LedEngin secures $11 million in series C funding

Oct. 2, 2007
New financing for LED maker LedEngin should help accelerate market adoption of energy efficient solid-state lighting components
LedEngin, a Santa Clara-based supplier of high-power LED components and light source modules, has closed its series C round of funding worth $11 million.

The funding round was led by Partech International, and previous investors WK Technology Fund and Dr. Lu, a private investor, also participated.

LedEngin will use the funding to expand sales channels and manufacturing capacity, and to develop additional solid-state lighting solutions for ultra-bright lighting applications traditionally served by halogen and incandescent bulbs.

"The SSL industry is just beginning to take off," said Tim Wilson, partner, Partech International. "LED die manufacturers are under tremendous pressure to improve efficiency and lower cost. LedEngin has invented complementary packaging technologies that allow the LED component to be smaller, more efficient, much brighter and more reliable."

"We are delighted to have Tim Wilson join our company's board of directors," said David Tahmassebi, CEO, LedEngin. "Tim and Partech bring an impressive background of achievement and knowledge in SSL applications, which will help enable LedEngin to accelerate its market penetration and help propel the company to the next level."

LedEngin began customer sampling in the first quarter of 2007, and says that more than 100 customers have sampled its products. Further, the company now has several products shipping in volume. All LedEngin products have passed stringent Wet Hot Temperature Operating Life (85 deg.C/85% WHTOL) tests.

The company claims that its 15W product generates the industry’s highest flux per package, and this package can be mounted directly onto a heat sink. By eliminating the need for a MCPCB, this significantly reduces the system thermal resistance, allowing drive currents of 1A.

Tahmassebi said that the company is excited to enable a host of applications requiring ultra-high-power UV-based LED lighting. "Traditional UV lamps are bulky and expensive, with a short lifespan requiring UV bulbs to be replaced often,” he said. “LedEngin’s new UV and multi-wavelength UV is making headway in medical, portable and a host of others applications.”