Capstar Ventures Raises $41.3 Million Inaugural Fund to Invest in Innovative Consumer Companies

Capstar Ventures L.P., an early-stage venture capital firm, announced last week that it has closed on its $41.3 million inaugural fund. The Austin-based VC firm founded by Kathryn Cavanaugh in 2019, invests nationwide in innovative consumer companies. Capstar raised the fund from individuals, family offices, and institutions including Capital Creek Partners, Tiger Partners L.P., and […]

From a Cold Email to an IPO: DISCO, a Story of Domain Strength, Grit, Collaboration, and Serendipity

By Krishna Srinivasan, Chairman of the Board, DISCO and co-Founding Partner, LiveOak Venture Partners In October 2013, we received a cold email – it had all the elements on first glance that begged to be ignored.  The email came from a person named “CeCe” who talked about a founder called “Kiwi” and a company called “DISCO” […]

Austin-based Telestax Lands $4.7 Million in VC Funding

Telestax announced this week it has raised $4.7 million in funding. Austin-based LiveOak Venture Partners led the funding round. The company plans to use the money on product development, customer support and marketing. “We are thrilled to bring Telestax into our portfolio of promising companies. The exceptional team, high-value technology and resulting customer adoption of […]

YouEarnedIt Gets $1.5 Million in Seed Stage Funding

YouEarnedIt, a startup focused on helping companies reward employees, has received $1.5 million in seed stage funding, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company received the funding from Capital Factory, an Austin-based incubator and accelerator of tech companies led by Joshua Baer and advertising giant WPP PLC, according to the article. The Greater Austin […]

Compare Metrics Snags $3.8 Million in Follow-On Venture Capital

Austin-based Compare Metrics, which makes analytics software aimed at retailers, announced that is has received $3.8 million in follow-on venture capital. Austin Ventures led the investment with additional funding by existing investors Julie Allegro of Allegro Venture Partners, Bob Greene of Contour Ventures, Capital Factory, Mike Maples Jr. of Floodgate, Brett Hurt of Hurt Family […]

StepOne Closes on $ 4 Million in Venture Capital

StepOne, an Austin-based startup that makes customer support software, announced that it secured $4 million in venture capital. LiveOak Venture Partners led the round with participation from Silverton Partners. The company plans to use the money to add employees and to expand sales and marketing efforts. StepOne has already landed Telstra, Australia’s largest telecomm company, […]

Funded in Austin…or Not at SXSW

By SUSAN LAHEY Reporter with Silicon Hills News In many ways, Written’s Josh Kerr was the poster child for how one gets funding in Austin at the Funded in Austin panel at SXSW Tuesday afternoon. Kerr spoke glowingly of the help, support and advice he got from Capital Factory. He talked about building relationships with […]

SpareFoot Raises $10 Million More in Funding

The fun loving startup, SpareFoot that has created the nation’s largest online storage marketplace, has just raised $10 million in venture capital from Insight Venture Partners. Austin-based SpareFoot has raised $26 million since its founding in 2008. New York-based Insight Venture Partners provided $22 million of those funds. Its other major investors include Capital Factory, […]

Tips for Startups on Raising Old Money and Crowdfunding

Old real estate and oil money in town invested in San Antonio’s Rackspace early on, said Stephanie Chandler, partner with Jackson-Walker. It was one of the first cases of old San Antonio money backing a startup technology venture here, she said. Now with Geekdom, a technology incubator and accelerator in downtown San Antonio, the goal […]

LiveOak Venture Partners Sees Lots of Quality Startup Deals in Austin and Texas

By LAURA LOREK Founder of Silicon Hills News Right now is the best time to be in the venture capital business in Austin. In 2000, during the Dot Com boom, an enormous amount of money flowed into companies even though they did not have viable ideas and were also not disciplined with spending money, said […]