Aledia is pioneering a nanowire/nanocrystal microLED technology spun out of CEA-Leti in 2012, developing LED chips for laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, augmented-reality glasses and large TVs. The company uses very large-size silicon wafers (200–300mm) and microelectronics processes rather than conventional planar 2D LEDs on smaller sapphire substrates, and its technology is protected by 197 patent families. Aledia closed an €80M first tranche of a planned €120M D-round and will use the proceeds to complete product development and build a first-of-its-kind high-volume 3D microLED manufacturing facility in the Grenoble area. The planned facility has an estimated capex of €40 million (excluding equipment), and the company expects to invest over €200 million in equipment over the next five years. Aledia plans to grow to approximately 500 employees as it scales manufacturing. Strategic partners and investors, including Intel Capital and a range of technology and investment funds, are reinvesting to support commercialization. Aledia develops and manufactures next-generation 3D LEDs based on a gallium-nitride-nanowires-on-silicon platform. Its LEDs are produced on large-diameter silicon wafers (200mm, scalable to 300mm) and designed for mobile and other display applications. The company is pursuing both large/existing displays (smartphones, laptops, tablets) and smaller, emerging displays for VR/AR/MR and smartwatches using megapixel integrated silicon chips. Aledia is working with several large industrial partners to develop next-generation displays. It intends to use recently raised funds to accelerate technology development and acquire critical equipment. The company is led by CEO, chairman and co-founder Giorgio Anania and has subsidiaries in the US, Taiwan and Malaysia. Aledia develops and manufactures next‑generation 3D LEDs using a Gallium‑Nitride‑on‑Silicon (nanowire) platform. Its LEDs are produced on large‑diameter silicon wafers (200mm/8-inch) and are designed to be significantly less expensive than traditional 2D LEDs. The technology allows integration of electronics into the LED and the company is also working on next‑generation displays. Aledia has been advancing development and customer traction, signing development and supply contracts with major LED buyers. The company highlights automotive as a key market opportunity and cites a recently completed oversubscribed financing to accelerate development. No revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the article. Aledia develops and manufactures innovative LEDs based on a 3D architecture using gallium-nitride (GaN) microwires grown on silicon. Its GaN-on-silicon microwire technology is produced on standard 8-inch (200 mm) silicon wafers using existing CMOS wafer-fabrication processes and tools. This approach enables LED chip production at a cost four times less than traditional planar (2D) LEDs. The technology was developed over six years at LETI-CEA in Grenoble, and as part of the spin-out Aledia received exclusive worldwide rights to current and future CEA patents on microwire lighting technology. The company was co-founded in 2011 by Giorgio Anania (President & CEO), Xavier Hugon (COO) and Philippe Gilet (CTO), and is based in Grenoble, France. Aledia completed its first financing, raising €10m from Sofinnova Partners, Braemar Energy Ventures, Demeter Partners and CEA Investissement; the article does not disclose operating metrics or planned use of proceeds.

Total raised

$175M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series D

Latest activity

Oct 2020