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Funny how this works, isn’t it?

Zopa, the start-up that is competing with Prosper to shake up the lending industry, has raised $5 million more in financial backing from Tim Draper, founder of US venture capitalists Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and the Rowland Family, reports Unquote News (registration required).

This brings Zopa’s funding up to $20 million, to match exactly how much Prosper raised. We’re assuming this is so Zopa has the same bragging rights.

Zopa got $15 million earlier this year from Bessemer Venture Partners, Benchmark Capital and Wellington Partners. Zopa is launching in California soon, recently opening an office here.

3 Comments

  1. July 3rd, 2006
    12:11 pm

    will said:

    Did, Benchmark get into this round? Not even as a top-up investment?

    Looks like there is either a falling out or a conscious decision by both sides to build a “firewall” to avoid conflict of interest.

    Eitherway, looks like Benchmark is betting on Prosper as their horse in this market now.

  2. July 3rd, 2006
    12:25 pm

    Matt Marshall said:

    You make a good point, if it were true that this is a separate round and Benchmark didn’t participate. However, we can’t be certain of that. The report I cite above is rudimentary, and only mentions Draper and the Rowland family. I will check with Benchmark.

  3. July 4th, 2006
    6:32 am

    Matt Marshall said:

    Zopa just confirmed that the $5 million was part of the same series “B” round, and thus not a seperate round to address the “Benchmark question.”

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