Schooner Capital

Schooner Capital LLC is a private equity firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, that focuses on growth equity and alternative assets, including private equity and venture capital funds. The firm invests in private companies across various stages and sectors, with a particular emphasis on alternative energy and clean technology. Schooner Capital operates without outside limited partners, allowing it to maintain a long-term investment perspective. In addition to its domestic investments, the firm also targets emerging and frontier markets through specialized strategies, reflecting its commitment to global opportunities. Founded in 1971, Schooner Capital continues to adapt to the evolving landscape of private investments.

Peter Binas

Managing Partner

Orhan Gazelle

Associate Principal

Ted Henderson

Managing Partner

Steve Maiocco

CFO

Alexandra Manick

Associate Principal

Vin Ryan

Founder and Chairman

Scott Yaphe

Managing Partner

Past deals in New England

Commonwealth Fusion

Series B in 2021
Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC is a research company focused on developing fusion energy as a sustainable solution to combat climate change. Established in 2017 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company utilizes advanced rare-earth barium copper oxide superconductor technology to create energy through fusion. Commonwealth Fusion Systems combines decades of government-funded fusion research with innovative superconducting magnet technology to expedite the commercialization of fusion energy. The company emerged from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborates closely with MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, leveraging extensive research to enhance its development efforts. By designing and building fusion machines, Commonwealth Fusion aims to provide limitless and clean energy, contributing to the global transition toward sustainable energy sources.

JETCOOL Technologies

Venture Round in 2021
JETCOOL Technologies Inc. researches and develops chip cooling products. It offers cooling products for the bare die level, component level, board level, and system level; and customized solutions and stock products. The company serves defense and aerospace, advanced semiconductors, data centers, and electrical vehicle power system industries. JETCOOL Technologies Inc. was founded in 2019 and is based in Littleton, Massachusetts.

Cullinan Pearl

Series C in 2020
Cullinan Pearl, a subsidiary of Cullinan Oncology, specializes in developing targeted cancer therapies, particularly focusing on an orally available tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to address Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor exon 20 mutations. The company is involved in a collaborative effort with Cullinan Oncology to advance CLN-081, which is currently undergoing Phase I/IIa trials for non-small cell lung cancer. In addition to this lead candidate, Cullinan Pearl is part of a broader pipeline that includes various innovative therapies for different types of cancers, developed through both internal research and external collaborations. This approach allows the company to maintain a diverse portfolio of oncology drugs while ensuring a cost-effective and efficient development process. Founded in 2016 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cullinan Pearl aims to bring impactful treatments to cancer patients in the United States.

Zippity

Venture Round in 2020
Zippity LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in onsite car maintenance and repair services at customers' workplaces. The company offers a variety of services including vehicle lifting, oil changes, and brake and tire servicing, all facilitated through a tech-enabled platform. By partnering with employers, Zippity allows customers to schedule and pay for services online, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for traditional trips to a mechanic. Customers simply drop off their keys on the service day, and Zippity utilizes an enclosed service trailer to perform maintenance in any parking lot, regardless of weather conditions. This approach aims to alleviate common car-related frustrations, providing a convenient and efficient solution for busy individuals.

Breezeway

Series A in 2020
Breezeway is a mobile solution for intelligent property care and maintenance. Combining robust property profiles with straightforward task management, Breezeway enables managers and owners to improve the quality and efficiency of their operations and enjoy seamless rental turnovers. Its client's leverage Breezeway's integrated platform to conduct inspections, monitor property cleaning and readiness, and coordinate tasks with internal staff or remote service partners.

Commonwealth Fusion

Series A in 2020
Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC is a research company focused on developing fusion energy as a sustainable solution to combat climate change. Established in 2017 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company utilizes advanced rare-earth barium copper oxide superconductor technology to create energy through fusion. Commonwealth Fusion Systems combines decades of government-funded fusion research with innovative superconducting magnet technology to expedite the commercialization of fusion energy. The company emerged from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborates closely with MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, leveraging extensive research to enhance its development efforts. By designing and building fusion machines, Commonwealth Fusion aims to provide limitless and clean energy, contributing to the global transition toward sustainable energy sources.

