AOptix nabs $12.9M for eye-recognition

AOptix Technologies, developer of iris-recognition technology and the wireless communication systems it requires, has brought in $12.9 million in a fourth round of funding to build new products. The Campbell, Calif. company says it is in the middle of commercializing its first product, called the… Continue Reading

Maxim Integrated acquires Mobilygen for video compression

Surveillance semiconductor company Maxim Integrated Products announced that it will buy private video chip maker Mobilygen for an undisclosed amount. The large public company hopes the acquisition will provide it with the compression technology it needs to make analog security cameras compatible with digital streaming,… Continue Reading

Noble Environmental Power files for $375M wind power IPO

Despite a rough market for IPOs — as evidenced by Real Goods Solar’s tough first day of trading yesterday — Noble Environmental Power, an Essex, Conn., wind power startup has filed plans to raise up to $375 million in an IPO

Its share sale will be… Continue Reading

SearchMe, a search engine startup with a visual interface and a lot of funding

SearchMe, a search engine startup with a visual interface and a lot of funding

SearchMe is another search startup that wants to take on Google.

It is a visual search engine, that shows you results in a series of revolving panes, with each pane featuring a search result. In iTunes, this format is used to feature the covers of albums,… Continue Reading

PEAK Surgical’s plasma electrosurgical tools net $21M

PEAK Surgical’s plasma electrosurgical tools net $21M

Palo Alto, Calif.-based PEAK Surgical, a device company developing new surgical tools that aim to control bleeding via electric energy, raised $21 million in a third funding round. Investors included Signet Healthcare Partners, Lehman Brothers and Venrock Associates.

The company is working on new electrosurgical tools… Continue Reading

Lehman Brothers raises $365M venture fund

Lehman Brothers said Wednesday it has raised a $365 million venture capital fund to back mid- to late-stage technology companies.

In a statement sent to VentureBeat, the Boston and Menlo Park, Calif. firm said $75 million was committed by the investment bank itself, with the rest… Continue Reading

Kontera raises $10.3M more for “in-text” ad technology

Kontera, a San Francisco company that helps online publishers scans for key words in articles on their sites and then matches them real-time with relevant “in-text” ads, has raised $10.3 million in a second round of funding.

Investors are Israeli venture firm Carmel Ventures and… Continue Reading

KaloBios draws in $20M for antibody drugs

KaloBios, a Palo Alto, Calif., biotech antibody-therapeutic company, raised $20 million in a third funding round. The company is developing new drugs based on monoclonal antibodies, which target specific cells or proteins in the body. Its lead candidate, an antibody against granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor,… Continue Reading

Mark Logic secures $15M for XML content server

Mark Logic, a San Mateo, Calif. company that sells a XML content server, said it has raised $15 million in a third-round financing, led by existing investors Sequoia Capital and Lehman Brothers.

XML stands for Extensible Markup Language, a language that allows users to share data… Continue Reading

IPO still on hold, Light Sciences beams up $30M

Snoqualmie, Wash.-based Light Sciences Oncology, a developer of light-activated cancer drugs, raised $30 million in a second funding round, even though it still has an IPO registration on file with the SEC. The latest funding closes out the company’s second round, which includes a $15… Continue Reading

Tumri, the online ad network, raises $10M more

Tumri, the online ad network, raises $10M more

Tumri, online advertising company that lets publishers choose the type of advertisers they want to run in a so-called AdPod on their Web sites, has raised a $10 million second round of funding.

Lehman Brothers Venture Partners led the round, which included existing investors Shasta… Continue Reading

AOptix raises $15M more for iris recognition

AOptix Technologies, a Campbell, Calif. company that makes lasers for iris recognition, and which can work from about 60 feet away, has raised $15 million in a third round of funding.

The round was led by DAG Ventures, and included Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Clearstone,… Continue Reading

Aerovance, asthma treatment company, finishes raising $60M

Aerovance, a Berkeley, Calif biopharmaceutical company looking to find a partner for its asthma treatement, Aerovant, reached back to year-old news and announced it has finished raising $60 million in a third round of financing.

There is “substantial very, very strong interest” by pharmaceutical and biotech… Continue Reading

Jazz Pharmaceuticals files for gutsy $172M IPO

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a Palo Alto, Calif. company that seeks to license drugs from other companies, buy other drug companies and develop its own drugs, all in the area neurology and psychiatry, has filed for a $172.5 million IPO.

Here is its filing. It is four years… Continue Reading

Peak Surgical raises $8M for surgical device

Peak Surgical Inc., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based surgical device startup, has raised around $8 million in Series B funding, according to a regulatory filing cited by PE Week Wire. Backers include Venrock Associates and Lehman Brothers.