Intel Capital to fund 16 startups, including Taiwan's PilotTV

Intel Capital, the venture arm of US chipmaker Intel, said Tuesday in the United States that it will invest soon in 16 technology startup companies, including a Taiwanese screen network operator.

The planned investment of US$62 million will be made in four major categories of innovative technology — new devices and wearable computing, mobility and wireless, microprocessor and system-on-a-chip (SoC) development, and big data and cloud infrastructure, Intel said.

Among the targeted companies in the big data and cloud infrastructure category is Taiwan-based PilotTV, which designs, deploys and helps operate digital signage systems for retail venues.

PilotTV operates over 6,000 screens at various locations, including convenience stores, fast food chains, drugstores and rapid transit stations.

Meanwhile, in its mobility and wireless category of investments, Intel is targeting Thundersoft Software Technology, a China-Taiwan joint venture that provides operating system core technology and solutions specifically for Android phones and tablets.

"Intel Capital invests in the technology continuum that runs from wearables and the Internet of Things to big data analytics — and everything in between, including silicon, smart devices, PCs, the cloud and datacenters," said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president.

"We are focused on helping innovative companies develop across this technology ecosystem, and we expect to invest a total of US$355 million this year," he said at the opening of the 15th Intel Capital Global Summit.

The event is the venture capital industry's premier networking meeting and convenes more than 1,000 founders and CEOs from Intel Capital's global portfolio, Global 2000 business executives, and industry influencers for two days of company building.

Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US$11 billion in over 1,400 companies in 57 countries. Over that period, 209 portfolio companies have gone public on various exchanges around the world and 363 were either acquired or involved in mergers.

Intel Capital has funded several Taiwanese start-up companies since 2009, including semiconductor equipment maker Gudeng Precision Industrial, integrated circuit designer FocalTech Systems and server chip designer ASPEED Technology. They have all made initial public offerings on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.