A heavily funded Silicon Valley startup called DisplayLink has set up a new engineering office in Bellevue under the direction of former Microsoft software development manager Bernie Thompson.

Bernie Thompson

The new office plans to have half a dozen engineers on staff in the next six months and as many as 10 by the end of the year.

Founded in Cambridge, England, DisplayLink is developing software and semiconductor technologies that use USB ports to help people set up multiple monitors.

It may seem unusual for a Silicon Valley semiconductor startup to target Seattle, but Thompson said the company wanted to locate near partners such as Microsoft and Intel. Furthermore, he said there is talent at organizations such as Bsquare, WatchGuard, Digeo and others who have experience with device drivers and systems engineering.

But he admits that the type of engineers it is looking to hire is a little different than other technology companies in the region.

"We're building a team of people that love working on software that brings hardware alive," said Thompson, who joined the company two months ago.

Backed with about $50 million from Atlas Venture, DAG Ventures, DFJ Esprit Capital and others, DisplayLink has a few other connections to Seattle.

It was co-founded by Martin King, who is best known in these parts for co-founding Tegic Communications. (Tegic was sold to AOL in 1999.)

King, along with Seattle attorney Henry Happel, sit on DisplayLink's board.