Nov 14 – Khosla Impact Fund Invests $1.5M in BBox
British firm BBox, which develops solar powered devices for the developing world, received $1.9 million total in funding, including $1.5 million from the Khosla Impact fund and $400,000 from UK’s Synergy Growth fund.
Launched in 2010, the company sells an affordable 12V DC battery box and solar panel which is capable of powering DC appliances including LED lights, phones, low power TV’s and radios. It now operates in 14 countries across Africa and Asia, and aims to bring sustainable electricity to the 1.4bn people living without electricity, according to its website.
Nov 12 – Battery Startup Solicore Receives $4M in Series A Funding
Lakeland Florida-based Solicore, which makes thin and flexible lithium polymer batteries, held a first close on its Preferred Series A1 round of financing led by New Science Ventures, a new investor, and existing investors including R.R. Donnelley, Rogers Corporation, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Braemar Energy Ventures, Firelake Capital, OPG Ventures and Hydro-Quebec CapiTech. It received $2 million in seed funding in June, 2013.
Nov 12 – LED Lighting Startup Ledzworld Raises $5M in Funding
Netherlands-based Ledzworld, founded in 2009, announced it closed a round from its existing private shareholders totaling $5 million. Ledzworld manufactures LED lamps and modules.
In conjunction with the latest funding round, Ken Chakravarti was appointed as its new Chief Executive Officer, in addition to his continuing role as Chief Technology Officer. Representatives of venture capital firm Teak Capital and private equity firm Gilde Investment Management Group sit on Ledzworld’s board.
Nov 12 – “Smart Home” Startup SmartThings Raises $12.5M in Series A Funding
SmartThings raised a $12.5 million Series A round of financing led by Greylock Partners and Highland Capital Partners. The new round brings total funding in SmartThings to $15.5 million, with past investors including First Round Capital, SV Angel, Lerer Ventures, CrunchFund, among others.
SmartThing’s sensors allow home owners to control lights, fans and other household objects and control energy use. It got its start last September by raising $1.2 million on Kickstarter.
And New York-based Quirky, another smart home company, raised $79 million on Nov 13 from General Electric, Andreessen Horowitz and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The company’s inaugural product launched last week, the $70 “Egg Minder”, which alerts users when their eggs go bad, according to the Financial Times, which published an article on “smart home” automation startups.
Nov 11 – Servergy Raises $20 Million Series C Funding
Dallas-based Servergy, founded in 2009, which develops mini highly efficient servers, raised $20 million in series C funding. The investors were unidentified accredited clients from The Williams Financial Group. It raised $5.64 million in a partial fund close in June, 2012.