Mitsui Ventures 三井ベンチャーズ(MVC、MCVP) ベンチャーキャピタル ベンチャー 三井物産 起業

NEWS 2006

[04/20/2006]

New Fujitsu Spinout - QD Laser, Inc. established with Entrepreneurial Capital from Mitsui Ventures

Mitsui Ventures today announced the formation of a new optical device spinout from Fujitsu Limited - QD Laser, Inc. (“QDL”), by carving out Fujitsu's quantum dot laser technology, with funding from Mitsui Ventures and Fujitsu's Corporate Venture Capital fund.

Quantum dots, from which the new venture takes its name, are semiconductor particles that are a single nanometer (one billionth of a meter) in size. Quantum dots and technology utilizing quantum dots were developed through an academic-industrial research collaboration by Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories, and Professor Yasuhiko Arakawa’s laboratory at the University of Tokyo. Quantum dot lasers, which use this technology, are revolutionary lasers that are significantly superior to conventional semiconductor lasers in that they feature higher performance in such aspects as temperature-independent operation, low power consumption, long-distance transmission, and high speed. It is anticipated that quantum dot lasers will become a core technology to realize high-performance light sources for optical telecommunication, for which data traffic is continuing to increase rapidly.

Utilizing quantum dot semiconductor crystallization leading-edge technology developed thus far by Fujitsu, and laser design and process technologies, QDL will offer quantum dot lasers to the optical telecommunication light source market for use in optical access and optical LAN within buildings. The new company aims to leverage the superior performance of its technologies to expand its share in the market and become the leader in the industry.

Mitsui Ventures - a global venture capital firm led by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in Japan, provides Entrepreneurial Capital to support start-up companies in various ways from a global perspective. The establishment of QDL is an example of a new company creation by carving out Fujitsu’s world-class technology and human resources.

Mitsui Ventures's investment in QDL will be made from its fund III in which Mitsui & Co. is the single LP. In addition to supporting QDL through strategy planning, operational management, capitalization and fund-raising strategy, Mitsui Ventures will also support global marketing of QDL’s technologies, enhancing growth and expansion of the new venture.

About Mitsui Ventures

Mitsui Ventures is a provider of early stage venture capital for various types of technology firms with a special expertise in helping to build their businesses globally. Over the years, they have invested in breakthrough technologies in the communication, software, information series, life science, and medical device industries and accelerated their growth. MVC Corp. based in Tokyo is the HQ for Mitsui & Co.’s global venture capital operation, with its US arm Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners located in New York and Silicon Valley, they manages more than $400 million in venture capital. Its parent, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is one of the largest and world's most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment, and service enterprises in Japan.

For more information, contact:

Kiyoshi Ohkubo
Investment Partner
Mitsui Ventures
Tel: +81-3-3238-5981
Email: it-japan@mitsuiventures.com