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Venture Capital News: Livio Closes Series C

2012-08-14
DETROIT, MI, Manufacturer and developer of connected car products and smartphone app connectivity solutions announced the closing of its Series C financing.
Livio, manufacturer and developer of connected car products and smartphone app connectivity solutions through Livio Connect, today announced the closing of its Series C financing round with Beringea, Western Technology Investment, Angel Street Capital, North Coast Technology Investors and Invest Detroit's First Step Fund, in addition to various Angel investors. Ann Arbor, Mich.-based North Coast Technology Investors joined the existing investors in the new round.

"This funding is our way of showing that Livio is serious about getting apps into cars and consumer electronics. Livio is getting bigger, making the roads safer and changing the way people access smartphone applications with Livio Connect," said Jake Sigal, Livio founder and CEO.

"We are pleased to have North Coast join the existing Livio investors in supporting Livio in its next and extremely exciting phase of growth," said Jeff Bocan, managing director at Beringea. "The Livio team has made excellent progress, working with some of the biggest companies in the world. The company helps bring a more fun, useful and engaging customer experience into our vehicles and homes by leveraging the computing power of our smartphones through their app connectivity solutions."

The Livio Connect API enables users to control smartphone apps through the physical buttons on enabled car stereos and consumer electronics. This technology allows for more infotainment options, less work for consumers to use them and less work for automotive OEMs and consumer electronics manufacturers to integrate them. By connecting with a customer's ubiquitous smartphone via Livio Connect, consumer electronics become smarter and more dynamic, enhancing customer experience and increasing customer satisfaction. The Livio Connect API can also be found inside the Bluetooth Internet Radio Car Kit available at Walmart.

About Livio
Metro-Detroit-based Livio was built in the guest bedroom of Livio Radio founder and CEO Jake Sigal's home in 2008 on the foundation of "More Music, Less Work." Today, those words remain more than a catchy slogan. It's a philosophy, a way of life that drives Livio employees and a growing list of breakthrough products. Whether they're moving technology forward with products sold under the Livio Radio consumer brand or creating common-sense solutions for business customers through Livio Connect, a day's work at Livio means everybody hustles. It's about streamlined engineering, fewer headaches for their customers, and putting an end to unnecessary product hassles. Livio collectively fights above its weight class in the pursuit of American innovation, giving their big-name business partners the freedom to do what they do best. More information can be found at www.LivioConnect.com and www.LivioRadio.com

About Beringea
Beringea offers advice, guidance and capital to support growing businesses. With capital, experience and offices in the U.S. and UK, Beringea's award-winning team offers its portfolio companies the resources to develop strategy, evaluate growth opportunities, solve problems and build value in a range of sectors, including health care and life sciences, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, media, Internet technologies and specialized consumer products. Beringea is the co-manager of the InvestMichigan! Growth Capital and Mezzanine Funds in the U.S., as well as the ProVen VCT family of funds in the UK, among others. For more information, visit www.beringea.com.
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