The Venture Codex

Participated · Seed · Jul 2017

Rebound Technologies develops the IcePoint thermal energy storage system that separates when cooling is produced from when it is consumed by generating and storing cooling during off-peak hours and deploying it during peak demand. The company targets energy-intensive applications including data centers, food processing and district cooling systems. Its technology aims to reduce peak electrical load, improve energy efficiency and maintain consistent cooling performance during high-demand periods. Rebound has moved from pilot and early-stage deployments toward scaled manufacturing, supported by a production partnership with KCC Manufacturing. The recent $2 million strategic investment from KCC is intended to scale manufacturing and accelerate broader commercial deployment. The partnership leverages KCC’s HVAC and engineered thermal systems expertise to transition IcePoint from custom systems to repeatable manufacturing at scale.

Participated · Series A · Feb 2017

ConnectDER develops meter-socket hardware that accelerates interconnection of solar, battery storage, and EV charging by turning the meter socket into an all-in-one connection point. The company’s next-generation Meter Socket Adapter (MSA), the IslandDER™, enables seamless islanding of solar, batteries, EVs and other DERs to provide whole-home backup and resiliency. Its products install in minutes and are marketed as costing 10% or less than typical service-panel or utility interconnect upgrades, addressing an estimated U.S. market where 60 million homes lack capacity for solar or EV charging without costly upgrades. ConnectDER reports over 25,000 adapters in operation and approvals to sell in more than 20 states covering over 16 million households. The company has public endorsements from partners such as Blue Raven Solar and is positioning its offerings to simplify installations, reduce errors, and expand entry-level installer jobs. ConnectDER plans to use new capital to expand markets, scale manufacturing, and continue product innovation aimed at nationwide sales in the next few years. ConnectDER develops meter-collar technology that provides a low-cost, one-hour install in a single device to upgrade residential electric power systems for grid-ready solar photovoltaic integration regardless of a home’s age or amperage. The solution enables installations without complex and expensive upgrades to circuit-breaker panels or in-home wiring and without adding more amperage from the utility. ConnectDER’s product can be optimized to offer connections for electric vehicle chargers and backup power systems in the near future. Led by founder and CEO Whit Fulton and based in Philadelphia, the company is already operating in 17 states and has deployed over 15,000 units nationally to date. ConnectDER plans to use new funding to scale its existing solar adapter into new markets, launch a new EV product line, and develop a next-generation product suite for multi-asset electrification and integration. ConnectDER's flagship product, the Smart ConnectDER meter collar, turns the utility meter socket into a grid-ready, plug-and-play interface for residential solar, storage and EV charging. The meter collar enables rapid interconnection of grid-ready DERs, provides superior data to utilities, and offers a low-cost alternative to traditional wiring methods. The technology lowers installer costs while unlocking alternative tariff models and grid management capabilities for utilities. Utilities including Consolidated Edison, Arizona Public Service, Entergy, and Pennsylvania Power and Light deploy ConnectDER's solution. The company said it will use new capital to scale operations and supply chain and to enhance core solutions for energy storage and other fast-growing residential applications across North America. ConnectDER expects to launch several new products beginning with Smart ConnectDER Version 4 at DISTRIBUTECH. ConnectDER builds a meter collar hardware product that reduces upfront installation costs for rooftop solar and gives electric utilities real-time management over distributed energy assets. The device is designed to let residential solar connect to the grid cheaply, safely, and rapidly while avoiding home wall penetrations. The company says widespread deployment would cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce environmental damage from fossil fuel extraction and combustion, and decrease reliance on government subsidies. ConnectDER’s solution also aims to enable highly managed distributed energy assets and boost grid resiliency. The company closed a $1.1M Series A, providing early-stage capital to advance commercialization and deployment. The funding was supported by a collaboration between PRIME Coalition and Investors' Circle and several philanthropic and impact-minded angel backers.

