Participated · Series D · Jan 2017

Ring builds video doorbells and other connected home security devices such as the Ring Pro doorbell and the Floodlight Cam. The company says it has roughly 1,000 employees, sells in 100 countries and is carried in about 15,000 retail locations including Home Depot and Best Buy. Ring’s stated mission is reducing crime in neighborhoods, and its product roadmap includes iterative device and platform releases through 2017–2019. The company recently debuted the Floodlight Cam at CES and plans additional product rollouts later this year. Ring is pursuing international expansion and platform integrations (e.g., with neighborhood platforms) as part of its growth strategy. Financially it has raised multiple rounds and is preparing for a potential IPO contingent on its plans proceeding as intended. Ring builds smart video doorbells that connect to a companion smartphone app, letting users answer their door from anywhere. The company launched the Ring Pro, a smaller wired $249 model with a 1080p camera, 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi‑Fi, swappable faceplates, a two‑way speaker, and custom motion zones. Unlike the battery-powered original, the Ring Pro must be wired into a home’s doorbell chime circuit. Ring will replace Pro units stolen from homes and continues to sell the battery-powered standard for users who need a wireless option. The company announced a $61.2M Series C led by KPCB with additional investment from Sir Richard Branson and had previously raised roughly $39M. The Ring Pro is available for pre-order and is slated to ship in April. Ring is a Santa Monica, CA-based company led by Chief Inventor and CEO James Siminoff that builds the Ring Video Doorbell, a home security solution which calls a user’s smartphone when activated. The device enables homeowners to see and speak with visitors remotely and the company has added motion detection and video cloud recording features. Ring recently released Ring Chime, a small WiFi speaker that chimes in the home when the doorbell is pressed. Its products are sold through major retailers including Best Buy, Brookstone, Home Depot, HSN, Lowe’s, Target and Amazon, with more major retail locations coming this fall. The company has over 120 employees. Ring intends to use the Series B proceeds to expand operations.

Participated · Equity · Mar 2016

YourMechanic is a Mountain View, CA–based mobile car repair platform that connects car owners with mobile mechanics who perform more than 800 repair, maintenance, and diagnostic services. The service operates seven days a week and reaches mechanics in more than 5,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada. The company offers an expanding Fleet Solution for rental, rideshare, corporate, and government fleet managers; that Fleet Solution has doubled its customer base in the last 12 months. Led by CEO Anthony Rodio, YourMechanic will use the new funding to accelerate international expansion and to build out additional services for rental, rideshare, corporate and government fleets. The company has secured $35.3M in funding to date and closed a $10.1M Series B1 in this round. YourMechanic connects car owners with certified mechanics who make house calls, allowing customers to book appointments via a mobile app or website. The company offers more than 500 on-site services, including oil changes, brakes, belts, heating and A/C, manufacturer scheduled maintenance and diagnostics. Each service is backed by a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty and a $1 million liability policy. After services, customers and mechanics rate each other, and mechanics must maintain a 4-star rating or higher to continue on the platform. The company has raised $24M in this round (bringing total financing to $32M) and will use the funds to expand its service nationwide and into Canada. YourMechanic operates a marketplace that lets certified mechanics fix users' cars at their home or office, providing mechanic profiles, customer reviews, and online repair records. The platform includes an instant pricing engine the company says uses half a billion data points, plus smartphone and email maintenance notifications. It charges a transaction fee by selling parts and claims to lower costs 30–50% compared with shops and dealers. The company positions its service for basic repair and maintenance in a market it values at $120B per year for out-of-warranty, non-luxury cars. YourMechanic verifies mechanics via background checks, certification verification, and interviews. At the time of reporting it had 10 mechanics in the Bay Area and planned to open the service to mechanics nationwide in 6–8 months; it also participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2012 class and has raised seed funding.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2013

Revolv builds a cloud-based smart-home solution and iOS app that connects and manages popular home automation products such as Sonos, Philips hue, Yale, Nest and up to fifty other devices. The company began shipping to pre-order customers on November 12, 2013 and sells the product direct and via Amazon for $299. Revolv says it will continue to add support over time, targeting compatibility with up to 95% of smart home devices. The company plans to use new funding to further product development and expand market distribution into retail channels. Revolv is based in Boulder, CO and was a TechStars 2012 graduate. Financially, the company has received seed funding and the latest investment announced in the article.

Led · Series B · Dec 2010

Shoutlet provides a platform for brands to publish social content, run apps and contests, moderate feedback, and measure social marketing performance across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The company plans to use its new capital to expand products, build out its Social Switchboard feature, and hire business and sales staff in New York, London and San Francisco. Management is also evaluating acquisitions—particularly Facebook Ads API companies and firms that cleanse and manipulate data to make it useful for marketers. CEO Jason Weaver says the investor offered a premium valuation and the ability to access additional capital for acquisitions. Shoutlet faces competition from recently acquired rivals Buddy Media and Vitrue, which sold for reported sums of $689M and $300M respectively. The company has now taken a total of $24.2 million in funding. Shoutlet offers a centralized social media management platform that consolidates Facebook and Twitter management, Social CRM, and widget-building capabilities. The platform allows companies to create promotions, coupons and sweepstakes and streamline social media outreach through a single interface. It also enables mobile marketing, social commerce and real-time campaign analytics. Financially, Shoutlet announced a $6 million Series B funding round. That investment was led by customer American Family Insurance and includes participation from original backers Origin Ventures and Leo Capital Holdings, and it adds to $3.2 million in previous funding.