Promising a cheap silicon supply for solar, 6N Silicon raises $20M
One of the solar photovoltaic industry’s biggest problems right now is a lack of polysilicon needed to make their solar cells. Supply shortages aren’t expected to ease up for another couple years; meanwhile, those who do have solar-grade silicon to sell are making money hand-over-fist.
6N Silicon wants to join the fray with a proprietary manufacturing process of its own, which is capable of improving low-grade silicon enough to be of use in solar (but not… Continue Reading
Hybrid TV chip maker Fresco Microchip raises $14.3M
Fresco Microchip, a manufacturer of hybrid TV receiver chips, has raised $14.3 million in its second round of funding.
Unlikely many other companies, Fresco isn’t just betting on digital broadcasting. The Toronto company recently unveiled the FM 2050, a chip that can process digital and analog signals. There are plenty of TVs and other electronic devices that can process both kinds of signals, but Fresco Marketing and Sales VP Mike Gittings said his company is the… Continue Reading
Alder Bio and its yeast-produced antibodies take in $40M
Alder Biopharmaceuticals, a Bothell, Wash., developer of antibody drugs, raised $40 million in a third funding round. Investors included Delphi Ventures, TPG Biotech, Sevin Rosen Funds, Ventures West, H.I.G. Ventures, and WRF Capital.
Alder develops antibody-based drugs for inflammation and autoimmune disease. The company’s lead candidate, ALD518, is currently in clinical trials as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, although neither Alder’s Web site nor its statement disclose when the drug began human tests.
Alder’s work… Continue Reading
Viigo raises $6.4M for mobile phone content service
updated
Viigo, a Toronto company that offers a convenient mobile phone application that lets you subscribe to news, entertainment and other content, has raised $6.4 million in financing.
Viigo competes head to head with Freerange. Both companies offer what is called an RSS Reader, or a technology that allows you to subscribe easily to the articles produced by some 5,000 “channels,” ranging from publications from the New York Times to the niche blog for pet lovers.
Both companies… Continue Reading
Zeugma Systems raises $22.5M for next-gen broadband
Zeugma Systems is a Vancouver, B.C. company that says it is developing a telecommunications network for next-generation high-speed broadband.
The company will use the most recent round of funding for its commercial launch, but has so far remained in stealth, and has not yet announced any specific products.
Zeugma System’s hefty second round of funding was led by Vertex Venture Capital. Return investors Granite Ventures, Ventures West, Yaletown Venture Partners, GrowthWorks Capital and BDC Venture Capital also… Continue Reading
QuickPlay Media, mobile video delivery co., raises $15M more
QuickPlay Media, a Toronto company that provides mobile TV and video technology to carriers, said it has raised $15 million in a third round of capital. See statement here.
The financing was led by Ventures West, and included General Catalyst, J.L. Albright Venture Partners and Up Capital.
From the statement:
“QuickPlay’s OpenVideo platform powers mobile video services for 10 major mobile operators in Canada and the United States, providing both live and on demand content from over 120… Continue Reading