MindProber Names CRO, Gets Funds for US Opening

Portugal-based consumer neuroscience platform MindProber has expanded to the US, following its closure of a $5.5m Series A round of investment; and has appointed former Toluna / MetrixLab exec Marco Pasqualina as Chief Revenue Officer.

MindProber's real-time media testing platform includes hand-held sensors, which are used to gather galvanic skin response signals from respondents in their own home, facilitating biometric testing of content and campaigns. The firm's new investment has been led by Iberis Capital with participation from Armilar Venture Partners and the follow-on of existing investors Portugal Ventures and Wisenext, bringing the total raised to date to $7.2m. Funding will be used for the firm's 'aggressive plan' of expansion in the US, including increased operational capabilities, platform scalability, and panel growth.

Last year, the firm launched what it described as the first in-home biometric panel in the US. Pasqualina (pictured) now joins in San Francisco from consumer insights provider Feedback Loop, where he latterly served as CRO. Before this, he was Head of Sales, North America at Toluna, and he held senior growth positions at UBMobile, MetrixLab, MarketTools and Nielsen. In his new position, Pasqualina is tasked with helping European brands expand into the US.

Pedro Almeida, MindProber's founder and CEO, comments: 'From the moment I met him, Marco showed a clear alignment with our vision of what MindProber is and will be. Add to that his deep track record and experience, plus the fact that people we trust who have worked with him in the past recommend him very, very highly, and we are confident he will help the company reach its full potential.'

Web site: www.mindproberlabs.com .