Aprius Gets $11M

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Lightspeed Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) co-led an $11 million Series A financing in Sunnyvale, California-based Aprius, a recently formed startup in the high-speed computer interconnect field. Lightspeed Founding General Partner, Chris Schaepe, and NEA General Partner, Forest Baskett, join the company's board of directors as a result of the investment.

"Aprius' founders are among the most advanced researchers and successful executive team in the area of high speed computer interconnects," said Dr. Baskett. "NEA expects great things to emerge from this company and this exciting field."

"I am pleased to have an opportunity to work with the Aprius founders again after having served on the board of their prior company, LightLogic, which was acquired by Intel," said Mr. Schaepe. "When Marc Verdiell, Aprius' CEO, left Intel in 2006, we extended seed financing to him as Marc is one of the most innovative entrepreneurs we have worked with."

The company will pursue the area of high-speed computer interconnects. The proceeds from this funding will be used primarily for product development and operations.

"We are happy to have the support and backing of two of Silicon Valley's most respected venture capital firms," said Mr. Verdiell. "We look forward to benefiting from their expertise in the communications and computing fields as Aprius continues to develop its next generation technologies."

Lightspeed Venture Partners

New Enterprise Associates (NEA)