Rockley Photonics closes new funding, hires CCO with healthcare focus
Silicon photonics integrated optics technology developer Rockley Photonics has added $50 million in growth funding. The company also has hired Vafa Jamali as chief commercial officer with an eye toward applying its expertise to the healthcare market.
The funding round included venture capitalists, strategic investors and institutional funds including Credit Suisse backed SIG-i Capital and Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, inc., as well as existing shareholders. The new round brings Rockley’s total funding to more than $225 million of financing to develop its unique silicon photonics platform.
“It is testament to the strength of our technology and emerging market opportunities that we have attracted such a preeminent list of new investors to join many of our existing shareholders in this funding round,” said Andrew Rickman, chief executive officer, Rockley Photonics. “This round provides the funding for Rockley as it moves into the next exciting growth phase and develops next-generation disruptive silicon photonics powered healthcare and wellness sensors and communications products for its Tier 1 customers.”
To help with that healthcare-focused initiative, Rockley hired Jamali. He has more than 25 years of experience in the medical device industry, most recently at Medtronic.
“We’re excited to welcome Vafa to Rockley,” said Rickman. “Our optical sensing chipsets, with their unique analytical capabilities, bring benchtop testing capabilities to healthcare and wellbeing markets within handheld and wearable devices. Vafa’s extensive experience in the medical devices field will help to position Rockley for growth in this multibillion-dollar, high-volume market.”
“Personalized monitoring of multiple biophysical and biochemical biomarkers will revolutionize the way we look after our health and wellbeing,” said Jamili. “Rockley’s technology is transformative, and I am looking forward to working with the team to accelerate the company’s growth.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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