Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital has joined with Intel Capital and other investors to bankroll Sand 9, a Cambridge, Massachusetts company working on technologies for micro-electromechanical systems or MEMS.
The company says that its timing devices ensure synchronicity and stable operation in complex electronic devices such as smarthphones, tablet computers and communications infrastructure equipment. That can lead to fewer dropped calls in the case of cell phones.
“Sand 9’s precision MEMS technology has the potential to address the limitations of quartz timing products and substantially improve the performance, quality and cost of mobile devices while making them easier to design and manufacture” said Intel Capital managing director David Flanagan in a statement.
Other investors in the $23 million venture capital found include Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Flybridge Capital Partners, General Catalyst Partners, Khosla Ventures and CSR. The 5-year-old company plans to use the cash to commercialize its first product.
