picoChip was founded in September 2000 and received $7M first round investment from Atlas Venture and Pond Venture Partners in June 2001. Second round funding of $17M was invested in October 2003 by Atlas and Pond.
picoChip secured third round funding of $20.5 million in June 2005. New lead investor Scottish Equity Partners was joined by Rothschild and Intel, along with the existing investors.
An additional investment from AT&T in February 2006 was followed in June 2007 with a fourth major funding round of $27M, led by Highland Capital Partners and incorporating Samsung, as well as existing investors.
Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is the leading international early-stage venture capital firm, investing in communications, information technology and life sciences companies. With investing offices in Boston, London, Munich and Paris, Atlas Venture divides its investments between the United States and Europe.
Founded in 1980, Atlas Venture has organized six international funds, and currently manages $2.1 billion in committed capital. The Atlas Venture investment team is comprised of seasoned operating executives and career venture capitalists who have been deeply involved in the formation and development of more than 300 companies worldwide.
For more information about Atlas Venture, go to www.atlasventure.com.
Highland Capital Partners
Highland Capital Partners was founded with the mission of helping great people build great companies. Since its inception in 1988, the firm has taken a sector-focused approach to investing in exceptional information technology, communications and healthcare companies. With more than $2.6 billion of committed capital, Highland has invested in and worked to create such firms as Altiga Networks, Ask Jeeves, Avid Technology, Be Free, CheckFree, Conor Medsystems, Continental Cable, EXACT Sciences, Lycos, MapQuest, New Oak Communications, Ocular Networks, Odyssey Healthcare, Starent Networks, Sybase, Telica, VistaPrint and WebLine Communications.
For more information about Highland Capital Partners, go to www.hcp.com.
Pond Venture Partners
Pond Venture Partners is Europe’s largest early-stage technology venture capital fund, founded in 1997 and with more than $200 million under management. Pond operates as a cohesive team based in London and Silicon Valley, with strong connections in Asia.
Pond works closely with its worldwide portfolio of companies to help build their technology innovations into successful global businesses – as well as providing introductions to new customers, management resources and quality co-investors. Pond’s venture team includes acclaimed entrepreneurs, business leaders and technology visionaries, all with an international focus and a focus on partnering with their portfolio companies for success.
Pond is regulated by the FSA.
For more information about Pond Venture Partners, go to www.pondventures.com.
The Rothschild Group
The Rothschild Group has been at the center of the world's financial markets for over 200 years.
Its Paris-based venture capital team manages funds backed by leading European institutional investors. The team invests in first-class international projects led by exceptional entrepreneurs, in the telecom, semiconductor/EDA, software and medical technology sectors. It invests between $1 million and $10 million to support companies through all phases of their growth.
The team provides insights and expertise through its entrepreneurial and operational background and its access to the worldwide Rothschild network.
For more information about The Rothschild Group, go to www.rothschild.com.
Scottish Equity Partners
Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) is one of the largest independent venture capital firms in Europe with over $600 million under management.
With offices in Glasgow and London, SEP is one of the most active venture capital investors in the Europe and has a strong 15 year investment track record, leading "A" round investments as well as later stage rounds, in financings of up to $50 million.
SEP has a strong focus on the semiconductor sector and backed two of the largest European semiconductor exits in the last five years - Wolfson Microelectronics (LSE: WLF), and Bluetooth specialist CSR (LSE: CSR).
For more information about SEP, go to www.sep.co.uk
AT&T
For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE 'T') has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services. Its investment in picoChip is from a strategic venture fund the company has established to make equity investments in early-stage companies whose technologies directly support AT&T's strategic networking objectives.
For more information about AT&T, go to www.att.com.
Intel and Intel Capital
Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment organization, makes equity investments in innovative technology start-ups and companies worldwide. Intel Capital is stage-agnostic and invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware, software and services targeting enterprise, home, mobility, health, consumer Internet, semiconductor manufacturing and cleantech.
Intel Capital’s goal is to achieve both strategic alignment with Intel Corporation and a strong financial return for its investments. Intel Capital does not disclose specific financial results from its investments, but the program has contributed billions in cash to Intel over its history.
Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US$7.5 billion in approximately 1,000 companies in 45 countries.
For more information about Intel Capital, go to www.intel.com/capital.
SVA (Samsung Ventrues America)
Samsung Ventures America (SVA) is the US operation of Samsung Venture Investment Corporation (SVIC), the venture capital arm of the Samsung Group.
SVA and SVIC collectively manage over $400 million. The investment mandate for Samsung Ventures America tracks closely to the strategic priorities of Samsung Electronics' core operating divisions, and encompasses investments in semiconductors, displays, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.
Samsung Ventures America is currently actively investing in leading technology companies from a $400 million fund.
For more information about Samsung Capital, go to www.samsungventure.co.kr
