Skyword’s workflow automation platform enables brands, agencies, and media companies to engage consumers by efficiently producing quality, brand-aligned content that precisely matches the information they seek.  Skyword’s customers include leading brands and media companies such as The Wall Street Journal’s Marketwatch.com, Everyday Health, education.com, and numerous others.

Cox Media Group will join existing investors Allen & Company, Progress Ventures, and American Public Media Group.  A representative from Cox will join Skyword’s Board of Directors. The new funding will allow Skyword to refine its industry-leading platform and expand its reach into new markets.

“Progress Partners has been instrumental in the growth of our business over the past 16 months” said Tom Gerace, Founder and CEO of Skyword.  ”The team has advised us on new paths to organizational expansion and opened key strategic partnerships, culminating in the investment by Cox. Their digital media and fundraising expertise has been integral to finding the right investor in this current round of funding.”

“Thanks to some great early traction with top brands, Skyword is one of the leading platforms for content production and delivery” commented Nick MacShane, Senior Managing Director of Progress Partners. “The company has seen tremendous growth as demand for scalable, high quality content accelerates in the marketplace. The new funding from Cox will position the company to capture an even greater share of the immense content marketing spend, which should eclipse $41 billion in 2012. We look forward to continuing our work with Skyword as they expand their business and accelerate growth.”

Prior to joining the team, Dan was a Paralegal at Philadelphia-based Lavin, O’Neil, Ricci, Cedrone & DiSipio Attorneys where he audited corporate clients’ compliance, conducted in depth industry investigations, and participated in civil defense litigation procedures for global equipment and consumer products manufacturers.

Dan graduated from Bucknell University in 2011 with a B.A. in Economics concentrating in Finance and Economic Development. Dan lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he studied financial economics and political economy at PUC-Rio. Inspired by his experience in Brazil, Dan undertook an extensive thesis that examined the impact of remittance inflows to middle-income developing countries on GDP growth.In his spare time, Dan enjoys weightlifting, snowboarding, backpacking, reading financial theory, and practicing his Portuguese and Spanish language skills. Originally from the San Francisco-Bay Area, he relishes time spent with family and friends in Marin County, CA or Sisters, OR – both of which he calls home.

Progress Partners is pleased to announce that it has served as exclusive financial advisor to Sensei Solutions (www.masteringthesmartgrid.com) in a new strategic partnership and its latest round of equity investment.  Sensei Solutions, a leading provider of Electric Utility Smart Grid Solutions, will receive an equity investment in a partnership with Southern States, LLC, a product and innovation leader in high voltage switching.

Founded in 2008 to meet the changing needs of Substation Automation programs, Sensei Solutions is a leading Smart Grid Solutions provider that enables utilities to achieve greater operational efficiencies, improve asset reliability and address growing compliance mandates.

The investment and strategic partnership with Southern States will allow Sensei Solutions to expand on its leading line of products and solutions for real-time monitoring of critical utility generation, transmission and distribution assets.

“As we’ve explored various funding strategies to help grow our business, Progress Partners has been an exceptionally valued partner throughout the process, stated Ashley Campbell, CEO of Sensei Solutions.  Their advisory expertise, combined with an extensive financial and strategic investor network, enabled us to eventually secure an ideal partner in Southern States, LLC.   We look forward to continuing our relationship with Progress Partners as we accelerate our growth.”

“Sensei Solutions is a valued client and we are very pleased to have served as their advisor for this strategic investment, commented Mark McCall, Managing Director of the Clean Energy practice at Progress Partners.  “Sensei has a potentially industry changing solution to substation automation and combined with Southern States deep industry expertise and distribution channels, we are confident this partnership will be very rewarding for both companies.”

4pm, Thursday, November 3, 2011

Location:

Babson College

Blank Center, Televideo Room

231 Forest Street

Babson Park, MA 02457