MARCH 17, 2009 -- NVIDIA (Santa Clara, CA, USA; www.nvidia.com), inventor of the graphics processing unit (GPU), has reported the launch of its GPU Ventures Program, a global initiative whose aim is to identify, support, and invest in early-stage companies using the GPU for visual and other computing applications. NVIDIA is also launching the GPU Venture Zone web site, a portal to showcase innovative GPU applications being developed by its partners.
"The GPU Ventures Program represents a huge opportunity for young, ambitious companies basing their businesses around the GPU. These companies are the innovators that will fuel the continued growth of the GPU platform," says Jeff Herbst, vice president of business development at NVIDIA. "Through this program we will provide financial, marketing, and other support to help startup companies realize their full potential, and we strongly encourage interested entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and others to reach out to us with their ideas."
Through the program, the company intends to evaluate companies that leverage the GPU for both consumer and professional applications in all areas such as video enhancement and image enhancement, scientific discovery, financial analysis, and 3-D interfaces. Investments are expected to range from $500,000 to $5 million, and strategic partnerships are expected to span joint marketing, joint development, product distribution, and beyond.
"NVIDIA's support, through investment, strategic partnership, and joint marketing, has helped us to raise additional capital and gain customer visibility much more quickly," says Sam Blackman, CEO of Elemental Technologies. "We share NVIDIA's passion for using the GPU as a parallel processor, for more than just graphics, and we actively encourage other companies interested in this exciting market to join the visual computing ecosystem."
In addition to Elemental Technologies, NVIDIA has also invested in successful startups including Acceleware, Keyhole Corp. (acquired by Google for Google Earth), Mental Images (acquired by NVIDIA), MotionDSP and Right Hemisphere. The companies were among 60 other startups that met with key figures in the investment and technical community at NVIDIA's 2008 Emerging Companies Summit, due to take place again in Fall 2009.
Drew Lanza, general partner at Morgenthaler Ventures, says, "We view parallel computing on the GPU as an exciting and disruptive growth opportunity for our existing and future portfolio companies, and we applaud NVIDIA's efforts to support this ecosystem through its new GPU Ventures Program and other related initiatives."
To submit a business plan or attend the Emerging Companies Summit, interested parties are asked to e-mail [email protected] for more information. Visit the GPU Venture Zone web site at www.nvidia.com/gpuventures.
