Last week’s $25m investment in Swindon-based Ubiquisys, by a group which includes search-giant Google, brings the total of venture capital (VC) raised by wireless communications technology companies in the region to $190m, since the start of 2006. Additional, substantial, investments were made by Nextwave Wireless with its acquisition of IP Wireless for $235m in May this year, and Amdocs which acquired Cramer for $425m in 2006.
According to Simon Bond of Silicon South West: “There is also a group of high-profile wireless communication technology start-ups in the region such as M-Stream, Pro-Vision, Air Semiconductor, MMIC Solutions and Xmos, and a strong pipeline of VC deals which will take us through the $1billion invested milestone by the end of this year”
Top SW wireless communications technology recipients of VC funding
(2006/7):
1. Icera - $60m
2. Ubiquisys - $37m
3. Apertio - $30m
4. picoChip - $27m
5. Mirics - $10m
An additional $25m+ of VC has been raised by: Air Semiconductor, Geonix, MMIC Solutions, Nanotech, SiConnect, SRT and Xmos during 2006/07.