Sand Hill Angels

Sand Hill Angels, established in 2000, is a prominent angel investor group based in Mountain View, California, comprising over 60 successful Silicon Valley technology professionals. The group is dedicated to supporting and growing startup companies, with a focus on seed-stage technology investments across North America. They typically invest between $300,000 to $500,000 in private companies, with a pre-money valuation of less than $5 million. Sand Hill Angels' investment preferences span various sectors, including clean technology, Internet startups, information sciences, and life sciences, with a particular interest in semiconductors, enterprise software, storage, communications, medical devices, diagnostics, and bioinformatics. The group collaborates openly with venture capital funds, other angel organizations, and the broader Bay Area ecosystem to foster the growth of technology startups.

Harper Cheng

Angel Investor

Joe Epstein

Investor

Markus Fromherz

Member, Board Director, President

John Hall

Investor

Gregory Horner

Investor and Board Director, Diversity Equity Inclusion

Tim Kelly

CFO

Jinpei Li

Investor

Rajan Perkash MD

Investor

Naeem Raza

Investor

Attila Takacs

Investor

Doug Tsui

Investor

Owen Wu

Angel Investor

Past deals in San Francisco Bay Area

Carbon Lighthouse

Seed Round in 2021
Carbon Lighthouse, LLC is a technology company specializing in energy solutions for commercial real estate and various other sectors, including education and hospitality. Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, Carbon Lighthouse focuses on decarbonizing buildings through its Efficiency Production platform and CLUES® AI software. The company provides energy efficiency measures that help reduce utility bills and carbon emissions, such as optimizing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and installing cost-effective energy-saving equipment. Additionally, Carbon Lighthouse offers onsite energy generation solutions, including solar photovoltaic systems, and consulting services for energy sourcing and regulatory assessments. Its clientele includes building owners and property managers of small to medium-sized buildings, such as community centers and schools. With a track record of delivering significant client value and reducing substantial carbon emissions, Carbon Lighthouse aims to assist clients in achieving their decarbonization goals while enhancing financial performance.

Zum

Series D in 2021
Zum Services, Inc., established in 2014, specializes in safe and reliable transportation services for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. The company offers scheduled or on-demand rides, as well as care services like nannies, for school drops and pickups, sports activities, and other needs. Zum's services include single family or carpool rides, one-off rides, babysitting, and stay and watch services, all facilitated through a network of vetted drivers and advanced scheduling technology.

Fuzzy

Series B in 2021
Fuzzy, established in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a pet healthcare startup offering subscription-based services. It aims to make pet care accessible, affordable, and convenient. Through its mobile application, Fuzzy provides 24/7 veterinary consultations via chat and video. Additionally, it offers home delivery of pet essentials such as medications, supplements, and food for dogs and cats. The company's mission is to cater to the personalized needs of pets, allowing owners to manage their pets' health from home. Notable investors include Precursor Ventures, Eniac Ventures, and Matrix Partners.

Destiny (D/XYZ)

Convertible Note in 2020
Over the last decade, we have spent our lives living and breathing the silicon valley start-up life. From coding in our living room to enacting hundred-million-dollar acquisitions, we came to Silicon Valley with a vision. We envisioned a future that many wrote off as unnecessary, but today is the inevitable future of the private market economy. But while we have thrived from the unparalleled growth and opportunity in the private market, the rest of the world has not. Instead, our friends and family stand outside, looking in as class divisions have widened, and a sense of inequality has become pervasive. In this time of growth — this era of technological wonder, innovation, and entrepreneurship — how can we do better? How can we scale the most significant opportunity of our generation? By providing public access to the private market. As a society, we must make innovation accessible, because making sure that the next generation of innovators can have ownership of the future is the first step in inspiring them to take ownership of the future. Invest in access for everyone, invest in shared future, invest in progress. D/XYZ is a future for everyone. Own a piece of the future, today.

