Shepherd Ventures

Shepherd Ventures, established in 2001, is a San Diego-based venture capital firm focusing on first and later-stage investments in information technology and life sciences companies. It primarily invests in Southern California and the Southwestern United States, with a particular emphasis on San Diego. The firm targets companies with experienced management teams, innovative products, and significant growth potential, typically avoiding seed-stage opportunities. Shepherd Ventures' portfolio spans various sub-sectors within information technology and life sciences, including software, semiconductors, biotherapeutics, and medical devices. The firm is known for its experienced team, which provides operational support and strategic guidance to its portfolio companies.

George C. Kenney

Managing Director and Co-Founder

Richard P. Kuntz

Managing Director

Tom Siegel

Co-Founder and Managing Director

25 past transactions

Cyabra

Series A in 2021
Cyabra is a technology company specializing in AI-driven social threat intelligence. It develops a platform designed to detect and mitigate online threats such as fake profiles, malicious actors, bot networks, and generative AI content across social media. This platform translates these threats into actionable insights, enabling clients to protect their brand reputations, combat disinformation campaigns, and safeguard public identities proactively.

Carepoynt

Convertible Note in 2018
Carepoynt, LLC is a healthcare technology company based in Newport Beach, California, that operates a unique rewards platform designed to enhance consumer engagement in the healthcare and wellness ecosystem. As the first Rewardsware for Healthcare program, Carepoynt integrates a network that empowers consumers to take an active role in their healthcare experiences. Members earn CarePoynts by participating in tailored health plans and engaging with various wellness providers, employers, and payers. The platform aims to address the complexities of the healthcare system by fostering connections among participants, enabling them to align their health goals with available services and rewards. Through its innovative approach, Carepoynt enhances patient engagement, improves health outcomes, and creates mutually beneficial results for all stakeholders involved in the healthcare journey.

TakeLessons

Series A in 2011
TakeLessons operates as a marketplace that connects students with qualified instructors across a broad range of subjects, including music, languages, wellness, and the arts. The platform is designed to accommodate different teaching and learning styles, facilitating both online and local classes. Instructors benefit from tools that simplify marketing and streamline business operations, offering integrated scheduling, billing, payment, and communication features that function effectively on both desktop and mobile devices. By bringing together a diverse community of educators and learners, TakeLessons aims to enhance the educational experience and optimize learning outcomes for users.

Revance Therapeutics

Series D in 2011
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of neuromodulators for aesthetic and therapeutic indications. The company's lead product, DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection (DAXI), is undergoing various stages of clinical trials for treatments including glabellar lines, cervical dystonia, adult upper limb spasticity, plantar fasciitis, and chronic migraine. Revance is also advancing DAXI for aesthetic applications such as forehead lines and lateral canthal lines. Additionally, the company is developing DaxibotulinumtoxinA Topical for both therapeutic and aesthetic uses, alongside a biosimilar formulation akin to BOTOX. Revance has established collaboration agreements for the development and commercialization of its biosimilar products. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Newark, California, Revance was previously known as Essentia Biosystems, Inc., having rebranded in 2005. The company is committed to enhancing its portfolio in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, including a range of dermal fillers and a platform for aesthetic services.

Revance Therapeutics

Series D in 2009
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of neuromodulators for aesthetic and therapeutic indications. The company's lead product, DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection (DAXI), is undergoing various stages of clinical trials for treatments including glabellar lines, cervical dystonia, adult upper limb spasticity, plantar fasciitis, and chronic migraine. Revance is also advancing DAXI for aesthetic applications such as forehead lines and lateral canthal lines. Additionally, the company is developing DaxibotulinumtoxinA Topical for both therapeutic and aesthetic uses, alongside a biosimilar formulation akin to BOTOX. Revance has established collaboration agreements for the development and commercialization of its biosimilar products. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Newark, California, Revance was previously known as Essentia Biosystems, Inc., having rebranded in 2005. The company is committed to enhancing its portfolio in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, including a range of dermal fillers and a platform for aesthetic services.

