WebVisible Closes $20 Million Series C Financing

Global Leader in Local Interactive Advertising Doubled in Size in 2009, Plans Aggressive Expansion of Technology and Sales Force in 2010

IRVINE, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2010) – Continuing a streak of robust growth that defies nearly every economic trend, WebVisible (www.webvisible.com) today announced it has secured $20 million in financing, in a Series C round led by Focus Ventures and Adams Street Partners. Existing investors Redpoint Ventures and Sutter Hill Ventures also participated.

The company made the announcement from the Search Engine Strategies 2010 Conference & Expo, held in London through Feb. 19.  WebVisible CEO Kirsten Mangers is taking part in the State of the U.K. Industry Keynote Panel discussion, held today.

The funding comes after a year of vigorous growth for the company, which saw a 113 percent year-over-year increase in revenues for 2009.  The company’s award-winning technology platform manages interactive advertising campaigns for small to mid-size businesses around the world. 

"To achieve that kind of growth during one of the most tumultuous years in rece nt history shows the strength of the company and the vibrancy of the industry sector," said Steven Bird, General Partner, Focus Ventures.  "Local interactive is the emerging market right now, and WebVisible is already a dominant force in helping small and mid-size businesses forge a strong presence online – exactly where their customers are."

"WebVisible has eight years of experience as a leader in local online advertising, a proven scalable platform able to serve the needs of merchants around the world, and a forward-thinking leader who has walked the talk," said Dave Welsh, Partner, Adams Street Partners.  "WebVisible is well-positioned for continued growth." 

"Consumers search for products and services at a variety of different times and in a host of different ways," said Greg Martin, Partner, Redpoint Ventures. "WebVisible has proven itself the multichannel, multimedia, multi-device platform to help local merchants be found, no matter how or where their potential customers are looking. The company truly has differentiated itself as the long-term winner in the space."

BIA and The Kelsey Group project the interactive share of local ad spending will grow from $14 billion in 2008 to $32.1 billion in 2013.   

WebVisible will use the Series C financing to aggressively expand R&D to further enhance its flagship Geneva Technology Platform, and to grow the company’s sales channels worldwide.

WebVisible makes it easy for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) to be found online by consumers searching for their products or services – whether they’re searching from home, office, car or mobile.

The company’s advertising products are powered by its Geneva Technology Platform, which was named 2008 Internet Product of the Year by TechAmerica, formerly the American Electronics Association. Geneva buys advertising space across a variety of media, so WebVisible’s customers get the most effective, local, targeted advertising for their money – whether their goal is to generate foot traffic, website visits or phone calls.

"It’s our job to give companies a visible presence online, to make sure they can be found when potential customers are searching," said Mangers. "Our success tells me we’ve hit a sweet spot – the right technology meeting an urgent need.  Business owners shouldn’t have to spend their time managing multiple online marketing campaigns. We handle everything so they can focus on running their businesses."

About WebVisible, Inc.

WebVisible makes it easy for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) to be found online, where and how customers are looking. The leading provider of local online marketing products and services since 2001, WebVisible was among the first to pioneer the use of search as a reliable, measurable avenue to connect directly with a buyer’s needs. The company has helped more than 100,000 SMB customers from more than 3,000 industries in 14 countries to create innovative and accountable Internet advertising campaigns.  SMBs partner with WebVisible directly and through its many partner companies, including Intuit, AT&T, British Telecom and The New York Times Company.  WebVisible is based in Irvine, Calif.  For more information, visit www.webvisible.com or call (949) 502-5757.

Media Contact

Ken Greenberg
Edge Communications, Inc.
818/990-5001
ken@edgecommunicationsinc.com