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	<title>Pulse2 Technology and Social Media News &#187; Columbia Capital</title>
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	<link>http://pulse2.com</link>
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		<title>Millennial Media&#8217;s Shares Surge 97% In First Trade Of $25</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2012/03/29/millennial-medias-shares-surge-97-trade-25/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2012/03/29/millennial-medias-shares-surge-97-trade-25/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:54:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[p2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charles River Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Millenial Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Enterprise Associates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paul Palmieri]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=58138</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millennial Media is a mobile ad network that has debuted on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol &#8220;MM.&#8221; The shares popped 97% in the first trade of $25. Millennial Media&#8217;s valuation jumped to almost $2 billion and the &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2012/03/29/millennial-medias-shares-surge-97-trade-25/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2012/03/Screen-shot-2012-03-29-at-1.40.29-PM.png" alt="" title="Millennial Media Logo" width="299" height="91" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-58139" /><br />
Millennial Media is a mobile ad network that has <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/29/millennial-media-shares-pop-100-percent-in-first-trade-valued-at-nearly-2b/">debuted</a> on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol &#8220;MM.&#8221;  The shares popped 97% in the first trade of $25.  Millennial Media&#8217;s valuation jumped to almost $2 billion and the company priced their IPO at $13 per share.  Trading reached as high as $27.90 in early trading.<br />
<span id="more-58138"></span><br />
Millennial Media filed their original S-1 in early January and they raised over $130 million in the offering, which is up from $75 million.  Millennial is one of the last largest remaining independent mobile ad networks, which currently serves ads to 200 million unique users.  Over 30,000 apps use Millennial for their ads, which are served to 200 million unique users worldwide.</p>
<p>Millennial Media&#8217;s revenue increased 195% from $16.2 to $47.8 million.  The company took a net loss of $7.6 million and $7.1 million between 2009 and 2010.  Between 2010 and 2011, revenue increased 117% from $47.8 million to $103.7 million.  In 2011, the company saw a net loss of $287,000.</p>
<p>Paul Palmieri founded Millennial Media and they raised $65 million in venture funding from Charles River Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, and several others.</p>
<p>“Today is an exciting day for our company, and also a significant milestone in the maturation of the mobile advertising industry. We have spent the last six plus years helping create what’s now a multi-billion dollar mobile application advertising market and we look forward to continuing to drive growth and innovation in the space,” stated Palmieri.</p>
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		<title>Bloomspot Raises $40 Million</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2011/08/09/bloomspot-raises-40-million/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2011/08/09/bloomspot-raises-40-million/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:27:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Riley Kennysmith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bloomspot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Erik Blachford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gary Parsons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harrison Metal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[InterWest Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jasper Malcomson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Menlo Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[QED Investors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[True Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Western Technology Investment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=49788</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Bloomspot, a deals company focused on high-quality spending and loyal customers, has raised $40 million in funding. The funding comes from InterWest Partners, Columbia Capital, Menlo Ventures, True Ventures, QED Investors, Harrison Metal, Western Technology Investment, Erik Blachford and Gary Parsons. &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2011/08/09/bloomspot-raises-40-million/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px} --><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-49789" src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2011/08/BloomSpot-logo-315x56.png" alt="" width="315" height="56" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bloomspot.com/">Bloomspot</a>, a deals company focused on high-quality spending and loyal customers, has raised $40 million in funding. The funding comes from InterWest Partners, Columbia Capital, Menlo Ventures, True Ventures, QED Investors, Harrison Metal, Western Technology Investment, Erik Blachford and Gary Parsons. The company analyzes (with permission, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/09/bloomspot-40-million/">TechCrunch</a> reports) the credit card spending data of the places they&#8217;re running deals, allowing Bloomspot and their partner merchants the opportunity to see whether a deal really encourages other buying that makes the deal profitable for the merchant. That data helps predict how much customers will spend when provided with a certain offer, which in turn lets Bloomspot promise a certain level of profits to their partner merchants.</p>
<p><span id="more-49788"></span></p>
