• At Least $150.1 Million Was Raised by Video Companies in Q4 '09

    In Q4 '09, private U.S. broadband and mobile video-related companies raised at least $150.1 million according to company news releases I received and public sources I track. At least 21 private companies disclosed financings in the quarter, ranging in size from $1 million each for Howcast and Mochila to $25 million each for Dailymotion and Delivery Agent. Vevo's raise from Abu Dhabi Media Company, which was not disclosed, may well have exceeded these. Companies across the ecosystem, including services, chips, advertising, DRM, content, analytics and platforms were represented.

    The quarterly total was the second best of 2009, following Q3 ($180.9 million). When added to Q1 ($74.8 million) and Q2 ($64 million), it brings the 2009 total to just under $470 million, raised by 64 companies. The relative strength of investments in the sector underscores investor enthusiasm broadband and mobile video despite the ongoing recession and credit squeeze. (Note the quarterly total doesn't include the $2 billion+ private placements that Clearwire, the 4G network provider, announced in Q4 or the $40 million raise that Chinese portal Youku just announced yesterday, nor any other international deals).

    In addition to private financings, there were noteworthy deals announced in Q4 as well. At the top of the list is of course Comcast-NBCU, valued at $30 billion. Another significant deal announced in the quarter was Cisco's acquisition of Tandberg, a Norwegian videoconferencing company for $3.4 billion. On a smaller scale, there was Limelight's plan to acquire rich media ad firm EyeWonder for $110 million just yesterday, AEG's acquisition of webcaster Incited Media, Adconion buying the remains of Joost and KIT Digital's rollup of competitors The FeedRoom and Nunet.

    Following are the investments that I tracked during the quarter, the date disclosed and new investors identified if applicable. Links are provided to the companies' press releases, or to relevant media coverage if none could be found (note that I haven't verified media coverage with companies themselves). If I've missed anything or you find an inaccuracy, please post a comment.

    VMIX ($2M) Oct 1 - Existing investors

    Delivery Agent ($25M) Oct 1 - Focus Ventures, existing investors

    Howcast ($1M) Oct 5 - Undisclosed investors

    Visible Measures (Undisclosed) Oct 6 - DAG Ventures

    Personal Web Systems ($1.2M) Oct 7 - Undisclosed investors

    ViVu ($3M) Oct 13 - Inventus Capital Partners, DFJ, Quest Ventures

    Ooyala ($10M) Oct 13 - Rembrandt Venture Partners, existing investors

    Vevo (Undisclosed) Oct 19 - Abu Dhabi Media Company

    Dailymotion ($25M) - Oct 22 - French Sovereign Fund, existing investors

    Dilithium Networks ($10.9M) - Oct 27 - Existing investors

    Vdopia ($4M) Oct 28 - Nexus Venture Partners

    ScanScout ($8.5M) - Oct 28 - EDB Investments

    Sezmi ($25M) Nov 16 - Existing investors

    Zorap ($1.4M) Dec 1 - Angel investors

    VisibleGains ($2M) Dec 2 - Existing investors

    Mochila ($1M) Dec 7 - Existing investors

    Widevine ($15M) Dec 14 - Liberty Global, Samsung

    Cloud Engines ($3M) Dec 14 - Undisclosed

    Ace Metrix ($6M) Dec 16 - Leapfrog Ventures, existing investors

    Jinni ($1.6M) Dec 16 - DFJ Tamir Fishman Ventures

    Quantenna ($4.5M) Dec 17 - Existing investors