AdvancePay offers a marketing technology platform that empowers brands with pricing data and benchmarketing for the social commerce space. The company helps marketers identify what content creators are working with what brands online, and provides revenue estimates to the value of those relationships so that companies, as well as provide contact information.
Chatsight provides managed and tailored AI moderation to platforms, and directly to creators and communities through integrations over API and through Bots. With highly performant AI, we've moderated over 4m+ comments to date.
Non Equity Assistance in 2022
SangCash is a payment platform designed to streamline the licensing process for music venues while ensuring fair compensation for songwriters and music creators. By reducing the costs associated with licensing fees, it alleviates the financial burden on venues and facilitates timely payments to music producers. The platform enables songwriters to easily register and be featured in playlists that are provided to bars, restaurants, and music venues nationwide. This approach not only simplifies the often complex landscape of copyright royalties but also ensures that songwriters receive direct payments for their work, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency in the music licensing process.
Wombo is an innovative mobile application that leverages artificial intelligence to generate lip-synced videos from user-submitted images. The app allows individuals to use any image, transforming it into a deepfake version that mimics facial, eye, and lip movements in sync with a selected song. Users can create unique artistic representations of themselves, often utilizing popular copyrighted characters and music. Behind the scenes, the development team employs motion capture technology to produce the driving videos that animate the images. This combination of user creativity and advanced AI technology enables Wombo to offer a novel platform for self-expression and entertainment.
Yourefolio is a developer of an estate and legacy planning platform designed to simplify the estate planning process for clients and their beneficiaries. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools that enable estate planners and attorneys to engage with clients effectively, helping them to prepare, plan, execute, and manage various aspects of estate administration. By connecting clients with their beneficiaries, Yourefolio facilitates a smoother experience in navigating life’s challenging circumstances. The services offered include administrative support and data entry, ensuring that vital documents and information are easily accessible for all parties involved in the planning and execution of an estate.
NewCell specializes in wireless communications services, leveraging Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to enable consumers to save money by routing their mobile calls and texts over the internet. The company has developed a call interruption technology that strategically places targeted audio impressions with accompanying calls to action at key moments during phone calls. This innovative approach fosters a revenue-sharing model among subscribers and carriers, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement for all parties involved. NewCell operates as a portfolio company at Bizdom.
Handelabra Games was formed in the summer of 2013 as a reorganization of the mobile software company Handelabra Studio. As Handelabra Studio we discovered our game development passion and acumen while creating Uncle Slam, our first video game. Upon project completion, we quickly reorganized our company and shifted course to pursue games full time. Handelabra Games unites our software development strengths, game building skills, and lifelong love of digital and tabletop game play. We create user friendly, authentic, expertly crafted digital versions of tabletop games that maintain the spirit of the game and leverage the enthusiasm of the loyal gaming community!
GiveNext LLC is an online platform based in Shaker Heights, Ohio, that facilitates the management of charitable contributions for both donors and nonprofit organizations. Established in 2012, the platform allows nonprofits to allocate fewer resources to fundraising efforts, thereby concentrating more on their core missions. Through its web-based and mobile dashboard, GiveNext enables donors to manage all their charitable activities in one place, streamlining the process of recording and transacting charitable information. This approach not only enhances donor retention and reduces fundraising costs but also improves communication between donors and nonprofits, eliminating the need for repeated direct mail solicitations.
Kudoala is a unique social network that celebrates the good deeds of others. The act of giving kudos allows people to capture a moment in time—be it one of achievement, admiration or appreciation; and share it with others. Kudoala seeks to inspire positive change by giving individuals the ability to praise and recognize others. Kudoala is the thank you note of the 21st century.
ExpenseBot Inc. is a company that offers an expense management platform aimed at simplifying business expense reporting. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Shaker Heights, Ohio, ExpenseBot's software automates the creation and approval of expense reports by integrating data from various sources such as calendar applications, emails, credit card transactions, and GPS data. Utilizing artificial intelligence, the platform analyzes expense data to identify reimbursable items and generates reports automatically when certain thresholds are met. This technology helps users save time and reduces the complexity associated with organizing and submitting expense reports, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of expense management for businesses.
Norin.TV is an online platform designed for users to learn English through popular American television shows and movies. The platform utilizes data and scientific methods to enhance the language-learning experience, offering a unique approach that combines entertainment with education. By engaging with familiar and widely recognized content, users can improve their English language skills in an enjoyable and effective manner.
