DECAWAVE SECURE €2M INVESTMENT A FURTHER ENDORSEMENT OF EARLY STAGE IRISH SEMICONDUCTOR COMPANIES
From left: Orla Rimmington, Operations Director, Kernel Capital; Pat Gaynor, Managing Director, Corporate Banking, Bank of Ireland and Ciaran Connell, CEO, DecaWave.
CORK, Ireland, 3 November 2010:
Following the recent trade sales of Bank of Ireland Kernel
Capital Fund semiconductor portfolio companies ChipSensors
and Straatum Processware, Kernel Capital continued its commitment
to research and innovation in the Irish semiconductor industry
today confirming a €2m investment in Dublin based, DecaWave
Limited. The investment in this early stage semiconductor
company is co-led with International Investment and Underwriting
(IIU). An Enterprise Ireland supported company, DecaWave
provides real-time location and wireless sensor solutions.
DecaWave's flagship product, ScenSor, is gaining significant interest from many market leaders. The ScenSor chip solves a wide range of problems including how to identify and accurately track the specific location of any object or person, utilising very low power, low cost wireless-enabled sensors. Based on its novel, patented ultra wideband (UWB) technology, there are many applications for the Company's products, including health, manufacturing, safety and security. The investment funds will be used to accelerate the next phases of growth for ScenSor technology. DecaWave has already established a Partnership Agreement with leading Korean telecommunications company, LG Innotek who will manufacture modules based on DecaWave's ScenSor chips.
"We have been keeping a close eye on DecaWave's progress
for a while now. With two patents issued and over five more
pending, DecaWave has continuously developed its innovative
technology and is a pioneer in the commercial application
of UWB technology. We believe that the company has proven
all the basic building blocks to ensure this early stage
company has the potential to make a major global impact,"
said Dr. Daniel McCaughan, Chief Technology Advisor of Kernel
Capital.
Commenting on the announcement, Pat Gaynor, Managing Director
of Corporate Banking at Bank of Ireland, said: "Bank
of Ireland is delighted to be part of this latest investment
in Decawave. It is vital for Ireland to be investing in
the future, and our partnership with Kernel Capital is providing
funds to assist the progress of new and exciting companies
which are the engine of national long-term growth."
Ciaran Connell, CEO of DecaWave, added: "DecaWave is
delighted to have Kernel Capital and International Investment
and Underwriting as our new investment partners. We regard
their support as a significant vote of confidence in our
vision."
DecaWave’s management team consists of communication
technology veterans. The company employs 18 people and a
number of contractors based in Dublin, France, the United
States and Asia.
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For further information please contact:
Orla Rimmington, Operations Director, Kernel Capital.
Tel: +353 21 4928974 / Fax: +353 21 4928977