DFJ Frontier

DFJ Frontier is an American venture capital firm with offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara, California as well as Portland, Oregon. The firm invests in seed and early-stage technology companies on the west coast, initially funding companies with between $100,000 and $1 million. The firm has approximately $80 million under management in two funds, DFJ Frontier Fund I, LP ($25.6 million, 2003 vintage) and DFJ Frontier Fund II, LP ($55.4 million, 2007 vintage). DFJ Frontier typically leads the first round of investment, with one of its partners serving on the board of the portfolio company.

DFJ Frontier
TypePrivate Ownership
IndustryPrivate Equity
Founded2002
FounderDavid Cremin
Scott Lenet
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
ProductsVenture capital
Total assets$80 million
Websitewww.dfjfrontier.com

DFJ Frontier is a network partner of the DFJ Network and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. DFJ is based in Menlo Park, California with affiliate offices in more than 30 cities around the world and over $5 billion in capital commitments.[1] These 17 individually structured venture capital firms form a network with over 150 investment professionals. Notable DFJ Network investments include AdMob (acquired by Google), Baidu, Hotmail (acquired by Microsoft), Overture (acquired by Yahoo), Skype (acquired by eBay), and MaxPreps (acquired by CBS Sports).

DFJ Frontier was founded in 2002 by Managing Directors David Cremin and Scott Lenet, former entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Frank Foster joined as a venture partner in 2003, becoming a managing director in 2007. The firm’s venture partners include Jim Schraith, Oleg Kaganovich, Brian Danella, Eric Rosenfeld, and Tony Perkins.

Investment Criteria

Stage: DFJ Frontier invests in seed (yet to complete product development) and early-stage (product development complete, may have launched) companies.

Geography: DFJ Frontier invests in companies on the west coast of the United States.

Industry Sector: Information technology, internet, media, life sciences, and other.

Business Model Characteristics: DFJ Frontier favors investments with recurring revenue characteristics, defensibility from competition, and extensibility into new markets, products, and geographies.

Entrepreneurial Education

The partners at DFJ Frontier have developed curriculum to teach entrepreneurship and venture capital to MBAs, PhDs, post-doctoral students, and undergraduates. DFJ Frontier investment professionals have served as adjunct professors at UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and University of Southern California; and co-founded the Center for Entrepreneurship at UC Davis. The firm has run entrepreneurship academies or guest lectured at Stanford University, Harvard University, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, University of Michigan, Portland State University, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Oregon Health & Science University, University of Edinburgh, Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm, Sweden), CSU Fresno, CSU Sacramento, and Humboldt State University.

The firm's professionals author a byline called "Something Ventured" to educate entrepreneurs about venture capital. The column has appeared in the Sacramento Business Journal.

Portfolio

DFJ Frontier has provided venture capital for the following companies:

Name First Invested Description Status
MomentFeedJul-11Analytics and marketing tools for location-based engagement.Private
Super Heat GamesApr-11Collectible trading card games showcasing the world's top professional action sports athletes.Private
Dx BiosciencesOct-10Develops diagnostic technologies to extract biomarkers from tissue samples.Private
UnsubscribeOct-10One-click unsubscribe plug-in for email.Private
MyWinesDirectAug-10Software and logistics for online and interstate wine shipping.Private
GameSaladJun-10Leading software platform for developing casual games.Private
Predixion SoftwareJun-10Cloud-based predictive analytics tools for business.Private
AppleTreeNov-09Wiki-based family tree of the world.Private
NetpulseOct-09Interactive media platform for fitnesss equipment.Private
Marval BiosciencesSep-09Next generation contrast agents for medical imaging.Private
JanrainJul-09SaaS user management platform for websites.Private
LottayJun-09Social, friend-to-friend gifting platform.Private
HyrdaDxNov-08Develops low cost molecular diagnostics for dehydration.Private
AudioMicroSep-08Music and sound effects for any creative project.Private
FoundogSep-08Provider of next generation corporate promotional products.Acquired by Life360
ZadspaceJul-08Direct marketing solutions for the packaged shipments industry.Private
uSampApr-08Online sample services for market research firms.Private
PlanitaxNov-07Corporate tax software services.Acquired by Thomson Reuters
ClearAccessJul-07Broadband network management technology.Private, acquisition announced by Cisco[2]
d.light designJul-07Affordable lighting and power solutions for rural households.Private
Delve NetworksJul-07Audio and video search technology.Acquired by Limelight Networks (NASDAQ:LLNC)
BOOM! StudiosJun-07Diversified media production and publishing.Private
MogreetApr-07Video mobile messaging.Private
SynapsenseMay-06Wireless sensor network technologies.Private
ChimerosApr-06Nanoscale technology for the delivery of nucleic acids.Private
SkyGridFeb-06Real-time information services for the finance industry.Private
IconixNov-05High definition video solutions.Private
Synthetic GenomicsSep-05Genomic "manufacturing" techniques for energy and life sciences applications.Private
Dragnet SolutionsAug-05Fraud prevention and identity management solutions for banking and retail.Private
BondmartJun-05Real-time trading platform for municipal securities.Private
World of GoodJun-05Fair Trade globally sourced gifts.Acquired by eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY)
Tioga EnergyFeb-05Solar finance and integration services.Private
JiWireDec-04Wi-Fi ad network, hotspot directory and Wi-Fi consumer software.Private
MaxPrepsDec-04Online publisher of national high school sports media and information.Acquired by CBS Sports
Prolacta BioscienceSep-04Specialty nutrition for premature and low birth weight infantsPrivate
CrystalVoiceAug-04Quality of service software for voice over Internet solutions.Acquired by Global IP Sound
IntematixDec-03Material science discovery services.Private
LipomicsDec-03Predictive diagnostics for personalized medicine.Acquired by Tethys Bioscience
Tethys BioscienceDec-03Predictive diagnostics for personalized medicine.Private
OnTechOct-03Self-heating technology for food packaging.Private
Digital PathMay-03Wireless broadband networks.Private
AbazabJan-03Video sharing technology.Private

References

  1. Draper Fisher Jurvetson
  2. Cisco acquires ClearAccess, 28 March 2012. Visited: 3 April 2012
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