Ideas|Products|Startups|VCs

Komli Media, Asia Pacific’s leading digital media network, has raised $15 million in funding led by Norwest Venture Partners (NVP). Existing investors, Nexus Venture Partners and Helion Venture Partners, also participated in this round but DFJ hasn’t. The additional capital will be used to fuel aggressive expansion throughout India and across its key markets in Asia Pacific. The Company will further invest in its two core businesses – the Digital Media Network and the Audience Measurement unit – which are experiencing significant growth.

This is the company’s third round of financing – the first was in January 2008, when it raised $7 million, and the second in July 2010, when it raised $6 million.

Last year, Komli Media began its expansion across Asia Pacific by acquiring PostClick, Australia’s leading site representation firm. In October the Company further expanded to international ethnic markets with its acquisition of Indoor Media. With capabilities across brand solutions and performance marketing, Komli Media is Asia Pacific’s leading digital media network.

Amar Goel, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Komli Media, said, “We were drawn to NVP because it is a global, top tier investment firm with deep domain knowledge in the online advertising sector. Furthermore, NVP’s powerful network of relationships in India and abroad will be of great value to Komli Media as we expand our offerings and services to other markets. We look forward to closely partnering with NVP to take our company to the next level.”

Komli Media’s digital media network represents more than 2,000 websites today, including sites such as Facebook, Babycenter and Bloomberg, reaching more than 45 million unique users across a number of categories and regions. The company also owns and operates ViziSense, India’s first and leading online audience and ad measurement platform. ViziSense is now being launched in Australia to tap the growing needs for cutting edge audience measurement from digital marketers and publishers.

Niren Shah, Managing Director, NVP India, joins Komli Media’s board of directors as part of today’s announcement. He commented, “NVP is excited about the potential of early and late stage Internet investments in India, and Komli is the perfect addition to our robust global Internet portfolio. Komli Media’s highly experienced management team, significant level of technical expertise, and strong operational and financial performance made our decision to invest in the company an easy one. We look forward to working with Komli Media and supporting the team as it innovates in unique ways that will cement its position as a market leader in the rapidly evolving Indian and Asia Pacific digital market.”

Prashant Mehta, Chief Operating Officer of Komli Media added, “As Komli Media expands its core operations in the fast growing Asia Pacific markets with a digital market size of more than USD 3 billion, we plan to leverage this funding to double our investment in our key products and platforms as well as scale our organization across sales and marketing.” He further added, “As we make these investments, we look forward to thought leadership and strategic guidance from the NVP team.”

-Hitesh, vcBytes.com

D.light Design, a global company that designs and manufactures solar powered consumer products for families without access to reliable electricity, today announced that it has secured USD5.5 million in Series B financing. The round is led by new investor Omidyar Network and includes all major Series A investors, including Acumen Fund, Nexus Venture Partners, Gray Matters Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Garage Technology Ventures.

“We are thrilled to have Omidyar Network on board as an investor. We appreciate the perspective they bring—they understand how social enterprise can solve problems and improve lives in emerging economies,” said Sam Goldman, CEO of D.light.  “Their investment will allow us to scale rapidly to reach millions of people around the world who lack access to electricity, offering them affordable products that meet vital daily needs.”

In its first three years of operation, D.light has expanded distribution to over 30 countries and positively impacted the lives of over 1.25 million people worldwide. The new funding will support plans to bring economical products to more than 100 million customers by 2020. Specifically, D.light will rapidly increase distribution throughout Africa and Asia as well as expand its product line beyond solar lighting.

Omidyar Network, now D.light’s largest investor, was drawn to the company’s innovative product design, strong business model, and scalable approach to meeting the urgent needs of people in emerging markets. In geographies such as India and sub-Saharan Africa, D.light’s solar lanterns typically replace toxic kerosene lamps, providing life-changing improvements in personal health and security, as well as enhanced productivity and access to information.

Jayant Sinha, Managing Director of Omidyar Network India, will join D.light’s Board of Directors. Sinha brings 20 years of investing and strategy consulting experience to his role, as well as deep expertise advising businesses in emerging markets.

“Omidyar Network believes that D.light is at a critical inflection point on its path to massive social impact,” said Sinha. “Our investment enables D.light to scale its pursuit of customer-focused design with extreme affordability, a combination poised to unleash greater opportunity for millions.“

Hitesh, vcBytes.com

Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM), an agri-commodity logistics and procurement company based in Delhi, announced on Friday that it has received a Rs.10 crore investment from Nexus Venture Partners, a leading venture capital firm.

SLCM provides comprehensive agri-commodity warehouse management and procurement solutions to farmers, processors, traders, agri-exchanges and government organizations across 70 locations and 12 states in India.

Last year the company handled over Rs.5000 crore of agri-commodities ranging from grains, oilseeds, pulses and spices among others. SLCM works with leading commodity exchanges as their delivery partner across India and provides collateral management for banks for their warehouse receipt-based financing products.

Speaking about the funding, Sandeep Sabharwal, Founder & CEO, SLCM, said, “We plan to become the leading agri-logistics company in India covering the whole gamut from farm to port. The funding will help us expand our warehousing capacity and help us grow our pan-India presence. Nexus Venture Partners with its strong understanding of the agriculture ecosystem in India is an ideal partner for us in this journey. We are happy to be associated with them.”

Sandeep Singhal of Nexus Venture Partners who will join the SLCM board, said, “The agriculture supply chain in India is currently very inefficient leading to huge losses in agri commodities in India. Sabharwal is a high energy passionate entrepreneur who has developed high quality processes to ensure very low wastage while procuring, transporting and warehousing of commodities.”

ICICI bank was the sole advisor to this transaction.

2009 was tough year for companies in raising venture capital since most of the VC firms were averse to taking risks. However VC investments and deals took place.  Here are the top 5 VCs in terms of investments -

• Intel Capital invested in One97 Communications, IndiaMART.com, Global Talent Track, FINO,  ItzCash and BuzzInTown.
• Matrix Partners India invested in FIIJEE, Ver se Innovation Private Limited, Siesta Hospitality, ItzCash and  Quikr.
• NVP invested in  PubMatic,  MapMyIndia, Eka Software Solutions, VMops, OLX Inc,  Deccan Healthcare and mCheck.
• Helion Ventures invested in Pubmatic, YLG, Brand Calculus, GETIT infoserve and Global talent track.
• Aavishkaar invested in Waterlife India Pvt Ltd, Zameen Organic, Swas Healthcare, Saraplast, Suryoday and Utkarsh Microfinance

-Hitesh, vcBytes.com

Quikr, India’s leading horizontal classifieds player, has raised $6 million in series C funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners (NVP), and returning investors, Omidyar Network, Matrix Partners India and eBay Inc. With this round of financing, Quikr has raised in excess of Rs 50 crore since inception. Norwest Venture Partners, which led the round, has invested about $4 million.

Quikr offers a web-based classifieds platform that addresses the needs of local communities in 40 cities across India. More than 8 million consumers visit Quikr every month to buy, sell, rent or find things.

Above figure compares the traction at Quickr, Sulekha and ClickIndia.

Interestingly NVP is an existing investor in Sulekha, another classified portal. Local classifieds portals are becoming hot favorites for investors. Earlier Helion invested in GETIT, Sequoia capital raised their equity in Justdial and NVP invested in OLX.

-Hitesh, vcBytes.com