Madison Reed

Series F in 2020
Madison Reed, Inc. is a beauty company that specializes in manufacturing hair care products, including permanent hair colors, root touch-up products, and color reviving glosses, among others. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, the company aims to revolutionize hair coloring by offering a proprietary ammonia-free formula that combines essential nutrients like keratin and argan oil. Madison Reed enables customers to achieve salon-quality hair color at home for an affordable price. In addition to its product line, the company operates hair color salons in California and provides franchising opportunities. It also sells various accessories and tools necessary for hair coloring, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Madison Reed

Series F in 2020
Madison Reed, Inc. is a beauty company that specializes in manufacturing hair care products, including permanent hair colors, root touch-up products, and color reviving glosses, among others. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, the company aims to revolutionize hair coloring by offering a proprietary ammonia-free formula that combines essential nutrients like keratin and argan oil. Madison Reed enables customers to achieve salon-quality hair color at home for an affordable price. In addition to its product line, the company operates hair color salons in California and provides franchising opportunities. It also sells various accessories and tools necessary for hair coloring, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Archer

Series A in 2020
Archer is an aerospace company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, dedicated to advancing sustainable air mobility. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and operating all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft aimed at enhancing urban mobility. Archer's flagship aircraft is designed to carry four passengers for up to 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph, with minimal noise production.

Madison Reed

Series E in 2020
Madison Reed, Inc. is a beauty company that specializes in manufacturing hair care products, including permanent hair colors, root touch-up products, and color reviving glosses, among others. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, the company aims to revolutionize hair coloring by offering a proprietary ammonia-free formula that combines essential nutrients like keratin and argan oil. Madison Reed enables customers to achieve salon-quality hair color at home for an affordable price. In addition to its product line, the company operates hair color salons in California and provides franchising opportunities. It also sells various accessories and tools necessary for hair coloring, enhancing the overall customer experience.

Anzu

Series A in 2020
Anzu is an exciting, fast-growing startup founded by a group of physicians and technologists with a shared vision for creating inspiring products to benefit medical practices, doctors and patients. Headquartered in Phoenix, with operations in Boston, Silicon Valley and India, Anzu is privately held.

Zum

Series C in 2019
Zum Services, Inc., established in 2014, specializes in safe and reliable transportation services for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. The company offers scheduled or on-demand rides, as well as care services like nannies, for school drops and pickups, sports activities, and other needs. Zum's services include single family or carpool rides, one-off rides, babysitting, and stay and watch services, all facilitated through a network of vetted drivers and advanced scheduling technology.

Nginx

Series C in 2018
Nginx, established in 2011, is a technology company that specializes in developing and maintaining the open-source web server NGINX. Its offerings include application delivery, load balancing, security, and API management solutions. Key products are NGINX Plus, a software load balancer and web server; NGINX Controller, for managing NGINX Plus; NGINX Unit, a dynamic application server; NGINX Web Application Firewall; and NGINX Amplify, a SaaS monitoring tool. Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Cork and Singapore, Nginx operates as a subsidiary of F5 Networks.

Zum

Series A in 2017
Zum Services, Inc., established in 2014, specializes in safe and reliable transportation services for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. The company offers scheduled or on-demand rides, as well as care services like nannies, for school drops and pickups, sports activities, and other needs. Zum's services include single family or carpool rides, one-off rides, babysitting, and stay and watch services, all facilitated through a network of vetted drivers and advanced scheduling technology.

Owlized

Seed Round in 2017
Owlized, Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. It develops OWL, a visual media platform that provides location-based virtual reality solutions, allowing users to engage with the past and envision the future at various destinations. The company also offers Pocket Owl, a mobile mixed-reality tool designed for compact devices. Owlized aims to deepen travelers' connections to cultural heritage by providing immersive experiences that showcase the history and inhabitants of popular sites. Its 360-degree audio-visual platform generates significant revenue for cities, parks, tourist attractions, and historic locations by enhancing visitor engagement and interaction with their surroundings.

