Syncom Venture Partners

Syncom Venture Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 1977, based in Maryland, that provides early- and mid-stage investments in the media and communications sectors, including digital media, mobile technology, and web-based services.

Duane McKnight

Partner

14 past transactions

CircleBack

Series C in 2015
CircleBack, Inc. is a technology company based in Vienna, Virginia, focused on improving contact data accuracy for business consumers. Founded in 2008, the company develops mobile contact intelligence applications that streamline the management of address books across various devices. Its flagship product, CircleBack, uses a patented data engine to provide real-time updates on connections, such as job changes and new contact information, directly to users' mobile address books and customer relationship management systems. Additionally, CircleBack offers tools like ContactSaver, which converts email signatures into contacts for Gmail, and ScanBizCards, enabling users to digitize business cards. The Cleanup Suite helps refine contact lists by removing duplicates. CircleBack aims to enhance productivity by ensuring that professionals and businesses can maintain accurate and up-to-date connections.

Evergram

Series A in 2013
Evergram is a company that specializes in creating a future communication platform, allowing individuals to send meaningful keepsake messages for significant life events. The platform enables invited guests to contribute personal audio, video, or text messages, which are compiled into a secure online album known as an Evergram. These albums can be tailored for specific future dates or events, such as weddings, graduations, retirements, or birthdays. By facilitating collaborative gifting, Evergram helps users create lasting memories that can be cherished by the honoree at a later time.

Fetch It

Series A in 2013
Fetch It is a mobile technology platform utilizing a patent-pending geo-location trigger for delivering high-value, localized content (phase 1 - completed) along with rewards & incentives to 1 billion tourists and locals (phase 2 - in development). The app is on iTunes (http://bit.ly/fetchitapp) and Google Play (http://bit.ly/fetchitapp2). Vision: The mass creation of high-value travel content by enterprise customers on a publisher ad network with a real-time bidding exchange. Pain Point: Mobile ads are inefficient and ineffective because they rarely present brands or their offers at the right time, right moment or right place. Solution: Fetch It ‘releases’ (for viewing) geo-targeted incentives at the most actionable viewing location combined with highly correlative content - thus increasing brand recall and reward redemption. Market Validation: Kiip.com, with $15MM of VC backing, has proven massive reward conversions: 500MM monthly incentives served and a 10% redemption rate.

AppTap

Series A in 2012
AppTap operates a platform that facilitates app discovery, search, and advertising. It connects consumers with relevant apps, helps mobile publishers and carriers monetize their inventory, and enables app developers to reach targeted audiences. Founded in 2008, AppTap is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.

DubMeNow

Venture Round in 2010
DubMeNow (Dub) is a mobile software solution for exchanging business cards and instantaneously managing contact information. Dub provides smart phone and PDA users with a way to exchange business contact information using their existing devices. Additionally, Dub allows users to invite contacts to connect via social networking sites, 'tag' or note information about the contact and see when and where meetings took place.

MediaPlatform

Series B in 2010
MediaPlatform develops and provides webcasting and video management solutions for enterprise-level communication, training, and collaboration. Its products include WebCaster for live streaming, SmartBridge for videoconferencing, Video Business Intelligence for analytics, SmartPath for content distribution, SmartEdge for video delivery optimization, and PrimeTime for managing on-demand videos. MediaPlatform serves global clients across sectors such as consulting, energy, financial services, government, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, technology, and telecommunications.

LikeList

Series A in 2009
LikeList is the simplest way to save, share and find lists of businesses you can trust. LikeList was founded and is lead by several family guys who're passionate about easily connecting their families, friends, colleagues and communities with valuable and trusted local businesses. What We’re All About Local Trust. Knowing the person who refers you to a local business makes the recommendation more trustworthy. Simplicity. It’s easy to find trusted businesses, easy to recommend them, and easy to organize and access their offers and incentives. Value. You get fast, direct access to local businesses you trust, which makes their offers and incentives more valuable. The Details LikeList is the place where people who know each other and think alike share lists of their favorite local businesses. People trust referrals from friends and family more than those from strangers. Sometimes knowing who is making a recommendation is just as important as which businesses they’re recommending. LikeList helps you get more value from your trusted local businesses. By “liking” businesses, or putting them onto your TryList, you create a way for them to share special promotions, coupons or other deals with you. LikeList’s local online services make us a natural champion of local communities and their economies. Locally owned businesses make stronger communities. $45 of every $100 spent with a local business stays in the community, vs. $13 of every dollar spent with a national chain.1 So, What’s in it For You? What if you could get five recommendations for quality local auto mechanics from all of the people in your personal network, and at the same time see offers and coupons from them? What if you could plan a weekend trip to the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and, in one click, see which hotels, rental properties, snowmobile tours, restaurants and evening dance or blues places your friend or group of friends like and highly recommend? What if you could access the local knowledge of your friends, neighbors and acquaintances 24x7 for anything you might need near or far from home? LikeList saves you time, money and worry. 1Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition, Michael H. Shuman, 2006 LikeList is funded by venture capital firm Syncom Venture Partners which specializes in media and communications business investing particularly in underserved markets.

Outspark

Series C in 2009
Outspark is the Western leader in publishing premium micro-trans MMOs. Based in San Fransisco the company has published numerous successful MMOs, and is currently introducing Divine Souls and Fists of Fu for 2010. Outspark CEO & Founder, Susan Choe said the company's real strength will be its open Platform APIs, on which game developers or publisher can plug into, to self publish their online games, while leveraging the infrastructure, business intelligence data, existing users, portal and social network community features.

Verified Identity Pass

Venture Round in 2008
The company's voluntary credentialing program, Clear, is the first and only privately run Registered Traveler program operating at a U.S. airport.

Heatwave Interactive

Series A in 2008
Heatwave Interactive is an entertainment software company based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to creating original, character-based games that blend the dynamics of online gaming with the thrill of traditional video games. The company specializes in the development of licensed intellectual property gaming content, catering to the evolving needs of the gaming industry. Through its innovative approach, Heatwave Interactive aims to engage players by offering unique gaming experiences that leverage both online and traditional gaming elements.

MyToons

Series B in 2008
MyToons, Inc. operates an online animation community designed for professional animators, students, artists, and animation enthusiasts. Founded in 2006 and based in San Antonio, Texas, the platform allows users to upload, view, and share animations, artwork, flash games, and demo reels. MyToons provides a space for content creators to promote their original works while facilitating video file streaming and social networking features. This community enables animators and fans to connect, share techniques, and engage in discussions about their craft. Although MyToons.com was launched in 2007 as a premier destination for animation sharing, it ceased operations in 2009. MyToons, Inc. remains a subsidiary of Bauhaus Software Inc.

SeminarSource.com

Series B in 2000
SeminarSource.com is a provider of online meeting content and e-commerce solutions for the meetings industry.

B2eMarkets

Series A in 2000
B2eMarkets, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, specializes in developing an eSourcing software suite that supports various business functions. This suite includes tools for strategy formulation, negotiation management, contract management and compliance, as well as performance management. The company's solutions are designed to streamline the sourcing process, enabling organizations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in their procurement activities. B2eMarkets was acquired by BravoSolution US in July 2004, further expanding its capabilities and market reach.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.