Participated · Seed · Aug 2016

Nepris operates a cloud-based platform that connects industry professionals with K–16 classrooms via live virtual sessions that are recorded and added to a growing video library. Since being founded in 2014 and based in Austin, Nepris has connected over 70,000 educators across more than 600 school districts and reached over 500,000 students, with nearly 10,000 hours of videos aligned to the U.S. Department of Labor O*NET database. Nearly 62% of students reached come from lower socioeconomic groups, and the platform enables employers and intermediaries to offer virtual tours, mock interviews, and career talks across diverse fields. The company says the new funding will allow it to scale up, expand to new regions, and sign more industry partnerships supporting all 16 CTE clusters. Nepris emphasizes making learning more relevant by exposing students to role models and career pathways and by lowering barriers between educators and industry professionals. The recent financing will support expanded regional reach and partnership growth. Nepris provides an online community that connects educators with industry professionals through live interactive sessions to show students how classroom learning applies in the workplace. Sessions include interactive Q&As with working professionals, virtual field trips, project mentorships, Industry Chats and even live Shark Tanks. Over 65,000 students in 2,200 classrooms have participated, with a focus on STEM and the Arts. The company plans to use new funding to redesign its site to simplify connections, expand work with Economic Development Councils and Workforce Boards, and boost the number of Industry Chats. Nepris also intends to reach more rural and lower socio-economic school districts, where it says students have the greatest need. Co-founder and CEO Sabari Raja framed the raise as a way to scale industry-education connections and broaden outreach. Nepris operates a platform that matches classroom teachers with industry experts for live video sessions that are recorded for future viewing. Teachers request sessions by specifying subject, lesson topics, grade level, curriculum alignment and preferred times; the system notifies registered industry experts who fit the criteria. Sessions typically take the form of Q&A, but have also been used for student project feedback and other engagements; students can ask and text questions during sessions. Launched in April 2014, Nepris says it has a community of thousands of teachers from 600 schools in 45 states and industry professionals from over 400 companies. The company charges $99 per teacher per year for unlimited use, though over half of teachers are sponsored by companies such as Samsung and the Container Store. Nepris is exploring white-labeling and licensing its platform to regional “STEM Hubs” as an additional revenue opportunity and aims to make industry engagement part of the everyday classroom experience.

Led · Equity · Jun 2015

GoodCompany Group operated a summer business accelerator that supported social-impact startups and helped connect graduates with investors such as Investors’ Circle Philly. In 2013 Investors’ Circle pledged a $500,000 pool as the first dedicated capital for GoodCompany accelerator alumni. Many companies in the cohort were very early-stage and some needed additional time post-accelerator to become investable. GoodCompany has not run a summer accelerator since 2013 while founder Garrett Melby ran the city accelerator FastFWD and later worked on a climate-focused accelerator tied to the White House’s Climate Data Initiative. The accelerator’s model exposed the complexities of impact investing, including variable investor expectations on returns, valuation challenges, and alternative capital sources like grants and concessionary investments. GoodCompany’s work continued to influence local impact-investing conversations in Philadelphia, though the original $500,000 pledge did not fully deploy as initially planned.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2013

DailyWorth, founded in 2009, began as a daily email newsletter and has grown into an online community providing editorial personal-finance content and paid offerings. Its core product remains the daily newsletter, supported by staff-led editorial content and a four-week Money Clarity online course with videos and workbooks. The company has built partnerships with Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Nestwise, ING, and H&R Block to expand its reach. Within two years of launch the newsletter reached more than 55,000 subscribers and grew to 250,000 subscribers by January last year. DailyWorth estimates its site will hit two to three million monthly readers by the end of 2013. It recently added $1 million to its Series A to support growth and key hires as it scales readership and offerings. DailyWorth publishes a daily email newsletter focused on financial literacy and money management for a female audience. Its content spans practical topics such as organizing finances, tax tips, and saving advice, supported by an editorial team led by MP Dunleavey. The newsletter has 55,000 subscribers and currently monetizes through advertising and sponsorships, including deals with ING and H&R Block. DailyWorth plans to expand revenue with sponsored educational events and intends to broaden its content with customized email newsletters, video content, and a developed website. The company uses editorial-driven content to engage its community and build sponsorship opportunities as primary monetization channels.