Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers Announce $5 Million Investment in New Discovery Service for Online Retail and Media
Aggregate Knowledge Revolutionizes How Consumers Discover and Purchase Online
Menlo Park, CA—December 11, 2006—Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (KPCB) announced today a $5 million Series A investment in Aggregate Knowledge, the leader in Discovery Services for retail and media sites. Aggregate Knowledge’s Discovery Services are now commercially available.
Discovery is when something unexpected, yet surprisingly relevant, manages to find you. Unlike Search where consumers begin an inquiry with specific words, Discovery presents related items based on the behavior of others on a site. Amazon and Netflix realize significant revenues from their proprietary Discovery systems.
“Discovery is the next major category on the Internet, because it solves the problem of presenting consumers content and products they will engage with,” said Randy Komisar, KPCB partner. “Aggregate Knowledge is harnessing the wisdom of crowds to deliver additional revenue to retail and media sites. Their technology and business model advantages will make them the leader in this new category.”
“Whether on a media or retail site, customers know they’re certainly not the first person to have read a specific story or have liked a particular product,” said Paul Martino, founder, President and CEO of Aggregate Knowledge. “By tapping into the collective behavior of site visitors, our Discovery Services enable consumers to quickly identify products and content which they will find most interesting.”
Unlike enterprise software that takes months to deploy, Aggregate Knowledge is a real-time Web 2.0 service that deploys in days and offers customers a performance-based pricing model.
About Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Since its founding in 1972, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has backed entrepreneurs in 475 ventures, including AOL, Align, Amazon.com, Citrix, Compaq Computer, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Genomic Health, Google, Hybritech, IDEC Pharmaceuticals, Intuit, Juniper Networks, Netscape, Lotus, Nuvasive, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Verisign and Xilinx. KPCB portfolio companies employ more than 250,000 people. More than 150 of the firm's portfolio companies have gone public. Many other ventures have achieved success through mergers and acquisitions. KPCB has broadly invested in both life sciences and information technology since inception in 1972. In the last six years, KPCB has expanded its focus to include Greentech and pandemic preparedness.
About Aggregate Knowledge
Aggregate Knowledge provides the Pique Discovery Network. The Pique Discovery Network connects consumers to the hottest products, hidden content gems, and coolest items from industry leading retailers and media companies. Pique Discovery Network companies improve engagement and sales conversions, create new revenue opportunities and deliver differentiated experiences on their web sites. Aggregate Knowledge was recently acknowledged as an AlwaysOn Media 100 winner, a Supernova Connected Innovator and was selected as a “Ones to Watch” company by Dealmaker Media. Aggregate Knowledge is funded by premier venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, DAG Ventures and First Round Capital.
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Media Contact:
Krause Taylor Associates for Aggregate Knowledge
Barbara Krause
408 918-9081 direct
408 918-9080 main
barbara@krause-taylor.com
For Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (KPCB)
Randy Komisar
650 233-2750
randyk@kpcb.com
Aggregate Knowledge, the Aggregate Knowledge logo, Aggregate Knowledge Discovery, Pique, Pique Discovery Network, Pique Onsite, Pique Multi-Site, Pique Email, Pique Affiliate, Pique Discovery Engine, and the Pique Discovery Window are trademarks of Aggregate Knowledge Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. All other company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. All statements regarding plans, directions, and intent of Aggregate Knowledge are subject to change without notice.
