FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 28th March 2010

March 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The best way to receive Fusion DigiNet information is to subscribe to the free email service available from the home page.

 

1.       Avatar Reality raises $4.2 million

  • Details: Avatar Reality, creator of the massively multiplayer online virtual world platform Blue Mars, announced today has raised an additional $4.2 million. To date, more than $13 million has been invested in Avatar Reality.
  • Investors: Venture capitalists including Henk Rogers and Kolohala Ventures
  • Contacts: Henk Rogers, co-founder: Jim Sink, CEO
  • Location:  USA, Honolulu and San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Online games
  • Links: Press Release

2.       KidZui raises $4 Million

  • Details: Kidzui, an a safe search engine filter and online browser for kids, has raised $4 million.
  • Investors: Led by Mission Ventures led along with current investors First Round Capital, Emergence Capital Partners, and Maveron.
  • Location:  USA, San Diego, CA
  • Category: Search

3.       Made.com raises £2.5 million

  • Details: Made.com has raised £2.5 million to launch a new designer furniture company that cuts out the middle man using the internet to connect buyers directly with manufacturers.
  • Investors: Brent Hoberman, Founder of MyDeco and Lastminute.com, board director of the Guardian Media Group and Profounders Capital
  • Contacts: Ning Li, founder
  • Location:  UK, London
  • Category: Retail
  • Links: Made.com about us

4.       Placecast raises $3 million in series B funding

  • Details: Placecast raises $3 million in series B funding to expand their ShopAlerts location‐based marketing service.
  • Investors: From current investors, Quatrex Capital, ONSET Ventures and Voyager Capital.
  • Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Advertising
  • Links: Press Release

Previous Fusion DigiNet article: 1020 Placecast has raised $5 million in a second round of funding November 19, 2009

5.       Wix Raises $10 Million

  • Details: Wix, which allows users to build free flash websites, has raised $10 million in Series C funding.
  • Investors: Benchmark Capital, plus existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Mangrove Capital Partners.
  • Location:  USA, New York, NY
  • Category: Technology
  • Links: TechCrunch

Funding News

Link: Atomico completes $165 million fundraising to invest in early-stage growth companies

Posted in Content Media, e-Commerce, Games, Internet Media, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Ebiquity Plc announces the acquisitions of Xtreme Information Services and Thomson Media Control

March 26, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-368
 
Ebiquity PLC is to create an international analytics and advertising monitoring business through the acquisition of Xtreme Information Services Limited. Xtreme provides an international advertising monitoring serice with a footprint in over 60 countries
 
Aprox. Value:  The total consideration for Xtreme will be £17.9m, consisting of a cash payment of £0.8m to be funded through the Placing of 1,375,000 new Ordinary Shares, the issue of 16,706,639 new Ordinary Shares at the Closing Price and the issue of Convertible Loan Notes with the right to convert into 13,802,861 Ordinary Shares. VS&A to hold 27.7% of Ebiquity’s issued Ordinary Shares following Completion.
 
Acquirer:  Ebiquity PLC
ACQ Web:  http://www.ebiquity.com/documents.asp  
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  The UK’s largest media database. The Ebiquity media monitoring system captures the advertising and editorial that appears in all media. Each year Ebiquity captures the actual data from £3 billion of their clients’ media advertising expenditure.
Category:  Advertising, Database
Contact:  Michael Greenlees, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Vendor:  VS&A (a private equity fund managed by Veronis Suhler Stevenson (“VSS”)) and Xtreme’s management
Business Sold: Xtreme Information Services
Website: http://www.xtremeinformation.com
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  Media intelligence source of global TV, press, radio, cinema, outdoor and internet advertising.
Category: Advertising, Database
Contact 1:  John Gordon, CEO
Contact 2:  Peter Banks, Finance Director 
 
Link: Regulatory Announcement
  
Ebiquity is also to strengthen its German advertising monitoring business through the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Thomson Media Control GmbH & Co KG (TMC), its advertising monitoring joint venture in Germany for a total consideration of £0.8m consisting of 1,451,330 new Ordinary Shares and £25,000 in cash.

A new £12.0m debt facility with Bank of Ireland which will become effective upon Completion of the acquisitions.

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Atomico completes $165 million fundraising to invest in early-stage growth companies

March 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website


Funding News

United Kingdom, London

Atomico has completed fundraising for its second fund, Atomico Ventures II. The $165 million fund will focus primarily on Europe, and will seek to invest in early stage, high growth technology companies, with the goal to provide outsized returns to investors over the long-term.

