Media
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Avail Media
Reston, VA | www.availmedia.com
Next-Generation Video Services
Avail Media provides fully integrated end-to-end infrastructure, services and technologies for the profitable deployment of next-generation video services. The Company offers IPTV and cable operators a complete, turn-key video solution that includes content acquisition, integration, optimization, transport and distribution all the way to the set-top box (STB). Avail's customers are free from the challenges of programming negotiations, middleware integration, video-on-demand (VoD) acquisition, new functionality additions, and can instead focus their attention on marketing and reducing customer churn. Avail Media's solution can be deployed quickly and profitably at a fraction of the cost of self-provisioning.
Investment Team Members Phil Herget, Arun Gupta, Mike Avon
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Baja Broadband
Charlotte, NC | www.bajabroadband.com
Cable Services Provider
Baja Broadband is an acquisition and operating platform for buyout opportunities in the cable and broadband industry. Baja Broadband is managed by cable and broadband entrepreneur Bill Schuler and is backed by Columbia Capital, M/C Venture Partners, and Oak Investment Partners. In 2006 Baja Broadband acquired Charter Communications’ West Systems in a cable auction. The Company currently serves customers in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Investment Team Members Jim Fleming, Jeff Patterson
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Gizmoz
Tel Aviv, Israel | www.gizmoz.com
Consumer Internet- 3D Avatars
Gizmoz is a consumer internet service that offers users a new generation of character-based visual expression for use across their digital lives. The Gizmoz service makes it easy to create, customize, animate and share photorealistic 3D talking characters and videos that allow consumers to communicate and express themselves in more realistic and imaginative ways. Gizmoz is funded by Benchmark Capital, Columbia Capital and Jagen, with offices in Menlo Park, CA and Israel.
Investment Team Members Arun Gupta, Jeff Patterson, Michael Avon
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Hillcrest
Rockville, MD | www.hillcrestlabs.com
Digital Media Management Platform
Hillcrest Laboratories (a.k.a. Hillcrest Labs) has created the first pointer-based interactive media system for TV. Hillcrest Labs enables CE manufacturers, service providers, and internet content companies to deliver the most visually engaging and intuitive way to browse, discover, and interact with digital media throughout the home. Other significant investors include New Enterprise Associates, and Grotech Capital Group.
Investment Team Members Phil Herget, Jay Markley, Woody Glier
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Hoak Media
Dallas, TX | www.hoakmedia.com
Broadcast Television Services
Hoak Media was formed in 2003 by Jim Hoak, founder of Heritage Communications. The Company is focused on the acquisition, development, and operation of television stations in small- and medium-sized markets in the United States. The Company currently owns and operates television broadcasting stations in Grand Junction, CO; Wichita Falls, TX; Hastings, NE; North Platte, NE; Bismarck, ND; Fargo, ND; and Sioxx Falls, SD.
Investment Team Members Jim Fleming, Jeff Patterson, Mike Cozart
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Imagine Communications
San Diego, CA | www.imaginecommunications.com
Broadband Video Processing Equipment
Imagine Communications has launched the industry’s most powerful and scalable PersonalizedTV™ platform for broadband operators offering video services. Imagine’s breakthrough third generation statistical multiplexing technology and software-based infrastructure solutions enable tremendous bandwidth improvements, enhanced video quality, and customized service offerings such as targeted ads, personalized audio, and more. Columbia Capital led the Series A1 financing. Other significant investors include Carmel Venture Partners, a leading Israeli venture capital firm.
Investment Team Members Phil Herget, Hemant Kanakia, Woody Glier
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Legend Pictures
Beverly Hills, CA | www.legendarypictures.com
Movie Film Production
Legend Pictures, d.b.a. Legendary Pictures, is a film production company which has partnered with Warner Bros. Pictures to develop, finance, produce, and distribute a portfolio of films. The multi-year, multi picture agreement with Warner Brothers will include a variety of films, among them major event releases. Legendary has released seven films to date in partnership with WB, including Batman Begins, Superman Returns, Lady in the Water, The Ant Bully, Beerfest, We Are Marshall and 300.
Investment Team Members Jeff Patterson, Patrick Hendy, Rohit Dixit
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Millennial Media
Baltimore, MD | www.millennialmedia.com
Wireless Advertising
Millennial Media provides advanced mobile advertising solutions to advertisers, publishers and mobile operators. The company was founded in 2006 by highly respected executives from the mobile media and online advertising industries. Columbia co-led Millennial Media’s Series A financing with Bessemer Venture Partners in July 2006.
Investment Team Members Jay Markley, Arun Gupta, Michael Avon
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Mobile Posse, Inc.
