USAA revs up online car dealership Zag
Zag, the online car-buying platform known for its transparent upfront and guaranteed pricing, just landed $37.4 million in strategic capital, most of it coming from financial services goliath USAA. Different from other car transaction sites in that it connects consumers with about 2,000 certified dealers, Zag says its mission is to improve the car-buying experience for the average consumer as much as possible.
And with sales climbing steadily (130 percent since December 2007), Zag appears to… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007
Featured companies: Altair Therapeutics, ICyt Visionary Biosciences, Linkage Biosciences, Mendel Biotechnology, Rules-Based Medicine
Mendel Biotechnology raises funds for cellulosic-energy production — Hayward, Calif.-based Mendel Biotechnology, a biotech developing new varieties of switchgrass, Miscanthus and poplar for use as biofuels, raised an undisclosed sum in a new funding round. The company first drew funding from several investment firms, including ZBI Ventures, Capricorn Investment Group and CFM, and also raised additional cash from its partner Monsanto, which was already… Continue Reading
Tesla Motors raises $45M more
Tesla Motors, the San Carlos, Calif. maker of a high-performance electric car, has raised $45 million more in financing.
The new backing for the car, due out later this year, is led by Technology Partners, a Palo Alto venture firm that has focused on green investments, and Tesla’s own chairman, Elon Musk. Also investing are Palo Alto’s Capricorn Investment Group, a private investment firm, and major existing investors. Two investors we haven’t mentioned previously are Valor… Continue Reading