Connie Loizos

Yuchun Lee Joins General Catalyst Partners as EIR

Yuchan Lee -- cofounder of the marketing software company Unica, which sold to IBM for about $480 million in 2010 -- has joined the Cambridge, Mass.-based venture capital firm General Catalyst Partners as an entrepreneur in resident. Most recently, Lee served as the vice president and general manager of IBM's Enterprise Marketing Management Group.

Adapx Completes New, $3M Round

Adapx, a Seattle-based company whose software aims to speed data capture and collaboration by turning natural speech, sketch, and handwriting into actionable data in Microsoft Office and other back-end systems, has raised $3 million from existing investors OVP Venture Partners, Paladin Capital Group, Pelion Ventures, and Northwest Tech Ventures.

Novaliq Raises $18.1 Million from Investment Company of SAP Co-founder Dietmar Hopp

Novaliqu GmbH, a Heidelberg, Germany-based drug delivery company, has raised $18.1 million in its fifth round of financing from the investment company of SAP cofounder Dietmar Hopp. Altogether, the company has raised $35.2 million from investors.

Local Corporation to Raise $5 Million

Local Corporation, an Irvine, Calif.-based online media company, has entered into a definitive agreement with The Tail Wind Fund to sell $5 million in convertible subordinated notes and warrants to purchase common stock. The proceeds will be used for general working capital.

Altus Capital Partners Names Heidi Goldstein as Principal

Altus Capital Partners, a Wilton, Conn.-based middle market private equity firm, has appointed Heidi Goldstein to the position of principal. Goldstein joined the firm in 2006 and served most recently as a vice president.

Andreessen Horowitz Goes for Substance Over Flash with Newest Special Advisor, Ken Coleman

In naming Ken Coleman as its third special advisor, Andreessen Horowitz went with a longtime Silicon Valley tech executive with an impressive resume and a collection of enviable board seats.

AppNexus Goes "All-In" on Mobile Advertising

The New York-based digital advertising firm AppNexus is upping its commitment to mobile advertising, the company announced today. More specifically, its mobile buy-side offering, which is in beta with clients including Collective, CPX Interactive, FlxOne, and Matomy, is expected to be available to all AppNexus customers this summer. The beta product is already integrated with mobile supply sources such as Nexage, Smaato, and MoPub. AppNexus raised a $75 million Series D round of financing led by Technology Crossover Ventures in January.

The Rise of the "Amplified" Individual Isn't Happening in VC Alone

In recent years, we’ve seen it in publishing and venture capital among other things: individuals rising in power, as institutions seemingly become less relevant. The trend will only grow more exaggerated over time, argues Marina Gorbis, executive director of the Palo Alto-based research group Institute for the Future.

CloudCheckr, Excell Partners and Rochester Angel Network Announce Collaboration

CloudCheckr, a Rochester, New York-based software company that strives to analyze and optimize Amazon Web Services technology for its users, has announced that it will make its software available to free to startups that receive funding from either Excell Partners -- a seed-stage venture capital fund established in cooperation with the University of Rochester and the State of New York -- or the Rochester Angel Network.

Venture Deal Activity Not So Brisk, Either

We know that venture fundraising is sluggish. But it turns out venture deal activity isn’t so brisk, either.