Niklas Zennström, Founder and CEO of Atomico, commented:

“We are delighted to announce that we have completed the fundraising for Atomico Ventures II, which will be focused primarily on early-stage tech companies in Europe.  We will seek to invest in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building exceptional businesses.  We will target companies that we believe have the potential to generate significant growth, transform their industries, and deliver strong returns.”

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Life360 acquires Foundog.com

March 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-366
  
Life360, a company that provides sevices to manage family safety, has bought lost property tagging service, Foundog.com.
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  Life360
ACQ Web:  http://www.life360.com
Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Online service for managing family safety and security
Category:  Social Network 
 
Vendor:  Foundog.com
Vendor Web:  http://www.foundog.com 
Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Property retrieval service that provides rewards for people reporting found propert.
Category: Consumer service
  
Link: Press Release
  
Related articles: Life360 Locks Down $750k in Latest Funding Round Posted 25 November 2009

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Good news for UK “wealth creators and innovators”- entrepreneurs’ relief for Capital Gains Tax doubled

March 24, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

 

United Kingdom – Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget statement

Alasdair Darling, Chanceller of the Exchequer for the UK Governement has announced an extension of Entrepreneurs’ Relief from the first £1 million to the first £2 million of gains made over a lifetime.

Entrepreneurs’ Relief supports business owners and those investing in businesses with growth potential by providing an effective 10 per cent Capital Gains Tax rate on qualifying disposals.

This change will take effect from 6 April 2010.

The Chancellor also announced that the normal rate of capital gains tax (CGT) remains unchanged at 18 per cent.

Direct quote from the Budget statement

“I am also going to make it more attractive for wealth-creators and innovators to set-up their own businesses. To do this, I am doubling entrepreneurs’ relief for Capital Gains Tax. At the moment, the first million pounds of lifetime gains are taxed at a lower rate of 10 per cent, rather than the main rate of 18 per cent.

This threshold will now increase to £2m, enabling entrepreneurs to benefit more from their effort and investment.

And I can also confirm today that I am not increasing the main rate of Capital Gains Tax.”

Link: HM Treasury Budget website

Posted in B2B Services, Broadcasting, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, e-Commerce, Energy & Environmental Services, Games, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Vibes Media acquires Zeep Mobile

March 24, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-364
 
  
Vibes Media has acquired self-service mobile advertising company, http://www.zeepmobile.com. Under the terms of the agreement, Zeep’s mobile messaging technology will be integrated into the Vibes platform and all Zeep employees will become part of Vibes Media. Zeep’s network of over 10,000 developers will also be integrated into Vibes. Additionally, Zeep President and CEO Scott Robertson will relocate to Vibes’ headquarters in Chicago, as will the engineering team currently located in Vancouver, Canada, joining Head of Engineering Rishi Bhatia and the team he just brought to Vibes with him from AOL Third Screen Media.
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  Vibes Media
ACQ Web:  http://www.vibes.com  
Location:  USA, Chicago, IL
Region:  North America
Description:  Mobile marketing company, Vibes delivers hundreds of millions of mobile messages for a wide range of clients in the marketer and publisher categories.
Category:  Advertising, Mobile
Contact 1:  Jack Philbin, co founder and president
Contact 2:  Alex Campbell, Vibes’ co-founder and CEO.

Vendor:  Zeep Mobile
Vendor Web:  http://www.zeepmobile.com 
Location:  Canada, Vancouver
Region:  North America
Description:  Enables developers to send and receive ad-supported SMS messages from any website.
Category: Advertising, Mobile
Contact:   Scott Robertson, President and CEO
 
Links: 

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WebMediaBrands acquires Rotorblog.Com

March 24, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-363
 
  
WebMediaBrands Inc. (Nasdaq: WEBM)  has acquired the assets of Rotorblog.com. Rotorblog was created in 2006 to cover the social media space. It currently attracts approximately 200,000 unique visitors a month.