DidLog Inc. operates an online platform that simplifies task management by allowing users to automatically track and share their daily accomplishments with their teams. Founded in 2013 and located in Shaker Heights, Ohio, DidLog eliminates the need for tedious updates and lengthy meetings by integrating with existing cloud-based services. This service generates a visually appealing timeline of completed tasks, which users can share with their teams for transparency and collaboration. Team members can customize their views, hide or show individual contributions, and access source documents for each tracked task, ensuring everyone stays informed about ongoing progress without unnecessary interruptions or effort.
AfterYes takes the legwork out of walking down the aisle. They make it easy for brides to plan their wedding and help vendors book more jobs with ease.
Widdle brings your social networks to one place, widdling out the things that don't matter so you can find the things that do. Widdle brings everything you like, everyone you follow, and all of your friends to the same place so that you'll never have to switch between apps again.
Dollop is a mobile application that lets users treat their friends to a real redeemable treat using an emoji. The gift recipient receives a tab up to a certain amount and is able to redeem that gift at a participating location near them. Dollop offers a unique mobile payment backend which facilitates easy merchant sign on, while making mobile gifting easier for customers.
Box Score Games creates mobile games that are played in real-time during live sporting events. Players socially compete against friends and other fans while watching their favorite team or sport. Our interactive games are designed to enrich the sports fans' experience, while giving them the opportunity to win prizes in real-time.
Vendalize is crowdsourcing the long tail of local search. By using tags to create local metadata, we can connect consumers and businesses on more granular, more engaging levels. Okay, this page is already way too serious for our liking.
HooftyMatch is a digital marketplace for buying and selling locally produced meats. Founders Jonathan Yale and Phillip Williams have always had a passion for quality food, but they created HooftyMatch when they realized that most of the food out there was just bad. Buying directly from local farmers is a typical solution for knowing where food comes from, which is exactly what Jonathan and Phillip started to do. They were having a great time meeting farmers, supporting local agriculture, eating healthier, living more sustainably and savoring delicious food – but the breadth of options for meat, in particular, simply didn’t exist. To get a specific product like grass-fed strip steak they had to manually organize a group of up to 10 people to buy 500 lbs of meat. Then they had to drive at least an hour to collect the product from a local farm or processing facility. Clearly, they thought, there had to be a better way.
iOTOS, Inc
Seed Round in 2012
iOTOS is a platform that allows any internet-capable device to communicate with its API, servers and to become a “thing” within the online operating system. This platform results in consumers’ ability to begin coordinating intelligent behaviors between multiple “things” regardless of their individual manufacturer. When people leave their house, their garage door should be down, their lights should be off and their thermostat should be turned down. iOTOS makes all of that possible, and users don’t even have to think about it.
Winners Circle Gaming (WCG) is an exclusive online community dedicated to providing opportunities for video gamers to monetize the time they spend playing their favorite video games. Through the WCG platform, members can find, schedule and play competitive video games to earn revenue, sponsorships and endorsements.
FitVia is a mobile scheduling application for people that are interested in finding partners for exercise routines. The app allows users to post and view exercise schedules. FitVia users can create a schedule of different exercise activities and open that schedule to all of their friends and social networks. When the users create a schedule, it will automatically post that schedule to Facebook, as well as their app profile where their network of friends can see and click to join a workout. This will give each user a unique opportunity to instantly create a support and accountability network in a non-threatening environment.
Sliced Apples is an online blogging platform based in Cleveland, Ohio, that connects aspiring writers, experts, and freelancers with businesses, brands, and publishers in need of content for their blogs and websites. The platform offers a variety of writing assignments across multiple domains, including general writing, publishing, advertising, marketing, SEO, and public relations. By allowing writers to submit content that adheres to specific guidelines, Sliced Apples enables them to gain exposure, build professional networks, and earn income while contributing valuable material to clients.
ConceptDrop, Inc. is an online marketplace that connects businesses with a community of professional graphic designers for various design projects. The platform offers on-demand design services for materials such as PowerPoint presentations, infographics, flyers, brochures, and logos, among others. Additionally, it provides copywriting services, enabling businesses to fulfill their creative needs efficiently. By leveraging artificial intelligence, ConceptDrop facilitates the process of finding freelancers and forming internal teams for enterprises. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, Illinois, the company was originally known as Quick2LAUNCH LLC before rebranding in January 2015. This model not only helps businesses access quality design work but also allows designers to earn income and enhance their portfolios through collaboration with diverse clients.
