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Latest News
The Sydney Angels Sidecar Fund has made 2 new investments in 2013 in startups including TheBestDay and Ingogo. There is also a strong pipeline of new deals which is a sign of the increasing amount of activity being witnessed in the Sydney startup eco-system.
With the portfolio of the Sydney Angel Sidecar Fund continuing to grow we have adjusted the format of this newsletter. Rather than attempting to capture all the information that is provided by the investee companies, the newsletter will capture key highlights. More detailed information on the portfolio companies is available for individual investors via the Proto Investment Partners website. Each investor should have a log on and password to access the companies information and updates. If you do not have your access details please contact Sarina Lissenburg on (030) 9288 9402.
Sydney Angels Deal Pipeline
The next Sydney Angels members meeting is scheduled for 5.30pm Tuesday 9 April with 3-4 startups presenting at the Union, University & Schools Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney. The deals that will be presenting will be selected from two recent deal screening meetings held on the 26th March and 2nd April. Companies reviewed at these meetings included:
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Muzeek - a better way to book artists, venues and everyone in between
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CentreWicket - Cricket coaching, management, statistics and trends
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Pocketbook - Personal finance made simpler, smarter and secure
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ANPR Online - cost effective, cloud-based Automatic Number Plate Recognition system
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Legal Vision - cost-effective and easy-to-use legal services
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BugCrowd - Crowdsourced security vulnerability testing.
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Goodcall - A non-creepy, transparent Marketplace for tele sales people.
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Kinderloop - Instagram for child care.
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TutoronDemand - Great education = Great Teachers.
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Shiftr - Simply swap work shifts.
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7pmAnywhere - Online Dating shouldn’t be like flicking through a catalogue.
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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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Number of registered players has increased to over 1.5M
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Continuing to work with partners/affiliate deals to increase conversion of paid members
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Released first mobile game Jetpack Jinx. Download now for iOS or Android
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Is making its virtual world framework available to select third party brands and IP owners. Currently shortlisted for a valuable tender proposal.
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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The new Ninja Block Kit improves on the company’s original offering by supporting off the shelf wireless sensors and actuators.
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This includes new wireless motion sensors, contact sensors, door bells and temperature and humidity sensors. More sensors and actuators, including remote control power sockets and energy monitoring devices, will be available soon.
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The new Ninja Kit is $199 including four sensors. Additional sensors will retail for $5 to $15.
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 is currently undergoing an internal review to determine recapitalisation strategy to maximise ongoing tour and media opportunities
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The directors and management will provide an update on their strategy during April
Recent Press:
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StageBitz
Fund investment:
$50,000 (1st round)
$50,000 (2nd tranche if hurdles 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
Update:
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Co-investment with venture capital fund ANU Connect Ventures Discovery Translation Fund
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Current customers include Bell Shakespeare, NIDA, Central School of Speech & Drama and Belvoir Theatre
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Inventory system is now live and includes recent releases such as payment system, multiple file types and Uservoice integration.
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Upcoming releases will include major improvements to project management tool, the Company Inventory tool and the Item Sharing pilot program
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New branding and website has been released
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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The Sidecar Fund participated in a follow-on round (individual Sydney Angels had invested in Ingogo prior to the Fund's launch)
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Download app for iOS and Android
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Other new investors in this follow on round include Alison Deans, Daniel Petrie
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Rolling out payment system device + printer
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Have hired 4 new sales staff to market direct to taxi drivers with language expertise in Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi and Gujrathi
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Piloting corporate system with a number of key corporate customers
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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Was awarded a $609K grant from Commercialisation Australia in December
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Commercialisation Australia funding will allow Controlabill to undertake customer pilot programmes and conduct initial go to market activities including prototyping, pre-launch client trials, building of sales and support expertise, and hiring of an experienced CEO.
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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Unique Visitors growth continues to forecast 20% increase month-on-month, now consistently over 1,000 visits per day in Australia.
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New largest $-value Transport customers now signed. Average deal size continues to increase.
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New largest $-value Solution customers now signed. Average deal size continues to increase.
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Largest successful single rideshare partnership, nets 600+ successful ride matches
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Potential transport distribution development currently stalled seeking extra revenue from customers to finance the technical build. A number of potential customers are lined up once development is completed.
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Significant technical enhancements to the Jayride platform, adding new transport schema and repository, support for new transport modes, enhancements for more scalability, more self-service tools, enhanced information display, on pages for higher conversion rates to book.
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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Co-investment with venture capital firm MH Carnegie & Co.
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Close to finalising RSPCA master licensor contract
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Completed initial sales in Italy for Fiorucci licensed pet line
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Paw Bag and Claw Bag surprises for pets performing well with 20%+ month on month growth since launch
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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Co-investment with venture capital firm One Ventures (who invested $500K)
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Developing and taking to market a social planning tool for the web and phone that makes it easy for a group to agree on details of an activity, including time and place.
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For users, TBD provides a free social planning tool, available online for desktop and mobile and as a phone app.
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For businesses, TBD provides a platform to make planning easier for their target customers. A business can add a customised PLAN widget to their website and will be able to promote plan suggestions to targeted TBD users potentially securing revenue from these valuable group bookings.
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TBD's vision is to be the global platform for users to make plans happen and for businesses to connect with potential customers based on what they are planning to do.
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Finalising team and moving into offices
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Will launch updated version of product in coming months
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