“Rotorblog.com will be a terrific addition to our stable of blogs covering the social media space,” stated Alan M. Meckler, Chairman and CEO of WebMediaBrands. “In recent months we also acquired the blogs All Facebook and Social Times along with a variety of trade shows dealing with social gaming and media topics.”
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  WebMediaBrands
ACQ Web:  http://www.webmediabrands.com 
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Description:   Global provider of events, education, jobs, and content for business, media, and creative professionals
Category:  Media, Blog
Contact:  Alan M. Meckler, Chairman and CEO Twitter 
 
Vendor:  Rotorblog.com
Vendor Web:  http://www.rotorblog.com 
Location:  USA, Los Angeles, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Founded in May 2006 by Maris Dagis in order to provide latest Web 2.0 news and startup reviews, later focusing on social networks and online communications.
Category: Blog
Contact 1:  Maris Dagis Founder, Editor 
 
Link: Press Release

Related articles

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The9 Limited acquires a majority interest in Red 5 Studios

March 24, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-362
 
 
The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY), an online game developer and operator in China, is to invest a total amount of approximately US$20 million for a majority interest Red 5 Studios, Inc., an online game developer in the United States.
 
Aprox. Value:  Approximately US$20 million for a majority
 
Acquirer:  The9 Limited
ACQ Web:  http://www.the9.com/en/ 
Location:  China, Shanghai
Region:  Asia
Description:  Online game operator and developer in China. The business is primarily focused on developing and operating games for the online game market. The9 Limited directly, or through affiliates, operates licensed MMORPGs and advanced casual games including Soul of The Ultimate Nation, Granado Espada, EA SPORTS FIFA Online 2 and Atlantica, as well as its proprietary games World of Fighter and Jiu Zhou Zhan Ji, in mainland China.
Category:  Online games
Contact:  Mr. Jun Zhu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
 
Vendor:  Red 5 Studios
Vendor Web:  http://www.red5studios.com/ 
Location:  USA, Irvine, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Online game developer located in California, formed in 2006 by former executives and developers from Blizzard Entertainment.
Category: Online games
Contact:  Mark Kern, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Link: Press Release

Posted in Content Media, Games, Internet Media, ~Asia, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 21st March 2010 (part two)

March 21, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

 

We posted the Fusion DigiNet “Fund Raising Round-Up” early this week as we had thought that logistical plans would prevent us from creating the round-up on Sunday evening (our normal time). However, that is not the case and we can now add a few stories we missed from Friday night’s round-up.

Here is the original round-up

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 19th March 

Additional stories

1. Nival Network has raises $7 million

  • Details: Social games business Nival Network has raised $7 million from DST, 1C Company and Nival Group founder & CEO Sergey Orlovskiy valuing the business at  $32 million. DST has invested $4 million for a 12.5% of Nival Network. Exisiting shareholders 1C Company also invested $1 million and will now own 26.56% and Nival CEO, Sergey Orlovskiy invested $2 million,and will now own 60.94%.
  • Location:  Russia, Moscow
  • Category: Online games
  • Links

2. Smartling raises $4 million in first funding round

  • Details: Smartling, Inc., a provider of real-time, crowdsourced translations for Internet based businesses, has secured a US$ 4 million Series A round of investment. The company will use the funding to expand its operations and support product development.
  • Investors: Led by Venrock. The round also included funding from US Venture Partners, First Round Capital and several angel investors.
  • Contacts: David Pakman, Partner at Venrock: Jack Welde, CEO of Smartling
  • Location:  USA, New York, NY
  • Category: Language services
  • Links: Press  Release

3. Videoplaza raises $5 million

  • Details: Videoplaza, the European ad serving technology provider for managing and monetising online video, has raised $5 million. The capital was raised to support the company’s commercial development as it continues on its expansion path into Europe. The funding will enable Videoplaza to accelerate the deployment of its Monetizer ad server platform technology for managing, displaying and tracking advertising in and around publishers’ online video content into more European territories.
  • Investors: led by the Nordic´s two leading Venture Capital firms Creandum and Northzone.
  • Contacts: Sorosh Tavakoli, Videoplaza Founder & CEO: Pär-Jörgen Pärson, General Partner at Northzone: Fredric Cassel, General Partner at Creandu.
  • Adviser: Frederic Laziou of Alta Venture
  • Location:  Sweden, Stockholm
  • Category: Advertising, Video
  • Links

4. Weedle raises $4 million

  • Details: Weedle, a social media business that connects people with skills to those who need them, has raised $4 million. The funds will enable the Ireland based company to expand into the U.S. and other global regions. The announcement was made during an Enterprise Ireland-supported Trade and Investment Mission to the U.S. led by Taoiseach (Ireland’s Prime Minister) Brian Cowen.  Enterprise Ireland is the Irish state agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous Irish business sector.
  • Investors: Weedle’s investors include well-known Irish business entrepreneurs Dr. Michael Smurfit and Weedle co-founder and CEO, Iain MacDonald, as well as the Irish government agency, Enterprise Ireland.
  • Location: Ireland, Dublin
  • Category: Social Network, Search
  • Links:  Weedle Blog
Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 19th March

March 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

 

The best way to receive Fusion DigiNet information is to subscribe to the free email service available from the home page.

