Israeli start-up Kailight Photonics has completed a $4.5 million financing round led by Hyperion Israel Partners, which made its first investment in the company. Other investors in the round included Lucent Venture Partners, Ofer Brothers High-Tech Group, Peregrine Ventures, and an undisclosed optical communications manufacturer. Kailight develops components for fiber-optic communications.
President and CEO Sagie Tsadka manages Kailight, which was founded in late 2000 by chairman Dr. Uriel Halavee and chief scientist Prof. Shmuel Sternklar. The company has raised $14.5 million to date, including the current round, and has 15 employees. IVC Online says that all the company’s existing investors took part in the current round.
Kailight deals in the high-speed broadcasting of information on fiber-optic infrastructure. The company’s components make it possible to upgrade the quality of signals at various points, and to correct various distortions created in the signal. This extends the broadcasting range, expands bandwidth, and improves signal quality in a given range.
Kailight will used the capital raised to support its transition to production and bolster its sales efforts for its components. It will also hire a number of additional development and operations staff, who will enable the company to fulfill its current market potential. Tsadka says that the company has sold small quantities of components for trials so far, and is expected to substantially increase its sales to several million dollars in 2006.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on January 9, 2006