Bubble Gum Interactive
Fund investment:
$200,000 (1st round)
$300,000 (2nd round)
Description:
an independent entertainment development studio whose first massive multiplayer online game for kids, Little Space Heroes, launched in December 2011, is played in more than 80 countries
Website:
bubbleguminteractive.com
Update:
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Space Heroes Virtual World: Conversion of users hitting the website is strong with 20-25% of UV’s becoming free members, however retention is low. One significant factor attributing to the modest performance of SHU Virtual World is a significant downturn in the virtual worlds industry given migration of kids globally to mobile gaming.
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Mobile games strategy: Recently the focus has turned to freemium mobile monetization strategies - leading to the launch of Jetpack Jinx for Tango on 6th June. Installs have increased dramatically with close to 50,000 new installs and early signs indicating strong retention and engagement.
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With Tango, Jetpack Jinx has broken the top 100 arcade and action games in over 40 countries and reached the top 10 in 8 countries. With new updates around social play and a major marketing push slated for July, Jinx is set to soar even higher.
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Bubble Gum is accelerating development of its second mobile game with Tango, Cake Bake Blitz, and will be sharing preview artwork and demo of the game soon.
Recent Press:
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Ninja Blocks
Fund investment:
$150,000
Description:
the internet of things - a hardware and web-service platform that lets you control and build apps that talk to connected devices
Website:
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Launching a new product "Simple by Ninja Blocks" mid September via Kickstarter - it will be a gateway interacting primarily with Bluetooth low energy tags, smart plugs and smart lights
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Ninja also announcing it will be open sourcing their platform in an attempt to position themselves as the leaders of open source "internet of things"
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Daniel Friedman (CTO) has become interim CEO in place of Peter Moore who has taken leave due to a family illness
Recent Press:
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International Bodyboarding Association
Fund investment:
$100,000
Description:
the governing body of world bodyboarding. The world's best bodyboarders competing at the world's best locations.
Website:
Update:
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IBA completed an internal review to determine its strategy to maximise ongoing tour and media opportunities
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The board has replaced the previous CEO with an operationally focussed GM
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The board is working with IMG Worldwide (a global sports, fashion and media licensing and management business) to optimise IBA's unique media content and create a more robust event model
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IBA is completing a minimum number of tour events in 2013 and is focused on a revamped bodyboarding tour in 2014.
Recent Press:
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StageBitz
Fund investment:
$50,000 (1st Tranche) + $50,000 (2nd Tranche - milestones now achieved)
Description:
online platform for theatre, film and TV allowing you to maintain a full inventory of props needed for a show, and borrow things you don’t have
Website:
Update:
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Tranche 2 ($300K - including $50K from the Sidecar Fund) was completed. The milestones for Tranche 2 achieved were (1) Commercial release of the ‘Task Manager’ module into StageBitz customer software offering (2) & (3) invoice and customer targets achieved
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A recent trip to the US (NY and Milwaukee) - Excellent response at booth and great referral rate at USITT 2013. Demo was done mainly for production managers and technical directors, comparison to 2012, where most of the people spoken to were students.
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Planning for September trip for promotion in the UK in parallel with World Stage Design 2013.
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Prospective customers for Milestone 3 include Opera Australia Prop Hire, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, York University and Polyglot Theatre.
Latest Press:
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Ingogo
Fund investment:
$321,296
Description:
puts you in direct contact with the nearest taxi to you so you can get from a - b, quickly, safely and easily.
Website:
Update:
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Ingogo is soon to release a new payments system that will allow taxi drivers to process EFTPOS and contactless card payments via the ingogo driver mobile app.
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This technology is a world first, and will allow the business to further grow its driver base and process all payments inside a taxi.
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Results from the initial pilot are positive with an expected 20% increase in revenues from deploying the new system.
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Compared to Cabcharge, GM cabs & Live Taxi, ingogo now has a very low cost payments system that will allow it to expand market share.
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Payments volumes continue to grow and improvements are being seen in passenger collection rates from more engaged drivers.
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We encourage all Sidecar Fund investors to download the ingogo app for iPhone or Android and use it for your next Sydney taxi trip.
Recent Press:
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Zenogen
Fund investment:
$150,000
Description:
has developed graphite electrodes for Water Electrolysis: the only zero-carbon-emissions method of producing industrial gases such as Hydrogen.
Website:
Update:
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Zenogen's genesis was new research at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) via a program at the Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
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Was selected into ATPI’s clean technology accelerator program, Ignition Labs, securing $25,000 in investment and business mentorship.
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Received a total investment of $300,000 from individual Sydney Angels and the Sidecar Fund and a further $135,000 from other investors and a follow-on investment from Ignition Labs.