Zippity

Seed Round in 2019
Zippity LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in onsite car maintenance and repair services at customers' workplaces. The company offers a variety of services including vehicle lifting, oil changes, and brake and tire servicing, all facilitated through a tech-enabled platform. By partnering with employers, Zippity allows customers to schedule and pay for services online, streamlining the process and eliminating the need for traditional trips to a mechanic. Customers simply drop off their keys on the service day, and Zippity utilizes an enclosed service trailer to perform maintenance in any parking lot, regardless of weather conditions. This approach aims to alleviate common car-related frustrations, providing a convenient and efficient solution for busy individuals.

Commonwealth Fusion

Series A in 2019
Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC is a research company focused on developing fusion energy as a sustainable solution to combat climate change. Established in 2017 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company utilizes advanced rare-earth barium copper oxide superconductor technology to create energy through fusion. Commonwealth Fusion Systems combines decades of government-funded fusion research with innovative superconducting magnet technology to expedite the commercialization of fusion energy. The company emerged from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and collaborates closely with MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, leveraging extensive research to enhance its development efforts. By designing and building fusion machines, Commonwealth Fusion aims to provide limitless and clean energy, contributing to the global transition toward sustainable energy sources.

Censinet

Series A in 2019
Censinet, Inc. is a provider of a cloud-based platform designed specifically for healthcare providers to manage vendor risk effectively. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Winchester, Massachusetts, Censinet offers a solution that streamlines workflows and standardizes risk assessments, enabling healthcare organizations to navigate the complexities of third-party vendor relationships. The platform automates previously inefficient processes and delivers continuous, real-time insights into vendor profiles, thereby enhancing transparency and informed decision-making. By focusing exclusively on the needs of healthcare providers, Censinet has positioned itself as a unique player in the market, offering a collaborative approach to vendor risk management that addresses critical challenges and gaps faced by the industry.

SeLux Dx

Series B in 2018
SeLux Diagnostics, Inc. is focused on advancing antibiotic susceptibility testing and infectious disease diagnostics through its innovative phenotyping platform. Founded in 2014 and located in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the company employs a unique synthetic amplifier technology that enhances the speed and complexity of antibiotic susceptibility testing. This platform significantly improves the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosing infections, enabling healthcare providers to prescribe targeted and personalized antibiotic therapies. By facilitating informed treatment decisions, SeLux Diagnostics aims to enhance patient care, save lives, and improve overall health outcomes in hospital settings.

SRS Medical Systems

Venture Round in 2018
SRS Medical Systems, Inc., a medical device company, manufactures solutions for male lower urinary tract symptoms patients worldwide. The company offers UroCuff Test, a solution that measures bladder function during voiding and provides insights to optimize benign prostatic hyperplasia care; The Spanner Stent, a temporary stent inserted into the urethra at the neck of the bladder to maintain urine flow; and The VP Test, a solution that identifies bladder function in catheterized patients. It also offers mainstay diagnostics and disposables, including EasyPro 4, a 12-channel urodynamics system; and EasyFlo, a Stand-alone uroflow system. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts.

SRS Medical Systems

Venture Round in 2017
SRS Medical Systems, Inc., a medical device company, manufactures solutions for male lower urinary tract symptoms patients worldwide. The company offers UroCuff Test, a solution that measures bladder function during voiding and provides insights to optimize benign prostatic hyperplasia care; The Spanner Stent, a temporary stent inserted into the urethra at the neck of the bladder to maintain urine flow; and The VP Test, a solution that identifies bladder function in catheterized patients. It also offers mainstay diagnostics and disposables, including EasyPro 4, a 12-channel urodynamics system; and EasyFlo, a Stand-alone uroflow system. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts.