Tagora is a technology company that develops a platform for selling secondary goods online, facilitating transactions across multiple marketplaces. In addition to its core offerings for secondary goods, Tagora provides comprehensive customer wallet capabilities, 360-degree order management services, and a transporter tracking interface. The company also integrates seamless customer relationship management (CRM) services into its platform, enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, Tagora promotes transparency in fuel transactions by enabling users to buy and sell fuel with clear visibility into the process.
SoMoLend is a web-based technology that allows small businesses to raise debt financing from friends, family, customers, neighors and local banks. SoMoLend is the first of its kind in many ways as a fully transparent portal that allows investors to look into the eyes of business borrowers in their own neighborhood before making any lending decisions. With SoMo, individuals, banks, local governments, business associations, chambers of commerce and municipalities can invest in small businesses by use of a safe, secure, easy-to-use platform. SoMo is designed with the capability of allowing and promoting peer-to-peer lending, by which business borrowers can get loans from friends and family, customers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections. SoMo will launch peer-to-peer lending nationwide in 2013. In 2010 the founder of SoMoLend, Candace Klein, began a micro-lending program matched with a women’s only, training-based program for participants to earn funding for their start-up companies. There were start-ups that were not able to attain funding through this specific program, and it became apparent that small businesses everywhere needed an advocate. The idea for SoMoLend came from this realization and the desire to assist start-ups that were not able to gain funding through the program. SoMoLend was founded in 2011 to serve small businesses that are not being served by traditional funding. SoMoLend was created on the principal of communities and people helping each other out: people investing in people. We strive as a company to assist local businesses, help entrepreneurs to grow, and allow lenders to invest in the companies and ideas they believe in most. Small businesses create jobs and support local communities, but are struggling to get the support they need; this is where SoMoLend steps in!
Railroad Empire is a great new free on-line Strategy Train Game in which you build a railroad by buying stations in cities, connect the cities with routes, buy trains to run on your routes and research new technology for your railroad. Enlist the aid of your friends to get discounts on purchasing your stations. We are adding new features all the time and love to hear feedback and suggestions from our players.
Osteoplastics
Seed Round in 2012
Osteoplastics technology and Intellectual Property (‘I.P.’) is focused on producing pre-formed restorative polymeric implants that provide neurosurgeons the ability to utilize implants that custom fit every patient. Rather than entering the operating room with pre-fabricated implants, Osteoplastics technology enables doctors to utilize custom “one-off” implants that are based upon the needs of each patient.
Intelligent Mobile Support provides innovative technology solutions to help you support your sales reps and technicians in the field.
Advanced Medical Innovations is a healthcare company based in Chatsworth, California, established in 1995. The company specializes in providing innovative and cost-effective surgical and anesthesia supplies, including various instruments for women's health, stainless steel tools, and specialized devices aimed at enhancing operational safety and efficiency. Their product range features sharp injury prevention devices, surgical disposable magnetic drapes, sharps transfer trays, and storage solutions for surgical instruments. By actively listening to healthcare practitioners, Advanced Medical Innovations collaborates with them to address challenges in the medical field, ensuring that their solutions are effective, affordable, and ergonomically designed to meet the needs of modern healthcare settings.
RingRang LLC is a technology services firm based in Bath, Ohio, established in 2009. The company specializes in customer contact management and online lead generation software, enabling businesses to enhance communication with their customers through various digital platforms, including websites and mobile devices. RingRang's tools facilitate direct interactions with consumers via emails, text messages, and cloud storage, allowing businesses to respond to customer needs promptly. As online shoppers increasingly seek immediate and clear communication channels, RingRang aims to transform the sales conversation by providing businesses with efficient methods to connect with potential customers, ultimately fostering lasting relationships.
TenantMagic provides residential landlords and property managers with secure, web-based software tools for acquiring prospects, processing applications (including background screenings), and preparing leases. TenantMagic's software enables its users to demonstrate compliance with applicable laws. The company was founded in 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio by serial entrepreneurs Wayne Rothman and Jay Apple. Additional partners, Joe Novak, Shaker LaunchHouse and a number of Shaker LaunchHouse's entrepreneurs have helped to bring TenantMagic to market. TenantMagic is headquartered in Shaker Heights, Ohio at the Shaker LaunchHouse
Babl Media, founded in 2011 and based in Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in web design, visual brand identity, and mobile app development. The agency aims to assist businesses in distinguishing themselves from competitors by offering innovative and artistic solutions. Babl Media's services include designing logos, websites, marketing campaigns, and social media content, along with providing consulting on brand identity and market research. The company engages clients in a collaborative process to ensure that the final products not only meet their needs but also enhance productivity and brand presence. By focusing on creativity and deep strategic thought, Babl Media caters to businesses seeking to move away from generic designs and embrace unique, impactful branding.
freshbag is a wellness nutrition turnkey solution that supports corporate wellness programs by making it easy and convenient to live - and eat! - healthier.
