Sudheer Kuppam MD for India, Japan: Intel Capital

Bangalore, Mar 22: Intel Capital today announced the appointment of Sudheer Kuppam as Managing Director for India, Japan, Australia and South-East Asia. He will be based in Bangalore Intel Capital said here in a release.

Mr. Kuppam was formerly the director of Intel Capital's Flash Memory and Semiconductor sector, in which he oversaw investments including Intel Capital's recent US dollar 65 million investment in Taiwan-based Powertech Technology,Inc.

As Intel Capital managing director for India, Japan, Australasia and South-East Asia, Mr. Kuppam would be responsible for leading Intel Capital's investment strategies and expansion plans, including placement of the US dollar 250 Million Intel Capital India Technology Fund. Mr. Kuppam reports to Arvind Sodhani, president, Intel Capital, and would peer with Cadol Cheung, Intel Capital managing director for China, Korea and Taiwan.

By investing in companies that achieve both strategic and financial objectives, Intel Capital supported Intel's overall objectives in the areas of Digital Home, Digital Enterprise, Digital Health, Mobility and Technology and Manufacturing.

Mr. Kuppam first joined Intel in 1997 and by 1998 was promoted to the role of Engineering Manager, with responsibility for managing a US dollar 100 million operational area in Intel's Technology and Manufacturing Group. He joined Intel Capital in 2000 and since then was responsible for a diverse group of investments in Asia, Europe and North America supporting Intel's strategic initiatives.

Intel Capital, Intel's venture capital organization, makes equity investments in innovative technology start-ups and companies worldwide. Intel Capital invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware, software, and services targeting enterprise, home, mobility, health, consumer Internet and semiconductor manufacturing. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US dollar six billion in nearly 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries. In that time, about 180 portfolio companies have been acquired by other companies and another 155 have gone public on various exchanges around the world. In 2006, Intel Capital invested about US dollar 1.07 billion in 163 deals with approximately 60 percent of funds (excluding Clearwire) invested outside the United States.

UNI