Empresas y finanzas

NanoGram Corporation Raises $32M to Extend Solar Technology and Advanced Materials Solutions to Commercial Scale



    NanoGram Corporation, a leading developer and licensor of core
    process technology for the manufacture of unique nanostructured
    materials for optical, electronic and energy applications, today
    announced that it has closed on a third equity round of $32M to date
    to expand its solar technology and nanomaterials solutions businesses.

    In addition to follow-on investments from existing investors ATA
    Ventures, Bay Partners, Harris & Harris, Institutional Venture
    Partners, Nth Power, Rockport Capital Partners, SBV Venture Partners,
    and Technology Partners, NanoGram adds Global Cleantech Capital,
    Masdar Clean Tech Fund, Mitsui Ventures, Nagase & Co., Nanostart AG,
    TEL Venture Capital, and Yasuda Enterprise Development as new
    investors.

    The new funding will be used to accelerate development of
    NanoGram´s proprietary silicon solar technology and its advanced
    nanomaterials solutions for flat panel displays, solid state lighting,
    lithium-ion batteries, and printed electronics.

    "NanoGram is an agile company creating new market opportunities by
    understanding the needs of our customers and partners," said NanoGram
    President and CEO Dr. Kieran Drain. "Our expansion into the solar
    market and strong customer interest in our core nanomaterials
    solutions proves our technology has the potential to generate
    game-changing products. These new funds allow us to increase
    momentum."

    Ira Ehrenpreis, General Partner at Technology Partners, concurs
    stating, "NanoGram has already seen the successful spinouts of
    NeoPhotonics and NanoGram Devices, and is now pursuing additional
    exciting Cleantech opportunities in new large markets with their
    energy and advanced materials technologies. Managed by seasoned
    executives, the company continues to execute towards their vision of
    being a leading provider of nano-enabled materials solutions to their
    customers and partners."

    "The application of NanoGram´s nanomaterials solution to the solar
    sector opens up an extremely exciting frontier in the development of
    cost-effective solar technology," remarked Alex O´Cinneide, Partner at
    the Masdar Clean Tech Fund, a part of the Government of Abu Dhabi´s
    multi-billion dollar initiative in advanced energy technologies and
    sustainable development. "We believe that this application combined
    with the deep experience of their management team and their clearly
    articulated market strategy will achieve both near term successes and
    deliver on long term potential. Given the enormous promise of their
    technology, we are more than pleased to have a technology leader such
    as NanoGram in our portfolio."

    Dr. Paul Kloppenborg, CEO of Global Cleantech Capital and an
    experienced solar investor who was one of the early active investors
    in Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) and Q-Cells, states, "We believe
    that by helping NanoGram to commercialize their proprietary solar
    knowledge we accelerate our own solar investment program to deliver
    the high efficiencies of crystalline silicon with the cost savings of
    thin film. I believe NanoGram´s solar technology has the potential to
    contribute to the cost breakthrough in next generation photovoltaic
    technologies."

    The NanoGram Solutions business unit, which serves customers and
    partners in the optical, electronic, and energy arenas, will use the
    new funds to hasten the commercial realization of advanced
    nanomaterials solutions currently in development. These solutions,
    when coupled with NanoGram´s complete licensing package and
    production-scale Nanoparticle Manufacturing (NPM(TM)) equipment, offer
    customers and partners the ability to secure competitive advantages
    for their applications through higher levels of performance and
    innovative cost-saving processing routes.

    NanoGram today also announced the addition of Timothy H. Starkey
    as vice president of Solar Manufacturing and Benoit Pouliquen as
    independent director. Mr. Starkey joins the NanoGram Solar business
    unit and will oversee the team responsible for the design, integration
    and operation of a solar module pilot plant. Mr. Starkey brings over
    30 years of industry experience including executive management roles
    at Miasole, JDSU, SpectraSwitch, and Komag.

    Mr. Pouliquen joins the board of directors having most recently
    served as president and CEO of Sheldahl, a manufacturer of flexible
    circuits and technical materials which he successfully took private
    and sold to Flextronics in 2004. Prior to Sheldahl, Mr. Pouliquen was
    president and COO of BMC Industries and president of the electronics
    division of Johnson Matthey where he completed the successful sale of
    the division to Allied Signal, Inc. in 2000.

    About NanoGram

    NanoGram Corporation develops and licenses core process technology
    that enables the manufacture of unique nanoscale compositions for
    optical, electronic and energy products. The company has developed an
    extensive intellectual property portfolio that is expanding the
    boundaries of nanomaterials technologies and enabling the development
    and manufacture of new generations of materials, devices, components
    and applications across a broad range of industries. The NanoGram KK
    office in Shinjuku, Tokyo supports its growing presence in Japan,
    while the NanoGram Korea office in Seoul serves local customers in
    that country. NanoGram has established a strategic development and
    manufacturing supply relationship with Nagase & Co., Ltd. / Nagase
    ChemteX Corporation. Additional information about NanoGram is
    available at www.nanogram.com.