Last Week’s Fund Raisings

1.  Foundry Group and industry angels invest $2.2 million in Trada

  • Details : Trada launched to the public today the first online marketplace allowing small and medium businesses and agencies to leverage the skills of hundreds of paid search experts, who in turn earn money by generating low-cost clicks and conversions for advertisers. Trada entered private beta in January 2009 and has more than 70 advertisers and 280 experts to date.
  • Investors:  Foundry Group, Seth Levine, Managing Partner of Foundry Group, Carlos Cashman, Jamie Crouthamel, Stuart Larkins, Dan Murr, Alan Warms and Robert Wolfe – Bios
  • Contacts: CEO and founder of Trada,  Niel Robertson
  • Location:  USA, Boulder, CO
  • Category: Search, Advertising
  • Links:

2. GyPSii raises $11 million

  • Details : GyPSii, developer of location-based social networking applications, has closed an $11 million private funding round. The funds will be used to support marketing and additional development of GyPSii applications including Twitter app Tweetsii, GyPSii. This latest infusion brings total fundraising to $40 million.
  • Investors:  Led by U.K.-based Schroders
  • Contacts: Dan Harple, Executive Chairman,
  • Location:  The Netherlands, Amsterdam   
  • Category: Social Network, Apps
  • Link: The fund raising is announced in the Press Release that also announced thelaunch of new app Tweetsii

3. Hunch raises $12 million

 4. Plastic Jungle raises $7.4 million

  • Details: Plastic Jungle, a website that enables readers to buy, exchange, and donate gift cards in a trusted environment, has raised $7.4 million in Series B funding. Plastic Jungle previously secured $6 million in Series A funding, bringing its total equity funding to $13.4 million. The Series B financing was completed at an increased valuation over the prior round, which occurred in March 2009. Plastic Jungle will add Allen Beasley, Partner at Redpoint Ventures, to its board of directors.
  • Investors: New investor Redpoint Ventures led the round and previous investors Shasta Ventures, First Round Capital and Bay Partners, as well as other existing investors also participated.
  • Contact: Garry Briggs, CEO: Bruce Bower, President: Dave Worthington, Chief Financial Officer: Ashmit Bhattacharya, Chief Technology Officer
  • Location: USA, Mountain View, CA
  • Category: Consumer website
  • Link: Press Release

5. PowerReviews raises $6.1 million.

  • Details: PowerReviews, the company behind the review sections of many e-coomerce sites, including RadioShack, ToysRUs and Staples, has raised $6.1 million.
  • Investor: Led by Menlo Ventures and Tenya Capital
  • Contact: Pehr Luedtke – CEO, Andy Chen – Founder and VP, Strategic Partnerships, Robert Chea – Founder and COO
  • Location: USA, San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Reviews, Technology
  • Link: Caterina Fake talks about the deal on her Blog

6. Second Porch closes a £1 million Series-A investment

  • Details: Second Porch has closed a £1 million Series-A investment. The investment will be used to continue the company’s expansion into the vacation home rental and home exchange markets, which are among the fastest growing segments in online consumer travel. Second Porch enables owners and renters to tap into real world relationships in order to rent and trade vacation homes, where trust between owner and guest is of paramount concern on both sides of the transaction
  • Investor: Led by the Oregon Angel Fund (OAF)
  • Contact: Brent Hieggelke, CEO of Second Porch
  • Location: USA, Portland, OR
  • Category: Holiday, Rental
  • Link: Press Release

7. World Golf Tour raises $10 million

  • Details:  World Golf Tour has raised $10 million in a third round of funding.  The funds will be used to expand globally and to create a stripped-down version of its web site game for Facebook
  • Investor: Led by JAFCO Ventures. Existing investors also participated. World Golf Tour was founded in 2006 with the backing of l venture capital firms Battery Ventures and Panorama Capital, as well as prominent individual investors.
  • Contact: Yuchiang Cheng, chief executive
  • Location: USA, San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Games
  • Link: Venturebeat
Posted in Content Media, e-Commerce, Games, Internet Media, ~North America. Leave a Comment »
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