is a company with a different approach to Mobile WiMAX chipsets.”, said Berge Ayvazian, Chief Strategy Officer for the Yankee Group. “While most chip makers focus on serving today’s CPE and laptop-centric markets, Altair has chosen to go straight to mobile devices, and has developed a solution that enables the cost-effective integration of WiMAX into virtually any device. This third and significant round is not only important for Altair’s expansion,” added Ayvazian “it is also important for the WIMAX industry.”
“Pacific Technology Fund’s significant investment demonstrates their belief in Altair’s strong market position, despite the global economic conditions,” said Altair CEO and Co-founder, Oded Melamed. “Pacific Technology Fund joins a solid consortium of returning investors in helping us grow our business, and develop the chipsets that will drive 4G into the mainstream by empowering a new class of handheld devices.”
About Altair Semiconductor
Altair is the world’s leading developer of ultra-low power, small footprint and high performance 4G semiconductors that take broadband bandwidth beyond notebooks and USB adaptors to un-tethered, battery-operated handheld devices. The company’s products provide handheld device manufacturers, integrating 4G technologies into their products with a highly power-optimized, robust and cost-effective solution. Altair is privately held and has raised a total of $48M in three rounds of financing from investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, BRM Capital, ETV Capital, Giza Venture Capital, Jerusalem Venture Partners, and Pacific Technology Fund.
For more information, visit www.altair-semi.com