| |
Cash Infusion for Data Exchange BlueKai
Auction-based online data exchange BlueKai has closed a $21m C round of financing led by GGV Capital (formerly Granite Global Ventures). The funds will be used to scale operations and, in particular, to grow the network of partners integrating its technology.
The round includes existing investors Redpoint Ventures and Battery Ventures, via whom BlueKai had already raised a total of $13.7 million in two rounds. As part of the current funding round, GGV Partner Jeff Richards has joined BlueKai's Board of Directors. 'New Internet advertising models and technologies are launched every day' says Richards, 'but few have gotten the traction and marketplace acceptance of BlueKai since its launch just 18 months ago.'
BlueKai's exchange brings together publishers looking to monetize their audience data assets, and data buyers including the top 10 US online ad networks, top Internet portals, and agencies and marketers, looking for actionable advertising data on-demand. CEO Omar Tawakol says his firm will 'continue to innovate how data is bought and sold', adding: 'In particular, BlueKai is rapidly deploying new APIs and real time systems that allow networks, demand side platforms and agency trading desks to build the BlueKai marketplace into their own offerings. The result is a vibrant and growing partner ecosystem.'
Battery Ventures' investment record includes online data success story Omniture, and emerging firms including Bazaarvoice and Exact Target. Web sites for this and the other investors are at www.battery.com , www.redpoint.com and www.ggvc.com .
BlueKai is a privately-held company is based in Bellevue, WA and is online at www.bluekai.com .
|
