Silicon Valley Wire

Infoblox, Proofpoint Post Strong Gains After Pricing IPOs

A pair of Silicon Valley companies enjoyed double-digit gains on their first days of trading Friday after pricing their initial public offerings (IPOs). Shares of Santa Clara-based Infoblox, a maker of network automation software, gained 33% on the day after pricing its shares at $16 late Thursday. Sunnyvale-based security software developer Proofpoint, meanwhile, saw an 8% bump after pricing its shares at $13.  The debuts came a day after San Francisco-based Splunk, a maker of software providing users with real-time operational intelligence, more than doubled its market cap to above $3 billion on its first day of trading.
http://www.infoblox.com
http://www.proofpoint.com/
http://www.splunk.com

Sunnyvale-Based WeVideo Lands First $8.5 Million of Round

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- WeVideo, a Sunnyvale-based developer of web-based tools for collaborative video production, has raised the first $8.5 million of a planned equity funding round, the company revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Eighteen unidentified investors have so far taken part. The company still plans to raise another $10.7 million before closing the round.
http://www.wevideo.com/
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1535024/000153502412000002/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml

Alameda-Based BioTime to Acquire XenneX

Alameda, Calif. -- BioTime, an Alameda-based biotechnology firm focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders, said on Friday it will acquire Massachusetts-based XenneX, a provider of services and tools designed to enhance bio-medical research. The deal, technically a merger of XenneX into BioTime-unit LifeMap Sciences, is expected to close within 30 days. Through the agreement, XenneX stockholders will receive approximately 1.4 million shares of LifeMap -- a 13% stake in that company -- as well as 450,000 shares of BioTime. XenneX holds the exclusive, worldwide licenses to market GeneCards and PanDaTox. GeneCards is a searchable database of human genes, while PanDaTox is a searchable, database used to identify genes and intergenic regions. "We believe that centralized online databases of biological knowledge will become indispensable tools for research in the field of regenerative medicine," said Michael West, BioTime's CEO.
http://www.biotimeinc.com
http://www.xennexinc.com
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120420005197/en/BioTime-Subsidiary-LifeMap-Sciences-Announce-Agreement-Acquire

Newark-Based Neato Robotics Lands $12.2 Million in Fourth Round

Newark, Calif. -- Neato Robotics, a Newark-based developer of robots designed to perform household chores as intelligently and efficiently as humans, on Thursday raised $12.2 million in its fourth round of funding, co-led by Vorwerk Ventures and Noventi Ventures. The company plans to use the proceeds to expand operations, sales and marketing, as well as to bolster product development. "Our vision is to leverage our unique robotic technology to bring new, innovative home-cleaning products to the marketplace," said CEO Warren Flick. Founded in 2004, after its first product concept won a Stanford University Graduate School of Business competition, the company has since raised $35 million in funding. The company's core technology features an intelligent, laser-guided navigation system, paired with a robotic vacuum cleaner system.
http://www.neatorobotics.com 
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/neato-robotics-raises-122-million-in-series-d-funding-2012-04-19

San Ramon-Based Five9 Raises $12 Million in New Funding

San Ramon, Calif. -- Five9, a San Ramon-based developer of cloud-based contact center software, said on Thursday it has raised $12 million in a new round of funding, led by Adams Street Partners. Hummer Winblad Venture Capital and Partech International also participated in the round, which increased the company's total backing to more than $49 million. "The additional funding positions us well to take full advantage of our momentum, and gives us an opportunity to expand our current leadership position," said CEO Mike Burkland. Five9's software processes more than two billion customer calls a year for over 1,500 customers.
http://www.five9.com
http://www.five9.com/call-center-news/press-releases/pr-five9-raises-an-additional-12m-in-funding.htm

Palo Alto's Correlation Ventures Invests in Four Companies

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Correlation Ventures, a venture capital firm with offices in Palo Alto and San Diego, said it has made investments in four new companies -- Aldea Pharmaceuticals, MOGL, numberFire and an unnamed company currently in stealth mode. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. Correlation, which now has 17 companies in its portfolio, said it plans to make approximately 75 investments from its inaugural $165 million fund, announced in January. The firm said it uses predictive analytics to offer investment decisions within two weeks.
http://www.correlationvc.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/correlation-ventures-funds-four-companies-in-q1-delivering-co-investment-decisions-in-two-weeks-or-less-2012-04-18

 

