Participated · Series E · Aug 2011

Bridgelux develops and manufactures LED lighting technologies and solutions and is based in Livermore, California. Led by CEO Bill Watkins, the company is a pioneer in solid-state lighting with patented light source technology. Its integrated solid-state solutions are designed to replace incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lighting with high-performance, energy-efficient white light. Target markets include interior and exterior lighting, including street lights, commercial lighting and consumer applications. The company intends to use the funding to accelerate research, development, and production of LED chip and packaging technology for general illumination applications. Bridgelux develops patented light source technology and integrated solid-state lighting solutions intended to replace incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lighting. Its products aim to enable lamp and luminaire manufacturers to provide high-performance, energy-efficient white light for interior and exterior markets, including street lights, commercial lighting and consumer applications. The company is led by CEO Bill Watkins and is based in Livermore, California. Bridgelux intends to use the newly raised funds to accelerate research and development. Its GaN-on-Silicon LED chip technologies are targeted for commercialization in 2013. The article reports a $15M financing to support these R&D and commercialization efforts. Bridgelux is a Livermore, California–based developer and manufacturer of LED lighting technologies and solid-state light sources. Led by CEO Bill Watkins, the company builds LEDs intended to replace incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lighting. Its products target lamp and luminaire manufacturers serving street lighting, commercial lighting and consumer applications. Bridgelux received a $60M Series E financing to support growth. The company plans to use the funds to accelerate research and development in strategic areas including GaN-on-Silicon development and LED chip-on-board architecture. In conjunction with the financing, David Asarnow of Craton Equity Partners will join Bridgelux’s board as an observer. Bridgelux is an LED manufacturer that recently announced a new line of LEDs it said doubled the light output of commercially available products. That increased output makes the line usable in retail-type settings. The company secured a deal with electronics manufacturer Tyco to incorporate Bridgelux’s new products into lighting components designed for retail. According to an SEC filing, Bridgelux has raised $20.7 million of a $21 million fundraising goal. The article does not disclose the financing instrument, participating investors, or operating metrics such as revenue or users. Bridgelux develops LED lighting products centered on the Helieon, a replaceable LED light designed to match a 60-watt incandescent’s output while using far less energy. The Helieon pairs with a Molex-made removable socket so individual LEDs can be swapped like traditional bulbs, addressing the fixture-integrated LED replacement problem. The company has priced the Helieon at about $20 (down from roughly $50 previously) and is initially targeting luminaire makers and commercial customers who track energy savings closely. Bridgelux serves about 200 luminaire maker clients, employs 138 people, and manufactures the Helieon and its sockets in the U.S. with plans to likely move production to China, Mexico, or Malaysia. Management says future product work could add lighting controls and automated features, but current priorities are cost reductions and continued R&D to improve efficiency.