Intel desperately looking for growth and trying to extend its footprint to the consumer and connected home market is investing in tiny start-ups. It has invested in five companies. Intel has a $200 million digital home fund, and invested in broadband software firm Cablematrix, Mediabolic, Pure Networks, BridgeCo AG, and Envivio. Financial terms of the new investments were not disclosed. If you remember, Mediabolic was one of the companies I had written about back in The Rise of The Instant Company story. Previous Intel Digital Home Fund investments include Digital 5 Inc., Entropic Communications, Musicmatch Inc., Staccato Communications Inc., Trymedia Systems Inc., Wisair Ltd. and Zinio Systems Inc.Here is the press release.