Alfalight scores $28M in second round funding

Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV, Palo Alto, California), a venture capital firm focused on emerging growth companies in the Internet infrastructure, software and services, communications and healthcare industries, continues its optical networking and communications investment trend by leading the $28 million second round of venture funding for Alfalight, an early stage, high-power diode laser company. This round also included Interwest Partners, Centerpoint Ventures and The Infrastructure Fund, in addition to the original first-round investors led by ARCH Venture Partners in Chicago.

Alfalight is developing several high-power pump laser products targeting applications in the telecommunications markets. Many of its technologies were developed at the University of Wisconsin -- Madison. The company received $6.1 million in first-round venture funding just 7 months ago.

Alfalight's products are based on intellectual property that is exclusively licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). They are targeting optical communications applications that benefit from their high power, single-mode 980 nm technology, and the metro amplifier market with their 980 nm aluminum-free, multi-mode technology.

Alfalight will use some of the money to complete a 20,000 square-foot building in Madison, Wis. The company also has a 15,000 square-foot packaging facility near Montreal, Canada, which opened in September.
About Advanced Technology Ventures

Edited by Maeve McKenna
Assistant Editor, Photonics Online