Validity Sensors raises $20M more for fingerprint sensors

Validity Sensors, San Jose start-up the builds advanced fingerprint sensors, has raised $20 million in its latest round of venture capital, in what appears to be a formal financial restart of the company.

The round included a “substantial investment” from Qualcomm Ventures, according to the company, which suggests the company’s technology will soon be used for mobile phones. Qualcomm is a leading mobile phone chip company.

The round was led, however, by venture firm TeleSoft Partners, which had injected some money earlier this year. The rest of the round was just sealed, with money also coming from VentureTech Alliance, and a number of others: Ram Shriram (angel investor in Google), Marc Benioff (chief exec of SalesForce.com), and Atiq Raza (chief exec of Raza Microelectronics).

Here is a description of their technology:

Validity’s line of durable LiveFlex(TM) fingerprint sensors eliminates the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords by allowing users to simply swipe their finger over a durable plastic surface. The LiveFlex sensor overcomes the concerns associated with traditional silicon fingerprint sensors by protecting the silicon from the user. The only exposed area is the durable surface of the Validity sensor providing superior resistance to ESD, harsh chemicals, abrasion, and impact; all of which are critical factors for notebook use in real world environments.

There are a number of other players on the market, including IDesia (see our story here)

Next Story: Chief executives make more — particularly in healthcare and in Silicon Valley
Previous Story: UPDATE: MI5 Networks, anti-spyware company, raises first round