WiSpry

Series C in 2009
WiSpry, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in radio frequency (RF) technology. Established in 2002 and based in Irvine, California, the company develops, manufactures, and markets RF silicon integrated circuits, components, and modules for various wireless communication products. Its offerings include tunable RF components, such as digital RF capacitors and digital RF-MEMS tunable capacitors, alongside RF evaluation kits, filters, duplexors, and power amplifiers. WiSpry's products serve diverse applications including airbag sensors, game controllers, accelerometers, and video projection systems. The company caters to a wide range of clients, including mobile phone manufacturers, RF module manufacturers, cellular base station suppliers, and electronic system original equipment manufacturers. WiSpry operates as a subsidiary of AAC Technologies Holdings Inc.

Sendio

Series B in 2009
Sendio, Inc. is a cybersecurity company focused on providing email security solutions to protect enterprises and institutions from email-based attacks and abuses. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Sendio offers a range of products including Opt-Inbox, an email spam checker, Server Recon, which prevents automated spamming, Email Continuity for business resilience, and an Email Security Gateway that employs advanced technology to eliminate spam. Their platform is designed to enhance employee efficiency by filtering out irrelevant messages while allowing users to receive important communications from trusted sources. Sendio's solutions are available through appliance, virtual appliance, and hosted platforms and are marketed globally to various sectors, including casinos, finance, government, healthcare, and legal industries, through resellers and systems integrators.

Lucix

Venture Round in 2009
Lucix is a leading manufacturer and supplier of space communications payload electronics, serving the commercial, civil, and defense satellite markets. The company specializes in a range of products including frequency converters, low-noise amplifiers, oscillator assemblies, beacons, power monitors, and central power supplies. Lucix’s offerings encompass a wide frequency range, from UHF to Q Bands, and are designed to support major satellite platforms. All hardware is developed, qualified, manufactured, tested, and shipped from its facilities in Camarillo, California. The company is distinguished by its highly experienced staff, which includes satellite and payload system engineers, program managers, and RF design engineers, ensuring reliable support for various satellite programs.

Quickoffice

Venture Round in 2008
Quickoffice is a provider of mobile office document software designed for smartphones, enabling users to open, view, and edit Microsoft Office files while maintaining document integrity. The software has undergone extensive testing to meet the quality standards of leading mobile phone manufacturers and is distributed through major carriers worldwide. It is fully localized in 36 languages, catering to a diverse global audience. Quickoffice's solutions facilitate remote access and allow users to edit various document types—such as presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents—efficiently, enhancing productivity by simplifying formatting tasks without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

Digital Orchid

Venture Round in 2008
Digital Orchid, Inc. develops and distributes wireless applications for sports betting services, lotteries, games, brand content, and sports media for the gaming and entertainment industries in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. It provides regulated mobile lottery, sports betting services, and content solutions for wireless operators. The company also deploys regulated lottery gaming, sports wagering, and content transactions for various brands. It operates operator race and sports book services, provides online thorough bread racing and content services, and develops online gaming software systems. The company operates a Todomo WAP portal, which allows users to deploy new content to handsets in a matter of minutes. In addition, it offers Todomo BREW Applications, which allows users to publish content to the handsets in use in North, Central, and South America. Further, the company operates and distributes lottery games and sports pool betting services in Mexico. It distributes its products and services through carrier and direct channels, and partners in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Digital Orchid, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is based in San Diego, California.

Revance Therapeutics

Series C in 2007
Revance Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of neuromodulators for aesthetic and therapeutic indications. The company's lead product, DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection (DAXI), is undergoing various stages of clinical trials for treatments including glabellar lines, cervical dystonia, adult upper limb spasticity, plantar fasciitis, and chronic migraine. Revance is also advancing DAXI for aesthetic applications such as forehead lines and lateral canthal lines. Additionally, the company is developing DaxibotulinumtoxinA Topical for both therapeutic and aesthetic uses, alongside a biosimilar formulation akin to BOTOX. Revance has established collaboration agreements for the development and commercialization of its biosimilar products. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Newark, California, Revance was previously known as Essentia Biosystems, Inc., having rebranded in 2005. The company is committed to enhancing its portfolio in dermatology and aesthetic medicine, including a range of dermal fillers and a platform for aesthetic services.