OneMob

Venture Round in 2017
OneMob, Inc. is a communications platform based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in personalizing customer interactions to enhance sales and marketing efforts. The company provides a video and voice messaging platform that enables sales, customer success, and support representatives to create, upload, and distribute personalized and trackable video and voice messages. OneMob's innovative solutions include microsites that consolidate personalized content, digital sales rooms for improved buyer collaboration, and video prospecting tools. The platform features AI-powered capabilities for video creation and writing assistance, allowing users to produce professional communications efficiently. With integrations for popular CRM systems and robust email campaign functionalities, OneMob empowers businesses to scale their outreach while maintaining a personal touch. Trusted by notable enterprise clients, OneMob has received multiple accolades, including recognition as a Gartner Cool Vendor and a Gold Stevie Award Winner. The company is recognized for its rapid growth and commitment to driving measurable impact in sales and marketing through advanced technology.

Owlized

Convertible Note in 2016
Owlized, Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2013. It develops OWL, a visual media platform that provides location-based virtual reality solutions, allowing users to engage with the past and envision the future at various destinations. The company also offers Pocket Owl, a mobile mixed-reality tool designed for compact devices. Owlized aims to deepen travelers' connections to cultural heritage by providing immersive experiences that showcase the history and inhabitants of popular sites. Its 360-degree audio-visual platform generates significant revenue for cities, parks, tourist attractions, and historic locations by enhancing visitor engagement and interaction with their surroundings.

Nginx

Series B in 2016
Nginx, established in 2011, is a technology company that specializes in developing and maintaining the open-source web server NGINX. Its offerings include application delivery, load balancing, security, and API management solutions. Key products are NGINX Plus, a software load balancer and web server; NGINX Controller, for managing NGINX Plus; NGINX Unit, a dynamic application server; NGINX Web Application Firewall; and NGINX Amplify, a SaaS monitoring tool. Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Cork and Singapore, Nginx operates as a subsidiary of F5 Networks.

Sigsense Technologies

Venture Round in 2016
Sigsense Technologies, Inc. is a private technology company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in equipment monitoring software solutions. Established in 2013, the company has developed a proprietary artificial intelligence platform that provides a comprehensive, vendor-agnostic management solution for equipment operations across various industries. This platform offers real-time performance analysis and actionable insights, enabling predictive maintenance and helping clients identify opportunities for process optimization. By utilizing non-invasive power and environmental IoT sensors, Sigsense's technology gathers detailed data on equipment performance at the component level, which allows for proactive detection of operational issues before failures occur. The primary objective of Sigsense Technologies is to enhance equipment utilization and minimize downtime, thereby maximizing productivity and supporting clients in maintaining a competitive edge in their respective markets.

Zum

Seed Round in 2016
Zum Services, Inc., established in 2014, specializes in safe and reliable transportation services for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. The company offers scheduled or on-demand rides, as well as care services like nannies, for school drops and pickups, sports activities, and other needs. Zum's services include single family or carpool rides, one-off rides, babysitting, and stay and watch services, all facilitated through a network of vetted drivers and advanced scheduling technology.

Clevernet

Venture Round in 2016
Clevernet is a business-to-business software company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. It specializes in providing WAN optimization solutions for both public and private networks. The company's technology enhances WAN speeds by up to 25 times while ensuring the security of data in transit. Clevernet's software utilizes simultaneous multi-path connections to improve performance, availability, and reliability, regardless of the operating environment. This capability allows enterprises to optimize their network connections, whether they are site-to-site, site-to-software as a service (SaaS), or cloud-to-cloud, thereby facilitating more efficient and secure global communication.

Ploom

Series A in 2015
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.

Junar

Series B in 2015
Junar, Inc. operates a cloud-based open data platform that facilitates the accessibility of data for organizations globally, including businesses, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Junar's platform allows users to identify, organize, and optimize data while transforming it into engaging visual formats such as tables, charts, and maps. The platform also includes an API toolbox that enables developers to create innovative applications for data presentation. By empowering organizations to publish their data, Junar fosters new opportunities, enhances collaboration, and promotes transparency. With additional offices in Dallas, Silicon Valley, Latin America, and Israel, the company has established itself as a trusted partner for managing and leveraging valuable data assets.