<p>Customers who use Bloomspot are rewarded for their data with better deals for repeat purchases with the same merchant and for using the same card with both Bloomspot and the merchant. Bloomspot&#8217;s CEO and co-founder Jasper Malcomson explains, &#8220;in a way, it&#8217;s less about discounts and savings, and more about recognition and status.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>MindJolt Acquires Social Gaming Network and Hallpass Media</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2011/04/19/mindjolt-acquires-social-gaming-network-and-hallpass-media/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2011/04/19/mindjolt-acquires-social-gaming-network-and-hallpass-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 06:25:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bezos Expeditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris DeWolfe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Schmidt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Felicis Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Founders Fund]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greylock Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hallpass Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lars Hinrichs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MindJolt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MySpace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Novak Biddle Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shervin Pishevar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Gaming Network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Founders Fund]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TomorrowVentures]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=46079</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[MindJolt is a gaming company that is run by MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe. DeWolfe left MySpace a few years after News Corporation acquired the social network company. MindJolt appears to be in a better spot than MySpace right now. MySpace &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2011/04/19/mindjolt-acquires-social-gaming-network-and-hallpass-media/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2011/04/Screen-shot-2011-04-19-at-1.48.28-AM.png" alt="" title="Screen shot 2011-04-19 at 1.48.28 AM" width="172" height="98" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-46080" /><br />
<a href="http://www.mindjolt.com/">MindJolt</a> is a gaming company that is run by MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe.  DeWolfe left MySpace a few years after News Corporation acquired the social network company.<br />
<span id="more-46079"></span><br />
MindJolt appears to be in a better spot than MySpace right now.  MySpace is continuing to lose money and MindJolt is profitable with $20 million in revenue.  MindJolt has also recently acquired <a href="http://www.sgn.com/">Social Gaming Network</a> (SGN) and <a href="http://www.hallpassnetwork.com/">Hallpass Media</a>.  This acquisition doubles MindJolt&#8217;s staff to about 80 employees.</p>
<p>When MySpace&#8217;s revenue fell in 2009, DeWolfe who was CEO at the time was basically kicked out.  Facebook started really dominating in 2009.  Currently MySpace is being shopped around and it is rumored that buyers are not willing to spend higher than $100 million for it.  DeWolfe is rumored to be involved as one of the buyers.  This is a huge difference from the $856 million revenues that MySpace posted in 2008 and the $580 million price that News Corp. spent to buy the social network in 2005.  </p>
<p>Hallpass Media is a gaming portal website that receives about four million monthly visitors.  Hallpass Media also has 1,500 web based games that will be added to MindJolt&#8217;s portfolio.  Social Gaming Network (SGN) creates iPhone and Android games that have a total of about 30 million downloads.</p>
<p>“Initially, a lot of energy was spent on games on the Web, through platforms like Facebook,” stated SGN founder and executive chairman Shervin Pishevar. “But over the past year, what we’ve seen is that a lot of that activity is going into mobile. We’ve reached a tipping point.”</p>
<p>SGN raised about $18 million in venture capital funding from Felicis Ventures, Greylock Partners, The Founders Fund, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Eric Schmidt&#8217;s TomorrowVentures, and Lars Hinrichs.</p>
<p>[<a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/a-myspace-founder-is-building-again-with-online-games/">NYT</a>]</p>
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		<title>Millenial Media Raises $27.5 Million From Bessemer, Columbia, Charles River, and NEA</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2011/01/05/millenial-media-raises-27-5-million-from-bessemer-columbia-charles-river-and-nea/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2011/01/05/millenial-media-raises-27-5-million-from-bessemer-columbia-charles-river-and-nea/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 04:22:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charles River Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Millenial Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Enterprise Associates]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=41043</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millenial Media is a mobile ad network company based in the U.S. that has raised $27.5 million. Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, Charles River Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) all participated in this round of funding. Millenial Media has &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2011/01/05/millenial-media-raises-27-5-million-from-bessemer-columbia-charles-river-and-nea/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2011/01/millennialmedia-logo.jpg" alt="" title="millennialmedia-logo" width="275" height="89" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-41044" /><br />
<a href="http://www.millennialmedia.com/">Millenial Media</a> is a mobile ad network company based in the U.S. that has raised $27.5 million.  Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, Charles River Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) all participated in this round of funding.  Millenial Media has raised a total of $65 million in funding thus far.  Millenial Media raised this round of funding because the company wants to stay independent and not get acquired.  They have plans to expand internationally too. [<a href="http://emoney.allthingsd.com/20110105/mobile-ad-network-millennial-media-raises-27-5-million-to-fight-apple-and-google/">AllThingsD</a>]</p>
