funding

Home funding

Watch Live Video Stream from Future of Television Forum Today

Watch the live video stream from DMW's Future of Television Forum in NYC today on the conference website here, powered by Watchitoo. The stream starts at approximately 10.15AM ET and will include 4 panels; Digital Distribution Models: How Technology is Changing the Way Audiences Access TV & Video Content; Monetization: Predictions & Provocations -- How to Build Sustainable Business Models around Television & Video Content; What are the biggest potential growth areas for the digital out-of-home (DOOH) industry in 2012 and beyond?; and finally: Is Being Discovered the Biggest Challenge in the New Television Ecosystem?

Music Creation and Social Platform Zya Goes Live [with promo video]

Music Mastermind has launched the “First Look” version of its flagship property Zya, a music creation and social platform that enables users to legally incorporate and manipulate famous hooks into their own creations. The company was co-founded by Matt Serletic, former Virgin Records chairman and chief executive, and Bo Bazylevsky, former global head of Emerging Markets Corporate Trading at J.P. Morgan.

Selena Gomez, ex-MySpace Execs Invest in Postcard on the Run

Actress/singer Selena Gomez has invested in Postcard on the Run, as has CrossCut Ventures and a fistful of Silicon Valley names. The company raised $750,000, which is pocket change to the likes of angels Mike Jones, Kamran Pourzanjani, Yves Sisteron, Aber Whitcomb, Brian Fitzgerald, Ryan Steelberg, Colin Digario, Brian Lee, Chris DeWolfe and Jarl Mohn, but it still has to be helpful to have them involved.

YuMe Secures $12 Million for Connected TV Ad Tech

Advanced video advertising technology and services developer YuMe Inc. has received a strategic investment of $12 million from Samsung Ventures and Translink Capital. The company said the funds will be used to “aggressively” expand its expansion in the connected TV space.

SEO Firm Ginzametrics Lands $1.3 Million Seed Funding

Ginzametrics, the Mountain View-based developer of a search engine optimization management and analytics dashboard, said on Wednesday it has landed a $1.3 million round of seed funding. Participants included 500 Startups, Venture51 and angels Jeff Miller, Ullas Naik, Shogo Kawada, Ryota Matsuzaki, Aman Thapar and Stephen Culp.

Intel Capital Unveils $100 Million AppUp Fund

Intel Capital, Intel Corp.’s global investment and mergers and acquisitions organization, unveiled a $100 million fund that will invest in companies developing applications and digital content suitable for distribution via the Intel AppUp Center app store, and named Urban Airship and 4tiitoo as the first recipients.

Digital Ad Firm BrightRoll Closes $30 Million Financing

Digital video advertising services firm BrightRoll has closed $30 million in financing led by new investor Trident Capital, whose senior managing director Evangelos Simoudis will be joining the BrightRoll board.

Live Gamer Inc. Raises $8.51 Million for Game Monetization

Live Gamer Inc., the advertising and marketing firm that specializes in monetizing games, announced it has completed a mixed securities offering of $8.51 million. Named in the related SEC filing were company executives Mitch Davis, Andrew Schneider and Bill Grosso.

Activision Donates Millions to Help Veterans [with video]

Activision recognized Veteran’s Day by donating $3 million to the non-profit Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) fund, which assists veterans with job placement and training as they transition back to civilian life. Also on Nov. 11, CODE awarded a $250,000 grant to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s National Chamber Foundation to support hiring fairs expected to result in at least 3,500 jobs for veterans.

Top Silicon Valley VCs Invest $1 Million to Play 'MinoMonsters'

Game startup MinoMonsters Inc. has secured $1 million from a pool of investors that includes Andreessen Horowitz, SV Angel, Y Combinator, Yuri Milner, General Catalyst, Ignition Partners, Raymond Tonsing and Alexis Ohanian. Additionally, TJ Murphy has joined chief executive officer Joshua Buckley as co-founder and president to lead the game’s development and technology strategy.