[wintogreen74]

Not sure if you're as naive as your comments here, or just spouting the standard jargon, but even "We're using most of the funds to develop our professional offering" and " Our investors leave free to work on whatever technology" are in complete disagreement. "They never interfere" - right... I don't doubt you strongly disagree, but history says you're wrong. Maybe Arduino will be the exception but I wouldn't bet on it. You took the money; you made the deal. If ever it comes to a decision that would negatively impact your investors or hold to the original ideals, which way do you think it will go?

[sarchertech]

That depends entirely on how much control the investors have. For a company as old and established as Arduino and for only $22 million, I’d guess it’s not all that much.