Shocking Technologies Raises $15.2 Million in Strategic Investment to Support Global Demand for Unique ESD Solution

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 31, 2011) - Shocking Technologies, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough patented polymer nano-composite for protecting electronic products from electrostatic discharge (ESD), today announced it has raised $15.2 million in a strategic investment round. The backers include Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFUS), Arch Ventures, ATA Ventures, Balch Hill Capital, Skylake Incuvest, Vista Ventures and a number of private investors. Shocking Tech will use the additional capital to build capacity and infrastructure to meet global demand for its innovative Voltage Switchable Dielectric™ (VSD) solution.

Shocking Tech has recently certified several leading printed-circuit board suppliers on its VSD solution, implemented through its XStatic™ material, which is embedded in PCBs to protect the system from harmful ESD events. It also has expanded its production facility in San Jose to prepare for more widespread adoption of the product. By using the XStatic™ material, product developers can reduce component count and free up space for other functionality while simplifying design, improving ESD protection, and slashing development time.

"As our solution matures and we prepare for greater market adoption, we are pleased to have a strategic investor such as Littelfuse behind us to provide valuable input on how we bring our technology to customers. Their backing will provide us with additional strength and momentum in penetrating high growth consumer markets and applications," said Lex Kosowsky, President and CEO of Shocking Technologies.

About XStatic™

Shocking Technologies' XStatic™ material is a polymer nano-composite that functions substantially as an insulator (dielectric) during normal circuit operation and becomes substantially conductive when the voltage increases beyond a predefined threshold. The XStatic™ material reverts back to behaving substantially as an insulator after the voltage drops back below the threshold to normal operating levels. The net result is that when the XStatic™ material is incorporated in a PCB or package substrate, damaging ESD voltages and currents can be routed to ground or to other predetermined locations so that elements, circuits, components and devices can be effectively protected against ESD events.

About Shocking Technologies

Founded in 2006, Shocking Technologies offers an innovative solution to protecting electronic products in the handheld, cell phone, LCD display, memory and other markets from the harmful effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Its patented Voltage Switchable Dielectric™ (VSD) polymer nano-composite material, XStatic™, is easily applied to PCB and package substrates, and coupled with Shocking's advanced design and simulation technologies provides the industry's only embedded solution capable of up to 100% protection against ESD. The ease of implementation and comprehensive coverage of the XStatic™ solution also lowers development time and costs and reduces product design size by eliminating less effective components traditionally used to protect devices against ESD effects. The company has over 150 patents and applications worldwide and has licensed numerous additional licensed patents and applications. Shocking Technologies is a privately held company with investments from ARCH Venture Partners, ATA Ventures, Skylake Incuvest, Vista Ventures, Balch Hill Capital, and a limited number of private investors. For more information, go to www.shockingtechnologies.com

Voltage Switchable Dielectric and XStatic are trademarks of Shocking Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks referred to are property of their respective owners.