Nanowire LED Innovator Aledia Announces €30 ($36M) Million Series-C Financing

"The opportunity for Aledia's breakthrough nanowire-LED display technology is huge," said Giorgio Anania, CEO, chairman and co-founder of Aledia. "Today more than 3 billion people interface to the Internet with mobile displays, and LED technology is expected to be used in a majority of these displays in the next few years. The unique advantages that 3D LED technology delivers position it as the driver of a once-in-a-generation shift.

"This financing round and collaboration with Intel reflect this potential and underscores the interest that our 3D nanowire-on-silicon technology is getting in the mobile-display market and from leading global technology-investment firms," said Anania.

Aledia is developing a new generation of LEDs that are manufactured on large-diameter silicon wafers (200mm/8-inch, scalable to 300mm/12 inch) and targeted at mobile display applications. The LED technology is expected to lead to displays that are more energy-efficient, much brighter and manufacturable at moderate cost. The silicon-based technology also is well suited for the integration of electronics.

Aledia is working on next-generation displays with several large industrial partners. The company also is developing large/existing displays (smart phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) as well as smaller, newer displays for VR/AR/MR and smartwatch applications, using its megapixel integrated silicon chips.

Anania said this Series C financing will support the company's plans to significantly accelerate the speed of its LED technology development, including acquiring critical equipment.

"Energy efficiency, display quality and cost are three critical characteristics of mobile consumer electronics displays, and we feel Aledia's 3D LED technology, based on large-area silicon fabrication, can impact this space," said Gregory M. Bryant, senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel Corporation. "We're excited to work with Aledia to innovate display technologies across client platforms."

About Aledia

Aledia is a pioneering developer of next-generation LED displays based on its disruptive WireLED® 3D nanowire technology, which allows manufacturing of 3D LEDs on 8-inch (200mm) or larger silicon wafers in existing microelectronics foundries, and their straightforward integration with electronics. The company's 3D GaN-nanowires-on-silicon technology delivers increased brightness and more energy-efficient displays, at a cost point that is lower than that of conventional planar (2D) micro-LEDs. Aledia is based in Grenoble, France, and has subsidiaries in the US, Taiwan and Malaysia. Additional information is available at www.aledia.com.

About Braemar Energy Ventures

Braemar Energy Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on making investments in the energy technology sector. The firm's principals have invested in more than 60 companies in the sector and have more than 100 years of combined technical, operational and financial experience in energy and energy-related industries. Braemar partners with exceptional companies and management teams, in both alternative and traditional energy markets, which can contribute to a more profitable and efficient energy landscape through innovation and marketplace expertise. Additional information is available at www.braemarenergy.com.

About Demeter

Demeter is among the European leaders for sustainable investment mainly in France, Spain and Germany. Demeter specializes in private equity investments in the energy and environmental transition sectors and manages venture capital, growth capital / buyout capital and infrastructure funds. With € 1 billion assets under management and 33 professionals, Demeter has made 120 investments over the last 10 years. Additional information is available at www.demeter-im.com.