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		<title>Millenial Media Raises $16 Million In Series C</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2009/11/17/millenial-media-raises-16-million-in-series-c/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2009/11/17/millenial-media-raises-16-million-in-series-c/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:01:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[pulse2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bessemer Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charles River Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Millenial Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Enterprise Associates]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=22206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millenial Media is a mobile ad network that competes with AdMob. AdMob was recently acquired by Google for $750 million in stock. Millenial Media is based in Baltimore, Maryland and raised $16 million in Series C for New Enterprise Associates, &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2009/11/17/millenial-media-raises-16-million-in-series-c/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2009/11/millennial-media.gif" alt="millennial-media" title="millennial-media" width="230" height="103" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-22205" /><br />
Millenial Media is a mobile ad network that competes with AdMob.  AdMob was recently <a href="http://pulse2.com/2009/11/09/google-acquiring-admob-for-750-million-in-stock/">acquired by Google for $750 million</a> in stock.  Millenial Media is based in Baltimore, Maryland and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/more-money-for-mobile-ads-millennial-media-raises-16-million-2009-11">raised $16 million</a> in Series C for New Enterprise Associates, Bessemer Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, and Charles River Ventures.</p>
<p>Millenial will use the funding to help push the company past profitability, grow overseas, hire additional talent, and build more technology.  Given that Google already spent a ton of money on a mobile ad network it seems uncertain what Millenial&#8217;s exit strategy will be.</p>
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		<title>Turbine Raises $6.6 Million For Developing Online Nerd Games</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2009/08/12/turbine-raises-66-million-for-developing-online-nerd-games/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2009/08/12/turbine-raises-66-million-for-developing-online-nerd-games/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:32:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[pulse2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Granite Global Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Highland Capital Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polaris Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tudor Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Turbine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=18675</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Turbine has raised $6.6 million out a planned $50 million round of funding.  Turbine builds online games based on The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons &#38; Dragons, and Asheron&#8217;s Call. Turbine directly competes with Activision Blizzard, the developer of World &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2009/08/12/turbine-raises-66-million-for-developing-online-nerd-games/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18674" title="turbine-logo" src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2009/08/turbine-logo.png" alt="turbine-logo" width="200" height="42" /><br />
<strong>Turbine has raised $6.6 million out a planned $50 million round of funding.  Turbine builds online games based on The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons &amp; Dragons, and Asheron&#8217;s Call. </strong></p>
<p>Turbine directly competes with Activision Blizzard, the developer of World of Warcraft.  Turbine plans to release Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online into a free game later this year called Eberron Unlimited.</p>
<p>Investors in Turbine include Columbia Capital, Highland Capital Partners, Polaris Venture Partners, Tudor Ventures, and Granite Global Ventures.  Turbine previously raised $95 million.  The company has about 300 employees.</p>
<p>The company is even planning on announcing their first console game in the near future.  Turbine may even buy out another gaming company.</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://www.pehub.com/46814/mmo-gamer-turbine-powers-up-with-50-million/">PEHub</a>/<a href="http://www.thealarmclock.com/mt/archives/2009/08/mmo_game_publis.html">alarm:clock</a>]</p>
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		<title>Latino Cable And Online Network Si TV Raises $8.75 Million</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2009/08/10/latino-cable-and-online-network-si-tv-raises-875-million/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2009/08/10/latino-cable-and-online-network-si-tv-raises-875-million/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:33:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[pulse2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EchoStar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Schwimmer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rho Ventures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SiTV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Warner]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=18521</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Si TV is a Latino cable channel with a complementary online network website.  According to an SEC filing, Si TV has raised $8.75 million in funding.  Si TV plans to raise an additional $6 million in funding.  Si TV previously &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2009/08/10/latino-cable-and-online-network-si-tv-raises-875-million/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-18520" title="sitv-logo" src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2009/08/sitv-logo.jpg" alt="sitv-logo" width="205" height="95" /><br />