Clerts LLC is an online platform established in 2011 and based in Ohio, dedicated to providing alerts and notifications for items listed on various auction sites. The company offers users the ability to create unlimited custom searches and receive instant alerts via email or text message based on their specified keywords and price preferences. By promptly notifying users when items are listed, Clerts enables them to purchase products at competitive prices before others are aware of the listings. The platform aims to enhance the user experience by offering an easy-to-use interface that responds to customer needs, allowing users to stay informed about auction opportunities tailored to their interests.
FounderSync is an online platform designed to facilitate entrepreneurial matchmaking among college students. By connecting potential co-founders based on their personality traits and complementary skills, FounderSync aims to foster collaboration and innovation in new ventures. The platform serves as a social network where entrepreneurs can find like-minded individuals to work with, creating opportunities for partnerships that enhance their chances of success. Through this approach, FounderSync addresses the common challenge of finding suitable co-founders, thereby supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem on college campuses.
CinaMaker is a mobile-first video production platform designed to enhance the workflow of video content creators by facilitating a collaborative environment in the cloud. It enables users to manage all aspects of video production, including pre- and post-production, through an online interface. The platform supports multi-camera live streaming, recording, and editing, primarily utilizing iPhone cameras and digital video cameras controlled via iPad. Users can easily create and brand their content, share it in various formats, and develop personalized websites to showcase their work. CinaMaker aims to improve production efficiency while providing secure data storage and protection, catering to the needs of individuals, organizations, and educational institutions. Through its user-friendly approach, the platform fosters collaboration and communication among creators, enhancing the overall video production experience.
Good Greens makes healthful bars and powders that offer the highest value in nutrition and taste. Good Greens is founded on the belief that good food must provide health, joy, and energy. From children to seniors, we want to supply every body with the vitamins, probiotics and antioxidants that it needs. In a world where there never seems to be enough time to eat healthy, Good Greens is here to remedy the fast food situation. We offer you real whole food, natural and organic bars that taste delicious and give you the energy you need to take on the day. Company founder Keith Pabley got the inspiration for Good Greens when he was working with a wellness physician on improving his practice. He saw the difference that superfoods could make in health and well being − the only problem was that most green superfoods tasted awful.
Care-n-Share enables health care providers to create privately branded, social and wellness support communities for their residents and clients. This service is a part of BestHomeHealthCare.com, a provider of web-based services to the extended care and home care industries.
SoupQubes LLC, established in 2010 and located in Shaker Heights, Ohio, specializes in innovative food-storage solutions, particularly for soups and chilies. The company offers non-stick cube containers designed to simplify the storage and consumption of leftover meals. Users can pour their soups or chilies into these flexible, non-spill cubes, which feature sloped designs and clear serving-size markings of 8 and 12 ounces. Once filled, the containers can be placed in the freezer, allowing for convenient portion control. When ready to eat, users can easily pop out a single serving, making it a practical choice for storing homemade meals.
GroundBooth allows law school students to build and save interactive course outlines to the cloud. Students take notes online, record case briefs, insert statutes, and attach files to a constantly growing outline that is ready to be used at exam time. Since this information is saved online, it can be accessed on any device that is connected to the internet.
Cell-A-Spot, LLC develops mobile advertising platform and applications. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Cell-A-Spot is a mobile ad platform which couples one-to-one interactive targeting for advertisers with a revenue model for mobile providers.
Dimple Dough is the world’s most advanced cloud-based prepaid, gift, and credit and debit card management and innovation platform. The DimpleDough platform enables retailers and banks to implement innovative and efficient card programs. The platform is integrated with leading processing, printing and fulfillment, and ecommerce partners and DimpleDough Solutions enable clients to easily integrate creative features and platforms including customization, ecommerce, smartphones, corporate cards, eGifts, and social media. Many of the world's top merchants and banks use DimpleDough.