Sparkland Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Jose, California, founded in 2014. The firm focuses on investing in frontier technologies, specifically targeting sectors such as cybersecurity, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, and enterprise software. By leveraging its deep networks and resources in both Silicon Valley and Asia, Sparkland Capital aims to support innovative entrepreneurs who are committed to disrupting existing industries and redefining markets. The team consists of experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and early employees from leading technology companies, providing valuable market intelligence, strategic advice, and local relationships to help founders expand their businesses. Since its inception, Sparkland Capital has invested in over 30 startups, reflecting its dedication to fostering entrepreneurial growth and innovation.
Alongside Inc. is a Canadian software company that offers a web-based hiring platform designed to streamline the recruitment process for employers. Founded in 2012 and based in Moncton, Canada, the company enables organizations to create job advertisements and distribute them across various job boards with a single click, enhancing visibility and efficiency. Alongside's platform facilitates the management of the hiring pipeline, allowing teams to communicate with candidates through bulk messaging templates, review applications collaboratively, and coordinate hiring efforts effectively. Additionally, the company provides custom solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients, thereby improving employer branding and reducing hiring costs. Alongside Inc. was formerly known as Qimple Inc. before rebranding in September 2016.
Everykey
Venture Round in 2019
Everykey, Inc. is a technology company based in Cleveland, Ohio, founded in 2015. The company specializes in a Bluetooth device that replaces traditional keys and passwords. This device not only stores and generates secure passwords for various online accounts but also facilitates automatic logins when users visit websites. By streamlining access to both physical and digital spaces, Everykey aims to enhance security and convenience for its users.
Zeguro
Seed Round in 2018
Zeguro Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops a cyber security and cyber insurance platform specifically designed for small to medium-sized enterprises. Established in 2016, Zeguro focuses on helping these businesses identify and mitigate cyber risks through a comprehensive approach that includes micro-insurance as part of their security framework. The platform offers coverage against various cyber threats, including data breaches, business interruptions, cyber extortion, and payment fraud. Additionally, Zeguro provides cybersecurity training and monitoring services, enabling organizations to effectively assess their vulnerabilities while securing affordable and relevant cyber insurance solutions.
8th Wall
Series A in 2018
8th Wall Inc. is a developer of an augmented reality (AR) platform that enables the creation and deployment of interactive AR experiences directly on mobile websites. Founded in 2016 and based in Palo Alto, California, the company offers several key solutions, including 8th Wall XR, a platform for developing mobile AR applications; XR Remote, which allows users to test AR applications on their devices; and a glTF Viewer for sharing and viewing 3D files in real environments. The company's custom SLAM engine facilitates markerless AR content with advanced features such as 6DoF positional tracking and surface detection, ensuring immersive experiences on any smartphone equipped with a rear-facing camera. 8th Wall's platform serves a variety of industries, including retail, travel, and entertainment, by enabling developers to create and deploy AR applications rapidly and efficiently.
RADAR
Seed Round in 2017
Radar Relay, LLC, founded in 2017 and based in Denver, Colorado, operates as a wallet-to-wallet trading platform for Ethereum-based tokens, utilizing the 0x Protocol. The platform facilitates direct peer-to-peer trading by maintaining an order book and relaying orders without holding any assets in custody. Users can connect their wallets directly to the Radar Relay platform, eliminating the need for account creation, sign-ups, deposits, or withdrawal limits. This approach aims to enhance user control and security in cryptocurrency trading.
Zeguro
Pre Seed Round in 2017
Zeguro Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops a cyber security and cyber insurance platform specifically designed for small to medium-sized enterprises. Established in 2016, Zeguro focuses on helping these businesses identify and mitigate cyber risks through a comprehensive approach that includes micro-insurance as part of their security framework. The platform offers coverage against various cyber threats, including data breaches, business interruptions, cyber extortion, and payment fraud. Additionally, Zeguro provides cybersecurity training and monitoring services, enabling organizations to effectively assess their vulnerabilities while securing affordable and relevant cyber insurance solutions.