<strong><a href="http://www.sitv.com/">Si TV</a> is a Latino cable channel with a complementary online network website.  According to an SEC filing, Si TV has raised $8.75 million in funding.  Si TV plans to raise an additional $6 million in funding.  Si TV previously raised $60 million in funding from EchoStar, Time Warner, Columbia Capital, and Rho Ventures around 2004.</strong></p>
<p>Si TV has about 19 million cable subscribers since they launched.  Si TV has syndication deals with Hearst and Verizon.  Si TV has dropped in web traffic recently from 500,000 uniques last year to about 150,000 uniques per month.  The new round of funding may be used for a website redesign or the acquisition of other online properties.</p>
<p>Si TV is in the midst of launching a new season of TV series Model Latina.  Si TV also issued a statement about the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.</p>
<p>&#8220;Latinos that their dreams can become reality through education, hard work and a strong family. At Si TV, a network dedicated to providing positive entertainment for the American Latino community, we take enormous pride in Justice Sotomayor&#8217;s landmark appointment. We congratulate her and wish her well in her new role on our nation&#8217;s highest court,&#8221; stated Si TV CEO Michael Schwimmer.</p>
<p>[via <a href="http://paidcontent.org/article/419-latino-cable-network-si-tv-raises-8.7-million-funding/">paidContent</a>/<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=PRNI2&amp;STORY=/www/story/08-06-2009/0005073687&amp;EDATE=">Si PR</a>]</p>
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		<title>Social Gaming Network Raises $15 Million For Social Game Distribution</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2008/05/13/social-gaming-network-raises-15-million-for-social-game-distribution/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2008/05/13/social-gaming-network-raises-15-million-for-social-game-distribution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 19:16:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[pulse2]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biddle Venture Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Founders Fund]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greylock Partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SGN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Gaming Network]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/?p=3470</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;We could not be more pleased with the announcement we are making today. This funding is indicative of how SGN is poised to dramatically impact the future of gaming platforms on the social web, stated Shervin Pishevar, CEO of Social &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2008/05/13/social-gaming-network-raises-15-million-for-social-game-distribution/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.socialgn.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3469" title="sgn_logo" src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2008/05/sgn_logo.png" alt="SGN Logo" width="230" height="120" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="color: #fe0090; font-size: medium;">&#8220;We could not be more pleased with the announcement we are making today. This funding is indicative of how SGN is poised to dramatically impact the future of gaming platforms on the social web, </span><span style="color: #000000; font-size: medium;">stated Shervin Pishevar, CEO of Social Gaming Network (SGN). </span><span style="color: #fe0090; font-size: medium;">Our focus and drive is to develop a dynamic and flourishing ecosystem for gaming on the web and continue to be the obvious choice for game developers who want to create social games that engage millions of users on the social networks and beyond.&#8221;</span></strong></p>
<p>Many of today&#8217;s companies are finding ways to create games to keep users appealed whether its on their own websites or powered by applications within top social networks.  As there has been a slowdown in the development of pointless applications on these social networks, many companies are finding that games are the way to go.  This is further evidenced by the funding that Social Gaming Network received today.</p>
<p>Greylock Partners, Founders Fund, Columbia Capital, and Biddle Venture Partners have invested $15 million Series A into SGN.  SGN is focusing on making it easy for developers to consolidate applications on top of gaming to create a way to interact with users and to monetize through the application&#8217;s popularity.</p>
<p>With this round of funding, SGN will add more features and functionalities to their current platform.</p>
<p>SGN&#8217;s claim to fame was the instant traction that was gained by Warbook, the company&#8217;s first Facebook game.  Other popular applications that SGN has produced includes Jetman, Free Gifts, Fight Club, Superlatives, Nicknames, Street Race, and Text Twirl.</p>
<p>SGN&#8217;s userbase includes 1 million daily game players, 70 million virtual gifts sent, and 50 million application installations.</p>
<p>SGN is based in Palo Alto, Calif.Â  The SGN Blog is located at: <a href="http://blog.socialgn.com/"><strong>http://blog.socialgn.com/</strong></a>.Â  For developers, SGN APIs are located at: <a href="http://developers.socialgn.com/"><strong>http://developers.socialgn.com/</strong></a>.</p>
<p><strong>Information Source:</strong><br />
[1] Press Release sent by theMIX Inc.</p>
