Angel group invests in 35 firms
$17.4 million from Keiretsu in 2007
By JOHN COOK, P-I REPORTER

Recession? Mortgage meltdown? Stock market slump?
None of those factors affected the Keiretsu Forum Northwest, an angel investment group that doubled investment totals last year. The three-year-old group, with 154 members in Seattle, Portland and Boise, invested $17.4 million in 35 companies...

Keiretsu Forum Announces Second Year Milestones
Largest Angel Group Syndicate Fuels, Guides Area Start-ups

The Keiretsu Forum today announced that in just their second full year of operation in the northwest, over $17.4 million was raised from the Keiretsu Forum network of investors by thirty-five promising companies, including twenty-three from the Puget Sound region. This brings the total amount raise to just over $23.8 million by fifty-five companies since founding the first northwest chapter in the fall of 2005.

David W. Light Named CEO at PakSense

As a Keiretsu Forum angel investor in Silicon Valley, I was introduced to PakSense and felt that its technology and range of possible markets provided great potential for exponential growth

Keiretsu Forum Announces Palm Springs Angel Capital Expo Partners

Earth Class Mail raises $13.3M

Earth Class Mail's funding round was unusual not only in its size, but also because more than half of it was raised from angel investors from angel investment group Keiretsu Forum.

Keiretsu Forum Northwest Expansion Continues

Newest Angel Investment Chapter in Portland, Oregon Launches on January 11th

5 Questions with John Steuart

At a time when VC exits are few and far between, new-kid-on-the-block Claremont Creek Ventures has
recorded its first liquidity event this fall.

Keiretsu Forum donates 25k to Shepherd’s Gate

LAFAYETTE, CA – December 17, 2007 Keiretsu Forum announces its members’ charitable contribution to Shepherd’s Gate, a non-profit that provides a safe environment for women and children who are homeless because of abusive relationships, addictions, loss of financial support, and other factors.

Keiretsu Forum Announces Palm Springs Expo

Keiretsu Forum will hold its next Angel Capital Expo, which is organized in collaboration with Coachella Valley Angel Network (CVAN), on Monday, January 28 from 7:30am to 4:30pm at the University of California Riverside (UCR) campus in Palm Desert, CA.

Angel Capital Expo is a premier gathering of angel investors and entrepreneurs seeking funding capital to grow their businesses. More than 200 active and respected angel investors from California and across the United States will attend the event on January 28.

Keiretsu Forum members invest in Puroast Low Acid Coffee Organic, Fair Trade low acid coffee company closes second seed round

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Keiretsu Forum announces its members’ investment in Puroast® Low Acid Coffee, the Woodland, California-based company that manufactures the world’s only organic, fair trade coffee with 50% less acid than mainstream coffee brands.

Keiretsu Forum members invest in San Francisco-based LesConcierges World’s premier provider of global, concierge-supported loyalty services and solutions closes C Round

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Keiretsu Forum announces its members' investment in LesConcierges, the San Francisco-based company that offers premier global, concierge-supported loyalty services and solutions.

Startup Finds Suite Spot Marketing Sports to Business Startup finds suite spot marketing sports to
business

SILICON VALLEY / SAN JOSE BUSINESS JOURNAL

S.two is Keiretsu Forum Angel Capital Expo’s "Most Valued Company"
PEAK 15 and TIXEM earn top honors as well

More than 350 of the Bay Area’s most active and respected angel investors attended the Keiretsu Forum Fall Angel Capital Expo at Microsoft’s Northern California campus on Friday. The all-day event featured 12 company presentations, discussion and due diligence at company exhibition booths, a charitable auction, and the “Most Valued Company” competition, which capped off the day.

Keiretsu Forum Announces Silicon Valley Angel Capital Expo

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Keiretsu Forum, the world's largest angel investment community, will hold its second Northern California Angel Capital Expo on Friday, November 16 from 7:30am to 3:30pm at the Microsoft Campus in Mountain View, CA.