Andigilog

Series B in 2007
Andigilog, Inc. is a fabless analog and mixed-signal semiconductor company based in Tempe, Arizona, established in 1996. The company specializes in intelligent thermal management solutions, developing a range of products including sensor interface integrated circuits, temperature sensors, system controllers, and brushless DC fan motor controllers. These products are integral to various applications, serving markets such as computing, cellular technology, consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, biomedical, and security systems. Andigilog delivers its innovative solutions through an extensive sales network, catering to diverse customer needs across multiple industries.

Quickoffice

Series D in 2007
Quickoffice is a provider of mobile office document software designed for smartphones, enabling users to open, view, and edit Microsoft Office files while maintaining document integrity. The software has undergone extensive testing to meet the quality standards of leading mobile phone manufacturers and is distributed through major carriers worldwide. It is fully localized in 36 languages, catering to a diverse global audience. Quickoffice's solutions facilitate remote access and allow users to edit various document types—such as presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents—efficiently, enhancing productivity by simplifying formatting tasks without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

Specific Media

Series A in 2006
Specific Media LLC is a global media company headquartered in Irvine, California, with additional offices across the U.S. and Europe. Founded in 1999 and operating as a subsidiary of Interactive Media Holdings, Inc., Specific Media specializes in providing advertising solutions to Fortune 500 companies across automotive, retail, packaged goods, and financial industries. The company offers a range of products including Custom Audiences for ad serving and measurement, Specific Video for video network targeting, TV Audience Segments for bridging TV and digital media gaps, and solutions tailored for mobile, connected television, and in-store purchasing data integration. Specific Media's offerings also encompass programmatic advertising, brand safety, and data-driven targeting capabilities, enabling brands to influence consumers across multiple screens and formats efficiently.

Digital Orchid

Series B in 2006
Digital Orchid, Inc. develops and distributes wireless applications for sports betting services, lotteries, games, brand content, and sports media for the gaming and entertainment industries in the United States, Latin America, and Europe. It provides regulated mobile lottery, sports betting services, and content solutions for wireless operators. The company also deploys regulated lottery gaming, sports wagering, and content transactions for various brands. It operates operator race and sports book services, provides online thorough bread racing and content services, and develops online gaming software systems. The company operates a Todomo WAP portal, which allows users to deploy new content to handsets in a matter of minutes. In addition, it offers Todomo BREW Applications, which allows users to publish content to the handsets in use in North, Central, and South America. Further, the company operates and distributes lottery games and sports pool betting services in Mexico. It distributes its products and services through carrier and direct channels, and partners in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Digital Orchid, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is based in San Diego, California.

Quickoffice

Venture Round in 2006
Quickoffice is a provider of mobile office document software designed for smartphones, enabling users to open, view, and edit Microsoft Office files while maintaining document integrity. The software has undergone extensive testing to meet the quality standards of leading mobile phone manufacturers and is distributed through major carriers worldwide. It is fully localized in 36 languages, catering to a diverse global audience. Quickoffice's solutions facilitate remote access and allow users to edit various document types—such as presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents—efficiently, enhancing productivity by simplifying formatting tasks without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

Oculir

Series A in 2005
Oculir develops non-invasive glucose meter that measures glucose from the conjunctiva of the eye.

NP Photonics

Series A in 2005
NP Photonics, Inc. develops and manufactures specialty fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and transport fibers primarily for the near- and mid-infrared wavelength bands. Founded in 1998 and based in Tucson, Arizona, the company offers a range of products, including micron fiber lasers, multi-channel fiber laser systems, and mid-infrared transport fibers. These products are utilized across various applications such as acoustic sensing, LIDAR, coherent communication, and environmental seeding. NP Photonics serves markets including sensing, defense, metrology, and research through a network of distributors and sales representatives in several countries, including Australia, Europe, and Asia. The company, previously known as NP Photonic Technologies, LLC, changed its name in August 2000.

