Index Ventures

Skype Creators Seek Injunction Against Former Joost CEO Volpi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 15, 2009 - 9:00am.
Wilmington, Del. - The creators of peer-to-peer services Kazaa, Skype and Joost have asked a federal court for an injunction against former Joost CEO Mike Volpi and Index Ventures, where he is now a partner, to prevent them from using trade secrets in their bid to acquire Skype from eBay. Developers Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis allege that Volpi breached his duties to Joost while employed there by dangling a prospective workaround -- that would eliminate the need for Skype to use Zennstrom's and Friis' peer-to-peer technology -- to investors looking to acquire Skype from eBay (NASD: EBAY).

Skype Creators Sue Former Joost CEO Volpi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 18, 2009 - 10:14am.
Wilmington, Del. - The creators of Skype, Kazaa and Joost and their related companies have filed suit against former Joost CEO and chairman Mike Volpi and Index Ventures Management, alleging breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets, among other claims. The plaintiffs include Joltid, the company owned by Skype, Kazaa and Joost creators Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom; Joost US Inc.; and Joost N.V.

eBay Sells 65% Stake in Skype to Investor Group for $1.9B

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 1, 2009 - 7:12am.
Menlo Park, Calif. - Online auction giant eBay (NASD: EBAY) announced on Tuesday that it has agreed to sell a majority 65% stake in its Skype Internet telephone unit to an investor group led by Silver Lake for about $1.9 billion in cash. Other members of the investor group include Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The deal values Skype at $2.75 billion.

Former Joost CEO Mike Volpi Lands At Index Ventures

Authored by Jay Baage on July 6, 2009 - 10:55am.
London - Index Ventures today announced that Mike Volpi, until recently CEO of the online video platform Joost, has joined the firm as a partner. Volpi will be based in the London office as part of the venture team where he will lead early stage investments in the Internet, telecom/networking and media sectors and contribute to the firm’s later stage growth fund, according to a press release.

Mobile Payments Firm Boku Raises $13 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 16, 2009 - 8:12am.
San Francisco - Boku, a provider of mobile micropayment services, announced on Tuesday that it has closed a $13 million round of venture capital funding, led by Benchmark Capital.

Online Ad Server Firm OpenX Lands $10 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 26, 2009 - 8:24am.
Pasadena, Calif. - OpenX Technologies, an independent ad server for Web publishers, announced on Tuesday that it has raised a $10 million third round of financing, led by DAG Ventures.

Media-Sharing Platform DoubleTwist Lands $5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 7, 2009 - 9:08am.
San Francisco - DoubleTwist, the developer of a platform for media-sharing across all devices, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $5 million in its second round of funding.

Viagogo Gets $15 Million for European Ticket Marketplace

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 5, 2009 - 5:00am.

London - Viagogo, the operator of an online secondary ticket exchange in Europe, announced that it has raised $15 million in its fourth round of funding, from investors including tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, and return backer Index Ventures.

Songkick Lands $4.65 Million for Concert Recommendations

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 8, 2009 - 10:18am.

London - Songkick, the developer of a local concert recommendation engine, has raised $4.65 million of an anticipated $7.17 million first round of venture capital financing, VentureWire reported.

Teen and Tween Virtual World Stardoll Hits 20 Million Users

Authored by Jay Baage on August 14, 2008 - 11:04am.

Stockholm, Sweden – Stardoll, a teen and tween social-networking and doll dress-up community, announced on Thursday that it has reached 20 million registered members. This means that Stardoll has doubling its membership in just under a year, having announced the 10 million member milestone on August 23rd, 2007.

European Tech Publisher Bestofmedia Group Gets $35 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 10, 2008 - 10:10am.

Paris - Bestofmedia Group, a European technology publishing company, announced on Thursday that it has received a $35 million investment from Index Ventures.

WooMe Raises $12.5 Million for Online Video Dating Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 13, 2008 - 6:38am.

San Francisco - WooMe, an online video dating service that utilizes webcams, announced this week that it has landed a $12.5 million second round of financing, led by Index Ventures with participation from return backers Atomico and Mangrove Capital Partners.

Content Delivery Network Panther Express Lands $15.75 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 27, 2008 - 8:10am.

New York - Panther Express, a provider of digital content delivery network services, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $15.75 million in second round funding, led by Index Ventures.

Online Ad Network Adconion Lands $80 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 25, 2008 - 7:29am.

New York - Adconion Media Group, a European online ad network, announced on Monday that it has closed an $80 million third round of funding, led by Index Ventures and existing investor Wellington Partners.

TrialPay Lands $12.7 Million for Alternative Payment Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 20, 2008 - 8:26am.

Mountain View, Calif. - TrialPay, a provider of alternative payment technology that offers free products and services when consumers agree to accept advertising, has raised $12.7 million in its second round of funding.

'DVD Jon' Raises Funds for Media-sharing Firm DoubleTwist

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 19, 2008 - 10:57am.

San Francisco - DoubleTwist, a start-up launched by notorious Norwegian hacker Jon Lech Johansen (aka DVD Jon) and partner Monique Farantzos, on Monday announced the launch of its platform for media-sharing and the closing of a first round of venture capital financing, from Index Ventures and Northzone Ventures.

Personalized Recommendations Provider Criteo Gets $10.3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 16, 2008 - 8:13am.

Paris - Criteo, a provider of personalize purchasing recommendations for online shoppers, has raised $10.3 million in its second round of venture capital financing, led by Index Ventures.

Openads Gets $15.5 Million for Open Source Ad Server Software

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 16, 2008 - 7:41am.

London - Openads, a developer of free, open source ad server software, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $15.5 million in its second round of financing, led by Accel Partners.

TV Set-top Box Developer "Building B" Raises $17.5 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 20, 2007 - 10:53am.

Belmont, Calif. - "Building B," a start-up that is developing a set-top box that will deliver an on-demand video entertainment platform and service, announced on Monday that it has raised $17.5 million in its first round of venture capital financing.

U.K. Online Ticket Marketplace Viagogo Raises $30 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 7, 2007 - 10:15am.

London - Viagogo, a U.K.-based online ticket reseller, has raised $30 million in its third round of funding, from investors including Index Ventures, LVMH chairman Bernard Arault, German media mogul Herbert Kloiber, and international financier Jacob Rothschild.