Sigsense Technologies

Venture Round in 2015
Sigsense Technologies, Inc. is a private technology company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in equipment monitoring software solutions. Established in 2013, the company has developed a proprietary artificial intelligence platform that provides a comprehensive, vendor-agnostic management solution for equipment operations across various industries. This platform offers real-time performance analysis and actionable insights, enabling predictive maintenance and helping clients identify opportunities for process optimization. By utilizing non-invasive power and environmental IoT sensors, Sigsense's technology gathers detailed data on equipment performance at the component level, which allows for proactive detection of operational issues before failures occur. The primary objective of Sigsense Technologies is to enhance equipment utilization and minimize downtime, thereby maximizing productivity and supporting clients in maintaining a competitive edge in their respective markets.

OneMob

Venture Round in 2014
OneMob, Inc. is a communications platform based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in personalizing customer interactions to enhance sales and marketing efforts. The company provides a video and voice messaging platform that enables sales, customer success, and support representatives to create, upload, and distribute personalized and trackable video and voice messages. OneMob's innovative solutions include microsites that consolidate personalized content, digital sales rooms for improved buyer collaboration, and video prospecting tools. The platform features AI-powered capabilities for video creation and writing assistance, allowing users to produce professional communications efficiently. With integrations for popular CRM systems and robust email campaign functionalities, OneMob empowers businesses to scale their outreach while maintaining a personal touch. Trusted by notable enterprise clients, OneMob has received multiple accolades, including recognition as a Gartner Cool Vendor and a Gold Stevie Award Winner. The company is recognized for its rapid growth and commitment to driving measurable impact in sales and marketing through advanced technology.

Storefront

Series A in 2014
Storefront, Inc. is an online marketplace that facilitates the rental of short-term retail spaces for artists, designers, and brands, primarily in San Francisco and New York, with additional offerings in Canada. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, the company provides a platform where users can find a diverse range of rental options, from booths at street fairs to entire storefronts in high-traffic areas. Storefront connects space owners, including landlords and brokers, with those looking to establish pop-up shops and temporary events, allowing space owners to monetize their properties effectively. With its extensive network, Storefront has positioned itself as a leader in the short-term retail space rental market, enabling creative businesses to engage with customers in unique environments.

Ploom

Venture Round in 2014
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.

Sigsense Technologies

Convertible Note in 2014
Sigsense Technologies, Inc. is a private technology company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in equipment monitoring software solutions. Established in 2013, the company has developed a proprietary artificial intelligence platform that provides a comprehensive, vendor-agnostic management solution for equipment operations across various industries. This platform offers real-time performance analysis and actionable insights, enabling predictive maintenance and helping clients identify opportunities for process optimization. By utilizing non-invasive power and environmental IoT sensors, Sigsense's technology gathers detailed data on equipment performance at the component level, which allows for proactive detection of operational issues before failures occur. The primary objective of Sigsense Technologies is to enhance equipment utilization and minimize downtime, thereby maximizing productivity and supporting clients in maintaining a competitive edge in their respective markets.

Junar

Convertible Note in 2014
Junar, Inc. operates a cloud-based open data platform that facilitates the accessibility of data for organizations globally, including businesses, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Junar's platform allows users to identify, organize, and optimize data while transforming it into engaging visual formats such as tables, charts, and maps. The platform also includes an API toolbox that enables developers to create innovative applications for data presentation. By empowering organizations to publish their data, Junar fosters new opportunities, enhances collaboration, and promotes transparency. With additional offices in Dallas, Silicon Valley, Latin America, and Israel, the company has established itself as a trusted partner for managing and leveraging valuable data assets.

Storefront

Seed Round in 2013
Storefront, Inc. is an online marketplace that facilitates the rental of short-term retail spaces for artists, designers, and brands, primarily in San Francisco and New York, with additional offerings in Canada. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, the company provides a platform where users can find a diverse range of rental options, from booths at street fairs to entire storefronts in high-traffic areas. Storefront connects space owners, including landlords and brokers, with those looking to establish pop-up shops and temporary events, allowing space owners to monetize their properties effectively. With its extensive network, Storefront has positioned itself as a leader in the short-term retail space rental market, enabling creative businesses to engage with customers in unique environments.

