• Spongecell

  Participated · Equity · Jun 2011

  Spongecell transforms standard ads into dynamic, interactive digital ad experiences using data to drive creative personalization. Its CORE platform and flexible, tag-based decision engine enable real-time, data-driven creative control for brand marketers and creative agencies. The Spongecell product team co-authored the IAB Dynamic Content Standard, positioning the company to capitalize on the industry shift toward programmatic creative at scale. Spongecell positions its platform as a complementary SaaS partner alongside DMPs, DSPs and analytics tools and says it works with some of the biggest companies in the world. To support growth and product development, the company secured $10.5 million in a combination of debt and equity financing. The funding will be applied primarily to increased R&D on the CORE platform and to accelerate adoption of its self-service offering. Spongecell is an advertising-technology company that transforms standard banner ads into dynamic flash ads with rich-media-like functionality. The company works with creative agencies, media agencies, ad networks and ad exchanges to incorporate multiple actions in a single ad unit. Led by CEO Ben Kartzman, Spongecell enables consumers to choose how they interact with an ad. The company plans to use the new capital for product development, sales and marketing, executive and staff recruitment, and other working capital needs. Spongecell maintains sales offices in Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and London. The business is based in New York City. Spongecell converts standard banner display ads into rich-media-like interactive units that can be created and implemented within days and integrated with ad-serving platforms such as DoubleClick and Atlas. Its ad formats support video, social media, interactive maps, carousels and downloadable/SMS coupons. Spongecell reports engagement improvements from 2.4% to 11.9%, with interactions two to eight times higher than average display ads. The company was founded in 2006 by Carnegie Mellon computer science graduates and previously pivoted from an Ajax calendar/widget product to focus on display advertising. It has raised prior capital (2007) from Halo Venture Partners, The Pilot Group and Silverhaze Partners and is working with around eleven large ad agencies to bring rich media to client campaigns. The startup recently secured new financing reported to be just under $1 million, providing additional backing as it expands adoption among agencies.

• Digital Signal

  Participated · Series C · Apr 2011

  Digital Signal Corporation provides human identification and identity management solutions, including dynamic three-dimensional long-range facial recognition, to clients globally. The company is headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia and was founded in 2001. DSC is led by President and CEO David Guttadauro. The firm received a $12 million venture loan facility and intends to use the funds for working capital. DSC is backed by venture capital firms SilverHaze Partners and Novak Biddle Venture Partners. Digital Signal Corporation (DSC) develops facial recognition and identity management solutions, including dynamic 3D long-range facial recognition and enterprise-scale biometric offerings. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. DSC says its technologies enable human identification and identity management for global clients. The new funding will support expansion of sales and marketing, distribution, and manufacturing, and the establishment of an international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. DSC has raised nearly $100 million to date. Prior investors include Columbia Capital, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, Silverhaze Partners, Paladin Capital Group and City Light Capital. Digital Signal Corporation (DSC), based in Chantilly, VA, develops three-dimensional, long-range facial recognition software. The company positions itself as a world leader in 3D long-range facial recognition solutions and offers comprehensive enterprise biometric solutions. DSC provides customized applications to suit customer needs and serves government and commercial clients. According to a regulatory filing, the company raised $10.3 million in fresh capital. In April, DSC announced a separate $15 million funding round from investors including Columbia Capital, City Light Capital, SilverHaze Partners, Novak Biddle Venture Partners and Paladin Capital Group. No operating metrics (revenue/users) are disclosed in the articles. Digital Signal Corporation develops 3D facial-recognition technology designed to identify and monitor moving, non-cooperative subjects at long range. Its systems are sold to commercial and government customers to detect criminal or terrorist activity and to identify important customers, friendly soldiers, or frequent travelers. The company frames its mission as delivering a precision long-range identity solution to make the world safer. Digital Signal was founded in 2001 and is led by CEO David Guttadauro. Recently the company completed a Series C financing, which is the most recent disclosed financing activity in the article. Digital Signal Corporation builds a laser‑radar surveillance system that captures range and biometric data from video feeds, aiming to surface indicators like elevated heart rate or nervousness. The product is presented as real‑time, contactless biometric monitoring for security use cases such as airports and retail. Company scenarios described include scanning faces for reactions to announced bag searches and detecting unusually high heart rates among staff or passengers. The firm says it plans to begin deploying systems next year and has suggested federal buyers such as the Department of Homeland Security could be major customers. The company has received venture funding: a seed round from Novak Biddle and a first full round from Paladin Capital Group, though the sizes of both rounds were not disclosed. The technology raises legal and accuracy concerns in the article, including risk of false positives and comparisons to a real‑time polygraph.

No current team members are available.