by George White
[Posted on December 17, 2007 - 5:05 PM]
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Live Gamer
Live Gamer Inc. has closed a $20 million Series B funding as its prepares to launch a platform that will allow virtual world gamers to buy and sell virtual property. The New York-based startup received the capital from new investor Charles River Ventures of Waltham, Mass., and the returning Kodiak Venture Partners of Waltham and Pequot Ventures of Menlo Park, Calif. Live Gamer received $4 million in Series A funding when it was founded in February 2007. -- G.W.
AdReady
Seattle-based online display ad network AdReady Inc. landed $10 million in a Series B venture round led by Bain Capital of Boston, and including Khosla Ventures and previous investor Madrona Venture Group of Seattle, to expand its technology suite as well as boost sales and marketing. AdReady was formed in June 2006 to automate online banner advertising design and management practices, offering users free use of the tools and taking a commission from ads purchased. The company aims its products at end users, which include companies with internal marketing functions, but also the many local advertising firms that create copy and campaigns for the smallest of advertisers. -- Clifford Carlsen
Software
Invidi
Princeton, N.J.-based advertising delivery software maker Invidi Technologies Corp. raised $25 million in a third funding and added advertising giant WPP Group plc as a key strategic partner as it moves to market with technology to aim specific marketing messages to consumers via set-top boxes. WPP's GroupM unit media investment management unit led the round, bringing total venture funding in the seven-year-old company to $53 million, and previous investors InterWest Partners of Menlo Park, Calif., EnerTech Capital of Wayne, Pa., and Menlo Ventures of Menlo Park also participated. The round is positioned as the company's final private capital investment before moving to market and reaching positive cash flow. -- G.W.
Inmagic
Inmagic, Inc. of Woburn, Mass., has received a $5 million investment from Edison Venture Fund of Lawrenceville, NJ. Joe Allegra, an Edison General Partner, will serve on the Board of Directors. The company makes Web-based software to catalog, search, retrieve and publish content. The proceeds will be used to expand product development, for marketing and sales and to provide shareholder liquidity. The software is used by specialized corporate libraries for research asset management. -- G.W.
Wireless
Juice
Juice Wireless Inc., the maker of mobile social networking technology, has closed a $6 million third round. The funding was led by 21Ventures of New York, joined by Qualcomm Ventures of San Diego and Citizen's Communications of Stamford, Conn. The money will be used for product development, as well as for marketing and engineering. Its lead product, JuiceCaster, is a mobile social networking community which lets anyone who has a cell phone connect with friends and meet new people. JuiceCaster allows the user to publish content from a phone to any person, group, Web site or desktop. -- G.W.
SquareLoop
Reston, Va.-based SquareLoop Inc., a provider of wireless location-based services, has received a $1 million angel investment. The funding will support sales and marketing efforts and the rollout of the company's commercial communications and content delivery services. The angel investors are Washington, D.C. area individuals: Raul Fernandez, CEO of Object Video; Nigel Morris, co-founder of Capital One; Jack Davis, founder of AOL International; The McDonnell Family, Zeitgeist Holdings; and the Center for Innovative Technology GAP Fund, as well as others. SquareLoop's Mobile Alert Network is a location-based service application that enables users to opt-in to receive information based on their current or past location. -- G.W.
Venture firms
Santé Ventures
Austin, Texas-based Santé Ventures closed its debut venture capital fund with $130 million in committed capital. The healthcare-focused fund will invest in seed and early-stage companies developing new medical technologies and healthcare services. The firm was founded by former partners of Ascension Health and Austin Ventures. -- G.W.
