French startup, Aledia, a developer and producer of next-generation nanowire 3D LEDs based on its Gallium-Nitride-on-Silicon technology, reported the completion of its Series B financing round. Also, the company announced the execution of development and supply contracts with major LED customers.
Aledia is developing nano-wire based LEDs fabricated on large-diameter silicon wafers (200mm or 8-inch). According to the company, these nanowire LEDs promise to be significantly less expensive than conventional “2D” LEDs, and they allow the integration of electronics into the LED. The company is also working on the applications for the technology in next-generation displays.
Aledia says that GaN nanowires can be as bright or even brighter than conventional LED chips because the near-perfect crystals offer a high surface area for light emission, and can be driven at higher temperatures because of the silicon substrate conducts heat better than the more conventional sapphire. The company also points out that GaN nanowires can be made to emit in all wavelengths, including red, blue, and green for native-RGB chips. The company speculates that the RGB chips could be used next-generation displays.
The financing round totaling up to €28.4 million (about $31 million), includes new investments from Valeo, one of the world’s largest automobile-equipment manufacturers and the world’s second-largest supplier of car lighting systems. Other investors include IKEA GreenTech AB, the venture capital arm of IKEA and the Ecotechnologies fund of Bpifrance, the French national industrial bank. Aledia’s previous international investors including Braemar Energy Ventures, CEAi/ATi, Demeter Partners, and Sofinnova Partners also participated in the round.
Aledia Simultaneously Signs Development and Supply Contracts
Both Valeo and IKEA GreenTech also signed development and supply contracts with Aledia.
Giorgio Anania, CEO, chairman and co-founder of Aledia said, “We are progressing with the development of the technology and this financing round will allow us to accelerate significantly the speed of development and the customer traction. In Valeo we have a major potential customer in the automotive LED market, generally viewed as the most profitable market segment. Simultaneously with the investment, we have signed a supply agreement with Valeo.”
Maurizio Martinelli, Valeo Visibility Business Group president, said, “We are convinced that Aledia’s 3D LED technology, together with Valeo’s expertise in automobile lighting systems, has the potential to put on the market a technological breakthrough in innovative lighting systems, perfectly in line with Valeo Lighting System’s mission to provide performance and style, and contribute to the safety of road users.”
Christian Ehrenborg, managing director of IKEA GreenTech AB, said, “This technology will be one important part in the IKEA Group strategy to supply high-quality, energy-saving lighting products to consumers worldwide. The low-price opportunity for residential use has the potential of faster implementation of the LED technology, leading to savings for customers. The connectivity functions of Aledia’s technology also open up new interesting possibilities to make life at home more convenient and smarter.”