Censinet

Seed Round in 2017
Censinet, Inc. is a provider of a cloud-based platform designed specifically for healthcare providers to manage vendor risk effectively. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Winchester, Massachusetts, Censinet offers a solution that streamlines workflows and standardizes risk assessments, enabling healthcare organizations to navigate the complexities of third-party vendor relationships. The platform automates previously inefficient processes and delivers continuous, real-time insights into vendor profiles, thereby enhancing transparency and informed decision-making. By focusing exclusively on the needs of healthcare providers, Censinet has positioned itself as a unique player in the market, offering a collaborative approach to vendor risk management that addresses critical challenges and gaps faced by the industry.

eXIthera Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2017
ExIthera Pharmaceuticals is a developer of an early-stage biotechnology platform used to develop small molecule pharmaceuticals. The company's stroke prevention and antithrombosis drugs are based on the unique pathophysiological role of Factor XI in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding. It focuses on developing stroke prevention and anti-thrombosis drugs based on Factor XI, which has a pathophysiological role in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding, enabling physicians to treat serious consequences including venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart attack.

MediaSilo

Venture Round in 2017
When video workflows operate like a well-oiled machine, teams can stop worrying about security and focus on producing better content, faster and more efficiently. MediaSilo is a video management platform for distributed media production teams that need to manage, share and approve content safely and easily. The Boston, MA-based company works with media companies, advertising agencies and content creators to provide lightweight SaaS software that sits in the middle of video lifecycles, working with existing tools and workflows to keep teams connected, assets secure and stories beautifully and seamlessly presented. With 550+ customers, 100k+ monthly users and 10M+ assets managed, MediaSilo continues to innovate and provide solutions that span media, entertainment and enterprise video, with a focus on security. Most recently, MediaSilo launched SafeStream, an on-demand watermarking technology that acts as a visual deterrant to piracy. Each watermarked video is created in real-time and is personalized to the person requesting or viewing the asset. Because the customized watermark is inserted in near real-time (less than a 20-second delay) – even for a 90-minute video – the speed and cost-effectiveness of SafeStream is unheard of the industry, and is not interruptive to the viewing experience. The content owner remains in complete control of where and how the watermark appears on the video. It can be incorporated directly into workflows so it can be easily used to protect dailies and rough cuts in addition to finished content.

eXIthera Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2016
ExIthera Pharmaceuticals is a developer of an early-stage biotechnology platform used to develop small molecule pharmaceuticals. The company's stroke prevention and antithrombosis drugs are based on the unique pathophysiological role of Factor XI in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding. It focuses on developing stroke prevention and anti-thrombosis drugs based on Factor XI, which has a pathophysiological role in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding, enabling physicians to treat serious consequences including venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart attack.

Maxwell Health

Series C in 2016
Maxwell Health offers a software-as-a-service platform that simplifies employee benefits and human resources for small to mid-sized employers. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, with an additional office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company provides a comprehensive online service that includes information on various insurance products such as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as tools for benefits administration, payroll, and COBRA management. The platform features an intuitive marketplace that streamlines the process of purchasing benefits for employees and includes a mobile application for easy access. Maxwell Health aims to enhance the experience of insurance, financial, and wellness benefits for American families, leveraging its technology through partnerships with benefits advisors and insurance companies. In June 2018, Maxwell Health became a subsidiary of Sun Life Financial United States.

Cyft

Seed Round in 2016
Cyft, Inc. develops a cloud-based data driven predictive analytics platform. It serves providers and ACOs, health plans, the life sciences sector, solution providers, and health IT companies. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Zixi

Venture Round in 2015
Zixi is the leading enabler of flawless broadcast quality HDTV over the Internet. Broadcasters, enterprises and video-on-demand services use Zixi to enrich user experience, create new services and significantly reduce costs. Zixi enables the delivery of live and on-demand HD video content over the Internet in real time and with unprecedented quality. The technology is applicable for multi-media delivery and consumption across a spectrum of industries.

