Despite the downturn, financing is plentiful for cleantech
By now, most people have resigned themselves to a significant and prolonged recession due to the banking crisis. For many investors and entrepreneurs, there’s a feeling of certainty that the technology industry will also be hurt. But a significant number of others, especially in cleantech, are saying that a recession might not be as damaging as expected.
Cleantech is something of a special case in tech. It’s a new industry, but one that aspires to quickly… Continue Reading
Eldr Media raising more money for its elderly-focused publications
Eldr Media offers a print publication, Eldr Magazine, and a web property aimed at those over 60. The San Francisco company has raised $1.25 million in seed funding from the Keiretsu Forum and is working on a $4 million Series A round, according to VentureWire.
Principle Power takes $2.3M for clean energy development
Principle Power, a San Francisco company with offices in Seattle, has raised a $2.3 million seed funding made up of convertible debt to build and operate clean energy assets. The company issued a release on the news a week ago, which was recently discovered by VentureWire.
The company says the round was oversubscribed by more than 50 percent, with eight Keiretsu Forum investors joining. The funds will go toward efforts in offshore wind, solar and hydro.
Cogent Wireless Solutions raises $510,000 for mobile coverage
Cogent Wireless is a stealth-mode company working on a technology for mobile phone coverage, based out of Milpitas, Calif.
The technology will improve the coverage of mobile users on cellular networks in the United States and Europe, according to VentureWire (subscription required), which also reported the funding. The $510,000 seed funding was provided by the Keiretsu Forum, and the company plans on raising another round in June.
Earth Class Mail takes $13.3M to turn snail mail to e-mail
As much as we hate junk mail, we don’t envy Earth Class Mail the job it has assigned itself: To receive all your mail, scan its front and then send you pictures of it to review.
Once you’ve reviewed the mail, you can then direct the company to either shred it, open and scan the contents for you, or forward it to you, depending on your desires.
Based in Seattle, Earth Class operates post office boxes around… Continue Reading
LesConcierges raises $2.4M for concierge service
LesConcierges, a San Francisco, Calif. company that handles event planning and assistance with leisure activities, has taken $2.4 million in a third round of funding.
The company, which was founded way back in 1987, provides services for employees of corporations, credit card holders and individuals.
Funding was provided by the Keiretsu Forum, a large association of angel investors. Some 15 members invested.
Verican, offering news syndication and ads for established media, raises $300,000
Verican, a San Francisco company that draws internet traffic by syndicating content from established local media, has raised a $350,000 seed round of investment.
The round was led by Keiretsu Forum, which invested $300,000. Here is the company’s statement.
The company also provides the media companies with an online classified ad product. It says customers include MediaNews Group, McClatchy Co. and New York Times Co.
Animated Speech raises $250,000 for language software
Animated Speech, a San Francisco company that sells language learning software for children with speech and language impairments, has raised $250,000 in financing.
Keiretsu Forum, a group of individual “angel” investors, led the round. Sierra Angels and Vegas Valley Angels also participated.
According to the statement:
In this instance Keiretsu Forum made its investment in Animated Speech Corp, due to the company’s powerful speech software and technology, which has been proven to improve the rate of language… Continue Reading
Charles Chocolates raises $1.5 million
Charles Chocolates, an Emeryville, Calif. maker of premium chocolate, has raised $1.5 million in a first round of funding from angel investment group, the Keiretsu Forum.
Members of group include former Charles Schwab CEO David Pottruck, who was a participant in the round, according to the BizJournal:
Charles “Chuck” Siegel, CEO and founder of Charles Chocolates, has been a part of the San Francisco chocolate scene since 1987 when he started his first premium chocolate company,… Continue Reading
Organic beverage co., Adina For Life, raises $5M
Adina For Life, a San Francisco organic recipe beverage company has raised $5 million in a second round of funding from the Keiretsu Forum, a group of angel investors.
Adina For Life will use to money to promote its brand with music and mobile media, the companies said in a statement. Its chief exec, Greg Steltenpohl, founded Odwalla Juice: “What took us 20 years to build at Odwalla we hope we can do at Adina in… Continue Reading
Chelsey Henry, stylish women’s bag manufacturer, raises $1.2M
Chelsey Henry, a Seattle maker of stylish women’s bags, has raised $1.2M in a second round of venture capital that could eventually total $1.6M.
A group of individual investors from the Keiretsu Forum in Northern California led the round, according to a company statement.