Theta Network
Venture Round in 2017
Theta Labs is the creator of Theta Network, a decentralized platform focused on enhancing media, entertainment, and video streaming through blockchain technology. The network employs a proprietary Layer-1 proof-of-stake blockchain that allows users to share their bandwidth for video relaying, thereby reducing content delivery costs for existing platforms. This innovative approach incentivizes users to participate in the network by earning rewards for relaying video content across various devices, including PCs, mobile phones, Smart TVs, and IoT devices. Theta Network facilitates low-latency streaming of live content, making it compatible with popular platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Additionally, it supports the development of decentralized applications, providing organizations with opportunities to boost viewer engagement and drive additional revenue. Theta Labs has attracted investments from notable companies, including Samsung NEXT and Sony Innovation Fund, as well as various venture capital firms.
Playment
Seed Round in 2017
Playment is a managed data labeling platform that specializes in generating training data for computer vision models. The company provides high-precision annotation services tailored for industries such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and mapping. By transforming videos and images into high-quality annotated data, Playment supports a variety of use cases in machine learning and computer vision. Their platform is backed by a trained workforce of over 300,000 users, alongside human intelligence experts who design tasks and ensure the quality of the results. This enables clients, including companies and research institutions, to concentrate on their core development areas while relying on Playment for their data annotation needs.
UploadVR
Series A in 2017
Upload is dedicated to accelerating the success of the VR + AR (XR) industry through inspiring educational experiences.
Theta EdgeCloud
Series A in 2017
Theta EdgeCloud is the leading decentralized cloud for AI, media and entertainment. The platform empowers AI teams with unrivaled GPU price-to-performance as the first hybrid cloud-edge computing architecture. Strategic corporate investors include Samsung NEXT, Sony Innovation Fund, media investors BDMI Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, CAA Creative Artists Agency, and traditional Silicon Valley VCs including DCM and Sierra Ventures.
Rippling
Seed Round in 2017
Rippling is a workforce management platform that simplifies the administrative tasks associated with running a business. It offers an all-in-one solution for managing employee data and operations, including onboarding, offboarding, payroll, tax forms, and IT management. The platform automates various HR processes, ensuring compliance and streamlining approvals, while also providing tools for device management and software access. By integrating these functions into a single dashboard, Rippling allows businesses to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and save time, enabling them to focus on growth. Its capabilities support the entire employee lifecycle and facilitate seamless onboarding for new hires.
Nanome
Seed Round in 2017
Nanome Inc. is a software company based in North Hollywood, California, founded in 2015. It specializes in developing a collaborative XR software platform that enhances scientific discovery through the use of virtual reality and blockchain technologies. This platform streamlines computational workflows at the molecular level, enabling a broader range of scientists to utilize advanced molecular computations and artificial intelligence. Nanome primarily collaborates with the biopharma industry but also extends its services to sectors such as food and beverage, material science, and education. The company's open-source platform allows scientists to explore molecular structures effectively, facilitating pattern recognition, molecular visualization, and an efficient drug design and discovery process. Additionally, it helps medicinal chemists and structural biologists understand complex molecular data, collaborate more effectively, and protect their intellectual property through blockchain integration.
Visbit
Seed Round in 2016
Visbit Inc., based in Sunnyvale, California, is a visual technology company that specializes in cloud streaming services for virtual reality (VR) content creators and publishers. Founded in 2015, Visbit offers a platform that includes the Visbit Portal for managing and publishing 360-degree videos, the Visbit Cloud for transcoding and delivering videos via content distribution networks, and the Visbit Player, a software development kit for video playback. Utilizing its patented View-Optimized Streaming technology, Visbit enables the delivery of high-resolution 360-degree VR videos without noticeable latency, even over standard Wi-Fi and LTE networks. This innovation enhances the viewing experience by minimizing data usage and avoiding heavy compression, thereby bridging the gap between the demands of VR content and typical network capabilities.
Pie
Seed Round in 2016
Pie is a company based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in developing a 360 video app for iPhone users. The app allows individuals to create and share 360 videos and GIFs quickly, whether or not they possess a 360 camera. By providing an accessible platform for producing immersive content, Pie enables users to connect and share their experiences with friends and followers seamlessly.