Fashion Project

Series A in 2015
Fashion Project is the first designer shopping experience featuring exclusive apparel, shoes, and accessories that are generously donated by style icons, celebrities, and philanthropists from around the world. The majority of each sale is donated to charity. It was founded in 2011 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Maxwell Health

Series B in 2014
Maxwell Health offers a software-as-a-service platform that simplifies employee benefits and human resources for small to mid-sized employers. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in New York, with an additional office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company provides a comprehensive online service that includes information on various insurance products such as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as tools for benefits administration, payroll, and COBRA management. The platform features an intuitive marketplace that streamlines the process of purchasing benefits for employees and includes a mobile application for easy access. Maxwell Health aims to enhance the experience of insurance, financial, and wellness benefits for American families, leveraging its technology through partnerships with benefits advisors and insurance companies. In June 2018, Maxwell Health became a subsidiary of Sun Life Financial United States.

eXIthera Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2014
ExIthera Pharmaceuticals is a developer of an early-stage biotechnology platform used to develop small molecule pharmaceuticals. The company's stroke prevention and antithrombosis drugs are based on the unique pathophysiological role of Factor XI in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding. It focuses on developing stroke prevention and anti-thrombosis drugs based on Factor XI, which has a pathophysiological role in the initiation of intravascular thrombi without causing undue bleeding, enabling physicians to treat serious consequences including venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, and heart attack.

Topokine Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2014
Allergan is a $23 billion diversified global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model - Growth Pharma. The company is anchored by strong and sustainable brand franchises, a leading global generics business, a premier pipeline, highly efficient operations and an experienced management team creating an unrivaled foundation for long-term growth. Driving continued innovation and growth is the combined company’s strong commitment to R&D, with an investment of ~$1.7 billion in 2015, focused on strategic development of innovative and durable value-enhancing products within brands, generics, biologics and OTC portfolios. The Company’s Generics portfolio features more than 1,000 generics, branded generics, established brands and OTC products. The Company is the third largest generic manufacturer in the U.S. and holds a top 5 leadership position in nearly 20 International markets. Allergan has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and U.S. Administrative Headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA.

Seventh Generation

Venture Round in 2013
Seventh Generation, Inc. is a manufacturer based in Burlington, Vermont, specializing in plant-based household products. Founded in 1988, the company produces a range of items, including laundry detergents, surface cleaners, dishwashing products, hand washes, household paper goods, baby diapers and wipes, personal care items, and feminine hygiene products. Committed to environmental sustainability and human health, Seventh Generation formulates its products using natural, biodegradable ingredients, while ensuring ethical practices such as avoiding animal testing. The company emphasizes its mission of caring for future generations by providing safe, effective, and eco-friendly solutions for consumers. Seventh Generation's products are available through a network of retailers, and the company operates as a subsidiary of Unilever N.V.

CustomMade

Series B in 2013
CustomMade Ventures Corp. is an online marketplace that connects consumers seeking unique, customized home furnishings and other personalized items with professional makers. Founded in 1996 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the platform features a diverse range of products, including furniture, jewelry, home décor, and outdoor furnishings. Over the years, CustomMade has expanded its network from a small community of carpenters to over 12,000 skilled makers across various trades. The company aims to provide a seamless experience for buyers by combining personalized customer service with the expertise of its makers, making custom goods accessible and efficient to procure.

Fashion Project

Seed Round in 2013
Fashion Project is the first designer shopping experience featuring exclusive apparel, shoes, and accessories that are generously donated by style icons, celebrities, and philanthropists from around the world. The majority of each sale is donated to charity. It was founded in 2011 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

MediaSilo

Series A in 2013
When video workflows operate like a well-oiled machine, teams can stop worrying about security and focus on producing better content, faster and more efficiently. MediaSilo is a video management platform for distributed media production teams that need to manage, share and approve content safely and easily. The Boston, MA-based company works with media companies, advertising agencies and content creators to provide lightweight SaaS software that sits in the middle of video lifecycles, working with existing tools and workflows to keep teams connected, assets secure and stories beautifully and seamlessly presented. With 550+ customers, 100k+ monthly users and 10M+ assets managed, MediaSilo continues to innovate and provide solutions that span media, entertainment and enterprise video, with a focus on security. Most recently, MediaSilo launched SafeStream, an on-demand watermarking technology that acts as a visual deterrant to piracy. Each watermarked video is created in real-time and is personalized to the person requesting or viewing the asset. Because the customized watermark is inserted in near real-time (less than a 20-second delay) – even for a 90-minute video – the speed and cost-effectiveness of SafeStream is unheard of the industry, and is not interruptive to the viewing experience. The content owner remains in complete control of where and how the watermark appears on the video. It can be incorporated directly into workflows so it can be easily used to protect dailies and rough cuts in addition to finished content.

