April 6, 2004

Wireless Micro-Component Provider Discera Completes $12M Series B Funding

Leading VC firms 3i and Partech and strategic investor QUALCOMM support Discera's resonator technology as building blocks for next-generation wireless devices

CAMPBELL, CA. April 6, 2004 - Discera, Inc., a fabless semiconductor firm that develops ultra-miniaturized components targeted to the wireless industry, announced today that it received $12M in Series B funding from leading venture capital firms 3i and Partech International and strategic investor QUALCOMM Incorporated. Existing investor Ardesta LLC also participated in the round.

Discera's Silicon Resonator™ platform dramatically shrinks wireless architectures by miniaturizing and consolidating passive components in circuitry. The company's MRO-100 micro-oscillator was named one of the Top Products of 2003 by Microwaves & RF Magazine. Discera, founded in 2001, plans to use the funding to build toward volume manufacturing and to expand its California and Michigan operations.

"The past year of sampling to our qualified partners has validated technology performance and product direction," said Didier Lacroix, CEO of Discera, Inc. "The use of silicon resonators ensures higher compatibility with other electronic devices while supporting extended temperature ranges for better integration. The technology platform is the first step towards the industry's goal of the fully integrated radio."

"Demand for new mobile equipment features and functionality is driving the push to reduce component size, cost and power," said Prashant Kantak, senior director of business development for QUALCOMM Ventures. "We feel that Discera's silicon resonator offers an innovative building block for the development of compact, cost-effective wireless devices."

Concurrent with the funding, David Aslin, partner with 3i, and Tim Wilson, general partner with Partech, will join Discera's Board of Directors. They join existing board members Rick Snyder, CEO of Ardesta LLC, and Didier Lacroix, CEO of Discera.

Discera's resonator products are in part based on the use of tiny micro-machined silicon beams that vibrate (resonate) at various frequencies. Multiple beams, each about 20 microns in length, can be fabricated in banks onto a single 1mm x 1mm chip, replacing several single-frequency quartz crystals or filter components that are typically many times bigger. The silicon resonators allow wireless circuitry providers to keep RF component counts lower at a time when mobile equipment users are demanding more functions.

For more information, please contact:

Tom Breunig
Discera, Inc.
510-333-5900
tombreunig@discera.com

Katja Gehrt
3i US
650-470-3210
katja_gehrt@3i.com

Christina Oropeza
Partech International
415-788-2929
coropeza@partechvc.com

About Discera

Discera is a fabless semiconductor company focusing on ultra-miniaturized solutions for the wireless industry. The company's Silicon Resonator technology, for frequency and timing applications, enables IC, chipset and equipment providers to dramatically shrink wireless architectures while reducing costs and power consumption. Additional information can be found at www.discera.com.

About 3i

3i is a leading international venture capital company with U.S. offices in Menlo Park, CA and Waltham, MA. Operating since 1945, 3i has invested worldwide over $26 billion, including co-investment funds, with a total staff of 800 employees operating out of over 30 offices in 14 countries. 3i leverages this worldwide presence to add value to its portfolio companies and investment partners. Since opening its US businesses in 1999, 3i has become one of the most active early and late stage VCs in the US. Recent investments in early stage companies include Neoguide Systems, DAFCA, SiGe Semiconductor, Cometa Networks, Bitfone, Knowmadic, Sonim and OmniGuide. 3i has been equally active on the late stage, with recent investments in Vonage, Skystream Networks, Merchant e-Solutions, Placeware, Top Layer and SCP Global Technologies. Visit 3i and its portfolio at www.3ius.com.

About Partech International

Founded in 1982, Partech International is a venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco and Paris. The firm manages approximately $850 million in early-stage venture, late-stage venture and public investments. Among Partech's portfolio companies are Ascend, Alvarion, Business Objects, Cadence, Digital Island, Informatica, IP Unity, ISDnet, Mediapps, Peregrine, Vignette, VISICU, and VeriFone. Additional information can be found at www.partechvc.com.