Ignition Partnerstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2008://32008-06-19T22:17:33ZHelping Entrepreneurs Seize Opportunity
Movable Type 3.2Sparkplug CEO Dishes on Broadband Expansion, Differentiationtag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2008://3.2862008-06-11T22:07:20Z2008-06-19T22:17:33ZMauread Brayignitionpartners.com
xchange Magazine June 11, 2008]]>
Plugging Into Your System's Vital Signstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2008://3.2832008-05-01T18:49:32Z2008-05-15T00:45:25ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
San Jose Mercury News April 26, 2008]]>
Ice.Com Secures Growth Equity Investment from Polaris Venture Partners and Ignition Partnerstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2008://3.2692008-01-26T05:57:46Z2008-01-26T06:05:43ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com ICE.com is widely regarded as a trendsetter and tastemaker in online jewelry, featuring a large selection of high-quality, stylish designs. The company serves hundreds of thousands of online shoppers looking for the latest styles, great value, unmatched security, and individualized customer service. Since acquiring Diamond.com, a leading provider of diamond rings and jewelry, ICE.com has become one of the largest online retailers of affordable luxury goods.
“Thanks to e-commerce reaching the mainstream and fine jewelry becoming more of a casual purchase vs. peaking only at gift-giving events, ICE.com has witnessed significant growth over the past several years. The time is right for expansion and we’re thrilled to have such distinguished and accomplished investors help us navigate this next phase of the company’s growth,” said Shmuel Gniwisch, co-founder and CEO of ICE.com.
Alan Spoon, managing general partner of Polaris, joins Brad Silverberg and John Zagula of Ignition Partners on the ICE.com board of directors. Previously, Spoon was president of The Washington Post Company where, among other activities, he spearheaded early stage online technology investments in services such as Washingtonpost.com, Exchange.com, BrassRing, and Cars.com. Among others, Spoon currently serves on the boards of Art.com, LegalZoom, TechTarget, Getty Images and IAC/InterActiveCorp.
“ICE.com is a highly innovative online retailer and a clear leader among pure online jewelry retailers. As the affordable luxury category of e-commerce continues to grow rapidly, ICE.com is very well-positioned,” said Spoon. “Jewelry consumers will continue to aggressively seek out both ICE.com and Diamond.com, given their appealing, extensive, and attractively-priced offerings -- all complemented by round-the-clock convenience and exceptional customer service."
Brad Silverberg, partner at Ignition Partners, commented, “We are excited by the tremendous growth of ICE.com over the past several years, and look forward to continuing to work together to build one of the world’s leading online retailers.”
About ICE.com ICE.com is committed to providing customers the best value, quality, service and selection of diamond, pearl and gemstone jewelry in the world.
As one of the largest and most respected online Jewelers, ICE.com has served over half a million satisfied customers since 1999. Today, the company is the trusted virtual destination for diamond jewelry, engagement rings and fashion jewelry. ICE.com jewelry experts strive to stay ahead of style and fashion trends to offer customers the very latest in jewelry styles.
About Polaris Venture Partners A national venture capital firm with over $3 billion under management, Polaris invests in seed, early stage and growth equity businesses in the technology, life science, digital media, enertech and consumer sectors.
Through a philosophy of lead investing and active, long-term partnering with entrepreneurs and management teams, Polaris has helped many companies achieve outstanding success. Among them are: Accordant Health Services, Acusphere, Advanced Inhalation Research (AIR), Akamai Technologies, Allaire Corporation, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, American Superconductor, Archivas, Aspect Medical Systems, Avici Systems, Centra Software, Classifieds2000, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Cushcraft Corporation, deCODE genetics, Exchange.com, GlycoFi, Matrics, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Paradigm Genetics, Powersoft, Solidworks, and TransForm Pharmaceuticals.
About Ignition Partners Ignition Partners, (www.ignitionpartners.com) is a premier private investment group with offices in Bellevue, Washington and Shanghai, China. Ignition Partners' affiliated family of funds includes Ignition Ventures and Ignition Growth Capital in the U.S. and Qiming Ventures in China. The investment group's three categories of funds - early stage venture, growth capital and China ventures -brings together an unparalleled combination of domain focus, functional expertise and global operational experience with partners from leadership positions at Microsoft, McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless, Cisco, Starbucks and other industry leaders.
