Kickstarter startup crowdfunding to come to the UK

Kickstarter, the US crowdfunding phenomenon, is looking to set up in the UK in the autumn.

The company offers start-ups a route to raise funding for specific projects from the general public in return for ‘investor’ benefits. A target amount to raise is set and if that amount is not reached, nothing is funded. Unlike UK crowdfunding venture Crowdcube, the benefits do not currently include shares.

The latest hit project on Kickstarter is Ouya, a low cost games console that comes with its own software development kit (SDK) so that it can be deliberately hacked (or programmed, as we used to say!). The $100 Android-based console is to the Raspberry Pi what the old ZX80 DIY computer kit was to the BBC B Microcomputer.

Over 100 UK companies have already used Kickstarter in the US. Xenonauts, a game by Goldhawk Interactive in London, last month raised $155,000 from nearly 5,000 small investors. However, in order to set up a Kickstarter account, you have to use Amazon Payments and in order to use Amazon Payments you have be an American citizen, and that has caused problems for international companies.

Quartz-like frequency stability from a simple, tiny, silicon chip oscillator? That is the claim of…more »

Cambridge-based power electronics start-up Amantys says the time is right…more »

Researchers from the University of Bristol are looking at the commercial opportunities for spinning off…more »

Bristol start-up Blu Wireless Technology is ramping up its 60GHz development for multi gigabit WiFi…more »

View the original article here

Maxim launches startup fund

With the dearth of venture capital for chip startups, Maxim Integrated products has launched its own investment fund.

It’s new Corporate Venture Group is to invest in both startup companies and innovative technologies. Through the fund, Maxim will make strategic investments to seed technologies aligning with the company’s focus areas, products, and initiatives, and make it easier for Maxim’s business units to work with smaller companies. 

The fun will focus on automotive, industrial, mobility and communications markets, providing partner companies with financial capital for growth and expansion as well as the opportunity to collaborate with Maxim on mutually beneficial products and technologies. The goal is to help Maxim penetrate these markets further and create a spread between high-growth markets such as mobility and computing and more stable ones such as industrial and communications.

“Investments made through our new Corporate Venture Group effectively augment our successful, home-grown technology solutions and those we incorporate through acquisitions,” said Tunç Doluca, Maxim President and Chief Executive Officer. “These investments will also build upon our current technology strengths, allowing for diversification into emerging markets.” 

Maxim’s Corporate Venture Group will be led by Yoon Choi, Venture Investment Lead. Prior to joining Maxim, Yoon was actively involved in the venture capital community. Most recently, she worked at Samsung Ventures, where she was actively involved in business development, sourcing of strategic investment opportunities and the financial and business analysis of venture transactions. Prior to Samsung Ventures, Yoon worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers and startup companies.

Maxim’s Corporate Venture Group is an integral part of the company’s Corporate Business Development Group, which focuses on mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, investments and divestitures. 

Quartz-like frequency stability from a simple, tiny, silicon chip oscillator? That is the claim of…more »

Cambridge-based power electronics start-up Amantys says the time is right…more »

Researchers from the University of Bristol are looking at the commercial opportunities for spinning off…more »

Bristol start-up Blu Wireless Technology is ramping up its 60GHz development for multi gigabit WiFi…more »

View the original article here

Ubiquisys raises $19m as it moves out of startup

Swindon-based Ubiquisys has moved well and truly out of being a startup with an oversubscribed funding round to raise $19m, bringing the total investment to over $74m.
The round for the seven year old company includes new investors Mobile Internet Capital and Nissay Capital, together with existing investors including 5CCG/Sallfort Privatbank AG, Accel Partners, Advent Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Yasuda.
The money will be used to focus on the delivery of its innovative tri-mode 3G/LTE/WiFi small cell hotspots to provide indoor wireless coverage in public areas. 

Quartz-like frequency stability from a simple, tiny, silicon chip oscillator? That is the claim of…more »

Cambridge-based power electronics start-up Amantys says the time is right…more »
Researchers from the University of Bristol are looking at the commercial opportunities for spinning off…more »
Bristol start-up Blu Wireless Technology is ramping up its 60GHz development for multi gigabit WiFi…more »

View the original article here