Keiretsu Forum Bay Area Expansion Continues--Newest Angel Investment Chapter to launch in North Bay, CA on October 24

San Francisco, CA — Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors will launch its fifteenth chapter, in the North Bay area of Northern California on October 24.

Claremont Creek's First Exit Reflects New Breed of VC Investing

San Jose, CA -- Claremont Creek Ventures' first liquidity event, the acquisition of PropertyBridge, Inc., a leading provider of electronic payment services to the residential real estate management industry, by MoneyGram International, Inc. (NYSE: MGI), closed today.

Keiretsu Forum International Chapter Expansion Continues--Newest Angel Investment Chapter to Launch in London

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors, will launch its fourteenth chapter in London on October 3.

Keiretsu Forum International Chapter Expansion Continues Into Spain -- Newest Angel Investment Chapter to Launch in Barcelona on October 1

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Keiretsu Forum, North America's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors, will launch its thirteenth chapter in Barcelona on October 1.

Keiretsu Forum and SDForum Cement Silicon Valley Partnership

SAN JOSE, CA-- Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest angel investment network, announced its official partnership with SDForum, the Bay Area's largest networking community of software developers and entrepreneurs.

Cleantech Investing

According to PEWW, secretive solar startup Sierra Nevada Solar has raised $4.5mm in financing. AlarmClock reports that the financing was provided by EarthBright, a San Francisco-based cleantech investment group funded and led by Jonathan Bonanno, chairman of the Cleantech Investment Committee of the Keiretsu Forum, as well as angel investor Ryan Scott.

Seattle's Propel Biofuels Closes Series A
By David Ehrlich

Seattle-based alternative fuel retailer Propel Biofuels announced this week that it raised $4.8 million in a Series A round. Propel provides turn-key solutions for gas station owners, offering all the equipment and fuel supply needed to begin selling biodiesel immediately, with no upfront cost to the station owner.

Sacramento Angels lead $1M investment
SACRAMENTO BUSINESS JOURNAL
By Mark Anderson, staff writer

The Sacramento Angels led a $1 million round investment into Visicon Inspection Technologies LLC in Napa. Visicon develops highly specialized inspection systems for manufacturing companies ranging from medical stent producers to metal fabricators. The Sacramento Angels invested with participation of The Angels Forum, the Sierra Angels and the Keiretsu Forum, a nationwide network of Angels, including many in Northern California.

Keiretsu Forum Sparks Canadian-Based Signalink's $3.4 Million A Round

Keiretsu Forum today announced its members' investment in Signalink, a Canadian company that has developed the technology to send multiple signals over the existing wiring infrastructure in any building. Signalink's suite of products can be used for fire protection, medical devices, building energy management, and security.

Bay Area women explore angel investing

San Francisco Business Times
About 100 women gathered in San Francisco June 21 to discuss how entrepreneurs can attract angel investors or become angel investors.

Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, PakSense, Raises $4.16 MM in Angel Funding
SAN FRANCISCO, CA- Keiretsu Forum, North America's largest angel investment community, today announced its members' investment in Idaho-based PakSense, a company that offers a temperature sensing label product line.

Telltale Tells of New Funding
By Herbert A. Sample
…The company received $500,000 in venture funding in the spring of 2005, and last year, it obtained an $825,000 bridge note from angel funder Keiretsu Forum.

Keiretsu Forum Members Invest $11.4 Million in Equastone Value Fund II
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest angel investment network with over 500 members, today announced its members' investment in Equastone Value Fund II (EVF II), a private equity real estate fund sponsored by San Diego-based Equastone. Forty-five Keiretsu Forum individual members invested a total of $11.43 million.

Financial Angels Band Together
By JAMES FLANIGAN-- …One Angel network, the Keiretsu Forum, founded seven years ago in Lafayette, Calif., east of San Francisco, has grown to 500 members in Colorado, Idaho and Washington as well as California. Keiretsu's size allows it to make larger investments, said Randy Williams, who started the group.

Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Banshee Riverboards, Raises $590,000 in Angel Funding
Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest angel investment community, today announced its members' investment in Idaho-based Banshee Riverboards, a company whose popular product, the Riverboard, rides over 400 ft of water at 30 miles per hour and has become one of the quickest new extreme sports categories in the United States.

Top Ten Tips for Entrepreneurs

By Ron Wiener, CEO
Earth Class Mail Corporation

Earth Class Mail Wins "Most Valuable Company" Award at Keiretsu Forum Angel Capital Expo
Earth Class Mail™, (www.EarthClassMail.com) a global service that delivers postal mail online, won the "Most Valuable Company" award at the inaugural Keiretsu Forum Angel Capital Expo in San Francisco this week. Keiretsu Forum is the largest North American angel network of accredited investor members. Its members have invested more than $100mm in since it was founded in 2000.

Keiretsu Forum's Angel Capital Expo Announces the Winner of the "Most Valued Company" Award
Keiretsu Forum, the largest angel investment network in North America, is celebrating the success of its first annual Angel Capital Expo at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, featuring 18 company presentations, one-on-one sessions between presenting companies, and over 400 Keiretsu Forum members and accredited investor guests.

Keiretsu cleantech contenders
By Dallas Kachan - If you're looking for investors for your cleantech company, consider presenting to the sort of people willing to pay $1,000 for a bottle of wine. More than 200 wealthy personal investors (including one who indeed paid $1,100 for vino at auction during one of the breaks) gathered in San Francisco today to listen to pitches from companies across a variety of sectors, including cleantech.

Business Firms vie for angels’ blessing
SAN FRANCISCO – The Examiner- Eighteen growing young companies competed Wednesday to wow more than 400 investors in an innovative “who’ll win the money” game where the prize was bragging rights and a chance to receive real funding.

Sneak Peak Into the Keiretsu Forum: Part II
The Angel Journal- At a recent meeting, former product design consultant Tom Jensen presented his company’s smart labels that monitor a package’s environmental conditions during shipping. Wine, for instance, “is one of the most abused perishable products shipped around the world,” he pointed out. PakSense Inc. labels, he claimed, would alert wineries to any temperature extremes that might ruin quality on the bottles’ way to stores.

Keiretsu Forum Bids on ‘Vice’ For Charity
This is Part 1 of a series on the Keiretsu Forum Coming up in the next edition of The Angel Journal: An Inside Peek Into Keiretsu Members and Deals

Keiretsu Forum chapter co-president Matthew LeMerle held up a bottle of 1995 Chateau D’Yquem, offering it up for auction with obvious reluctance.

Keiretsu Forum announces Angel Capital Expo Sponsors and Partners
Keiretsu Forum is proud to announce partners and sponsors for its inaugural Angel Capital Expo, which will be held on Wednesday, April 25 from 7:30am-7pm at the Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA.

Keiretsu Forum's US-China Bridge Supports Portfolio Company
Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Diamics, Raised $5 Million in Angel Funding, as Well as Signing $22 M Contract With Chinese Hospital Group

Angel investing grows almost 11% in 2006
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
The angel investor market saw total investments of $25.6 billion last year, up 10.8 percent from 2005, according to the 2006 Angel Market Analysis released Monday by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire.

Killing fungi softly, with ozone
Oxygen is cheap and plentiful--and a company in Livermore, Calif., is using it to kill pests on your fruit. By Michael Kanellos Oxygen--it's the ultimate weapon, at least according to Novazone. The Livermore, Calif.-based company has developed systems that kill fungi and other microorganisms on vegetables, fruit and in bottled drinks without altering appearance or taste.

Keiretsu Forum Gears Up for New Chapter Launch in the Mile-High City

Keiretsu Forum announced the formation of its twelfth chapter, to be launched March 27th in Denver.