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		<title>Gizmoz Raises $6.5 Million Series B &amp; Signs A Partnership With AOL; Introduces AIM Gizmoz Expressions</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2008/03/17/gizmoz-raises-65-million-series-b-introduces-aim-gizmoz-expressions/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2008/03/17/gizmoz-raises-65-million-series-b-introduces-aim-gizmoz-expressions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:48:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[America Online]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AOL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Benchmark Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DoCoMo Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gizmoz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ngi capital inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Warner]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/2008/03/17/gizmoz-raises-65-million-series-b-introduces-aim-gizmoz-expressions/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Gizmoz has enjoyed widespread adoption by consumers, advertisers and media partners over the last year, and with a number of exciting new products, programs and partnerships underway, the company is poised for significant expansion in 2008,&#8221; stated Eyal Gever, CEO/Founder &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2008/03/17/gizmoz-raises-65-million-series-b-introduces-aim-gizmoz-expressions/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.gizmoz.com"><img src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2008/03/gizmoz_logo.png" alt="Gizmoz Logo" border="0" /></a><br />
<strong><font color="#ff0099" size="4">&#8220;Gizmoz has enjoyed widespread adoption by consumers, advertisers and media partners over the last year, and with a number of exciting new products, programs and partnerships underway, the company is poised for significant expansion in 2008,&#8221; </font><font color="#000000" size="4">stated Eyal Gever, CEO/Founder of Gizmoz.</font><font color="#ff0099" size="4"> &#8220;As we move forward on a number of key initiatives, building cross platform synergies into our service is at the top of the list. To pursue our strategy, Asia will be key. This financing will play an important role in helping us develop unique offerings for this market.&#8221;</font></strong></p>
<p>Today Gizmoz, a social network that allows users to make 3D faces sync with their voices has raised $6.5 million.  This is Gizmoz second round of funding, led by DoCoMo Capital.  Other investors of this round includes Benchmark Capital, ngi capital inc., and Columbia Capital.</p>
<p>Gizmoz plans on using this round of funding to introduce their services around Asia, starting in Japan.</p>
<p>&#8220;Japan represents a large and strategic market for the company. Gizmoz&#8217;s offerings come at an opportune time in the development of Japan&#8217;s extensive mobile ecosystem, and they should feed the strong desire of Japanese consumers to embrace innovative content enhanced by Gizmoz&#8217;s technology,&#8221; stated Nobuyuki Akimoto, President and CEO of DoCoMo Capital.</p>
<p>AIM users may have also noticed on the start page that Gizmoz has signed a deal with AOL.  AOL Instant Messenger, the most used messaging system in the U.S. can now create AIM Gizmoz Expressions and connect it to their account.  Gizmoz previously advertised for Taco Bell and has a Facebook Application called <em>In Your Face</em>.  Gizmoz widgets can be embedded in Hi5, Bebo, Orkut, and MySpace pages as well.</p>
<p>Competitors include <strong><a href="http://www.jibjab.com">JibJab</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.Blabberize.com">Blabberize</a></strong>.  Gizmoz was started in 2003 and has offices in Menlo Park, Calif. and Israel.</p>
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		<title>Ruckus Network Raises $10 Million in Funding From Anschutz and Columbia</title>
		<link>http://pulse2.com/2007/05/24/ruckus-network-raises-10-million-in-funding-from-anschutz-and-columbia/</link>
		<comments>http://pulse2.com/2007/05/24/ruckus-network-raises-10-million-in-funding-from-anschutz-and-columbia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2007 18:24:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Amit Chowdhry</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Anschutz Investment Company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columbia Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Napster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ruckus Network Inc.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://pulse2.com/2007/05/24/ruckus-network-raises-10-million-in-funding-from-anschutz-and-columbia/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[William Gorog should be worried. Gorog is the CEO of Napster and their direct competitor, Ruckus Network[1] just raised $10 million in funding. This is Ruckus&#8217; second round of investment and the funding was led by Anschutz Investment Company LLC &#8230; <a href="http://pulse2.com/2007/05/24/ruckus-network-raises-10-million-in-funding-from-anschutz-and-columbia/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img title="Ruckus Logo" src="http://mediaserver.pulse2.com/uploads/2007/05/ruckus_logo.png" border="0" alt="Ruckus Logo" align="left" />William Gorog should be worried.  Gorog is the CEO of Napster and their direct competitor, Ruckus Network[<strong><a href="http://www.ruckus.com">1</a></strong>] just raised $10 million in funding.  This is Ruckus&#8217; second round of investment and the funding was led by Anschutz Investment Company LLC and Columbia Capital[<strong><a href="www.colcap.com/?phpMyAdmin=jgU9tkJ5B7NY%2CyX-6zL7y2nnNA1">2</a></strong>].</p>
<p>Ruckus&#8217; membership grew 60% during the Spring 2007 semester and signed contracts with 40 new schools.  Currently the company has 120 memberships.  Ruckus service is exclusive to those who have a .edu e-mail address.</p>
<p><span id="bwanpa11">&#8220;</span>Today&#8217;s funding announcement caps what is arguably the most significant, successful and exciting period to date for Ruckus,<span id="bwanpa13">&#8220;</span> stated Mike Bebel, the CEO of Ruckus Network, Inc. <span id="bwanpa14">&#8220;</span>Ruckus has become the digital entertainment service of choice for college students and administrators alike, creating considerable interest among advertisers and marketers who recognize the vast potential Ruckus fulfills. With this investment round, we are poised for even greater growth.<span id="bwanpa15">&#8220;</span></p>
<p>Ruckus established partnerships with OneNet and Merit, who are the Internet Service Providers for educational institutions Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, etc.</p>
<p>The new funding will be used to develop further advertisement partnerships.  Ruckus also provides full length movies for streaming.</p>
<p>[1] <a href="http://www.ruckus.com/">www.ruckus.com</a><br />
[2] <span class="a"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.colcap.com/">www.colcap.com</a></span></span></p>
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