Keren Blankrot ICE.Com T: 866-393-9788 Ext. 195 L: 514-393-9788 kblankrot@ice.com]]>
Ignition Partners Names Three New Partners at Investment Grouptag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2662007-11-19T16:59:00Z2008-01-26T06:09:38ZMauread Brayignitionpartners.com Adrian Smith has been with Ignition Partners for the last eight years as a Principal, focused largely on investments in the wireless industry. Prior to joining Ignition, Adrian served in various roles at British Telecom Labs, McCaw Cellular and NextLink Communications where he continued to expand his wireless expertise. While at McCaw, Adrian was instrumental in the development of TDMA standard, one of the early national standards for cellular providers. Adrian currently serves on the Boards of Ignition Portfolio companies Twisted Pair Solutions, SinglePoint, Melodeo and Sotto Wireless.
Michelle Goldberg has also been with Ignition Partners for the last eight years as a Principal, focused largely on investments in the internet and consumer software arena. Michelle has extensive background in investment banking and consulting, having served as an investment banker at Olympic Capital Partners, and as management consultant with AT Kearney. Michelle currently serves on the Boards of Ignition portfolio companies Entellium, Mpire, Visible Technologies, and SEOmoz.
Richard Fade has been with Ignition for the last four years as a Venture Partner and his primary focus has been on investments in the software infrastructure segment. Prior to joining Ignition, Richard worked at Microsoft for 16 years whre he held roles leading Microsoft's OEM division, Desktop Applications division and Microsoft Asia. Richard currently serves on the Boards of Talyst, GotVoice, Centeris, and Azaleos.
"One of the main reasons we wanted to work with Ignition as an investment partner is because of the world-class expertise of every member of the Ignition team," said Rich Begert, President and CEO of SinglePoint. "We're very fortunate to have Ignition as an investor in our company because of their incredible domain expertise, their hands-on, value-added approach, and the strategic counsel that they offer to us as a portfolio company."
On October 1, 2007, Ignition announced its fourth early stage fund, Ignition Venture Partners IV, which closed at $400 million and the formation of its new Ignition Growth Capital fund which closed at $275 million. Ignition currently has approximately $1.8 billion under management.
About Ignition Partners Ignition Partners, (www.ignitionpartners.com) is a premier private investment group with offices in Bellevue, Washington and Shanghai, China. Ignition Partners' affiliated family of funds includes Ignition Ventures and Ignition Growth Capital in the U.S. and Qiming Ventures in China. The investment group's three categories of funds - early stage venture, growth capital and China ventures -brings together an unparalleled combination of domain focus, functional expertise and global operational experience with partners from leadership positions at Microsoft, McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless, Cisco, Starbucks and other industry leaders.
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Ignition Partners Announces formation of Ignition Ventures IV Fundtag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2612007-10-01T16:45:12Z2007-10-01T23:00:22ZMauread Brayignitionpartners.com$400 Million Fund to Invest in Predominantly Early Stage Companies in the Northwest
BELLEVUE, WA - October 1, 2007 -- Ignition Partners, a premier private investment group with affiliate offices in the Northwest, and Shanghai China, today announced the formation of its fourth early stage venture fund, Ignition Ventures IV. The $400 million fund will focus on investments in companies providing telecommunications, business software and services, and consumer software and services. More than 90 percent of the funds raised were committed by Ignition's existing institutional investors.
"The Ignition Ventures team is gratified by the support our institutional investors are showing us," said Robert Headley, a partner and administrative partner of both Ignition Ventures and Ignition Growth Capital. "We believe that their ongoing participation in our Ignition Venture Fund is a strong reflection of their enthusiasm for the companies in our existing portfolio and belief that more great companies can be built in the Northwest and elsewhere."
