Dash Secures $25M in Funding

Dash Navigation announced that it has secured $25 million in Series B funding, well positioning the company for the national consumer launch of its Internet-connected automotive GPS device this fall. We are hoping and expecting a staged roll out to start anytime now in California, and coming to the rest of us by the Fall. The Dash Express GPS is different because it is connected to the internet via cellular and WiFi connections, giving you access to map updates, traffic and local search for Points of Interest by way of attributes that aren't linked to its title (i.e. Search for "Great Fajitas" and come up with restaurants that have been loved for their fajitas and may not be Mexican or that list Fajitas in their names.)

The round was led by Crescendo Ventures with new investors Artis Capital, ZenShin Capital Partners and Gold Hill Capital as well as additional participation from existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sequoia Capital and Skymoon Ventures. This announcement comes on the heels of the company's successful appearance at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last month with "Best of Show” wins from CNET and LAPTOP Magazine.

Dash also announced today that is has expanded its board of directors with the addition of two new members, Peter Gotcher and Wayne Cantwell. Gotcher, an independent investor who was previously a venture partner with Redpoint Ventures and IVP, brings to the board a wealth of experience building and managing highly successful technology companies. Previously the founder of Digidesign (now part of Avid), Gotcher currently holds board roles at Avnera, Dolby Laboratories, Line6, Zing and Pandora. Cantwell, a general partner at Crescendo Ventures, has spent the past nearly 20 years in the technology arena in technical, general management and operational roles at companies including InSilicon, Phoenix Technologies, Intel and NEC.

"Dash is in a great position to capitalize on the tremendous growth in the market for navigation devices given its strong team, market expertise and technology innovation,” said Cantwell, general partner at Crescendo Ventures. "More importantly, the company is addressing the real issues missing from today's navigation systems – helping drivers get around traffic and find the places and things that they need right from their cars.”
"We've built tremendous momentum over the past several months in preparation for our upcoming national launch,” said Dash Navigation Chief Executive Officer Paul Lego. "In addition to securing key partnerships in mapping, traffic and local search, and winning industry awards around product innovation, we now have the funding and additional board expertise to take us to the finish line - into consumers' cars across the nation.”

February 12, 2007

Dash Secures $25M in Funding