Semiconductors
Voltaix
Branchburg, N.J.-based Voltaix, a provider of materials to enhance the performance of semiconductor chips and solar cells, has received $12.5 million in financing from Intel Capital of Santa Clara, Calif. The proceeds will be used to expand the company's manufacturing capacity. Voltaix manufactures chemicals and gases used in semiconductor manufacturing processes as well as for photovoltaic cells. The company, the former ChemOvonic Division of Energy Conversion Devices Inc. was spun off as an independent business in 1986.
Diablo
Gatineau, Quebec-based high speed server and storage chip developer Diablo Technologies Inc. turned to insiders BDC Venture Capital, GTI Capital and Celtic House Venture Partners, all of Montreal, for a final cash infusion before commercial introduction of its products, closing a $15 million Series B round of funding. The six-year-old company raised the money from longtime backers on the expectation that volume shipping and revenue generation will allow it to return to the capital markets for new investors as soon as September. The new money will support completion and production of mixed signal serial interconnect chips for servers and switches that require high speed, low power and low latency. -- Cliff Carlsen
Internet
Searchandise
Beverly, Mass.-based Guidester, Inc. has relaunched as Searchandise Commerce, with $7.5 million in Series C funding. The maker of navigational tools for search-based merchandising services received the money from new investor Cloquet Capital Partners, LLC of Chicago, which led the round. Also participating were returning investors DFJ Gotham, Wheatley Partners, and Milestone Venture Partners, all of New York, as well as Inflection Point Ventures of Bethesda, Md., and Tim Draper. The funds will be used to expand sales and marketing. Searchandise Commerce provides an eCommerce ad network for product manufacturers. The company's technology is designed to combines best practices from paid search and in-store merchandising.
Retail
Yes To Carrots
Yes To Carrots Inc., a Tel Aviv consumer products company, has closed a $14 million Series A funding. San Francisco Equity Partners led the round, with participation from Simon Equity Partners, also of San Francisco. The company owns the Yes To Carrots line of natural personal-care products. The capital will be used to accelerate North American distribution of Yes To Carrots products and to support the rollout of additional products and brands, including Yes To Cucumbers and Yes To Tomatoes. Yes To Carrots is a line of paraben-free skin and hair care products that feature anti-oxidants from organic fruits and vegetables. n
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