Aperto, Colubris net new funds

Aperto Networks, a broadband fixed wireless vendor and one of the firms backing the WiMAX Forum, has raised $20 million during its Series D financing round.

The company said it will use the money to expand its sales initiatives and further develop its technology portfolio to complete certification of 802.16/WiMAX-compliant products. The Series D round was led by new investor JK&B Capital, along with Aperto's existing investors Canaan Partners, Alliance Ventures, Innovacom, Tyco Ventures, Labrador Ventures and Satwik Ventures. Aperto has so far raised a total of $77 million.

JK&B Capital partner Al DaValle said Aperto's ability to win carrier contracts was one key factor in the agency's willingness to invest. DaValle is a former vice president for Ameritech and SBC, and he will be joining Aperto's board.

Aperto's PacketWave system product family consists of base stations, subscriber units, and associated radios and antennas in 2.5, 3.5 and 5 GHz frequency bands for global point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments.

In other funding news, Colubris Networks, a developer of wireless LAN access equipment and management systems, announced that it has secured $13 million in Series C funding. The oversubscribed round was led by GrandBanks Capital, with participation by new investor Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds. Existing investors, including Prism Venture Partners and the Development Bank of Canada, also participated in the round.

Founded in 2000, Colubris Networks has been shipping products globally for nearly three years and has more than 500 customers worldwide. Most recently, it closed a deal with Swiss telco Swisscom to supply equipment for the company's Europot Wi-Fi service. Colubris also is a supplier to hotel broadband provider STSN, as well as Connexion by Boeing, which is launching Wi-Fi service on a handful of international commercial flights next month.

The new funding brings the total investment in Colubris to $21 million. The firm will use the money to expand sales, business development, marketing and engineering efforts.