RezVen Partners Announces New Early-Stage Fund to Accelerate Innovative Technology Startups

NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 18, 2015) -  RezVen Partners (RVP), a premier early-stage venture capital firm, today announced a new $50 million dollar fund dedicated to growing technology companies that demonstrate significant potential for reshaping the software and digital and social media landscapes. The fund is being raised through a combination of new and existing investors with deep entrepreneurial experience and prolific business careers in both the public and private sectors. Anderee Berengian and Jim Davis will be managing partners, bringing rich digital experience from years of leading teams at some of the most successful digital startups, including Overture, Yahoo! and eBay.

The fund will be advised by Brad Martin, Stephanie Horbaczewski and Tamim Mourad, who are working to disrupt traditional models through digital technologies. Brad Martin served as Chairman and CEO of Saks Inc., during its critical growth phase; Stephanie Horbaczewski is the founder and CEO of StyleHaul, a company dedicated to solving content marketing at scale; and, Tamim Mourad was the founder and CEO of PriceGrabber.com.

"I have always been passionate about the endless innovation that technology brings to both consumers and businesses," said Anderee Berengian, Managing Director at RVP. "We have the opportunity to raise technology's next generation of leaders. It is our core belief that entrepreneurs benefit from an infusion of capital, as well as having access to strategic advice from those who have walked in their shoes and can provide tangible resources to support their goals and objectives. This fund represents only the beginning of our firm's vision to create technologies that provide utility and solve real-world problems."

For this new fund, RezVen Partners plans to select disruptive technology companies and take a truly hands-on approach, helping its entrepreneurs navigate the initial challenges of a high-growth, early-stage company. This ranges from accelerating revenues through focused business development and sales efforts to setting up internal technology platforms. To support portfolio needs, RVP lends vital operational resources to accelerate growth, from administration staff to senior C-level technical officers. Additionally, core to RVP's advisory board members' value is providing as-needed support to help startups tackle a wide range of challenges.

RezVen Partners' past portfolio companies such as StyleHaul, CloudTrigger and Cramster, have gained significant success transforming their respective industries through RVP's dedicated, hands-on support. For example, RVP helped StyleHaul, the multichannel network for fashion and beauty enthusiasts, evaluate a potential acquisition by working closely with CEO Stephanie Horbaczewski to conduct due diligence and lead the company's deal negotiations. In addition, RVP spearheaded StyleHaul's technology development efforts. As a result of StyleHaul's growth and value proposition as well as its technology efforts, the company became an attractive target and was successfully acquired by the European Broadcasting group RTL in 2014 for more than $200 million.

"Both RezVen and Anderee went far beyond the roles of investor and board member," said Stephanie Horbaczewski, RVP Advisor and StyleHaul founder and CEO. "I was an entrepreneur and CEO who quickly outgrew my previous experience, and having a board member who was willing to be hands-on almost daily, and at times in an operating capacity, was a game-changing factor in the success of StyleHaul."

This story first appeared in Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal.

About RezVen Partners
RezVen Partners (RVP) is an investment firm that provides seed and growth-stage venture funding to the most promising software and digital and social media companies. By providing hands-on strategic guidance and diverse operational resources, RVP builds intimate relationships with entrepreneurs to bring innovative ideas to life, rise above major challenges and drive long-term sustainability. General partners include Anderee Berengian and James Davis and advisors include Brad Martin, Stephanie Horbaczewski and Tamim Mourad -- all have built exceptional expertise in growing visionary and transformative start-up companies across various dynamic industries as serial entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts. The firm is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., with offices in Santa Monica. To learn more, visit www.rezven.com.