Battery News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Battery Ventures and Pitango Venture Capital Invest $17 Million in Anobit Technologies
Series A Financing to Fuel Team and Operations Growth of Israeli Fabless Semiconductor Firm
WALTHAM, Mass., and Herzelia, Israel, August 3, 2007 – Battery Ventures and Pitango Venture Capital today announced their $17 million Series A investment in Anobit Technologies, LTD. The round was led by Battery Ventures. Anobit, based in Herzelia, Israel, is a fabless semiconductor start-up company developing enabling technologies for the large and growing flash memory market. The flash memory market has grown from $8.2 billion in 2001 to over $20 billion in 2006, and is projected to reach more than $25 billion in 2010 [Source: Gartner]. With this investment, Battery General Partner Scott Tobin and Pitango Managing General Partner Rami Beracha join Anobit’s board.
Anobit’s technology optimizes the cost and performance of flash memory devices, paving the way for the next generation of memory solutions. The company was founded by three internationally recognized experts in the fields of signal processing, digital communications, system and silicon design: Professor Ehud Weinstein, Dr. Ofir Shalvi and Ariel Maislos.
“It’s been great getting to know the team over these last few years. When we discussed this newest venture with them it was apparent that they once again were putting together one of the more gifted teams in Israel to attack a very difficult problem,” said Scott Tobin, Battery general partner.
Battery has invested in a number of successful semiconductor companies, including: AnalogicTech [NASDAQ: AATI], Lara Networks (acquired by Cypress Semiconductor), PixelWorks [NASDAQ: PXLW] and SigmaTel [NASDAQ: SGTL]. Its current portfolio includes: Achronix Semiconductor, Freescale Semiconductor, MaxLinear and Optichron.
Pitango’s investments include companies such as Audio Codes, Dune Networks, Kilopass Technology Inc., Optimal Test and Provigent.
“They are tackling a very large market with an incredibly elegant technical solution, and have the potential to have a tremendous impact on the way the memory and storage markets develop worldwide. Our backing will help the founders rapidly scale their team and operations to meet customer demand and continue to develop novel solutions for the large and growing flash memory market,” said Rami Beracha, Pitango managing general partner.
About Anobit
Anobit Technologies, LTD is a fables semiconductor company developing enabling technologies for the rapidly growing flash memory market. Anobit was founded by a group of internationally renowned experts and entrepreneurs in the fields of signal processing, digital communications, system and silicon design. Anobit’s technology optimizes the cost and performance of flash memory devices, paving the way for next generation storage solutions. For more information, visit www.anobit.com.
About Battery Ventures
Since 1983, Battery has been investing in technology and innovation
worldwide. The firm partners with entrepreneurs and management teams across
technology sectors, geographies and stages of a company’s life, from
start-up and expansion financing, to growth equity and buyouts.
Battery has supported many breakthrough companies around the world, including:
Airespace (acquired by Cisco), Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), Cbeyond
(NASDAQ: CBEY), Kashya, Inc. (acquired by EMC) and Neoteris (acquired by
Netscreen). Its current portfolio includes emerging firms such as Advent
Solar, BladeLogic (NASDAQ: BLOG), Freshpoint, Netezza (NYSE Arca: NZ), Spot
Runner, and Tejas Networks, as well as more established companies such as
ITA Software, Consona Corporation, MetroPCS (NYSE: PCS) and Nova Analytics.
From offices in Boston, Silicon Valley and Israel, Battery manages nearly $3 billion in committed capital, including its current fund of $750 million. For more information, visit www.battery.com.
About Pitango Venture Capital:
www.pitango.com
Pitango Venture Capital, the leading venture capital firm in Israel, has
been investing in technology entrepreneurs since 1993. With offices in Israel
and Silicon Valley California, Pitango currently manages over $1 billion
in committed capital invested in more than 100 companies. Pitango specializes
in providing long-term support and value-added services to its portfolio
companies, with a focus on seed to late-stage companies in Communications,
Network and Storage, Wireless and Mobile, Enterprise Software and Internet
Infrastructure, and Life Sciences including Biotech and Medical Devices.
For more information contact:
Karen Bommart
Battery Ventures
Tel: +1.781.478.6600
kbommart@battery.com
Sharon Erde
Pitango Venture Capital
Tel: +972.9.9718135
sharon.e@pitango.com