Intel Capital Invests $67 Million in Eight Companies in China

News Highlights: 
• The investments were made across a wide spectrum of industries including smart devices, robotics, Internet of Things, cloud, big data and data analytics.
• The investments demonstrate Intel’s commitment to fostering Chinese technology innovation and accelerating China’s technology ecosystem development.

September 17, 2015, Beijing, China - Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment and M&A organization, today announced $67 million of investments in eight Chinese technology companies. The companies include 99cloud, Bluebank, Hampoo, Ninebot, Nuovo Film, PraFly, and AWcloud, which was previously announced with no financial details. In addition, Intel Capital has signed an investment agreement with Telink. The investments were made across a broad spectrum of industries including smart devices, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, big data and data analytics. As Intel celebrates its 30th anniversary in China, the investments demonstrate Intel’s long-term commitment to fostering Chinese technology innovation and accelerating China Technology Ecosystem (CTE) development.

“In celebration of 30 years of Intel in China, we are pleased to announce Intel Capital’s investments in these eight Chinese technology companies,” said Arvind Sodhani, executive vice president of Intel and president of Intel Capital. “Intel Capital plays a key role in Intel’s engagement and collaboration with local Chinese startups and entrepreneurs and has helped usher in the development of leading edge technologies and products. These companies now have the opportunity to leverage Intel Capital’s business development programs, global network, technology expertise and brand capital to support their development and drive innovation across exciting next-generation technology categories.”

“Intel has a well-established track record working with China on the development of its technology industry over the past 30 years, during which time the country has transformed itself into a leader of global technology innovation,” said Ian Yang, corporate vice president at Intel and president of Intel China. “Our investments, new products and collaborations in China support the government’s national initiative to uplift its innovation economy and continue Intel’s long-term commitment to accelerating CTE development in China and driving global innovation and entrepreneurship.”

The companies that have received or will receive (subject to satisfaction of closing conditions) investment include:

- 99cloud Inc. (99cloud), provides OpenStack-based solutions and OpenStack operation support and professional education and certification. The company’s solutions include front-end optimization, core framework optimization, backend optimization and hyper-converged AIO solutions.

- Bluebank Communication Technology Co., Ltd. (Bluebank), is one of the leading ODMs in mobile devices in China. Bluebank develops smart devices (smartphones and tablets) and software applications for local and global brands.

-  Shenzhen Hampoo Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (Hampoo), provides one-stop service and smart device solutions including PCB design, PCB production, PCBA and component sourcing. Hampoo’s products are used by over 3,000 customers from over 30 countries in the industries of IoT, telematics, tablet PCs, Industry 4.0, telecommunications, healthcare, automotive, industrial control, e-education and security surveillance.

-  Ninebot Inc., (Ninebot), specializes in the R&D, production, sales and services of intelligent, short-distance personal transportation equipment, including unicycles, two-wheel self-balancing vehicles and other smart personal transportation robotics products. In April 2015, Ninebot acquired the personal transportation leader Segway. Post-acquisition, Ninebot serves customers in more than 100 countries with over 60% global market share in personal transporters and more than 400 core patents representing over 90% of the worldwide patents in the space.

- Nuovo Film Inc., (Nuovo Film), develops, manufactures and markets transparent conductive silver nanowire film and its applications in Capacitive Touch and 3D Force Touch. Nuovo Film’s products have been designed into smart phones, tablets, PCs and wearable devices, as well as Smart Home, Smart Office, and Smart Classroom devices, such as coffee tables, white boards, and display walls.

-  Shenzhen PraFly Technology Co., LTD. (PraFly), develops intelligent robotic system solutions and high-end control system solutions focusing on core intelligent system technologies, robotic applications, network maintenance and security. PraFly’s products are being used in energy management, in-vehicle systems, intelligent couriers, intelligent manufacturing, smart kitchens, unmanned driving training, industrial security auditing systems and industry cloud HPC clusters.

- AWcloud Technology CO. Ltd., (AWcloud), a leading provider of enterprise OpenStack Cloud solutions for customers from industries such as oil, power, coal, education, healthcare, research institutions, new media, IDC and others. More than 30,000 cloud instances are currently running on AWcloud powered solutions.

- TELINK SEMICONDUCTOR CO, LTD, (Telink), a fabless IC design company, develops highly integrated low power radio-frequency and mixed signal system chips for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Its product portfolio includes low-power 2.4Ghz RF SoCs for Bluetooth Smart, Zigbee, 6LoWPAN/Thread, Homekit and low-power high-precision analog ICs for resistive/capacitive/electromagnetic touch control, serving numerous markets including smart lighting, home automation, smart city, and other consumer electronics.

Since 1998, Intel Capital has invested over $1.9 billion in more than 140 technology companies in China (including approximately $1 billion invested in Beijing UniSpreadtrum Technology Ltd.), 35 of which have gone public and/or been acquired. Intel Capital has established four China-focused investment funds. Intel Capital’s investment focus areas in China include smart devices, robotics, drones, IoT, connected cars, cloud services, OpenStack, big data and data analytics.

Released Sep 17, 2015 • 12:00 AM EDT