Telecom services
Interactions
Call center technology startup Interactions Inc. has raised a $12 million Series C round led by Cross Atlantic Capital Partners. Previous investors Sigma + Partners, Updata Partners and North Hill Ventures also participated. Cross Atlantic managing director Richard Fox will join the company's board. The startup has raised $35 million to date and will use the funding to boost sales and support for its hosted service, which handles inbound and outbound customer service calls.
Internet
Challenge Online
Austin, Texas-based Challenge Online Games Inc., developer of the online fantasy game "Duels," has secured $10 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Globespan Capital Partners and the returning Sequoia Capital. The company makes free-to-play online games designed to combine the collectibility and trading associated with collectors' card games and sports cards with massively multiplayer games.
Hollywood Interactive
Hollywood Interactive Group Inc., whose MyHollywood.com offers celebrity gossip, casual games and fashion content primarily for women, has landed a $5 million Series A round of funding. Leading the investment is BlueRun Ventures. The centerpiece of MyHollywood.com is an avatar-based massive multiplayer game titled "Red Carpet."
Software
PCH International
Cork, Ireland-based supply chain services firm PCH International Ltd. has received $21 million in venture funding. The money came from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Focus Ventures. The funding will be used to expand sales and marketing operations in the U.S. and Europe. PCH provides full supply chain management services for the consumer electronics, personal computer, medical devices, telecom and other technology industries.
Energy
Sapphire
Sapphire Energy has raised $50 million to develop a technology that turns algae into oil. San Diego-based Sapphire is pioneering the use of the single-celled organism, which is rich in oil and can grow in a wide range of conditions, to create fuels that can either be mixed with chemicals and crude oil or turned into gasoline or other fuels. Investors include Bill Gates' investment firm, Cascade Investment LLC, as well as Arch Venture Partners, Wellcome Trust and Venrock. In its prior funding last May, the company received more than $50 million from Arch Venture, Wellcome and Venrock. The new capital allows Sapphire to scale up its production facilities to full commercial feasibility.
PowerGenix
Rechargeable battery maker PowerGenix has raised $30 million in Series D financing in a round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The round also included existing investors Advent International Corp., Angeleno Group, Braemar Energy Ventures, Granite Ventures LLC, OnPoint Technologies and Technology Partners. PowerGenix has now raised $60.75 million since it was founded in 2000. The company has developed rechargeable batteries that it claims are smaller, lighter and more powerful than other rechargeable batteries on the market.
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