Media (Mobile Marketing)
Mobile Posse, Inc. is a privately-held mobile content and advertising solution provider. Using proprietary patents-pending software, Mobile Posse allows marketers to radically enhance reach and conversion rates in a convenient and cost-effective manner while strengthening relationships with the consumer and carriers. Mobile Posse is the first company to rollout and deliver idle screen insertion advertisements in partnership with a U.S. carrier.
Investment Team Members Harry Hopper, Michael Avon
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SiTV
Los Angeles, CA | www.sitv.com
Cable Network
Sí TV is an English-language, cable network targeting the growing young Latino and multi-cultural TV audience. The Company launched the network in early 2004 and has signed affiliation agreements with EchoStar Communications, Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, and Grande Communications. EchoStar’s DISH Network carries Sí TV on its “America’s Top 120” package.
Investment Team Members Jeff Patterson, Jim Fleming, Patrick Hendy
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Slacker, Inc
San Diego, CA | www.slacker.com
Radio Network
Slacker, Inc. is a personalized radio streaming services company offering
Your Radio Everywhere
. Slacker allows users to create highly personalized music online at the Slacker website or on the go with the Slacker Personal Radio Application for the mobile phone. This application is the world’s first personalized radio that allows you to stream or cache your music onto your smartphone, allowing for offline playback. The application has been preloaded onto millions of new smartphones and Slacker has partnered with several major wireless carriers to offer integrated billing with the user’s wireless carrier bill. Slacker mobile applications are currently available for Android, iOS, Palm webOS, Windows Mobile, and BlackBerry smartphones.Investment Team Members Jeff Patterson, Jim Fleming, Anthony Alapatt
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Social Gaming Network, Inc.
Social game distribution
Social Gaming Network (SGN) is the leading global development platform for social game distribution. SGN has created a complete ecosystem for social game developers to easily distribute and monetize their games across the social web. These games transcend traditional game play, by giving players a highly personalized, engaging, competitive, and portable user experience. Co-investors in SGN include Greylock Partners, Novak Biddle Venture Partners and Founders Fund.
Investment Team Members Arun Gupta, Michael Avon, Daniel Wiggins
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Tennis Channel
Santa Monica, CA | www.thetennischannel.com
Cable Network
The Tennis Channel (TTC) is a 24-hour digital cable network focused on tennis and other racquet sports. TTC telecasts professional and amateur tennis matches, instruction, and lifestyle features, targeting a growing and upwardly mobile tennis demographic under-served by the limited tennis coverage on television today. The Company’s programming includes the ATP tour, WTA tour, French Open, Federation Cup, Davis Cup, and Hopman Cup.
Investment Team Members Jeff Patterson, Jim Fleming, Mike Cozart
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Turbine Entertainment
Westwood, MA | www.turbinegames.com
Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG)
Turbine, Inc. is a premier producer, publisher and operator of online subscription entertainment and is headquartered in Westwood, Mass. The Company is the largest privately held online games company in North America. Turbine's catalogue includes some of the most famous online entertainment brands, including Asheron's Call, Dungeons & Dragons Online and The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Online.
Investment Team Members Jeff Patterson, Jim Fleming, Rohit Dixit
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Webs.com
Silver Spring, MD | www.webs.com
Web Hosting, Publishing, and Social Networking Services
Webs.com is a consumer Internet company that enables its global community of more than 15 million active users to create, publish and share simple-to-build, high-quality websites using Webs.com versatile publishing platform. Focused on improving the ways people express themselves and communicate, Webs.com offers easy-to-use tools to create, publish and share web pages, blogs, profiles, photo albums, video, and much more. Columbia co-led Webs.com Series A financing with Novak Biddle in August 2006.
Investment Team Members Arun Gupta, Jeff Patterson, Michael Avon
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Digital Television Services, Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Exclusive Reseller of DIRECTV in Rural Markets
Digital Television Services was founded by Columbia Capital in 1996 and became the largest independent reseller of DirecTV services prior to its merger with Pegasus Communications in 1998 (NASDAQ: PGTV).
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NMP
Falls Church, VA
Internet and e-commerce professional services firm
NMP is an Internet and e-commerce professional services firm. In October 1998, NMP merged with AppNet Systems. AppNet Systems completed its initial public offering in June 1999 and was acquired in September 2000 by Commerce One (NASDAQ: CMRC), the leader in global eCommerce solutions.
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XM Satellite Radio
Washington, DC | www.xmradio.com
Satellite Radio Service Provider
XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is transforming radio, an industry that has seen little technological change since the introduction of FM almost 40 years ago. XM's programming lineup features 121 coast-to-coast digital channels: 68 commercial-free music channels, from hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; 32 channels of news, sports, talk, and entertainment; and 21 channels of instant traffic and weather. XM's strategic investors include America's leading car, radio and satellite TV companies -- General Motors, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Clear Channel Communications, and DIRECTV. XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) went public in 1999.