• CardioKinetix

  Participated · Equity · Dec 2014

  CardioKinetix is a Menlo Park, Calif.–based medical device company pioneering the catheter-based Parachute® Ventricular Partitioning Device to treat heart failure. The Parachute implant is delivered via a femoral artery catheter to partition the left ventricle, exclude non-functional segments, reduce overall left-ventricular volume, and restore geometry and function in a minimally invasive procedure performed in the catheterization laboratory. The Parachute system received CE Mark in 2011 and is investigational in the U.S., limited to investigational use only. The company reports more than 300 patients treated, four clinical trials completed, and 23 publications on the Parachute therapy. CardioKinetix completed a $50 million financing that will fund the PARACHUTE IV randomized pivotal trial, support a U.S. pre-market approval (PMA) submission, and enable international market development efforts. The PARACHUTE IV study is currently enrolling patients in the United States and its data will form the basis of the company’s PMA submission to the FDA. CardioKinetix is a Menlo Park, CA-based medical device company developing the Parachute Ventricular Partitioning Device, a catheter-delivered, minimally invasive implant for patients with heart failure due to post‑MI damage. The Parachute implant is deployed via a catheter inserted in the femoral artery to partition the left ventricle, excluding non-functional myocardium to reduce LV volume and restore geometry and function. The procedure is performed in the catheterization laboratory under conscious sedation. The device has received CE Mark; in the U.S. it is an investigational device limited by federal law to investigational use only. The company is led by President and CEO Maria Sainz and is advancing its programs to bring the Parachute therapy to market. Recent financing activity supports further clinical and commercialization efforts. CardioKinetix is a Menlo Park, CA-based medical device company that developed the PARACHUTE™ Ventricular Partitioning Device, a transcatheter implant for the left ventricle. The Parachute device is intended to treat patients with heart failure resulting from a myocardial infarction and is implanted via a catheter lab procedure. The device recently received the CE Mark and the company is conducting clinical studies in Europe. The FDA has approved an IDE Pivotal Trial for Parachute based on results from a feasibility study. The company is led by President and CEO Wes Johnson. CardioKinetix completed a $44M two-tranche Series E financing, reflecting its ongoing clinical and regulatory progress.

• Auspex Pharmaceuticals

  Participated · Series E · Jan 2014

  Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in La Jolla, CA, focused on developing and commercializing novel medicines for the treatment of orphan diseases. Its pipeline includes product candidates addressing hyperkinetic movement disorders such as chorea associated with Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia and Tourette syndrome, as well as other orphan indications. The company’s lead program, SD-809, is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington’s disease. Auspex is led by President and CEO Pratik Shah, Ph.D. The company completed two separate financings totaling $35M and will use the funds to advance SD-809. Gerald Proehl joined the company’s Board of Directors, replacing David Collier. Auspex Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2001 and based in San Diego, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company led by executive chairman Pratik Shah. Its core platform integrates deuterium, a non-radioactive isotope of hydrogen, into previously approved drugs to increase half-life and potentially reduce dosage. The company’s lead compound, SD-809, is a deuterium-substituted analogue of tetrabenazine aimed at treating hyperkinetic movement disorders such as Huntington’s disease. Auspex is preparing to enter Phase 3 clinical trials for SD-809. To supplement working capital during this transition, the company received an undisclosed term loan from Square 1 Bank. Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company in La Jolla that pioneers the use of deuterium in medicinal chemistry. Its lead compound, SD-809, is a novel VMAT‑2 inhibitor being developed for hyperkinetic movement disorders including Huntington’s disease, Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia. The company says SD-809 may offer improved safety, reduced drug–drug interactions, and less frequent dosing versus existing therapies. Auspex is advancing a portfolio that also includes SD-900 (a JAK kinase inhibitor for autoimmune diseases) and SD-560 (for fibrotic diseases). The new financing is intended to advance the development of these molecules and accelerate SD-809’s clinical program. Management expects SD-809’s Phase 3 development to begin in the first half of 2013.

