The figures show investment in venture-backed companies down from $10 billion in the first quarter to $8 billion in the second. Since then, the industry's plight has deteriorated further, according to data released this week by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and VentureOne. Mr Nawn calls the first quarter of this year 'a nuclear winter. If you look at just one sector, the optical space, there are 300 companies that will need between $20 billion and $40 billion to sustain them. There will be an $80 billion shortfall in funding during the next 12 months alone. The scale of the impending crisis should not be underestimated, warns Tae Hea Nahm, a partner at Storm Ventures in Palo Alto. Venture capital has provided a bridge between the private and public markets, ushering in new companies and technologies. There is a danger that technological innovation, which provided the productivity growth underpinning the US economy during the 1990s, could falter. If that happens, the ramifications could go far beyond the venture-capital industry and the privileged world of Silicon Valley. Mr Nawn expects many venture capital groups to go under, the bulk of client companies to fail and investors to lose huge sums. Additional information is available at venture capital industry is facing a cash crunch, with investors increasingly reluctant to put money into the sector, while companies in which they have invested burn cash. Rambus has offices in California, North Carolina, Ohio, India, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Rambus licenses both its world-class patent portfolio, as well as its family of leadership and industry-standard solutions. Its breakthrough innovations and solutions help industry-leading companies bring superior products to market. As a company of inventors, Rambus focuses on the development of technologies that enrich the end-user experience of electronic systems. About Rambus Inc.įounded in 1990, Rambus is one of the world’s premier technology licensing companies.

in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. in Economics from Vanderbilt University and an M.S. He served as a managing director at SVB Alliant, a mergers and acquisitions firm, since he co-founded the firm in 1990 until October 2005. Bentley has been a director since March 2005. “Tom has extensive knowledge of our business, and we are fortunate to have someone of his caliber now to serve as chairman.” Given Bruce’s many contributions to Rambus over the years, he will be greatly missed,” said Harold Hughes, president and chief executive officer at Rambus. “Bruce has been with Rambus since its founding, and his leadership and dedication have been invaluable to the growth and success of the company. I am comforted in knowing that I leave Rambus in the hands of extremely capable management and a strong Board.” “While I will miss being involved with Rambus, the demands of my position at Benchmark Capital require my full-time attention. “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have been of service to Rambus’ founders, Mike Farmwald and Mark Horowitz, and management team over the past two decades,” said Mr. Thomas Bentley has been elected by the Company’s Board of Directors to succeed Mr. Dunlevie indicated that his decision to leave the Board is due to the increased demands of his responsibilities at Benchmark Capital and its portfolio companies. (Nasdaq:RMBS), one of the world’s premier technology licensing companies, announced today that Bruce Dunlevie has stepped down as chairman and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – – Rambus Inc. Provided 21 years of exemplary leadership in service to the Company J.

Benchmark bruce dunlevie