coupons

Can’t Buy Me Love … But You Can Buy Me Gadgets

Lauren Goode in Commerce on February 8 at 12:54 pm PT

What better way to show your affection than with obscure tablets and daily deals?

News Byte

Mobeam Banks Another $1.5 Million for Mobile Bar Code Technology

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 6 at 1:00 am PT

Mobeam has raised another $1.5 million in capital to work on a solution for point-of-sale systems at retail not being able to read bar codes from coupons on cellphone screens. In October, the company raised $5 million; in December, it inked a high-profile partnership with Procter & Gamble, and now adds new investor DFJ Athena, a Korea-focused venture fund affiliated with Draper Fisher Jurvetson, to the list. Previous investors include Yet2Ventures, Samsung Ventures and Mitsui.

News Byte

An Online Marketplace for Everyday Household Items Snags $3.6 Million

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 31 at 9:00 am PT

Alice.com, an online marketplace for household goods ranging from diapers to dog food to toothpaste, has raised $3.6 million in funding. A bit like Amazon-owned Diapers.com, the Middleton, Wis.-based company allows big brands to use the platform to connect with consumers and offer coupons. The round, coming from a group of Spanish investors, closely follows Alice’s expansion to Europe through Alice.es. The company has raised $18.2 million to date.

Microsoft Finally Dumps Deal Provider Now Owned by Google

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 6 at 12:06 pm PT

Microsoft has inked a new partnership with 8coupons to replace The Dealmap, which had been providing local offers to Bing Deals for about nine months.

A Banner Black Friday for Some Disappoints Groupon and Other Daily Deal Providers

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 4 at 2:00 am PT

Groupon and the other daily deal providers saw sales tank during the week of Thanksgiving, unlike traditional retailers, which reported robust sales surrounding the holidays.

The Mobile Coupon Is Broken and Procter & Gamble Has Found a Solution

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on December 19, 2011 at 2:00 am PT

Procter & Gamble thinks it has found a solution to distributing coupons on mobile phones.

News Byte

Spotzot Secures $2.2 Million for Mobile Coupon Network

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on November 17, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Spotzot, which aggregates coupons, daily deals and other online promotions, has raised $2.2 million in capital. The company’s first round was led by Cervin Ventures, Inventus Capital Partners and TiE-Silicon Valley Angels. Mobile publishers such as ShopSavvy, Shopkick, CardStar, and Geodelic tap into the network to display the deals in applications.

WhaleShark Catches $150 Million Round to Invest in Couponing Craze

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on November 9, 2011 at 9:00 pm PT

WhaleShark Media has raised $150 million in venture capital to continue buying up coupon-oriented sites around the globe.

Wal-Mart’s New Apps Will Integrate Coupons and Voice Recognition

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on November 8, 2011 at 9:00 pm PT

Wal-Mart is launching its first iPad app ever and is refreshing its iPhone app, providing a glimpse of what mobile commerce will be like for the mass market.

Coupon Craze Continues With CouponCabin Raising $54 Million

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on October 19, 2011 at 8:55 pm PT

Investors are seeing a smart buying opportunity in the age-old practice of saving and redeeming coupons. This time, it’s CouponCabin that has raised a hefty round.