D.light: Bringing light to the developing world
At first glance, the Kiran solar-powered lamp made by D.light is just plain cute — it would look right at home in an Apple store. But the real news is that it could save people in the developing world a substantial amount of money, and… Continue Reading
Simply Hired hits profitability with new $4.6M
Simply Hired, a job listing search engine based in the Silicon Valley, announced today that it has crossed into profitability with a new $4.6 million in fourth-round capital from IDG Ventures and Foundation Capital. The company is also marking four consecutive quarters of positive cash… Continue Reading
Travel deal finder cFares lands $3.1M, names new CEO
cFares, a search engine that scours the net for airfare and other travel bargains, announced today that it brought in both $3.1 million in second-round financing and a new chief executive to help strengthen its brand.
At first glance, cFares operates pretty similarly to other discount… Continue Reading
Qumu raises $10.7M for enterprise video
Qumu, which provides the infrastructure for the use of video communication in a corporate environment, has raised $10.7 million in a third round of funding. The round was led by Advanted Technology Ventures.
The Emeryville, Calif. startup’s enables live and on-demand webcasts, recorded video conferences, employee… Continue Reading
Yet more local reviews, with the launch of Praized
What’s the best local place for coffee? What about a burrito? Chances are if you don’t know, you know where to find out: Citysearch, Yelp, Zagat or any number of other sites. But that isn’t preventing a new generation of startups from trying to get… Continue Reading
WhiteHat Security secures $7M
WhiteHat Security, a provider of website security services has raised a fourth round of funding.
Claiming to be the only complete solution for website security, the company’s WhiteHat Sentinel service is a subscription-based service that offers control of site vulnerabilities that are customer-controlled and expert-managed.
This new… Continue Reading
D.light Design sets out to replace the kerosene lamp, with eco-friendly lighting for India
A San Francisco-based company with plans to help the developing world snuff out its kerosene-burning lamps and replace them with cheap, solar-powered LEDs and compact fluorescents has finally unveiled its production models and announced the details of its for-profit business plan.
We’ve followed the progress of… Continue Reading
Cheap lights and hot heat — two more cleantech innovators
Following in the theme of great-but-unusual cleantech startups I talked about last week, I recently took some time to talk to Bill Reichert of Garage Technology Ventures about a couple of his firm’s latest investments in the field.
Garage is the firm that Reichert heads up… Continue Reading
STEP Labs to reduce headset noise, raises cash
updated
Last week we covered Jawbone’s noise-cancelling bluetooth headset, but this week STEP Labs debuted a headset technology that STEP chief executive Robert Mitro says will blow the competition out of the water.
Mitro says STEP’s technology creates a virtual acoustic bubble six inches from your mouth,… Continue Reading
Garage Technology Ventures adds two partners
Garage Technology Ventures, a Palo Alto, Calif. venture capital firm, has added Joyce Chung and Henry Wong as investors.
Joyce Chung (pictured here) joins Garage as managing director, while Henry Wong joins as venture partner, a position that doesn’t carry as much responsibility as a managing… Continue Reading
Solar cell company Miasole raises $50M
Miasole, the Silicon Valley company developing a new, flexible type of solar cell, has raised a significant $50 million in a fourth round of financing.
The funding deal, which comes after Miasole struggled to meet quality deadlines for its technology, was widely rumored to have been… Continue Reading
CFares raises $4.5M more for wholesale travel ticket offering; Lessno raises $4.1M for Europe
CFares, the Redwood Shores, Calif. company that you could call the “Costco” of travel sites, has raised $4.5 million in a first round of venture capital led by Claremont Creek Ventures, and including existing backer Garage Technology Ventures. The company had raised $1.5 million in… Continue Reading
IndieVest, a way for wealthy individuals to mingle with Hollywood, seeks more money
IndieVest, an independent film studio designed to produce feature films paid for by wealthy individuals, has raised half of a $5 million planned first round of funding, according to VentureWire (sub required).
The round came from undisclosed individuals. The company is now searching for more… Continue Reading
Miasole, the super thin solar cell co., raises $35M more
Miasole, the Santa Clara start-up which makes super thin solar cell technology, has raised $35 million more in venture capital.
VentureWire has the scoop today (sub required). Miasole is one of a handful of players producing solar technology based on CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenium) and… Continue Reading