NP Photonics

Series A in 2005
NP Photonics, Inc. develops and manufactures specialty fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and transport fibers primarily for the near- and mid-infrared wavelength bands. Founded in 1998 and based in Tucson, Arizona, the company offers a range of products, including micron fiber lasers, multi-channel fiber laser systems, and mid-infrared transport fibers. These products are utilized across various applications such as acoustic sensing, LIDAR, coherent communication, and environmental seeding. NP Photonics serves markets including sensing, defense, metrology, and research through a network of distributors and sales representatives in several countries, including Australia, Europe, and Asia. The company, previously known as NP Photonic Technologies, LLC, changed its name in August 2000.

SiliconSystems

Series B in 2005
SiliconSystems is the world leader in industrial-grade solid-state storage solutions engineered exclusively for the high performance, high reliability, multi-year product lifecycle requirements of the Enterprise System OEM market. The company's patented and patent-pending SiliconDrive(TM) technology meets the rigorous demands of applications in the netcom, military, industrial, interactive kiosk and medical markets. SiliconSystems is based in Aliso Viejo, California.

Quickoffice

Series C in 2005
Quickoffice is a provider of mobile office document software designed for smartphones, enabling users to open, view, and edit Microsoft Office files while maintaining document integrity. The software has undergone extensive testing to meet the quality standards of leading mobile phone manufacturers and is distributed through major carriers worldwide. It is fully localized in 36 languages, catering to a diverse global audience. Quickoffice's solutions facilitate remote access and allow users to edit various document types—such as presentations, spreadsheets, and text documents—efficiently, enhancing productivity by simplifying formatting tasks without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

CEYX

Series A in 2005
CEYX Technologies, Inc. specializes in software-enabled control systems for light-emitting devices. The company designs, develops, and markets embedded firmware utilized in various applications, including optical transceivers for communications networks, LCD backlights for large-format screens, LED devices, and specialized optical instruments. CEYX offers products like the LightSmart X100, a firmware engine that monitors laser temperature and aging, and the LightSmart D100, an application-specific integrated circuit that facilitates the use of an inverter for driving cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The company serves multiple markets, including datacom, display control systems, and sensors. Established in 2001, CEYX is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Emergent Respiratory

Venture Round in 2003
Emergent Respiratory, LLC is a specialized company focused on the development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary medical devices designed for non-invasive ventilation therapy. Based in Carlsbad, California, the company provides oxygen delivery systems that aid individuals suffering from conditions such as congestive heart failure and acute respiratory distress, as well as broader issues of dyspnea. Emergent Respiratory's product offerings include a positive pressure ventilation platform featuring pressure-balanced patient valves, single-use breathing circuits, and proprietary masks. These devices are utilized across various care settings, including emergency medical services, hospital emergency departments, and alternative care environments. Established in 2000, Emergent Respiratory became a subsidiary of Next Life Medical Inc. in 2016.

Skylight Healthcare Systems

Series B in 2002
Skylight Healthcare Systems, Inc. specializes in providing interactive patient care system technology for hospitals and healthcare administrators. The company operates the ACCESS interactive patient system, a two-way digital communications platform that transforms hospital television sets into comprehensive information, communication, education, and entertainment networks. This system enables patients to access essential information about their hospital stay, request assistance from support departments, view on-demand health education, provide real-time feedback through surveys, and enjoy various entertainment options. Additionally, Skylight offers iCarePassport, a web-based patient care and outcomes system designed to enhance ongoing patient engagement by facilitating personalized communication throughout the continuum of care. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Skylight Healthcare Systems addresses the critical needs of patients in education, health literacy, and access to services, thereby improving the overall healthcare experience.

Voyager Systems

Venture Round in 2002
Video and games systems with product, safety and corporate information and free mainland delivery.
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