Investment enables
market leading digital signage solutions provider to broaden its platform and
expand its services to meet market requirements.
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (March 24, 2010) – Minicom Advanced Systems, a
developer of remote access, KVM, and digital signage solutions, today announced
that it would spinout its digital signage division
(“MDS”). The new company simultaneously announced that it had raised $6 million
to finance its operations independently. The investment, which was led by
Jerusalem Venture Partners and joined by Aviv Ventures, will enable the company
to broaden its platform from its new offices in Jerusalem’s JVP Media Quarter.
MDS is a leading
vendor of media distribution solutions for the Digital Signage and Digital out
of Home (DooH) marketplace. According to MDS’ CEO, Ronni Guggenheim, “This
investment is the natural next step in MDS’ lifecycle. The support of our
investors positions us to explore inorganic growth options and to drive the
acceleration of our product roadmap towards the establishment of MDS as a full
scale enabling platform in the digital signage market.”
MDS’ technology is
currently deployed on over 400,000 screens worldwide, and facilitates the
distribution of content to consumers in retail, education, finance, transportation,
and hospitality environments. In addition to the company’s headquarters in
Israel, MDS has offices in the UK, Switzerland, and the US in order to meet the
localized needs of its customers.
Gadi Tirosh,
General Partner at JVP, explains that “MDS, with its seasoned leadership,
global footprint, and strong operating history from within Minicom, is poised
to build a broader platform in this growing but still fragmented market.” JVP
typically invests in businesses that apply technology acumen towards the
development of new media models, and with its investment in MDS, now enters
another segment of traditional media that is on the verge of digitization.
About Minicom
Advanced Systems
Minicom Advanced Systems provides KVM
remote access, extension and management solutions designed to expedite and
simplify IT services. Tailored for IT managers who need secure, centralized,
and seamless access to their mixed IT environments, these solutions enable
local, remote, in-band and out-of-band access and management. Minicom's unique
approach maximizes past investments in IT infrastructure, installation, and
training while adding innovative technology, resulting in reduced costs and
increased productivity.
Founded in 1988, Minicom
is a member of Intel Capital's portfolio of companies. In 2009, Minicom
established Minicom Digital Signage. With headquarters in Israel and regional
offices in North America, Europe and China, Minicom operates in over 70
countries.
About Minicom Digital Signage
Minicom Digital Signage is the
world leader in the manufacture of advanced multimedia platforms. The company’s
award winning solutions enable the transmission of rich content from media players
to multiple digital displays located hundreds of meters/feet away. They also
keep network costs down by reducing equipment and licensing requirements, and
better preserving its customers’ systems. Today, over 400,000 screens worldwide
are run on Minicom Digital Signage technology. Minicom Digital Signage began as
a subsidiary of Minicom Advanced Systems, which has over two decades of
experience in providing innovative technology solutions in the manufacture of
media distribution and digital out of home multimedia platforms.
About JVP
JVP is one of the leading venture capital
funds in Israel. The fund operates from Jerusalem and manages over $780
million. JVP focuses on building market leaders in the fields of digital media
technology, including gaming and virtual worlds, mobile media, software and
hardware applications and Internet advertising. With leading industry venture
partners and consultants in New York, Los Angeles and Europe and an
international network of strategic partners, JVP leverages its unique market
expertise, its dedicated management team and substantial capital base to build
companies with the potential of shaping the global markets.
About Aviv Ventures
Aviv Ventures invests in Israel
related technology companies, with a focus on companies providing
"high-tech solutions to low-tech industries". The fund seeks to
invest in revenue stage companies as they transform themselves from R&D
centric organizations into globally oriented companies with customer facing
operations. Aviv helps its portfolio companies to bridge geographical and
professional gaps as they grow and develop from Israel to world markets.
