| NCT Fund 1 Complete at $23+ million |
| We’re excited to announce that the final closing on NCT Fund 1 is complete. The total amount now exceeds $23 million and includes an additional $1.5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development. With this closing, we anticipate making at least nine additional investments over the next three years adding to our already diverse portfolio of companies. |
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As we continue to expand our portfolio, we are also expanding our team. We’d like to welcome Michael Butler as venture partner and advisory board member. Michael brings a wealth of experience to NCT in the areas of finance and business including a 20-year tenure with Nationwide Insurance. Michael will lead and advise various portfolio companies, including Embrace Pet Insurance. |
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Also joining NCT Ventures is Lindsay Karas, who will be providing extra bench strength for deal analysis, and adding an import set of legal skills. Karas graduated from The Ohio State University in 2009 with a joint Juris Doctor degree and Master of Business Administration degree. |
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| DOmedia Launches Beta Transaction Program with Nationwide Insurance |
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Last quarter, we announced that DOmedia was preparing to launch a transaction-based revenue model that connects buyers and sellers of alternative out-of-home media, and charges a nominal transaction fee on each campaign. In the second quarter, DOmedia successfully completed a |
| beta campaign for Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide was looking for an out-of-home campaign to reach a targeted demographic across multiple markets. DOmedia was able to build the campaign and execute the transactions. Based on this successful transaction, DOmedia will launch several additional beta campaigns for major agencies and brands in this quarter as well. |
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| Portfolio Company Spotlight: ClearSaleing |
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Traditionally, it has been very difficult for marketers to measure the success of their online marketing efforts because a technology did not exist that provided a complete picture of how all aspects of the campaign performed. Founded in 2006, ClearSaleing, Inc. has pioneered the technology that gives marketers telescopic insight into their online advertising investments. |
| ClearSaleing’s unique advertising portfolio management technology has attracted companies such as American Greetings and SafeAuto, helping to identify ways to effectively and profitably allocate their marketing dollars across a complex mix of online advertising investments. |
| NCT plans to significantly increase our position in ClearSaleing as they accelerate their growth over the next 12 months. They have experienced x% growth since our initial investment and plan to outperform that metric moving forward. |
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| Portfolio Company News |
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“Powered by GotCast.” VH1 and GotCast partner to launch a fun, interactive website around the VH1 show, Divas 2009. Using the GotCast technology platform, VH1 was able to build a social media website around the show creating interactivity among fans. This is a new business model opportunity that we are excited to see GotCast successfully explore. Visit the site here. |
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GotCast is also expanding, recently adding Vanessa Czworniak to their team. Vanessa is a former Director of Programming at MTV Networks and brings an enormous amount of entertainment industry experience to the team. |
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We mentioned earlier in this email that Michael Butler joined the NCT investment team. We are excited to announce that he will also serve as the new President of Embrace Pet Insurance. Michael will draw on his years of executive-level experience in the insurance industry at Nationwide to bring valuable growth strategies and strategic partnerships to Embrace. |
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| In the Community – The Center for Entrepreneurship at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business Receives Olympus Innovation Award |
| Olympus, a leader in precision technology, awarded S. Michael Camp, Ph.D., academic director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, the 2009 Olympus Innovation Award for his work at The Ohio State University, where he trains business and science students in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. |
| The Olympus Innovation Award recognizes a faculty member who fosters an environment of innovative thinking among students through inventive teaching methods, projects and case studies. Read more >> |
| Congratulations, Dr. Camp! |
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| New in Central Ohio: Sandbox Columbus |
| When you were a kid, the sandbox was where you went to play and create with others. And if you weren’t in the mood to be social, you did your own thing. |
| That’s the premise of a new Central Ohio coworking space called Sandbox Columbus. |
| Sandbox is a place for entrepreneurs and independent developers, writers, scientists, marketers, attorneys, small business owners, and others, to have a collective place to work. It allows people who typically would be working from home without any social interaction to come together and leverage each others networks. Sandbox Columbus also provides more flexibility than other “office-for-rent” offerings allowing members to rent space part-time, full-time or just for the day. Learn more at www.sandboxcolumbus.com |