ClariPhy announces $24 million investment, new strategic alliances

IRVINE, USA: ClariPhy Communications, a leader in ultra high speed mixed signal, digital signal processing (MXSP) integrated circuits for optical networks, has secured $24M in series C funding.

The financing includes new strategic investors -- Oclaro, Inc., a tier-one provider of optical communications and laser components, and multiple telecom OEMs. All ClariPhy's existing venture investors participated in this round, including Norwest Venture Partners, Allegis Capital, ONSET Ventures, and Pacific General Partners.

ClariPhy will use the funding to deliver a new class of single chip MXSP ICs that significantly increase an optical network's reach and tolerance to impairments (such as chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion and fiber nonlinearity), while reducing cost of ownership for both OEMs and Service Providers.

The company's line of 10G, 40G and 100G networking chips are based on advanced MXSP schemes such as Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) and Coherent Detection that approach the limits of achievable performance.

ClariPhy's implementation of these schemes in 40 nm single-chip CMOS enables equipment designers to reduce cost and power by integrating multiple system functions into customized System on Chip (SoC) solutions.

Driving demand for these MXSP ICs is the growing adoption of a variety of new broadband services from video and social networking to voice-over-IP and cloud computing. With analysts predicting that network traffic will grow by more than 40% annually over the next five years, network operators are rapidly migrating from 10G to 40G transmission rates and beyond.

"We are honored to have such a quality group of investors participate in our financing," said Dr. Paul Voois, cofounder and CEO of ClariPhy. "As transmission rates increase, network equipment designers need low-cost, low-power solutions that extend reach and minimize signal impairment across high performance networks. This funding will enable us to deliver the MXSP technology that addresses their needs. Our new partnerships with Oclaro and others open up exciting opportunities to gain insight into customer problems, integrate our innovative technology into new ASIC and SoC applications, and generate significant new revenue streams."