Ignition Ventures has more than 50 active investments and two-thirds of these portfolio companies are based in the Northwest. These companies will have over $600 million in combined revenues in 2007, an increase of over 50 percent from aggregate 2006 revenues across the Ignition funds. Including companies that Ignition has sold, such as Avogadro, UI Evolution, Consera, Wildseed, Intelligent Results, and XenSource, these entities employ approximately, 2,000 people in Washington.
"Ignition Ventures has partnered with an outstanding group of entrepreneurs based in the Northwest. We look forward to continuing to support Ignition and its portfolio companies," said Peter Dolon, Managing Director, Private Equity at Harvard Management Company.
Ignition Ventures believes that building great companies requires great partners. In addition to its many investment partners from outside the region, Ignition has invested with over 18 partners based in the Pacific Northwest. Ignition has co-invested with a local partner in more than 50 percent of its deals and plans to continue that investment strategy.
"We've partnered with Ignition on five companies over the last several years, including Illumita most recently. Ignition Ventures is one of our most highly valued co-investors, and we look forward to continuing to work with them on building world-class companies," said Matt McIlwain, Managing Director, Madrona Venture Group.
Ignition Partners today also announced the formation of the Ignition Growth Capital Fund, a new affiliate fund formed to help later, growth stage companies scale more rapidly. Ignition's family of funds now includes the Ignition Venture Fund, Ignition Growth Capital Fund and Qiming Ventures Fund. All of Ignition's funds will share back office resources, investor relationships, and expertise.
"We believe that this integrated family of funds will provide a powerful platform to support entrepreneurs in the Northwest and around the world," said Headley.
About Ignition Ventures Ignition Ventures, based in Bellevue, Washington, is a premier venture fund focused on helping the best entrepreneurs seize opportunity - from turning their early idea into a business, to hiring the right team, providing the right industry and functional insight and connections, and growing their business strategically, globally and financially to realize the best ultimate outcome. Ignition invests in emerging and future leaders in communications, internet, software, and services across business and consumer markets. The Ignition Ventures Fund is part of the Ignition Partners affiliated family of funds which includes Ignition Ventures and Ignition Growth Capital in the U.S. and Qiming Ventures in China.
About Ignition Partners Ignition Partners, (www.ignitionpartners.com) is a premier private investment group with offices in Bellevue, Washington and Shanghai China. Its three categories of funds - early stage venture, growth capital and China ventures - brings together an unparalleled combination of domain focus, functional expertise and global operational experience with partners from leadership positions at Microsoft, McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless, Cisco, Starbucks and other industry leaders.
Media Inquiries: Megan McKenzie, McKenzie Worldwide 503 625 3680 (direct) 503 470 0197 (mobile) meganm@mckenzieworldwide.com ]]>
Ignition Partners Announces Affiliate Fund Focused on Later, Growth Stage Investmentstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2622007-10-01T16:09:06Z2007-10-01T22:57:15ZMauread Brayignitionpartners.com
Ignition Growth Capital Fund Formed to Expand Commitment to Scaling Strong Companies
BELLEVUE, WA - October 1, 2007 -- Ignition Partners, a premier private investment group with affiliate offices in the Northwest, and Shanghai China, today announced the formation of the Ignition Growth Capital Fund as the newest member of its family of affiliated funds. The $275 million fund will focus on privately negotiated investments in EBITDA positive companies that have demonstrated strong market positions, revenue traction and clear opportunities to accelerate growth. Over 90 percent of the funds raised are from existing institutional investor relationships.
"The Northwest is a vibrant market with a growing number of excellent companies led by industry veterans who have both global ambitions and the abilities to realize them," said Jon Anderson, Ignition founder and partner in the Fund. "We are happy to be able to provide the best of such companies with access to the resources they need to scale either organically or by acquisition."
The Ignition Growth Capital Fund is a continuation of the strategy the group announced over a year ago when it raised an $80 million annex to its third venture fund for the purpose of helping just such companies achieve and exploit scale more quickly. Investments from that pool of capital included funding for several acquisitions transactions by Seattle-based maritime company, SeaMobile; investment in a profitable Seattle-based healthcare services company, Liberty Dialysis; and acquisition of a payment process technology and services company, Valutech, as part of an entrepreneur in residence effort with a Seattle-based industry veteran.
