Private Equity
Last week, I posted an item on peHUB about how VC-backed CalStar Products is finding a plethora of Ph.D.s in Silicon Valley to draw from for its R&D. The Newark, Calif.-based startup is developing a chemical process to make a "green brick" that it says creates 0.2 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process, compared to a traditional clay brick fired in a kiln, which produces about 1.3 pounds of CO2. CEO Mike Kane, who joined the company earlier this year from Atlanta, says that he's never worked with so many Ph.D.s before. In this week's PE Week, subscribers can read my story of how the company is in the midst of raising a $15 million Series C round of venture funding, which will include participation from returning investors Foundation Capital and EnerTech Capital. Kane says he hope to wrap up fund-raising before the end of the year, which will be just in time for the company to open its first manufacturing plant in Wisconsin to service the brick-heavy geography of the Midwest.
2 min read · 03 November 2009
Nov. 11 celebration planned for late co-founder of Tech Coast Angels
2 min read · 01 November 2009
2 min read · 28 October 2009
Anyone who messes around on Facebook or any other social networking site knows that VC-backed Zynga Game Network has captured a lot of participants. Not a day goes by that I don't get hit up by another friend who wants me to play mafia boss or build a roller coaster, even though I'm already knee deep in farming. Mountain View, Calif.-based startup Watercooler, a social networking site that connects fans of sports teams and TV shows, is looking to join the party and become a player in the social networking gaming scene. Sunday night, the company announced it raised a $5.5 million Series B round. Investors included the online betting company Betfair and repeat entrepreneur Canaan Partners, which previously invested $4 million in the company.
2 min read · 26 October 2009
4 min read · 21 October 2009
1 min read · 14 October 2009
Noted angel investor dies at the age of 72
2 min read · 12 October 2009
1 min read · 09 October 2009
Knowledge Networks Inc., a VC-backed provider of research to media and advertising companies, yesterday announced its acquisition of Dimestore Media, which helps measure the effectiveness of digital advertising through surveys. Dimestore Media was founded in 2008 by Scott Cohen and David Moore, who previously co-founded online ad network 24/7 Media, which later merged with Real Media. Knowledge Networks has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Alloy Ventures, Maveron, Meritech Capital Partners, Oak Hill Venture Partners and Oak Investment Partners. I caught up with Knowledge Networks' CEO Simon Kooyman to get his take on the Internet advertising market and understand how market research is driving today's corporate decision-making. Get Q&A after the jump...
3 min read · 07 October 2009
2 min read · 06 October 2009