CustomMade

Series B in 2012
CustomMade Ventures Corp. is an online marketplace that connects consumers seeking unique, customized home furnishings and other personalized items with professional makers. Founded in 1996 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the platform features a diverse range of products, including furniture, jewelry, home décor, and outdoor furnishings. Over the years, CustomMade has expanded its network from a small community of carpenters to over 12,000 skilled makers across various trades. The company aims to provide a seamless experience for buyers by combining personalized customer service with the expertise of its makers, making custom goods accessible and efficient to procure.

SHIFT

Venture Round in 2012
Shift Media Holdings, Inc. develops platform to create, share, and store media content. The company’s products include Wiredrive which allows organizing, collaborating and presenting the presentations; Mediasilo which allows sharing video; Safestream which protect all the videos; and Screeners.com includes secure video sharing and collaboration software for the media and entertainment industry. Shift Media Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Best Doctors

Venture Round in 2011
Best Doctors offers an employee health benefit designed to enhance the quality and affordability of healthcare. The service provides members with access to top-tier medical expertise, ensuring they can obtain accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatments when faced with significant medical decisions. By leveraging a network of leading specialists, Best Doctors aims to improve patient outcomes and streamline the healthcare experience. The company focuses on empowering individuals to make informed health choices, thereby fostering confidence in their medical care. Through its innovative approach, Best Doctors addresses the complexities of healthcare navigation, ultimately benefiting both employees and employers by promoting better health management.

Zixi

Venture Round in 2011
Zixi is the leading enabler of flawless broadcast quality HDTV over the Internet. Broadcasters, enterprises and video-on-demand services use Zixi to enrich user experience, create new services and significantly reduce costs. Zixi enables the delivery of live and on-demand HD video content over the Internet in real time and with unprecedented quality. The technology is applicable for multi-media delivery and consumption across a spectrum of industries.

SRS Medical Systems

Venture Round in 2010
SRS Medical Systems, Inc., a medical device company, manufactures solutions for male lower urinary tract symptoms patients worldwide. The company offers UroCuff Test, a solution that measures bladder function during voiding and provides insights to optimize benign prostatic hyperplasia care; The Spanner Stent, a temporary stent inserted into the urethra at the neck of the bladder to maintain urine flow; and The VP Test, a solution that identifies bladder function in catheterized patients. It also offers mainstay diagnostics and disposables, including EasyPro 4, a 12-channel urodynamics system; and EasyFlo, a Stand-alone uroflow system. The company was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts.

Seventh Generation

Venture Round in 2010
Seventh Generation, Inc. is a manufacturer based in Burlington, Vermont, specializing in plant-based household products. Founded in 1988, the company produces a range of items, including laundry detergents, surface cleaners, dishwashing products, hand washes, household paper goods, baby diapers and wipes, personal care items, and feminine hygiene products. Committed to environmental sustainability and human health, Seventh Generation formulates its products using natural, biodegradable ingredients, while ensuring ethical practices such as avoiding animal testing. The company emphasizes its mission of caring for future generations by providing safe, effective, and eco-friendly solutions for consumers. Seventh Generation's products are available through a network of retailers, and the company operates as a subsidiary of Unilever N.V.

StyleFeeder

Series A in 2008
StyleFeeder was a social shopping service featuring a powerful recommendation algorithm, acquired by Time Inc in 2010

StyleFeeder

Seed Round in 2007
StyleFeeder was a social shopping service featuring a powerful recommendation algorithm, acquired by Time Inc in 2010

Top10 Media

Venture Round in 2006
Top10 Media provides online networking services for publishing and retail applications. Its services allow users to tap into blogs, podcasts, video, and mainstream news outlets on the Web. The company also offers a set of algorithms that automatically categorize and rank user-generated and other Web-based content. Top10 Media, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.