Junar

Angel Round in 2013
Junar, Inc. operates a cloud-based open data platform that facilitates the accessibility of data for organizations globally, including businesses, governments, NGOs, and academic institutions. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Junar's platform allows users to identify, organize, and optimize data while transforming it into engaging visual formats such as tables, charts, and maps. The platform also includes an API toolbox that enables developers to create innovative applications for data presentation. By empowering organizations to publish their data, Junar fosters new opportunities, enhances collaboration, and promotes transparency. With additional offices in Dallas, Silicon Valley, Latin America, and Israel, the company has established itself as a trusted partner for managing and leveraging valuable data assets.

Zimbio

Series B in 2012
Zimbio are delighted to announce that Livingly Media has been acquired by aufeminin! Read More. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Livingly Media is a digital lifestyle brand that owns and operates three top ranked sites. Zimbio launched in 2006 and quickly became a top entertainment news site. In 2010 they launched StyleBistro, which became a top fashion/beauty/style site. They acquired Lonny Magazine in 2012, re-launched it on their platform as Lonny.com, and grew its audience tenfold to become a top-ranking site in comScore’s home design category. Collectively, their sites reach more than 25 million users and provide them with unmatched depth and breadth of content. Each site captures more pageviews per visit than any other among their respective competitive sets. Brands can connect with their massive audience through any of their platforms – desktop, tablet, mobile – with the help of their creative services team and a suite of proprietary offerings that are built in-house specifically to maximize engagement and awareness. The company has offices in San Carlos, CA, Chicago and New York City, and is venture-backed by Menlo Ventures and Draper Richards.

Ploom

Series B in 2011
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.

Ploom

Series A in 2009
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.

Foundog

Venture Round in 2008
Foundog specializes in portable electronics tracking and recovery products designed for both individuals and businesses in the United States. The company operates a registry and recovery network aimed at reuniting consumers and enterprises with lost devices, including laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras. In addition to its recovery services, Foundog offers next-generation promotional products that enhance brand awareness and deliver measurable returns on investment, leads, and sales. The company is based in Silicon Valley and employs a team of skilled software, IT, and printing professionals dedicated to creating customizable promotional solutions tailored to the needs of their clients.

Ploom

Series A in 2008
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.

Zimbio

Series A in 2007
Zimbio are delighted to announce that Livingly Media has been acquired by aufeminin! Read More. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Livingly Media is a digital lifestyle brand that owns and operates three top ranked sites. Zimbio launched in 2006 and quickly became a top entertainment news site. In 2010 they launched StyleBistro, which became a top fashion/beauty/style site. They acquired Lonny Magazine in 2012, re-launched it on their platform as Lonny.com, and grew its audience tenfold to become a top-ranking site in comScore’s home design category. Collectively, their sites reach more than 25 million users and provide them with unmatched depth and breadth of content. Each site captures more pageviews per visit than any other among their respective competitive sets. Brands can connect with their massive audience through any of their platforms – desktop, tablet, mobile – with the help of their creative services team and a suite of proprietary offerings that are built in-house specifically to maximize engagement and awareness. The company has offices in San Carlos, CA, Chicago and New York City, and is venture-backed by Menlo Ventures and Draper Richards.

Ploom

Venture Round in 2007
Ploom is an upstart tobacco company based in San Francisco. Really. We are creating a line of products starting with the ModelOne. Reimagining the smoking paradigm, we wed modern technologies, materials and processes to the best tobacco and botanical ingredients. We handcraft our pods at our micro-factory in San Francisco. Ploom began as a conversation between a smoker and a non-smoker outside a studio at Stanford's Joint Program in Design in 2004. "What do you hate about smoking?" Adam asked. "What do you love about it?" James responded. The two had already been collaborating on eccentric thesis explorations but those were quickly dropped to answer the question: What if smoking were reinvented today? The thesis generated support from some of the most well respected thinkers and doers in and around the University. James and Adam founded Ploom in a tiny orange painted room on an apple orchard in Palo Alto, determined to bring a better alternative to people who love (and hate) smoking. Hundreds of prototypes, consumer insights and a business plan later, the two developed a unique startup in the historic Dogpatch area of San Francisco with a handful of the best engineers, advisors, marketing and biotech veterans in the country. The model One and Ploom's first six flavors are the first glimpse of the future of smoking: a new ritual for a modern society from a new kind of company.
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