Luxim brightens with $12M for efficient plasma lighting
Luxim, provider of high-efficiency solid-state plasma lighting systems, has nabbed $12 million in a third round of funding from Sequoia Capital and others. Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., the company plans to use the money to scale production of its existing products, which are largely used in stadium, city street, commercial and industrial lighting, as well as medical instrumentation. It has yet to roll out products suited to residential use.
The lights are unique not only in their ability to illuminate more on less power, but they are also lighter-weight and more focused than lights used for similar purposes. Plasma systems share these properties with the light-emitting diode systems currently being installed in buildings from homes to skyscrapers. However, Luxim says its solid-state products offer a wider color spectrum to customers, and each lamp puts out more light. This is an understatement, when you consider the fact that one “lamp” the size of a tic-tac can provide the equivalent of a streetlight.
The recent round of funding brings Luxim’s capital raised to $72 million. It has been backed by Crosslink Capital and DAG Ventures, in addition to Sequoia in the past. It raised $21 million in January last year and $40 million before that.
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