Matrix related stories
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Behind the Screens with Pixazza's Chris WatersonEarlier this year, we began shining a light on some of the unknown stars who are major value to some of Silicon Valley’s most promising companies. One of those stars is Chris Waterson, senior software architect at Pixazza, which turns static images into profit centers for publishers. Last year, the company raised $5.75 million from Google Ventures, Ron Conway, August Capital and CMEA Capital. A visitor to OK Magazine’s website, for example, might hover a mouse over a photo of Brad Pitt wearing shades, prompting the appearance of a little window. Within it, the visitor is presented with similar, less-expensive sunglass options from a list of vendors with which Pixazza works. If the fan buys a pair, Pixazza and the publisher receive a commission from the vendor. If a sale doesn’t occur, the two still share advertising revenue. Waterson helped launched Pixazza just two years ago, but the 40-year-old is no stranger to Silicon Valley startups. Waterson was also one of the earliest engineers at LiveOps, where he architected much of the crowdsourcing system; before that, he was a chief scientist at Netscape and a primary architect of the Mozilla browser.
- Gilt Groupe Raises $35 Million for New Initiatives
Gilt Groupe, a New York-based online luxury retailer, has raised $35 million in new VC funding. The company previously raised around $48 million from General Atlantic and Matrix Partners. No new board members are listed in the filing. A recent WSJ article quoted Gilt Group chairman Kevin Ryan as saying that the company generated $170 million in 2009 revenue in 2009, and could reach $400 million and $500 million by the end of this year. That same piece speculated about a possible IPO filing.
- peHUB Wire: Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Random Ramblings
- peHUB Wire: Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Random Ramblings
- Week in deals, May 3, 2010
Summary of tech companies and other startups in North America that raised venture financing in the past week
Bursting PointThe plumbing of the Internet needs a significant upgrade to meet the infrastructure needs of the smartphone era. Here’s what VCs and startups are doing to fix the leaks
- SkyFire Stands to Benefit from Adobe-Apple Riff
SkyFire Labs Inc. CEO Jeffrey Glueck met me earlier this week to show off the latest version of his company's Web browser for mobile devices, which was released today for the Android. Glueck came armed with a Nexus phone and several other devices. But unlike the dolt at Apple (you know the guy, Gray Powell http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20002885-1.html ), Glueck didn’t leave any phone behind. I was interested in meeting Glueck (pictured here) for several reasons. His company is venture-backed, having raised $17.8 million in Series A and B rounds from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Matrix Partners and Trinity Partners, with the most recent infusion coming late last year.
- Mobile Payment Company Zong Raises $15 Million
Zong, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based mobile payment service used by online gaming and social networking websites, has raised $15 million in VC funding led by Matrix Partners. The company is a recent spinout from Swiss mobile media company Echovox, which has raised over $12 million in VC funding from Advent Venture Partners and Newbury Ventures.
- peHUB Wire: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Random Ramblings