AlN substrates can be cost efficient

Nitride Solutions is developing a manufacturing technology that hopes to deliver high-volume, low-cost aluminium nitride substrates with defect rates 10 times lower than substrates currently on the market.

With secured major financing commitments from Nebraska Angels and Aurora UV, Nitride Solutions, a developer of next-generation substrates for LEDs, lasers and power electronics, aims to transform the AlN substrate industry.

To date, Nitride has raised $1.8M in a Series A preferred round. Nebraska and Aurora join lead investor Midwest Venture Alliance, in addition to Mid-America Angels and Manhattan Holdings in the round.

“Our investment group, the Midwest Venture Alliance, is looking to invest in solid management teams that are solving real market problems. Nitride Solutions represents just that,” said Trish Brasted, president and CEO of Wichita Technology Corporation. “They have put together an experienced business and technical management team that is developing an industry-changing advanced material.”

Nitride is developing a manufacturing technology that will deliver high-volume, low-cost AlN substrates. With projected defect rates 10 times lower than substrates currently on the market, these substrates should improve the quality of existing LED, laser and electronic products, while also making possible whole new categories of UV devices.

The result will be improved white lighting for consumer and industrial uses, more efficient power systems in hybrid vehicles, sharper colour on flat-screen TVs, and better air and water purifiers.

Nitride will use the funding to perfect the technology, and to begin manufacturing and sales in late 2011.

“The number of biomedical and industrial applications of LED technology is rapidly growing,” said Karen Linder, co-deal lead for Nebraska Angels in Lincoln. “Nitride Solutions’ novel method of creating substrates on which these crystals can be grown will change the market. The technology is revolutionary, and the leadership team has the commercial experience and the scientific skills that will make the company successful.”

“We expect to benefit with both high financial rewards and the satisfaction that we will have been part of the effort of applying hard science to alleviating some of the world’s most vexing problems, including cheap access to pure water,” said Muriel Taylor, president and CEO of Aurora UV in Santa Barbara.

Nitride is still seeking a small group of financial and strategic investors to finalise the round, which will stay open until September.

VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (NASDAQ: VDSI), Zevotek, Inc., (OTCBB: ZVTK), Broadwind Energy, Inc

VASCO Data Security Will Be Prominently Present at Infosecurity UK 2011, April 19-21 OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. and ZURICH, March 29, 2011 -- VASCO Data Security International, Inc. a leading software security company specializing in strong authentication products, today announced that it will be prominently present at the Infosecurity tradeshow, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, UK ( booth C21).The company will showcase its leading offerings for mobile and the cloud including DIGIPASS Nano and its groundbreaking DIGIPASS as a Service platform.
"VASCO is investing strongly in its presence at Infosecurity UK for two reasons. First of all, as a market leader in the field of Internet Security VASCO's presence at one of the world's greatest security tradeshows is a necessity. Secondly, the UK market is a strategic important market for VASCO. In that perspective we support our local customers, partners and prospects with our presence," declares Jan Valcke, President and COO of VASCO Data Security.

Forward Looking Statements: Statements made in this news release that relate to future plans, events or performances are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements (1) are identified by use of terms and phrases such as "expect", "believe", "will", "anticipate", "emerging", "intend", "plan", "could", "may", "estimate", "should", "objective" and "goal", "possible", "potential", and similar words and expressions, but such words and phrases are not the exclusive means of identifying them, and (2) are subject to risks and uncertainties and represent our present expectations or beliefs concerning future events. VASCO cautions that the forward-looking statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors have been described in greater detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include, but are not limited to, (a) risks of general market conditions, including currency fluctuations and the uncertainties in world economic and financial markets, (b) risks inherent to the computer and network security industry, including rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, increasing numbers of patent infringement claims, changes in customer requirements, price competitive bidding, and changing government regulations, and (c) risks specific to VASCO, including, demand for our products and services, competition from more established firms and others, pressures on price levels and our historical dependence on relatively few products, certain suppliers and certain key customers. Reference is made to VASCO's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding VASCO and its operations.