Nantero, a start-up based in Woburn, Massachusetts. Raised $15.5 million for its work in developing carbon nanotubes for next-generation semiconductor devices. Nantero’s main focus is the development of “NRAM” — a high-density nonvolatile random access storage device. Nantero believes the technology will replace all existing forms of storage, such as DRAM, SRAM and flash memory, with a high-density nonvolatile RAM — ‘universal memory.’ NRAM could enable instant-on computers and might replace the memory in devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, and PDAs, as well as applications in the networking arena.
This past year Nantero has teamed with LSI Logic to develop semiconductor process technology which will expedite the effective utilization of carbon nanotubes in CMOS fabrication, and has also joined with BAE Systems to evaluate the potential to develop carbon nanotube-based electronic devices for use in advanced defense and aerospace systems. Brewer Science also entered into an agreement with Nantero to commercialize CMOS-grade carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to be used in semiconductor fabs by Brewer Science customers.
The new funding round was led by Globespan Capital Partners and joined by returning existing institutional investors including Charles River Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Stata Venture Partners, and Harris & Harris Group.
