Quantenna Communications, a leading player in ultra-reliable Wi-Fi video networking for whole-home entertainment, announced today that it has closed a $79 million funding round led by new lead investor Rusnano, the Russian nanotechnology giant, with participation by a second new investor, Bright Capital, a major Russian fund.
All existing major investors, Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, Grazia Equity, Sigma Partners, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Venrock Associates have also participated in the financing. Rusnano will invest up to $40 million and Sequoia Capital Growth Fund will contribute $20 million.
Quantenna’s innovative Wi-Fi chipsets offer “wire-like reliability” for wireless video content distribution around the home and other demanding applications, the company claims. They represent “the only commercially available solution for ultra-high reliability, carrier-grade video distribution in both managed and OTT architectures.”
According to market research firm Gartner, Wi-Fi-enabled device shipments will grow from less than 1 billion units in 2010 to more than 3 billion in 2015, making Wi-Fi one of the most influential wireless technologies in the years to come.
Rusnano’s investment will leverage synergies between Quantenna’s portfolio and a number of nanotechnology initiatives that are underway at Rusnano, whose mission is to develop the Russian nanotechnology industry through a variety of co-investment opportunities.
Quantenna designs its products utilizing the latest semiconductor process technology, and is pursuing 40- and 28-nanometer process for its next-generation products.
Rusnano Managing Director George Kolpachev will become a member of Quantenna’s board of directors, and Rusnano investment manager Vladislav Tropko will become a board observer. Quantenna will open a Russian subsidiary.
