Newest Video Bet By Disney's Steamboat Ventures Is Elemental
Steamboat Ventures Managing Director Scott Hilleboe admits that investing in video technologies is a bit frenzied these days.
“The short-term horizon, it’s like the wild, wild west,” Hilleboe said. “The growth of online video is causing a land grab.”
Video is an important theme for Steamboat, which is affiliated with Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and the firm has a portfolio full of video investments. The most recent is Elemental Technologies Inc., a provider of technology for video processing that relies on graphics processing units, or GPUs.
Steamboat led the company’s $7.5 million Series B round, with participation from previous investors General Catalyst and Voyager Capital.
Steamboat invests in early to mid-stage, technology-focused companies pursuing opportunities in digital media and consumer technology. Other video investments include content delivery network EdgeCast Networks Inc. and camcorder maker Pure Digital Technologies Inc., which sold to Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) for $590 million in stock.
