Nanochip raises $14M for ultra high-capacity memory chips
Nanochip is busy setting itself up as a potential competitor to flash memory, with a promise of removable, durable memory chips that can hold hundreds of gigabytes of data each.
The Fremont, Calif. company’s silicon chips use microelectro-mechanical sytems (MEMS) to control the read/write heads on its chips, which will in turn modify phase-change media. The system offers high density and lower pricing than flash memory for chips.
First prototypes of 100 gigabyte chips are expected from the Nanochip late this year, with full production coming by 2010. The company says it will double storage capacity every year thereafter, which would give it terabyte chips within five more years.
An unnamed “world class” company led the $14 million financing, with participation from Intel Capital and JK&B Capital. Nanochip previously took $10 million, in 2006.
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About the Author, Chris Morrison
Chris Morrison writes about cleantech and environmental issues for VentureBeat, with occasional forays into gaming and semantic technology. He got his start writing about tech for Business 2.0 magazine, but quickly realized new media was the ticket when that institution closed its doors in 2007. Chris has also covered public equities and regulatory issues. He originally hails from southern Virginia, graduated from Evergreen State College in Washington, and now lives in San Francisco.