Participated · Series A · Sep 2022

Based in London, Ownera develops an interoperability trading network for tokenized assets, aiming to create a global unified inter-trading pipeline for digital securities. Its offering is built on the open-source FinP2P protocol and delivers FinP2P-based network nodes and digital assets solutions to the financial industry. Ownera’s technology can connect any securities tokenization engine on public or private blockchains or traditional ledgers. For financial institutions and venues, the company provides a unified digital securities wallet tied to a single API that aggregates and normalizes offerings. Through that API clients can invest, trade, lend and borrow against the connected set of tokenized assets. The company positions itself as a neutral layer to interconnect multiple tokenization platforms and build distribution and liquidity for digital securities. Ownera announced a $20M Series A financing in the article.

Participated · Initial Coin Offering · Oct 2020

CasperLabs is developing the Casper Network, a proof-of-stake public blockchain and smart-contract platform optimized for developer onboarding, smart contract performance, and enterprise integration. The project uses the CBC Casper consensus protocol and is being developed by CasperLabs Holdings AG, registered in the Canton of Zug. The company has launched a public incentivized testnet (Zug500) and is targeting a Casper Delta testnet go-live this month and a mainnet launch in Q1 2021, which will be accompanied by a public sale of the native token. CasperLabs employs over 40 people worldwide, including four team members in Switzerland, and its board includes Ralpf Kubli of CV VC. The team and CTO/co-founder Medha Parlikar have framed the effort as bringing the project closer to launching what they describe as an easy-to-use public blockchain. The company recently completed a private token sale to fund development and accelerate the network roadmap. CasperLabs builds an open, permissionless blockchain platform designed to scale without sacrificing speed, security, decentralization, or cost. The platform is powered by the first provably live and safe implementation of the CBC Casper proof-of-stake protocol and is written in Rust to enable WebAssembly-compatible development. CasperLabs emphasizes developer experience with familiar tools, open architectures, and support to make it easier to build blockchain applications. The company positions itself as flexible and upgradeable, enabling customization for different transaction-speed and application needs while keeping fees predictable. Leadership includes CEO Mrinal Manohar and CTO Medha Parlikar, and the team spans the U.K., Canada, the U.S., and beyond. CasperLabs recently raised capital to accelerate product development and expand engineering hires.

Participated · Series B · Oct 2018

Human is a Seattle, WA–based company that builds products intended to bridge the gap between humanity and technology. Its core product is Human Headphones, a wireless, voice-controlled headphone focused on intelligent voice control, comfort and fit, and powerful sound. The company closed a $21M Series B and said it will use the funds to accelerate innovation and launch its next-generation Human Headphones. The funding was reported on 02/10/2018. Backers included Sage Venture Partners (Fred Warren), Sugar Mountain Capital (Kurt Dammeier), Ropart Asset Management II, Microsoft, Mountain Nazca, and Darling Ventures. Human is led by CEO Bill Moore and co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Ben Willis. Human is a Seattle, WA-based stealth-mode audio startup co-founded in late 2014 by Ben Willis (CEO) and Joe Dieter (CMO) that has been developing audio technology to bridge the gap between people and technology. The company has assembled a roughly 40-person team of designers and engineers, including hires from multiple Microsoft divisions (wearables and Xbox), and Bill Moore joined as Executive Chairman and President. Human is building yet-to-be announced audio products focused on purposeful, natural, utility-driven experiences. The company intends to use the $5M seed proceeds to expand its team of designers and engineers and continue product development. This financing follows an initial $700k seed round raised in 2015.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2017

Mrs Wordsmith creates illustrated and animated word products and materials designed to boost children’s vocabulary and literacy, combining Hollywood-style illustrations with data-driven word curation. The company employs an in-house machine learning team and works with industry creatives including art director Craig Kellman and story development lead Will Csaklos. Its product slate includes physical and digital offerings and will add an animated vocabulary game and video, plus a standalone product line beginning with The Illustrated Storyteller’s Dictionary. Mrs Wordsmith says its U.S. store (launched June 2018) now accounts for 85% of revenue and the company has shipped more than 200,000 units. It reports triple-digit year-over-year growth and partnerships with academic and literacy experts to validate classroom impact. The company is using creative and ML resources to scale internationally, targeting expansion in the U.S. and China. Mrs. Wordsmith builds a subscription-based vocabulary programme that teaches a curated list of 10,000 rare and challenging words using illustration and spaced repetition. Its product is currently entirely paper-based and the words are creatively illustrated by Art Director Craig Kellman and his team. CEO Sofia Fenichell launched the company in 2016 to help her own children improve writing skills. The company targets both consumer and school audiences and plans international expansion, including a U.S. launch later in the year. Investors and company statements say the initial product has seen impressive uptake and revenue growth driven predominantly by word-of-mouth and customer evangelism. Mrs. Wordsmith intends to use funding to continue developing the paper product while building out its technology team.

Led · Equity · Feb 2011

MediaTrust provides a pay-for-performance online advertising platform and is launching a real-time performance-based exchange called MediaTrust Performance Exchange (MTPX), currently in private beta. MTPX combines bid-based CPC ad exchange mechanics with results-based performance metrics to help advertisers reach targeted audiences cost-effectively. The company plans to scale the exchange, increase liquidity for advertisers and publishers, and invest in technology, tools, and talent to support platform growth. MediaTrust has recently hired engineering and sales staff to support MTPX’s launch and business development. The company announced a $3 million funding round to support these efforts. Founded in 2004, MediaTrust is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York City and has been named to the Inc. 500 in 2009 and 2010. MediaTrust operates a platform for online direct-response advertisers and publishers, providing advertising and marketing services. The company recently acquired Bardon Advisors, a Los Angeles–based CPC search and affiliate marketing platform, and added Bardon CEO Keith Cohn as President. Management otherwise remains unchanged under CEO Peter Bordes. MediaTrust maintains offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and Santa Barbara and was founded in 2004. Leadership says the company plans to invest in future innovation and capitalize on partnerships and market opportunities. The funding and recapitalization are intended to strengthen the balance sheet and allow MediaTrust to combine resources across the two businesses to build a more robust platform.