Cyanogen, the US-based developer of an operating system for mobile devices, is raising a $70m series C round featuring software producer Microsoft, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.
Kirt McMaster, Cyanogen’s chief executive, hinted at the funding at an event last week when he mentioned that the company has raised $100m, up from the $30m so far publicly disclosed.
Cyanogen is working on an open source operating system for the Android mobile platform called CyanogenMod, which would be free of influence by Android’s developer, diversified internet company Google.
An alternative operating system would allow companies such as Microsoft to develop Android apps without deferring to Google’s conditions, many of which involve linking to Google-owned properties such as its search engine and video streaming platform YouTube.
The round, which would place a nine-figure valuation on Cyanogen, is also likely to involve other strategic investors interested in reducing Google’s control over Android, a source told the WSJ. New venture capital investors are also expected to participate, the WSJ stated.
The $30m officially disclosed by Cyanogen includes $23m from a December 2013 series B round backed by internet portal Tencent, Andreessen Horowitz and Benchmark Capital.
Redpoint Ventures previously invested in the company’s series A round alongside Benchmark in September 2013.