Document Command Closes $2.84M Funding Round – Remote Control Mail Allows Customers to Access Postal Mail

Online The Remote Control Mail service gives people a way to access their postal mail from anywhere in the world - at any time - via email. It's changing the way people receive their postal mail, much like mobile phones did for telephone calls. The company has just closed a $2.84M convertible note financing round. Keiretsu Forum Angels provided majority of funding.

Taxis To Go Hybrid

Cleantech Innovation Institute develops hybrid program, CalPERS commits $400 million to cleantech, and San Francisco announcement expected. The Cleantech Venture Network said Wednesday it is working to convert taxis to hybrids, in a move that it says could save $50 billion in fuel costs over a decade and slash smog in cities.

Keiretsu Forum Angels Invest in First Angel-Backed Autism Business

Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Animated Speech Corp., Raises $250,000 in Series C Round Funding Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors, today announced its investment in Animated Speech Corp., the pioneer creators of software-based language learning tools for children with speech and language impairments.

Organic To Go raises $4.7M, goes public
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

Seattle restaurant chain Organic To Go Inc. said it raised $4.7 million in a private placement of stock and now is a publicly traded company on the over-the-counter bulletin board. In September, Organic To Go was one of 10 Northwest companies to share in $6.2 million in funding from the Seattle chapter of the national angel investor network Keiretsu Forum.

Keiretsu Forum Invests In CleverSet
Keiretsu Forum Backs CleverSet in Latest Funding Round

Members of the Keiretsu Forum Northern California chapters participated in CleverSet's recently announced angel round of $2 million. CleverSet is the leading provider of merchandise recommendations services...

Keiretsu Forum Angels Fund Remote Control Mail
Document Command Raises $2.8M in Series A Convertible Note Round Funding

Keiretsu Forum today announced the investment of its members in Document Command, whose invention Remote Control Mail™ does for postal mail what cell phones did for telephone calls -- a technological feat which now allows people to receive and manage their postal mail remotely, from anywhere in the world, 24x7, without having to be at their office or home to do it. Document Command has received commitments for $2.8M in convertible note debt financing. The note will convert into a $10M Series A round...

Boise-Sun Valley Angel Investor group becomes official

In November, the largest angel investor network in the country gave Boise a taste of how their normal forums work by having an event. It was as well attended and well received as the event held in Sun Valley over the summer. After the strong response, the Boise-Sun Valley Keiretsu Forum chapter was officially setup as reported in the Idaho Business Review.

Keiretsu Forum Angels Especially Love Funding Chocolate
Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Charles Chocolates, Raises $1.3M in Series A Round Funding

Keiretsu Forum today announced the investment of its members in Charles Chocolates, the Emeryville-based Super-Premium Chocolate Company whose dedication to artisanal methods and all natural ingredients is redefining the world of fine chocolate confections.

Charles Chocolates has closed on $1.3M in equity funding of its Series A round of $1.5M, with members of the Keiretsu Forum Northern California chapters staking the round. The funding will enable Charles Chocolates to scale its manufacturing demand to meet the surging premium chocolate demand the brand has garnered in the Market.

Keiretsu Forum Angels Fund Fashion With Investment in Chelsey Henry
Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Chelsey Henry, Raises $1.2M in Series B Round Funding

Keiretsu Forum today announced its investment in Chelsey Henry, the niche-brand of stylish totes, now partnered with The Apple Stores, Sony, Canyon Ranch and QVC.

Chelsey Henry has closed on $1.2M in equity funding of its Series B round of $1.6M, with members of the Keiretsu Forum Northern California and Seattle chapters leading the round.

Keiretsu Forum Angels Skate With Radius 8 Investment
Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, Radius 8, Raises $750,000 in Series A Round Funding

Keiretsu Forum, the nation's largest investment community of private equity (angel) investors, VCs and corporate investors, today announced its investment in Radius 8, Inc., the renowned designer in innovative Action Sport products to the USA and international skateboarding market.

Radius 8 has closed its Series A round with $750,000 in equity funding, with members of the Keiretsu Forum Northern California chapters leading the round.

