VentureWire Professional - Sky MobilMedia Names Kornfeld to Board
January 20, 2005
Wireless applications start-up SKY MobileMedia Inc. said it has named to its board Rick Kornfeld, chief executive of venture-backed wireless semiconductor developer Staccato Communications Inc.
SKY is a provider of wireless applications software platforms for mobile handset makers. Staccato is a developer of semiconductors for the short-range, high-speed wireless standard known as ultra-wideband.
In a press release, SKY said that adding Kornfeld "helps to accelerate" its market momentum.
Richard Sfeir, SKY's president and chief executive, said in the release that his company "will benefit tremendously from Rick's expertise and support" as it grows "from a startup company to a large and profitable mobile software" company.
Both SKY and Staccato are based in San Diego. The companies didn't say whether Kornfeld's appointment will result in a business partnership.
Staccato's chipsets are targeted at the consumer electronics, personal computing and cellphone industries. It is planning to ship its semiconductors in high volume this year.
Kornfeld is a relatively new CEO at Staccato, with his hiring announced in late December. Prior to taking the helm at the ultra-wideband start-up, he was a vice president and general manager at Texas Instruments Inc., where he directed 800 employees. He was responsible for wireless chipset activities there.
He joined Texas Instruments through its 2000 acquisition of Dot Wireless Inc., a 3G code division multiple access, or CDMA, wireless company that he co-founded and headed as CEO and chairman.
Kornfeld's also previously worked at wireless communications concern and CDMA pioneer Qualcomm Inc., where he had responsibilities for CDMA handset development, from about 1986 to 1996.
Total funding at Staccato is $27.5 million, provided by Intel Capital, Allegis Capital, Bay Partners and others.
SKY recently closed $6.3 million in its first external round of capital, a Series A announced in November.
The round was led by Enterprise Partners Venture Capital. Friends and family of the company's employees also participated as first-time investors in SKY.