• Beyond the Rack

  Participated · Equity · Nov 2013

  Beyond the Rack operates a flash-sale e-commerce site that launches roughly 8,000 new items daily and runs over 180 new sales events each week across categories including ladies' and men's fashions, home and decor, consumer electronics, furniture, footwear, children's toys and apparel, and accessories. The company was co-founded and is led by CEO Yona Shtern and has grown to more than 13 million consumer members in Canada and the United States and over 5,000 brand partners since first launching in 2009. Beyond the Rack maintains offices in Montreal, Toronto, New York and Las Vegas. The business secured a US$10M debt and banking facility to support ongoing operations. Management says the funds will be used to continue investing in growth. The company's core proposition remains focused on limited-time sales and high product turnover to drive member engagement. Beyond the Rack is a Montreal-based e-commerce platform offering designer brand apparel, accessories, beauty and home decor at discounted prices. Products are sold in the context of limited-quantity events, with members seeing up to 30 new events each day. The company reports over 10 million consumer members and 5,000 brand partnerships. It operates in both Canada and the United States with offices in Montreal, Toronto, New York and Las Vegas. The executive team includes CEO Yona Shtern, COO Mike Bhaskaran and President/Chief Merchandising Officer Jim Weinberg. The company says it will use the proceeds of the new funding to further expand operations. Beyond The Rack is a Montreal-based online shopping club that offers fashion, accessories, beauty and home décor at discounted prices via limited-quantity events (up to 15 new events each day). Led by Co-Founder and CEO Yona Shtern, the company operates a membership-based flash-sale model and has over 7.5 million members and relationships with more than 3,000 brands. It employs 400 full-time people in Montreal and New York. The company received a $10M venture debt financing from Wellington Financial LP and intends to use the proceeds to grow across North America. Beyond The Rack is backed by venture capital firms including BDC Venture Capital, Export Development Canada, Highland Capital Partners, iNovia Capital, Panorama Capital, Rho Canada and Tandem Expansion Fund. Recent reported financings include $36.6M in November 2011, $12M in July 2010 and $2M in January 2010. Beyond The Rack is a members-only flash-sales shopping site similar to Gilt Groupe that offers steep discounts (50–70%) on designer clothing, accessories, home decor and other goods. The site reports 5 million members, up from 1.5 million in July 2010. It has raised more than $50 million in total funding to date. Beyond The Rack plans to use new capital to enhance logistics and distribution and to accelerate growth. The company is competing in a crowded flash-sales market alongside players such as Gilt, Ideeli, One Kings Lane and Lot18. The site’s product focus and rapid member growth are central to its expansion strategy. Beyond the Rack is a Montreal-based members-only private shopping club offering moderate to luxury merchandise at up to 70% off retail. The company runs up to 18 private sales events per day across categories including ladies' and men's apparel, accessories, footwear, homeware, watches, jewelry, cosmetics and kids' items. It operates an office in New York and employs 200 full-time staff. Beyond the Rack reports over three million North American members. The company has raised $16.5M in venture capital to date and recently received a $3M loan from MMV Financial. Management, led by CEO Yona Shtern, intends to use the MMV proceeds to expand operations.

• Zoove

  Participated · Series E · May 2013

  Zoove operates the StarStar platform and StarStarMe, which let brands and individuals use unique vanity mobile numbers to drive offline-to-online engagement. The company has secured relationships with all four major U.S. carriers and says StarStar drives millions of calls annually for customers including AT&T, CBS Radio, Dunkin' Donuts, Ford, Hyatt, the NFL and Viacom. Zoove offers solutions for enterprise marketers and consumers, including individual vanity numbers such as CHLOE or MOVIEGUY through major carriers. The company plans to expand the StarStar platform across product, business development and marketing channels, and to roll out enhancements to the StarStar Me mobile app and experience. Zoove serves clients across media, entertainment, retail, travel, financial services and non-profits from offices in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. The company recently secured a $15 million strategic investment to accelerate national growth and demand-generation initiatives. Zoove operates the National StarStar Registry and is the exclusive provider of StarStar numbers for the four largest U.S. mobile operators, reaching over 250 million consumers. Its service lets consumers dial a company using short, memorable codes (for example, FLOWERS) and typically triggers a follow-up text or voicemail prompting opt-in to view websites, download apps, or receive coupons. Participating brands pay Zoove an annual fee for their number, with pricing that varies by length and scarcity. StarStar numbers have been used in promotions from the NFL, X-Factor, and EA’s Madden game, demonstrating marketing integrations with major brands. The company says the new capital will be used to further accelerate its U.S. operations. Current financials include a total of $20 million in funding after the most recent investment. Zoove runs the StarStar Numbers registry, leasing memorable vanity phone numbers (e.g., WEATHER, SUZUKI) that route consumers to a brand’s mobile app, website, coupon, video or other content. The company exclusively provides StarStar Numbers for the largest U.S. wireless operators and powers the National StarStar Registry in cooperation with the four major mobile operators. Through those operator partnerships Zoove reaches more than 250 million people. Consumers are not charged extra to call a StarStar Number; after the initial call they typically receive a text message or voicemail prompting further engagement. Brands pay Zoove an annual fee to lease StarStar Numbers, with pricing that varies based on the length and “scarcity” of the number. The product is positioned as an alternative to QR codes and unbranded short codes by enabling name-based dialing (for example, dialing ESPN). Zoove is a Palo Alto, Calif.-based provider of an abbreviated dialing mobile direct response marketing service. The company offers a patented mobile direct response marketing platform that enables marketers to engage consumers in interactive campaigns via a mobile phone by dialing a ## or ** code. Zoove closed a $13 million Series C funding round. Investors in the round include Highland Capital Partners, Worldview Technology Partners and Cardinal Capital Partners. Co-founder and CEO Tim Jemison said the funds will be used to roll out the abbreviated dialing platform across the major US carriers. The company is focused on deploying its carrier-level interactive dialing technology. Zoove is a Palo Alto startup focused on connecting mobile phone users with advertisers. Its core product lets users dial "**" followed by a short keyword (for example, "CAR") when they see an advertisement. The system is designed to bypass the multiple steps required to text short codes, which the company's executives argue are too complex. Keywords are effectively exclusive to advertisers — for example, only one car company could use the word "CAR" — so available keywords will vary. The company was reported to have $6.8 million in funding. VentureWire covered the company and Zoove's website contains additional details about how the service works.

• Validity Sensors

  Participated · Series E · Oct 2012

  Validity Sensors is a San Jose-based company specializing in biometric fingerprint technology designed for PCs, mobile devices, and other consumer electronics. Its products support password replacement, identity verification, centralized network security management, secure wireless transactions, portable data protection, and physical access control. The firm has secured design wins with major PC OEMs, including HP and Dell, underscoring early commercial traction. Validity plans to use new capital to accelerate its technology roadmap and expand into additional market opportunities. While specific revenue or user metrics were not disclosed, the company has raised multiple venture rounds to date, signaling continued investor confidence. The recent financing bolsters its resources to further penetrate enterprise and consumer security markets.

No current team members are available.