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At Least $180.9 Million Was Raised by Video Companies in Q3 '09
Private broadband and mobile video-related companies had their best fund-raising quarter in a year, raising at least $180.9 million according to company news releases I received and public sources I track. At least 25 private companies disclosed financings in the quarter, ranging in size from $500,000 each for Magnify.net and Vidly to $23 million for iControl Networks. Companies across a wide range of specialties including services, devices, silicon, content, storage, advertising, search and other areas were represented.
The quarterly total blew away each of the past 3 quarters I've tracked (Q2 '09 - $64M, Q1 '09 - $74.8M and Q4 '08 - $78M. In summary, over the last 4 quarters, at least 47 different broadband and mobile video-related companies have raised a total of at least $397M, a stellar performance under any circumstances, but all the more so given the down economy, frozen credit markets and nearly closed window for initial public offerings.
In addition to the venture financings, there were at least 3 video-related acquisitions announced in the quarter including Adobe-Omniture for $1.8B (noteworthy due to Flash's leading market position), Google-On2 Technologies for $106.5M (being challenged by On2 shareholders) and DivX-AnySource for $15M. Elsewhere during the quarter, KIT Digital began trading on the NASDAQ, and Paltalk bought back $6M of its shares from investor Softbank Capital Partners. Lastly, Calix raised $100M, however I haven't included them on the list below because their broadband equipment is used for much more than just video delivery.
Q3 '09 activity underscores investor enthusiasm for the opportunities broadband and mobile video-related companies are opening up and the value chain disruption many are causing. The financing momentum also puts an exclamation mark on my post from last week, "Why the FCC's Net Neutrality Plan Should Go Nowhere." Industry investors and entrepreneurs very clearly do not need the government issuing new Internet regulations to give them confidence to do deals.
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.
YuMe ($2.9M) June 12 - Existing investorsQik ($5.5M) July 9 - Quest Venture Partners, CampVentures
QuickPlay Media ($12M) July 13 - Existing investors
Amimon ($10M) July 14 - Stata Venture Partners, existing investors
Generate ($2M) July 14 - Existing investors
Clickthrough ($1M) July 17 - Angel investors
iControl Networks ($23M) July 22 - Tyco, Cisco, Comcast, GE, existing investors
5Min ($7.5M) July 23 - Globespan Capital Partners, existing investors
Quantenna Communications ($2M) - July 26 - Swisscom
Magnify.net ($.5M) Aug 4 - Existing investors
Roku ($13.4M) - Aug 7 - Menlo Ventures
Ustream.tv ($2M) - Aug 11 - Existing investors
boxee ($6M) - Aug 12 - General Catalyst, existing investors
Syndiant ($10.3M) - Aug 20 - Existing investors
Tremor Media ($2M) - Aug 25 - SAP
Vidly ($.5M) Aug 28 - Ron Conway, angels
Faculte ($2.7M) Sept 1 - Calumet Venture Fund, angels
Skyfire ($5M) Sept 2 - Existing investors
eduFire ($1.3M) Sept 8 - Battery Ventures, Western Technology Investments, Gokul Rajaram
Verivue ($20M) Sept 10 - Sigma Partners, existing investors
Ruckus ($10.7M) Sept 15 - Undisclosed, existing investors
Clicker ($8M) Sept 16 - Benchmark Capital, Redpoint Ventures
Ensequence ($20M) Sept 18 - Undisclosed
VuClip ($6M) Sept 22 - Jafco Ventures, existing investors
Blackwave ($7M) Sept 30 - Existing investors
Categories: Deals & Financings
Topics: Investments