Virgil Security
Series A in 2016
Virgil Security, Inc. is a company based in Manassas, Virginia, that specializes in developing and marketing cryptographic software and services aimed at both developers and end-users. The company provides user-friendly encryption libraries and public key management infrastructure designed to simplify the integration of strong cryptography into applications. Its offerings include password-free authentication, encryption, and distributed immutable data storage through blockchain technology. Virgil Security focuses on enhancing privacy and security for a wide range of applications, cloud services, and Internet of Things devices, making it easier for users to secure their digital environments.
Theta EdgeCloud
Seed Round in 2016
Theta EdgeCloud is the leading decentralized cloud for AI, media and entertainment. The platform empowers AI teams with unrivaled GPU price-to-performance as the first hybrid cloud-edge computing architecture. Strategic corporate investors include Samsung NEXT, Sony Innovation Fund, media investors BDMI Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, CAA Creative Artists Agency, and traditional Silicon Valley VCs including DCM and Sierra Ventures.
Cobalt
Seed Round in 2016
Cobalt Labs, Inc. specializes in providing security solutions for bitcoin applications and modernizing penetration testing through its Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) platform. The company offers Cobalt Central, a secure inbox for managing bug reports and interacting with security researchers. Additionally, its CrowdCurity platform connects businesses with security experts via bug bounty programs. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Cobalt Labs also has offices in Berlin and Boston. By leveraging a global talent pool of certified freelancers, Cobalt's platform delivers actionable insights that help organizations identify, track, and resolve software vulnerabilities efficiently, resulting in quicker remediation times and improved return on investment for security testing.
Alongside
Seed Round in 2016
Alongside Inc. is a Canadian software company that offers a web-based hiring platform designed to streamline the recruitment process for employers. Founded in 2012 and based in Moncton, Canada, the company enables organizations to create job advertisements and distribute them across various job boards with a single click, enhancing visibility and efficiency. Alongside's platform facilitates the management of the hiring pipeline, allowing teams to communicate with candidates through bulk messaging templates, review applications collaboratively, and coordinate hiring efforts effectively. Additionally, the company provides custom solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients, thereby improving employer branding and reducing hiring costs. Alongside Inc. was formerly known as Qimple Inc. before rebranding in September 2016.
Limitless Entertainment
Seed Round in 2016
Limitless Ltd. is a company that specializes in developing a cloud-based platform designed for creating virtual reality (VR) content. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the company offers a patent-pending platform that enables users to create, prototype, and animate interactive characters for various applications, including video games and films. The platform supports two types of interactive characters: standard and premium, with the latter offering enhanced features. Limitless Ltd. leverages advanced VR technologies, allowing creators to animate characters directly within the VR environment using motion controls, thereby simplifying the animation process for both novices and experienced professionals. As of early 2018, Limitless operates as a subsidiary of Lytro, Inc.
Theta EdgeCloud
Seed Round in 2016
Theta EdgeCloud is the leading decentralized cloud for AI, media and entertainment. The platform empowers AI teams with unrivaled GPU price-to-performance as the first hybrid cloud-edge computing architecture. Strategic corporate investors include Samsung NEXT, Sony Innovation Fund, media investors BDMI Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, CAA Creative Artists Agency, and traditional Silicon Valley VCs including DCM and Sierra Ventures.
UpLabs
Seed Round in 2016
UpLabs Inc. operates a platform designed for designers and developers to discover and share resources for app and website creation. The website offers daily showcases of curated resources, including user interfaces, experiments, and open-source applications for Material Design, iOS, and OS X. Users can browse for specific UI elements, share their own work such as design snippets and libraries, and sell products like themes and templates. Founded in 2015 and based in Mountain View, California, UpLabs fosters a community-driven marketplace that facilitates the exchange of ready-to-use user interface resources, enabling designers to enhance their projects and learn from diverse design approaches.
Silk Labs
Seed Round in 2016
Silk Labs Inc. is a machine learning company that specializes in developing an artificial intelligence platform focused on real-time image and audio recognition. Founded in 2015 and based in San Carlos, California, the company offers advanced capabilities such as people detection, facial recognition, and object detection. Silk Labs aims to enhance connected devices by embedding instant cognition into them through its innovative software solutions, leveraging the latest advances in deep neural networks. As of late 2018, Silk Labs operates as a subsidiary of Apple Inc.
