WRAL Tech Wire

 North Carolina venture deals sluggish in '11 but VCs remain upbeat

Deal making totaled only $325 million across 47 deals, the lowest total since 2005 when one excludes the recession year of 2009. Life science deals dominate the fourth quarter.

Transenterix landed $15M in 4Q for its Spider surgical system

 NC-based Cempra Pharmaceuticals aims to raise $89.7M in public offering

The Chapel Hill-based company wants to sell 6 million shares at a price between $11 and $13 a share. Its underwriters have the right to sell another 900,000 shares.

Cempra

 TransEnterix CEO has 'great expectations' for new $15M in funding

Investors in the Research Triangle Park-based medical device company include Aisling Capital, Intersouth Partners, Quaker Partners, SV Life Science Advisers, Synergy Life Science Partners and Parish Capital Advisors.

Transenterix landed $15M in 4Q for its Spider surgical system

 Intersouth leads $4.5M investment in electronic health records provider

SimplifyMD, a Georgia-based firm, also names a former McKesson executive as its president. As part of the deal, Intersouth's John Glushnik joins the startup's board.

 Cempra Pharmaceuticals files plans for $86M IPO

Cempra does not yet have any Food and Drug Administration-approved products. Its compounds are targeting an antibiotics market that according to Datamonitor totaled $19.6 billion in the United States, Japan and the five major European markets in 2009.

 Charlotte IT firm raises $6M, adds Red Hat exec to board

Adaptivity raises funds from Intersouth Partners, Noro-Moseley Partners and Intel Capital. The software firm also names a new chief technology officer.

 Cancer diagnostics startup raises $250,000

GeneCentric Dianostics, which is based in Durham, is led by Hatteras Venture Partners' Myla Lai-Goldman.

 Frey back in executive saddle as EvoApp CEO

Kip Frey, who left Zenph Sound Innovations last month, is the new CEO at EvoApp.

 Raleigh 'cloud' startup raises $7M, plans 5-10 new hires

6fusion, which is backed by Intersouth partners, lands a new investor in raising its second investment round.

6fusion's "Cube" concept for managing the "cloud"

 Semiconductor firm Nitronex raises $2M in debt offering

The Durham-based company hopes to raise another $3.5 million, according to an SEC filing.

 Startup Cempra Pharmaceuticals raises $5M in new capital

The Chapel Hill-based company has two clinical stage antibacterial compounds; one of which is being developed to fight nasty skin infections.

 Well-known VC Kip Frey steps down as Zenph Sound CEO

Longtime Triangle venture capitalist and entrepreneur Kip Frey resigned Friday as chief executive of Durham-based music technology company Zenph Sound Innovations.

John Walker prepares for a concert.

 Venture-backed Cempra explores funding options

The Chapel Hill firm is developing potential antibacterial drugs to combat superbugs. Will it seek more venture funding or a partnership with a bigger pharmaceutical firm?

 Semiconductor firm HexaTech closes on $3.1M, wants another $1.1M

The venture capital backed startup, which has been funded locally by Intersouth Partners and NCIDEA, is commercializing technology developed at NC State.

 Argos Therapeutics files for $86M initial public offering

The Durham-based biopharmaceutical firm focuses on individualized therapies targeting cancer, HIV and infectious diseases. Its investors include Intersouth Partners and Aurora Funds.

Argos process

 Semprius to build plant, create 256 jobs in Henderson

The Durham-based semiconductor startup will receive millions in local and state tax incentives if jobs targets are met.

 Durham semiconductor firm reportedly picks NC for new plant

Gov. Bev Perdue is to make a new jobs announcement Tuesday morning in Henderson. Semprius, which is backed by the CIA, could be the builder.

Semprius can "print" semiconductors on various surfaces

 Stem cell-focused Aldagen raises $1.1M in funding

The Durham-based company recently withdrew plans for an $80 million stock offering.

A purified STEM cell

 CIA pours more money into Durham solar tech startup

The secret sauce at Semprius draws more money from the "Wizards of Langley" venture arm as well as Siemens and Durham-based Intersouth in its latest $20 million capital fund raiser. So what can the CIA do with advanced solar power?

Might Semprius someday power a CIA drone?

 Solar power startup Semprius raises $20M, looks for $10M more

The Durham-based company, which recently sold a 16-percent interest to Siemens Energy, discloses the funding in a regulatory filing. It's the latest in a streak of good news for the firm and its investors, which include Durham-based Intersouth Partners.

An illustration of Semprius' transfer process