San Mateo-Based Guidewire Software Prices Follow-On Offering

San Mateo, Calif. -- Guidewire Software, a San Mateo-based maker of core system software for the insurance industry, on Thursday priced a follow-on offering expected to generate $226 million. The offering includes 8 million shares -- 7.3 million being sold by current shareholders -- for $28.25 each. The company, itself, is expected to make $19.8 million from its 700,000 shares offered. The news comes three months after Guidewire raised $115 million in its initial public offering (IPO). The company counts more than 100 property and casualty insurers among its clients, including GEICO, Nationwide and CNA.
http://www.guidewire.com/
http://www.guidewire.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2012/guidewire-software-inc-announces-pricing-of-follow-on-public-offering-of-common-stock/

SynGen Lands $5 Million from San Francisco's Bay City Capital

San Francisco -- SynGen, a Sacramento-based developer of next-generation stem cell harvesting systems, said on Thursday it has raised $5 million in preferred stock financing from San Francisco-based Bay City Capital (BCC0. Under the terms of the deal, BCC will appoint two representatives to SynGen's board of directors. "We expect SynGen's products will play a significant role in enabling clinical research and expanding the medical applications of regenerative medicine," said William Gerber, investment partner at BCC.
http://syngeninc.com/ 
http://www.baycitycapital.com

Sunnyvale-Based Moxie Software Leads Funding for ReadyPulse

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- ReadyPulse, developer of a brand advocacy platform for social media marketers, said it has raised its first round of funding, led by Sunnyvale-based Moxie Software, and located its operations within Moxie's Bellevue, Wash. office. As part of the agreement, Dennis O'Malley, who currently leads Moxie's global services and insight division, will become the CEO of ReadyPulse. ReadyPulse recently launched its Brand Advocate Builder based on the company's behavior analysis platform. The platform is aimed at marketers to help them optimize the time spent on social media marketing. Financial terms of the funding were not disclosed.
http://www.moxiesoft.com
http://www.readypulse.com/

Santa Clara-Based Aeria Games Lands Investment from Sony Unit

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Aeria Games, a Santa Clara-based publisher of free-to-play online multiplayer games, said on Wednesday it has landed a new investment from So-net Entertainment, a unit of Sony. So-net becomes the company's second external investment partner, following a 2011 investment by NHN. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We welcome So-net Entertainment Corporation as a strategic partner as we move forward to expand our relationships with global digital entertainment companies,” said Lan Hoang, the CEO of Aeria. With over 300 employees, Aeria Games is focused on building its presence in the emerging markets of Latin America, Eastern Europe and Russia, alongside its active community of players in the U.S. and Western Europe. The company boasts content partnerships from game companies such as Electronic Arts and NHN, as well as independent developers from around the world.
http://www.aeriagames.com
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120418005511/en/Aeria-Games-Secures-Strategic-Investment-So-net-Entertainment

Former HP Head Carly Fiorina Named Chairman of Good360

Alexandria, Va. -- Carly Fiorina, the former chairman and CEO of Palo Alto-based HP, on Wednesday was named chairman of Good360, a charitable organization that operates an online product donation marketplace. Fiorina succeeds Gail Aldrich, who is departing to become the chair of AARP's board of directors. Once named Fortune's Most Powerful Woman in Business for six straight years, Fiorina headed HP from 1999-2005, and in 2010 won the Republican primary for Senate in California before ultimately falling to incumbent Barbara Boxer in the general election  She currently serves as vice chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "We are thrilled to have Carly on board as she is undoubtedly one of the most recognized business leaders in the world," said Cindy Hallberlin, the president and CEO of Good360.
http://www.good360.org 
http://about.good360.org/PressRelease/31

Fremont-Based Quantenna Communications Lands $79 Million

Fremont, Calif. -- Quantenna Communications, a Fremont-based developer of Wi-Fi video networking technology used in whole-home entertainment, said on Tuesday it has raised $79 million in a new round of funding, led by Russia's Rusnano. Another new investor, Bright Capital, as well as previous backers Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, Grazia Equity, Sigma Partners, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Venrock Associates also participated in the round. Rusnano will invest up to $40 million and Sequoia Capital Growth Fund will contribute $20 million. Quantenna said it will use the funding to expand its engineering and service organizations in order to support the growing list of service providers deploying its chipsets. "Our video-over-Wi-Fi chipsets are on their way to penetrating new markets this year beyond the service provider segment," said CEO Sam Heidari. "The round also enables us to expand our presence in Russia with the addition of a team of highly qualified specialists." Quantenna said it will open a Russian subsidiary.
http://www.quantenna.com 
http://www.rusnano.com
http://www.quantenna.com/pressrelease-04_17_12.html

