CamSemi raises $8M for energy-efficient semiconductors
Cambridge, UK-based CamSemi, a manufacturer of fabless semiconductors that help reduce the energy consumption of electronics, has added another $8 million to its growing cash pile. This extension to its third round of funding, led by BankInvest Group’s New Energy Solutions fund, takes the company’s total to $34 million.
CEO David Baillie said the funding would primarily be used to strengthen CamSemi’s development pipeline and to bolster its sales and support resources. Part of it would also be used to support the commercialization of its existing product lines.
Energy efficiency is the name of the game for CamSemi: It’s developing specialized integrated circuits (IC) that can be used to manufacture smaller, cheaper and more cost-efficient mains-connected converters and battery chargers. It began selling its line of C2470 mixed signal controllers targeting low power cordless phones and audio markets — two markets which still rely heavily on wasteful linear power converter — in April. The converters will help businesses meet the more stringent Energy Star 2.0 energy-efficiency standards.
With more and more companies investing in energy-efficient technologies to reduce waste and bring down their costs — a new report predicts investments in energy efficiency could reduce consumption by up to 30 percent during the next two decades — CamSemi’s product line-up (and bottom line) could stand to benefit over the long run.
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About the Author, Jeremy Jacquot
Jeremy Jacquot is a doctoral student at the University of Southern California who is studying watershed management and global biogeochemical cycling. He previously studied marine biology at UCLA where he earned his B.S. in 2005; he is the Los Angeles correspondent for TreeHugger, where he focuses on science/technology and business news.