"We are encouraged by the successful investments made out of Ignition's annex fund," said Geoffrey Love of the Wellcome Trust in London. "We believe there are many more opportunities like this in the Northwest and elsewhere for this team and for the strategy of the growth capital fund."
"Because of the support of the Ignition team I have been able to scale my company aggressively and have been able to seize opportunity in the great growth market," said Bill Marks Jr., CEO of SeaMobile. "The formation of the new growth capital fund is a great extension of that strategy. The fund's team members have been excellent partners to me and my company at all stages of its growth. Any entrepreneur with similar goals and needs would be very well served to work with them."
Ignition today also announced the formation of its fourth early stage venture capital fund, Ignition Venture Partners IV. Ignition's other affiliated fund, Qiming Ventures, which targets investments in companies headquartered in China, was announced early last year. The Ignition Growth Capital Fund will be managed by long-time Ignition partners and founders, Jon Anderson, Richard Tong, John Zagula and Robert Headley (who also serves as administrative partner across this fund and Ignition Venture Partners IV). The Ignition Growth Capital Fund will make its investment decisions autonomously, but like the Qiming China affiliate, it will work in an integrated fashion, drawing on the combined team and resources of all Ignition affiliated funds across the investment process from sourcing, due diligence, business development to shared back office and administrative functions.
About Ignition Growth Capital Ignition Growth Capital, based in Bellevue, Washington, is a private investment capital fund focused principally on later stage, profitable, high growth businesses with advantaged market positions and that possess strong prospects for accelerated future growth either organically or by acquisition. The fund offers entrepreneurs access to a unique combination of growth capital and access to local and global operating resources, and investors the opportunity for substantial long-term capital appreciation. The Growth Capital Fund is part of the Ignition Partners affiliated family of funds.
About Ignition Partners Ignition Partners, (www.ignitionpartners.com) is a premier private investment group with offices in Bellevue, Washington and Shanghai China. Its three categories of funds - early stage venture, growth capital and China ventures - brings together an unparalleled combination of domain focus, functional expertise and global operational experience with partners from leadership positions at Microsoft, McCaw Cellular Communications, AT&T Wireless, Cisco, Starbucks and other industry leaders.
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Citrix Will Enhance Relationship With and Provide Alternative to Microsofttag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2592007-08-17T03:13:47Z2007-08-17T03:19:28ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Network World August 15, 2007]]>
XenSource Acquired by Citrixtag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2602007-08-17T03:10:27Z2007-08-17T17:58:16ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
IDG News Service August 15, 2007]]>
First Data Corp Completes Acquisition of Intelligent Resultstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2582007-04-16T19:39:25Z2007-04-16T19:41:19ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Intelligent Results April 16,2007]]>
Linksys and Sotto Wireless Team to Streamline Telecommunications and Networking for Small Businessestag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2572007-03-17T00:26:30Z2007-03-17T00:30:07ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Sotto Wireless March 5, 2007]]>
Mpire Online Shopping Mashup for $144 Billion eCommerce Opportunitytag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2562007-03-14T00:11:11Z2007-03-14T00:28:00ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
ZDNet March 6, 2007]]>
HyperQuality Secures $10 Million in Second-Round Venture Financingtag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2502007-01-26T17:53:10Z2007-01-30T00:21:16ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Venture Magazine January 23, 2006]]>
Entellium rakes it in with deep financingtag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2532007-01-19T21:26:50Z2007-01-31T21:30:24ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Seattle Post-Intelligencer January 19, 2007]]>
Sparkplug Inc. Secures $22.5 Million Funding Round to Drive Expansion of Wireless Broadband Networkstag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2522007-01-17T18:10:37Z2007-01-30T00:29:27ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
Business Wire January 17, 2007]]>
Entellium eSalesForce Named Salesforce Automation—SMB ‘Product of the Year’tag:www.ignitionpartners.com,2007://3.2512007-01-15T18:03:44Z2007-01-30T00:31:25ZSusan Giordanohttp://gkd.com
SearchCRM.com January 15, 2007]]>