Mountain View-Based Skybox Imaging Raises $70 Million in Third Round

Mountain View, Calif. -- Skybox Imaging, a Mountain View-based provider of satellite imagery, video and big data analytics, said on Tuesday it has raised $70 million in its third round of funding, co-led by Canaan Partners and Norwest Venture Partners. Previous backers Khosla Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners also participated in the round, which increased the company's total funding to $91 million. Skybox said it will use the capital to complete the development and launch of its first two high-resolution imaging microsatellites, SkySat-1 and SkySat-2. The company also plans to expand its team of software engineers and data scientists. While current satellite systems sporadically capture still images of various regions of the earth, Skybox said its constellation will enable more frequent monitoring of a larger portion of the planet's surface. The company said practical applications will span sectors from business intelligence and financial trading to disaster response and humanitarian relief.
http://www.skyboximaging.com
http://www.skyboximaging.com/news/blog/skybox-imaging-raises-70m-new-financing

S.F.-Based Alt12 Apps Raises $1.3M, Launches Social Network for Parents

San Francisco -- Alt12 Apps, a San Francisco-based publisher of social health apps, said on Tuesday it has raised $1.3 million in a new round of seed funding and launched Kidfolio, a social network and digital scrapbook designed for parents. Aydin Senkut's Felicis Ventures led the round, which also included participation from InterWest Partners and angels such as HealthTap founder Ron Gutman. This funding will help Alt12 Apps make Kidfolio the best social network for parents and expand the company's growing social health platform. "Social networks today have become so broad; it's no surprise that we're seeing an uptick in certain verticals for like-minded groups to connect around specific topics," said CEO Jennifer Wong. "Kidfolio fits this bill. It's educational and super fun -- a rich, immersive experience that's highly meaningful for the people using it." Kidfolio is currently available for the iPhone, and launching soon on Android and the web.
http://www.alt12.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/alt12-apps-raises-126m-in-funding-and-launches-social-network-for-parents-2012-04-17

Gataround Moves to Larger Headquarters in San Francisco

San Francisco -- Getaround, developer of a peer-to-peer car sharing service, said on Tuesday it has moved to larger headquarters in San Francisco. The company, which in September landed $3.4 million in seed funding, will now be based in the South of Market area. The move follows recent city rollouts in Austin, Texas and Portland, Ore., in addition to earlier rollouts in San Francisco and San Diego. The company currently has 30 full-time employees, and said it plans to hire five more in the coming weeks. Getaround's service allows users to share cars by the hour, day or week through a secure online marketplace. The company currently boasts more than 10,000 car listings nationwide. 
http://www.getaround.com
http://www.getaround.com/static/New_Getaround_HQ.pdf (PDF)

Redwood City-Based Zenprise Names Amit Pandey as New CEO.

Redwood City, Calif. -- Zenprise, a Redwood City-based developer of mobile device management technology, on Monday named Amit Pandey as its new president and CEO. Pandey, most recently served as the CEO of Terracotta, succeeds Jayaram Bhat, who will remain an advisor to the company. He previously led the data management business at NetApp, and was the general manager of NetApp's enterprise security gateway business. The news comes six months after Zenprise raised $30 million in a round of funding led by Greylock Partners. Founded in 2003, Zenprise offers technology for mobile devices that protect sensitive corporate data, shields networks from mobile threats and maintains compliance with regulatory and corporate policies.
http://www.zenprise.com
http://www.zenprise.com/company/news_and_events/press_releases

OpenWave to Sell Mediation and Messaging Businesses, Rename Company

Redwood City, Calif. -- Openwave Systems, the Redwood City-based developer of mobile technology, said on Monday it will sell its Mediation and Messaging product businesses to Los Angeles-based private equity firm Marlin Equity Partners. Financial terms of the deal, expected to close later this month, were not disclosed. Marlin plans to rename the acquired businesses Openwave Mobility (formerly Mediation) and Openwave Messaging. The businesses will be managed by their current divisional management teams. Openwave's remaining business will be renamed Unwired Planet, focusing on intellectual property. It will remain a publicly traded company. The agreement "represents a major milestone in the implementation of the corporate strategy we began last October," said CEO Mike Mulica. "As we complete the sale of our product businesses, we will continue to focus on a multi-pronged strategy to realize the value of our unique patent portfolio."
http://www.openwave.com
http://www.openwave.com/news_and_events/press_releases/2011/20120416_opwv_marlin_equity_partners.html