Thumbplay wrangles $6M for mobile content distribution
Thumbplay, provider of ringtones, wallpapers, games and other content specifically tailored to mobile phones, announced that it brought in $6 million in a sixth round of funding to cushion its business against the downturn. Based in New York, the company says that with the funds, it should find itself poised to expand rapidly once the slump ends sometime next year.
Not that Thumplay isn’t already pretty well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that do exist… Continue Reading
Transoma brings in $5M for heart diagnostics
Transoma, maker of cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic products, landed $5 million in fourth-round funding from United Therapeutics, Affinity Capital Management, Canaan Partners, Cross Creek Capital and Polaris Venture Partners, reports VentureWire. The money comes after the company withdrew its filing to go public earlier this year.
Based in St. Paul, Minn., the biotech company hoped to bring in $67.2 million on 4.2 million shares, but decided against going public due to unfavorable market conditions. Before it filed in November, it had… Continue Reading
Thumbplay raises $18 million for wireless entertainment
update
Thumbplay sells ringtones, videos, games and graphic for your cellular phone and claims to have over 43,000 downloadable items.
Using a credit-based system, Thumbplay keeps transactions simple. For example, all ringtones are simply one credit. The company also offers the option of monthly memberships that allocate credits to users every month and offer special deals.
Entertainment content on cellular phones is big business. Last year, Vringo raised $12 million to expand its cellular music video operation (our… 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
Life science fluid control company, Fluidigm, raises $17M more
Fluidigm Corporation, a South San Francisco life science company focused on “integrated fluidic circuits” that control fluids precisely, said it has raised $37 million so far in its fifth round of venture capital.
The investors include Wasatch Advisors, and its private equity affiliate, Cross Creek Capital, as well as existing investors. The company had previously raised $20.05 million for the round, and the new cash amounts $17 million. Before the fifth round, the company had raised… Continue Reading