Acelo Semiconductor (previously Broadband Transport Technologies) was founded in July 2000 “to become the leading manufacturer of high speed and high bandwidth communications ICs.” The company holds an exclusive technology license with Rockwell Scientific Center for both GaAs PHEMT and InP HEMT processes. In November 2000, Acelo closed $29 million in Series A funding. Investors include Rockwell Scientific, Cisco and Parakletos@Ventures.

Acelo’s product plans include modulator/laser diode drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, and mux/demux ICs for 10Gbps and 40Gbps systems. Acelo also intends to produce power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers operating between 20 & 50 GHz for the broadband wireless market.

Acelo claims that its OC192 laser driver has the lowest power dissipation of 800-900mW at full-drive current, is smaller, and has high gain/low noise performance than competing devices. Acelo’s OC768 modulator driver is claimed to be the only single chip solution that is capable of driving Lithium Niobate modulators.

Currently, 5 of Acelo’s 7 products are sampling at both the OC192 and OC768 data rates. Acelo is currently sampling an OC192 Laser Driver, OC192 Modulator Driver, OC192 High Gain TIA, OC768 Modulator Driver, and OC768 TIA. Acelo is developing mixed signal ICs to complete its chipset offering for OC768 transponders. These products will be available in early 2002. Acelo has a 4” GaAs/InP fab.

John Hong, Ph.D., CEO & CTO (previously director of Electronics at Rockwell Scientific)

David Lee, CFO (previously a Director and Portfolio Manager at Lazard Freres & Co.)

Kyushik Hong, PhD, Director of R&D (previously a Principal Engineer at Conexant)

Don Deakin, Director of Manufacturing (previously a Senior Scientist at Rockwell Science Center)