VC watch: Xyron Semi gets $1.4 million

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Thursday's deals

• Xyron Semiconductor has received $1.4 million toward its first round of funding, which it hopes to close at $2.4 million by the end of the month. Institutional investors and former Microsoft executives contributed to the round. Portland, Ore.-based Xyron Semiconductor has developed microprocessor circuits that allow existing and future microprocessors to automatically manage their workload without using clock cycles.

Wednesday's deals

• DataDirect Networks raised a $9.9 million first round of funding. Investors included ClearLight Partners, Digital Coast Ventures and PartCom. Los Angeles-based DataDirect develops storage area network devices.

• Tropian has raised $45 million in a fourth round of funding, led by Merrill Lynch Ventures. Other investors included Bank of America Investment, China Development Industrial Bank, TCW/YFY Investment Partners, and previous investors Crosspoint Venture Partners, Convergence Ventures and InveStar Venture Capital. Cupertino, Calif.-based Tropian has raised a total of $82 million. Tropian designs and manufactures chips without using its own plants. The chips, used in wireless devices, can handle analog, digital voice and 3G, a new standard for high-speed data.

• Panasas has raised a $25.4 million second round of funding, led by Carlyle Venture Partners. Other investors include Goldman Sachs and Mohr Davidow Ventures. Fremont, Calif.-based Panasas has raised a total of $36.5 million. The company develops storage networks that increase in capacity as needed.

• Northstar Photonics raised $11 million toward its second round. Minneapolis-based Northstar Photonics expects to raise an additional $5 million in the near future toward its second round. St. Paul Venture Capital was the lead investor and other participants include previous investors CIT Venture Capital, InnoCal Venture Capital and two strategic partners. The photonics components manufacturer and supplier has raised a total of $21 million.

• Novare received an $8 million first round of funding from Softbank Venture Capital. San Francisco-based Novare will add a Softbank representative to its board. The company develops software designed to automatically notify the pertinent people in the work-flow process of tasks completed as it moves from one person to the next.

Tuesday's deals

• Aventail raised $7 million toward its fifth round of funding, which closed at $55 million. SAIC Venture Capital contributed to this latest portion of the round. Seattle-based Aventail has raised a total of $113 million. The company provides a secure access and identity service to corporations.

• SmartSignal has raised a $12 million second round of funding, led by The Stephens Group. Other investors included Arch Development Partners, River Cities Capital Funds, Gryffindor Capital, and previous investors CID Equity Partners and SSC Investors. Lisle, Ill.-based SmartSignal has raised a total of $21 million. The company's software is designed to analyze sensor information on large pieces of equipment, such as jet engines, and issue warnings of deteriorating conditions.

Monday's deals

• FireSpout said it raised a $5 million second round of funding led by Boston CommonAngels. Belmont, Mass.-based FireSpout has raised a total of $8.5 million. The company's software takes content from corporate Web sites and file systems and rearranges the information to present it in formats that make it easier for people to identify and locate relevant information.

• Riptech said it received an $18 million second round of funding led by Broadview Capital Partners, which will receive a seat on the company's board. Alexandria, Va.-based Riptech has raised a total of $41 million. The company is a managed security services provider that monitors firewalls, virtual private networks and intrusion detection systems.

• KnowNow raised $15 million in a second round of funding, led by TPG Ventures. Other investors included Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Morgan Stanley, Technology Ventures, Palomar Ventures and RSA Ventures. Mountain View, Calif.-based KnowNow has raised a total of more than $23 million. KnowNow develops software applications designed to enable companies to exchange real-time content from both inside and outside the firewall.

• SatisFusion raised $7.5 million in a second round of funding, led by Opportunity Capital Partners. Previous investors NIF Ventures and Milepost Ventures participated in this latest round. Long Beach, Calif.-based SatisFusion has raised a total of $15 million. SatisFusion's software integrates a company's product sales, distribution, warranty-claims processing and electronic support into one system designed to help retain customers.

• Endeca received a $15 million second round of funding. Investors included Ampersand Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and Venrock Associates. Cambridge, Mass.-based Endeca has raised a total of $25 million. The company's software, Endeca Navigation Engine, is designed to allow people to quickly locate and access catalog, commerce and corporate data.

Thursday's deals

• Pathlore said it has received $10 million in a first round of funding from Seaport Capital. Columbus, Ohio-based Pathlore develops software designed to manage, centralize and synchronize various forms of e-learning, from Web-based to live instruction, for a company's work force.

• Corona Networks raised a $40 million third round of funding, led by Merrill Lynch Ventures and New Enterprise Associates. Other investors included The Ignite Group, Alliance Ventures and Redwood Ventures. Milpitas, Calif.-based Corona has raised a total of $68 million. The company offers Internet Protocol-based services, such as encryption and security for Internet service providers, which in turn resell that service to their customers.

• iWatt said it has received $7.25 million in a first round of funding, led by Sigma Partners. Other investors included Horizon Ventures and PTI Alliance. Los Gatos, Calif.-based iWatt designs chips to help digitally regulate, manage and control power systems.

• Pirus Networks has raised $9.5 million from JAFCO Ventures as part of its second round. The funding adds to the $40 million the company has raised in the round. Acton, Mass.-based Pirus Networks has raised a total of $55 million. Pirus is developing hardware to create Internet Protocol storage networking systems. The company's new Storage Utility Switch is designed to reduce storage costs and streamline data management.

• Digital Bridges has raised an $18 million second round of funding from previous investors Apax Partners Funds and Argo II. Edinburgh, Scotland-based Digital Bridges has raised a total of $26 million. The company develops software designed to deliver wireless entertainment services to mobile network operators.