Tag Archives: BlueRun Ventures
Kabbage Raises $17 Million
Kabbage, an online merchant lending startup, has raised $17 million in new funding. The investors include Mohr Davidow Ventures, BlueRun Ventures, David Bonderman, Warren Stephens, the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund, Jim McKelvey and others. Kabbage lends money to online merchants using PayPal’s Adaptive Payments API. [TechCrunch]
Architecture Directory Social Network OpenBuildings.com Raises $2 Million Series A
OpenBuildings.com has raised $2 million in a series A round of funding led by BlueRun Ventures and Index Ventures. John Malloy (BlueRun) will be joining the board of directors at OpenBuildings.
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Topsy Raises $15 Million In Third Round
Topsy is a real-time search engine that has raised $15 million in a third round of funding. Topsy allows users to search for real-time content on Facebook and Twitter. Topsy recently launched Topsy Social Modules, which lets publishers add real-time content to their websites. Social Modules are being used by websites such as Discovery Communications and The Huffington Post. Western Technology Investments, BlueRun Ventures, Ignition Partners, Founders Fund, and Scott Banister invested in this round. This puts Topsy at a total of $30 million in funding. [VentureBeat]
Online Merchant Investment Company Kabbage Raises $6.65 Million
Kabbage is a service that enables merchants to get capital to start their own online stores. The idea behind the company was so attractive that they have raised $6.65 million in a new round of funding led by BlueRun Ventures. David Bonderman, Warren Stephens, and the UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund also participated in this round of funding.
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Foodspotting Raises $3 Million From BlueRun Ventures
Foodspotting is a location based food discovery and recommendation application company that has raised $3 million in series A funding from BlueRun Ventures. Angel investors previously put in $750,000 in Foodspotting. Foodspotting plans on expanding their team from 7 people to 14.
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Categories Alexa Andrzejewski, BlueRun Ventures, Foodspotting
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Payvment Raises $6 Million In Series B
Payvment is a start-up company that lets you create and operate virtual stores through Facebook. Payvment has raised $6 million in Series B funding led by Sierra Ventures with participation from BlueRun Ventures. Payvment has raised a total of $8 million in funding thus far.
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Categories BlueRun Ventures, Payvment, Sierra Ventures
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Mobile Publishing Company Verve Wireless Raises $7 Million
Verve Wireless is a mobile startup company that serves as an advertising platform for local media companies. Verve has raised $7 million in a funding round led by BlueRun Ventures.
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Categories Associated Press, BlueRun Ventures, Verve Wireless
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Payvment Raises $1.5 Million In Series A
Payvment is a company that helps people set up retail storefronts on Facebook through a Facebook App. Payvment has raised $1.5 million in Series A funding, led by BlueRun Ventures and several angel investors.
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Categories BlueRun Ventures, Christian Taylor, Payvment
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iPhone App Review Service Chomp Raises $2 Million
Chomp.com is an iPhone application recommendation service that has about 300,000 users that left about 1.5 million reviews. Now Chomp has raised about $2 million in funding.
Chomp also has an iPhone application that allows users to click Like or Dislike for applications. Based on your reviews Chomp puts together a list of other apps you might like.
The $2 million in funding is from Bluerun Ventures, David Lee, and Brian Pokomy. Chomp previously raised $556,000 from Ron Conway, Auren Hoffman, Aydin Senkut. [VentureBeat]
Categories Auren Hoffman, Aydin Senkut, BlueRun Ventures, Brian Pokomy, Chomp.com, David Lee, Ron Conway
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Zivity Spinning Off Funds and Employees Into Mediocre Celebrity Site TopFans.com
Zivity is a San Francisco start-up company founded by Scott (husband) and Cyan (wife) Banister. Zivity’s business model was to sell a subscription fee of $10 per month to people that wanted to look at provocative pictures of women. I always had my doubts about this company because they were essentially competing against all image search services and image websites. Why would someone pay to use Zivity when you can find such content free?
Around October 2008, Zivity fired about one third of their staff and now they are splitting the company. Zivity launched a new website called TopFans.com and it looks… for lack of a better word.. mediocre. Celebrity websites are found all over the Internet, but TopFans just looks bland compared to all the rest.
When Zivity first launched, the company received plenty of media coverage which may be the reason how they raised $8 million in two rounds. The company today has $4 million of cash left. Zivity will retain $2 million and $2 million will be given to TopFans.com. Thats unfortunate considering that the design of TopFans looks very cheap. If you gave me $2 million, I could probably build the next Google.
Cyan will remain with Zivity, but CEO Jon Elvekrog will become the head of TopFans. Remaining employees will be dispersed between the two.
BlueRun Ventures and Founders Fund will have ownership in TopFans.com now. Will they see a return on their investment? Unlikely.
Categories BlueRun Ventures, Founders Fund, The Founders Fund, TopFans.com, Zivity
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