• LeisureLink

  Participated · Equity · Jan 2016

  LeisureLink is a Salt Lake City, UT–based provider of distribution, reservations and technology services for vacation rentals. Founded in 2007 and led by CEO Julian Castelli and COO Jim Barsch, the company serves thousands of vacation rental lodging providers. Its core product set includes distribution and booking solutions designed to maximize bookings across online and offline channels. LeisureLink closed a $17M growth funding round to scale operations and meet demand for its services. The company plans to use the funds to enhance its technology platform. Backers in the round included Clearstone Ventures, Kinderhook Industries and Escalate Capital Partners. LeisureLink is a Pasadena, California-based distribution and revenue-management platform for specialty lodging suppliers. Its Major Market Access product enables property management companies to market and distribute vacation lodging across thousands of travel websites, travel agents and other channels. The platform is used by over 1,500 vacation rental properties, timeshare resorts, condohotels and boutique resorts throughout North America and Europe. The company closed a $9.0m Series C financing round to support continued investment in its technology platform and increased sales efforts. All current investors participated in the round, including Clearstone Venture Partners, Mission Ventures and Wyndham Exchange & Rentals. LeisureLink plans to add software, sales and revenue-management professionals.

• Yeti

  Participated · Equity · Jul 2014

  Yeti is a mobile app that surfaces location-based topics organized as photo cards that users swipe left to pass or right to join conversations about nearby places and experiences. The interface mirrors Tinder’s swipe mechanics to make discovery and engagement simple and to focus users on content. Topics are presented based on a user’s location, and the app’s swipe behavior helps the forums self-moderate by reducing cards users repeatedly reject. The team positions Yeti for travelers and locals seeking eclectic spots or real-time tips, and the product is available in the App Store. The founders pivoted from their previous venture, At the Pool, and intentionally “doubled down” on content as the core feature for Yeti. Financially, the company is funded at just under $1 million from a set of investors named in the article.

• Games2win Media

  Participated · Equity · Mar 2013

  Games2Win is an online gaming company based in Mumbai, India, co-founded by Alok Kejriwal and Mahesh Khambadkone. The company has developed more than 600 proprietary games available across web and mobile devices. It also operates its own in-game ads network and a social platform for mobile applications and web games. The article reports a $2M funding round, reflecting recent external investment activity. Games2Win is backed by investors including Clearstone Venture Partners, ICICI Venture and Nexus. The company is actively hiring, indicating ongoing operational growth. Games2win is a Mumbai, India–based casual and social games company co-founded in 2007 by Cyrus Oshidar and Mahesh Khambadkone and led by CEO Alok Kejriwal. The company has created a library of over 400 games. Those titles are actively licensed by large publishers including Yahoo.com, Viacom Kids and Discovery Channel. Games2win employs about 70 people. It raised US$6m in a Series B financing round led by Clearstone Venture Partners with participation from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB India Capital Partners), bringing total funding to date to US$11m. As part of the financing, Rajan Mehra, venture partner at Clearstone Venture Partners, joined Games2win’s board.

• At The Pool

  Led · Seed · Nov 2012

  At The Pool is a social discovery platform that connects members through interest-based "pools" and matches people to local activities and other users they haven't met before. The product centers on a redesigned homepage and an action bar that surfaces Activities, Updates and Notifications to help users find relevant matches in real time. Activities lets members post local events and receive immediate match suggestions; Updates and Notifications surface profile changes, new pools, contests and affiliated events. The startup reports usage in over 50 countries, with 25% of users returning daily and a user base skewed young (85% under 35, half under 25). The company has added localization support for its international users and a Share Page that rewards referrals. Management has signaled potential monetization paths such as enterprise pools for companies, conferences and universities. At The Pool is a social network that emails users a different match each day based on location, history, interests and intent, encouraging both online and offline connections. The product frames itself as a host that explains why two people should meet and focuses on one‑to‑one introductions rather than broad social graphs. It has run betas (including a University of Connecticut pilot) and launched targeted pools such as a Silicon Beach Pool and a TechCrunch Pool. The site officially launched after those betas and emphasizes expanding pools by interest and city over the coming year. The company is considering partnership offers as part of its growth strategy. Financially, At The Pool took an early $50,000 seed investment and is currently in the process of raising a more substantial seed round.

• AOptix Technologies

  Participated · Series E · Aug 2012

  AOptix develops optics-based solutions for rapid, automated identity verification (including iris recognition) and reliable, long-range, ultra-high-bandwidth wireless communications. Its identity solutions are used for aviation security and immigration control, and the company cites deployments such as Gatwick Airport and all air, land and sea border crossings in Qatar. The communications products target mobile backhaul and enterprise applications to alleviate bandwidth constraints. AOptix’s technologies trace to adaptive optics originally developed for astronomy and later advanced with DARPA and U.S. military programs. The company says it is preparing to launch new products and will use recent financing to support product development, sales and marketing. To date the business has raised $123 million in total investment, including the most recent $42 million Series E. AOptix Technologies develops iris-recognition technology and the wireless communication systems it requires. The company is commercializing its first product, the InSight 2 Meter Iris Recognition System. It said the new funding will be used to build new products. AOptix has also benefited from defense contracts for its long-distance, high-bandwidth wireless systems. The Campbell, Calif. company raised $12.9 million in this round and has raised $60 million to date. Investors in the round include Northgate Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Clearstone Venture Partners, DAG Ventures, W Capital Partners and Lehman Brothers. AOptix Technologies develops laser systems for iris recognition, with products capable of capturing irises from roughly 60 feet. The company is based in Campbell, Calif. Its core work centers on optical broadband technology, which it continues to advance for other applications. Financially, AOptix has completed a third round of funding, raising $15 million in the latest round. Prior to this round the company had raised $27 million. Investors in the newest round included DAG Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Clearstone, 3i and Lehman Brothers.

No current team members are available.