Recent Press:
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Controlabill
Fund investment:
$150,000 (1st round)
$150,000 (2nd tranche if hurdles achieved)
Description:
makes direct debit easier, more cost effective and simply better, removing the paper processing pains, expensive support outlays and helping billers reduce set up costs.
Website:
controlabill.com
Update:
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A working product has been completed to demonstrate to potential partners and a product roadmap has been developed to prioritise future work required for initial biller implementation and beyond.
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Approaching target market of billers already using the Australian Direct Entry System for Direct Debit payments including power utilities, water utilities and insurance companies.
Recent Press:
Controlabill pockets $609,000 from Commercialisation Australia |
Jayride
Fund investment:
$150,000
Description:
a platform to find unique, cheap and fun land transport. Carpool, rideshare, bus, shuttle, relocation cars and more. Compared with other current ride-sharing and carpooling startups, Jayride’s unique angle is to provide a single interface for finding all your transportation options, including commercial transport, and combining that data with the available ride-sharing options.
Website:
jayride.com.au
Update:
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Passengers booking transport via the new system every day in June.
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Average gross profit per booking is 1.8x the pre-launch forecast.
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Live bookings, with instant-confirmation had been added to the marketplace. Consumers can now instantly book tickets on selected transport (shared shuttle services).
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Since launch of live bookings, new suppliers onboarded per month has increased 2x, new router per supplier has increased 4x (8x increase in total new routes per month).
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Jayride is now the most technically advanced passenger transport inventory management system available for shared shuttles. This can be expanded over time to other transport modes.
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Passenger and supplier feedback about the new system is 100% positive.
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Beginning to approach investors for a second growth-phase capital raise
Recent Press:
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ModaUnica
Fund investment:
$150,000
Description:
a global brand management company designing or sourcing unique product for the pet market with licensed and proprietary brands.
Website:
modaunica.com.au
Update:
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Have signed the Master licence contract with RSPCA. This will allow ModaUnica to work closely with the RSPCA, a not for profit animal welfare organization, to develop branded product lines in a range of exciting new categories that will be complementary to their brand, brand positioning, suited for both pets and their owners.
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PawBag & ClawBag: The new website went live on the 24th of May
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Currently updating the site with extra functionality, including a new e-com store and 3 subscription options to increase sales.
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New blog page for PawBag/ClawBag is helping achieve 200 new email sign ups per week.
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Ran a successful promotional special for a $20 bag.
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Launching a new pricing structure starting from $19.50 to $39.50 with an upselling feature for other related products.
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We encourage all Sidecar Fund investors to purchase a PawBag or ClawBag for your (or your friends) pets
Recent Press:
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TheBestDay
Fund investment:
$131,488 (1st round)
$131,488 (2nd tranche if hurdles achieved
Description:
make plans happen - calculate the best day for your plan
Website:
Update:
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Design for the widget has been completed, enabling customised presentations to be made to the target partners.
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The 4 main target partners are Broadsheet, Sydney Dance Company, The Beast and MCA.
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These partners have a total of 500,000 monthly visitors and each partner was impressed and enthusiastic to proceed to the Proposal phase.
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The next presentations will be made to the following target partners: Good Food Guide, Stayz, The Nest (digital agency), Sydney Symphony, Thousands, Keystone, Merivale, Hooroo, Red Balloon and Spreets.
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Analytics have been added to the website to monitor each user's experience and has helped to identify specific improvements to be made.
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Some of the improvements completed in June included:
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Addition of Facebook Connect to enable sign-up with Facebook;
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Completed homepage with introduction to TBD’s benefits and features;
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New Dashboard for displaying and viewing a user’s plans; and
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Speeding up importing Facebook Contacts at sign-up to minimize the wait time on the Invitations page.
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DriveMyCar Rentals
Fund investment:
$130,000
Description:
an online community connecting car owners looking to earn some extra money by renting out their car, with drivers who are no longer prepared to pay high car rental costs and want more choice..
Website:
Update:
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has now achieved a cumulative total of over 125,000 car rental days (over the 3 years since launch).
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has recently relaunched access to short-term rentals (starting at 7 days minimum rental) through the DMCR marketplace platform and also finalising a membership program that enables car owners to obtain coverage through DMCR’s insurance coverage to provide greater flexibility in renting out vehicles by the owner.
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building additional sources of vehicle supplies as this remains the biggest constraint for the DMCR business.
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vehicle investors have shown strong interest in providing vehicles for medium and longer term rentals and therefore DMCR is also building relationships with parties who can specifically refer longer term rental opportunities to the DMCR platform.
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should you have a requirement for a car rental or know someone who may need a vehicle (or if you have a car that may be available to be rented out), please make sure you contact DMCR to support the business.
Recent Press:
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