SanDisk Unveils New Venture Capital Investment Plan

SanDisk Corporation

, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced it has launched a new venture capital initiative to invest in companies aligned with SanDisk's key strategic priorities. SanDisk also announced it has made its first investment in WHIPTAIL, a data storage company that designs fast, energy-efficient enterprise infrastructure equipment using flash memory technology. The new venture initiative – SanDisk Ventures – will manage a $75 million fund for investment in startups that are developing innovative solutions based on flash memory technology. Specific areas targeted for investment include next-generation solid-state memory technology, enterprise storage, storage technologies managing the vast influx of so-called “big data,” and cloud-based computing technologies. Over the past 18 months, SanDisk has grown its capabilities in enterprise storage through its acquisitions of Pliant Technology, FlashSoft, and Schooner Information Technology. Today, the company possesses a diverse enterprise storage portfolio spanning solid-state drives (SSD) and software caching and data optimization solutions. SanDisk Ventures will look to expand SanDisk's presence in the enterprise by investing and partnering with ecosystem companies that are developing solutions built around flash memory and SanDisk solutions.