Keiretsu Forum Takes NextSport to the Next Level
Keiretsu Forum Portfolio Company, NextSport, Raises $700,000 in Series B Round Funding

Keiretsu Forum today announced its investment in NextSport, a San Francisco Bay Area company nationally acclaimed for its high-tech action scooters.

NextSport has closed its Series B round with $700,000 in equity funding, with members of the Keiretsu Forum Northern California chapters leading the round.

Robert Arnold and Family Honored with National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion

Secretary of State Sam Reed will present Robert Arnold today with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Medallion, the highest award the Office of the Secretary of State presents....Mr. Robert Arnold will be presented with the NASS Medallion at a private reception in Seattle organized by The Protocol Foundation and Keiretsu Forum and attended by other business and civic leaders.

Investor group expands into Boise
Idaho Business News
by Eddie Kovsky

Keiretsu Forum, one of the largest networks of angel investors in North America, is opening a chapter in Boise.

The Keiretsu Forum Boise/Sun Valley will hold its first meeting Jan. 18, at the Hillcrest Country Club...

Keiretsu Forum establishes Beijing chapter
San Francisco Business Times
Keiretsu Forum, the angel-investor network based in Lafayette, said Monday that it created a chapter in Beijing, signaling the growth of angel investing around the globe.

A delegation of Keiretsu Forum members traveled to China to attend the new chapter's opening ceremonies and inaugural meeting...

Organic to Go Acquires Vinaigrettes Full Spectrum Catering of Los Angeles

Organic To Go (O To Go), the nation’s first certified organic café and corporate meal delivery service, announced the purchase of Vinaigrettes Full Spectrum Catering of Los Angeles, Calif. Terms were not disclosed.

Vinaigrettes is a 10-year-old, 40-employee company with sales of approximately $2.5 million per year. It provides business catering services, ranging from corporate box lunches to lavish Hollywood events.

Organic To Go chain ponders an IPO as it moves to double in size
Taking root
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)
by Jeanne Lang JonesStaff Writer

Seattle's Organic To Go cafe chain plans to more than double its number of stores and revenue next year, thanks to a new bridge loan from backers that include Dave Smith, co-founder of the Smith & Hawken garden goods chain.

The planned growth spurt has founder Jason Brown for the first time mulling taking the company public in the first half of 2007. A serial entrepreneur, Brown originally had planned to sell the business in 2007.

Venture Capital: Startups reach into some deep pockets
By JOHN COOK
P-I REPORTER

Seattle wireless startups continue to gobble up venture capital dollars.

The latest to attract funds include Pelago and Ontela, both of which raised multimillion- dollar rounds from some deep- pocketed and well- known venture capital firms.....

Keiretsu Forum Announces First Forum in Boise
Sun Valley Online (Ketchum, ID) - October 30, 2006

Boise Angel Alliance invites area investors to see Keiretsu Forum in action

October 30, 2006 -- As a next step in moving forward with establishing a Keiretsu Forum chapter in the Boise/Sun Valley area, the Keiretsu Forum announced today they are hosting a forum to provide an opportunity for Boise Angel Alliance members and other Boise and Sun Valley area investors to see the Keiretsu Forum in action and gain a better understanding of the benefits of formalizing a chapter in the region.....

Angels' bestow $6.2M on 10 NW firms
By Eric Engleman Staff Writer
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle)

Members of the new Seattle chapter of the national angel investor network Keiretsu Forum have invested in 10 Pacific Northwest companies and two California companies since the chapter launched a year ago, the group said.

Keiretsu did not break out the Seattle member investments, but said the ten Pacific Northwest companies attracted a total of $6.2 million from Keiretsu's national network of angel investors.....

Keiretsu Forum Northwest Announces First Year Milestones; One-of-a-Kind Angel Group Invests in, Guides Area Start-ups

The Charter Members of the Seattle/Northwest chapter of the Keiretsu Forum (www.keiretsuforum.com), the nation's largest Angel Investor group, today announced that in just their first year of operation they have invested in twelve promisi