Venture-Backed Nano Companies to Watch
(Final installment in 4-part series)
Here´s a sampling of companies using nanotechnology as a basis for their products who have received capital from venture capital firms such as Harris & Harris, Rockport Capital, Arch Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, Venrock Associates and Lux Capital.
Santa Clara, CA
Innovalight is developing solar cells based on nanotechnology "printing" processes. The company has a solvent-based process for making what it calls "silicon ink," which is made of silicon nanocrystals suspended in a liquid ink solution, said CEO Conrad Burke.
San Jose, CA
NanoGram Corporation develops and licenses technology enabling the manufacture and deposition of nanomaterials for applications in optical, electronic, and energy storage devices and products. The Company maintains an IP portfolio of approximately 100 patents that it seeks to commercialize through company spinouts, licenses and joint ventures.
Emeryville, CA
Nanomix Inc. is developing nanoelectronic sensors that integrate carbon nanotube electronics with silicon microstructures. These sensors are intended to add value across a broad range of industrial and medical applications where attributes of nanotechnology offer significant performance advantages including: low power consumption, small size, high specificity, reproducibility and wireless integration.
Somerset, NJ
NanoOpto Corp. is applying proprietary nano-optics and nano-manufacturing technology to design and make optical components for consumer electronics and potentially for optical systems and networks. Both on its own and with corporate partners, NanoOpto´s strategy is to use subwavelength techniques to produce better conventional optical components and also to create new classes of integrated components.
Palo Alto, CA
Nanosys, Inc. develops nanotechnology enabled products utilizing high performance inorganic nanostructures. Nanosys has built one of the broadest technology platforms in the industry with more than 450 patents and patent applications covering fundamental areas of nanotechnology. Nanosys collaborates with industry leaders to develop revolutionary high-value, high-performance products for computing, optoelectronics, communications, renewable energy, defense and the life sciences.
Woburn, MA
Nantero is a nanotechnology company using carbon nanotubes for the development of next-generation semiconductor devices. These devices include memory, logic, and other semiconductor products. In the field of memory, Nantero is developing NRAM"?¢, a high-density nonvolatile Random Access Memory. The company's objective is to deliver a product that will replace all existing forms of memory, such as DRAM, SRAM and flash memory, with NRAM"?¢ serving as universal memory. The potential applications for the nonvolatile memory Nantero is developing are extensive and include the ability to enable instant-on computers and to replace the memory in devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, and PDAs, as well as applications in the networking arena. NRAM"?¢ can be manufactured for both standalone and embedded memory applications.
San Jose, CA
NeoPhotonics develops and manufactures advanced planar optical devices by integrating active and passive optical materials using the company's proprietary nanomaterials-based processes. The company's customer-engineered solutions enable integration of active and passive functions into planar waveguide product platforms
Cleveland, Ohio
Five Star Technologies is an advanced materials company specializing in the design and manufacture of engineered materials and dispersions. Using its patented Controlled Flow Cavitation"?¢ process, Five Star Technologies creates nanoparticle materials, innovative dispersions and concentrates, and a unique line of formulated gel products. Product offerings are currently available for a number of uses, including health and nutrition, personal care, electronic materials, and industrial catalysts.