Mosaix
Angel Round in 2015
Mosaix is a technology company based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in dynamic language artificial intelligence. The company develops a platform that enables enterprise customers to create intelligent voice assistants, facilitating quick and accurate responses to queries in multiple languages. By replacing traditional text-based search methods with a voice search interface, Mosaix aims to enhance user experience and accessibility. The platform employs advanced algorithms that learn user preferences and behaviors, allowing for personalized and localized voice assistance tailored to meet the diverse needs of global clients.
Zeplin
Seed Round in 2015
Zeplin, Inc. is a collaboration software platform that facilitates teamwork between designers and developers on various projects. Founded in 2014 and based in Istanbul, Turkey, Zeplin offers a macOS application that allows designers to convert their designs into detailed specifications and guidelines. Developers can access all necessary resources in one centralized location, generating tailored code snippets for different platforms, including iOS, Android, and Web. The platform supports over 5 million users from thousands of product teams, including prominent companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Microsoft. Zeplin also automatically generates color palettes from design elements and documents properties of UI components, enhancing the workflow for UI designers and front-end developers. The company is recognized as a Y Combinator startup and has received backing from notable investors.
Vreal
Seed Round in 2015
Vreal Inc. is a Seattle-based company that develops a platform enabling game developers, streamers, and players to stream virtual reality (VR) gaming experiences across various devices, including desktops, mobile VR, traditional 2D screens, and VR headsets. Established in 2015, Vreal aims to enhance gaming content by creating immersive experiences that engage fans and allow them to participate in the action. The platform facilitates a social gaming experience, allowing users to explore new games alongside their favorite creators without limitations. Vreal's innovative approach connects developers, streamers, and viewers, offering a unique way for gaming enthusiasts to enjoy and share 3D virtual environments.
Vango
Seed Round in 2015
Their story started with a group of young professionals who struggled with how hard it was to find art for their home. They were tired of the generic, cookie-cutter posters, and desired something more meaningful. But, they didn’t know how where to start - galleries were intimidating, online sites overwhelming, and the pricing of it all was a confusing black box. Why did it have to be so hard to Be Original? At the same time, they thought of their friends and family who were artists - making beautiful art, but they had to abandon their creative talents so they could pay the bills. Something just didn’t make sense. After continuing to ask questions, they realized they were not alone, so they started to build, test, and tinker until…they launched ARTtwo50 in July 2013. Nine months later, May 1, 2014, ARTtwo50 was reborn as Vango along with the launch of a smaller version of their iPad app on the iPhone. The reason they changed from 'ARTtwo50' was that they wanted a name that was catchy and did not box us in on price. Given that they are a marketplace, they mashed up things that take two people (Tango) and key components of their app (Visualization). ‘Vango’ just came out and they loved the sound and energy.
Haystack News
Seed Round in 2015
Haystack News operates an online personal headline news channel that delivers video news content from over 150 partners, including major news organizations. The service utilizes a combination of artificial intelligence, big data technology, and editorial curation to offer personalized media channels, allowing users to access a wide range of coverage from local to global events. Haystack News is recognized as a leading over-the-top (OTT) news service and ranks among the top-rated news platforms on connected TV devices, such as Apple TV, Roku, and Android TV. The platform was awarded the title of "Best TV Experience" at the 2017 Google Play Awards, acknowledging its innovative approach in the competitive landscape of digital news delivery.
SourceDNA
Seed Round in 2011
SourceDNA, Inc. is a technology company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2011. It specializes in application store intelligence, providing tools that automatically scan iOS and Android applications to track SDK market share and generate sales leads. The company offers the Searchlight platform, which enables users to analyze and monitor applications for security and quality issues. Additionally, SourceDNA's web service assists developers and service providers in identifying who is using their code by continuously scanning app stores and uploaded binaries for matches. This service operates across multiple platforms and programming languages, helping to detect code components in various software, including mobile apps and firmware. Through its analytics software, SourceDNA serves as a code watchdog, empowering users to make informed decisions regarding the security and integrity of their applications.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.