Divergence Raises $11.8 Million in Series C Financing

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) February 17, 2009

Biotechnology firm Divergence, Inc., a world leader in developing products for the control of parasites in agriculture and medicine, today announced that it has raised $ 11.8 million in a Series C financing round that will further its efforts to create solutions for one of the major causes of crop yield loss for farmers.

MidPoint Food and Ag Fund LP acted as lead investor in the round. Other institutional investors included Prolog Ventures LP and certain partners of William Blair & Co. The round included 41 returning investors including all members of Divergence's Board of Directors. The financing more than doubles the amount of equity capital raised by the company since its inception.

Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance Divergence's nematicide program. The company is developing molecules for the control of plant parasitic nematodes. Nematode control is the largest unsolved pest problem in agriculture limiting the yield of crops worldwide and causing billions of dollars in crop damage annually. Divergence has discovered the first novel mode of action for this market in more than 20 years. The new molecules feature human and environment safety profiles that are vastly superior to traditional nematicides. The funding will also support the Company's continued development of crops that are resistant to nematodes, as well as its innovative, broad-based research platforms Harvest, STEM and RNA interference.

"This financing, especially given the sophistication of the participating investors, provides further validation of Divergence's revolutionary technology and the rapid advancements of our projects in parasite control," said Derek K. Rapp, Chief Executive Officer of Divergence. "Through our internal programs and corporate alliances in crop protection and animal health, Divergence is committed to the development of parasite control products for higher yielding agriculture and healthier people and animals. Upon the completion of this financing, Ronald L. Meeusen, Ph.D., Partner of Midpoint Food & Ag Fund, LP, will join the Divergence Board of Directors. Dr. Meeusen brings to Divergence more than 25 years of corporate experience in agricultural biotechnology. "There is tremendous value in the cutting-edge science of Divergence," said Dr. Meeusen. "As the first company in our investment portfolio, Divergence exemplifies our goal to invest in companies that can enable environmentally sustainable agriculture and offer promise for human and animal wellness."

With the addition of Dr. Meeusen, the Board of Directors of Divergence stands at seven people - Stanford J. Goldblatt, Partner and Head of the Private Equity Practice at Winston & Strawn; James P. McCarter, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Divergence; John W. McCarter, Jr., President and CEO of the Field Museum in Chicago; Ronald L. Meeusen, Ph.D., Partner of MidPoint Food and Ag Fund, LP; Ilya B. Nykin, Managing Director of Prolog Ventures; Derek K. Rapp, Chief Executive Officer of Divergence; and Mark W. Wong, President and CEO of Agrivida, Inc.

About Divergence:

Divergence, Inc., a world leader in the application of genomics and informatics to agriculture and infectious disease, discovers and develops products for the safe and effective control of parasites. The company's initial focus is on parasitic nematodes, devastating unseen pests that cause billions of dollars in crop loss annually and widespread disease in humans and animals. For more information visit Divergence's Web site at http://www.divergence.com.

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upickstorage.com Adds New Integration Partner Centershift

Madisonville, LA (PRWEB) June 15, 2010

upickstorage.com, the first and only self storage search application that allows customers to pick what they want to pay for a self storage unit, announced today that they have integrated with Centershift Store, giving Store clients the opportunity to negotiate online bookings directly through upickstorage.com.

In the same way that the hotels are using Internet gateways like Hotels.com to sell their extra rooms, storage companies are able to rent their vacant self storage units through upickstorage.com", Terry Bagley Chief Executive and President of Centershift Inc. said.

The integration enables facilities to negotiate real-time bookings through upickstorage.com. The customers reservation information from upickstorage.com goes directly through Centershift into the back end of the facilitys booking system.

Brandon Braud, President of Sales and Marketing for upickstorage.com stated, When used in conjunction with Centershift, upickstorage.com allows a facility owner to set up automatic counteroffers triggered by a customers offer for a unit. It is like having a manager on duty 24 hours a day. It is the perfect way to negotiate with a customer without compromising rental rate integrity or your managers valuable time.

About upickstorage.com

upickstorage.com is a highly innovative and simplistic online portal that custom matches self storage consumers with proximal self storage facilities. Online comparison shoppers are conveniently rewarded with streamlined efficiency and the best prices available for storage units anywhere. Homeowners and self storage facility owners negotiate in complete anonymous comfort while simultaneously demonstrating their environmental responsibility. For more information, please visit http://www.upickstorage.com or call (866) 678-6730.

About Centershift, Inc.

Centershift is a complete software solution provider to the self storage industry. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Centershift is the fastest growing Internet-based rental management software solution provider in the industry. Their client base includes two of the four largest self storage REITs, as well as many other large ownership and management organizations. Centershift's Store Enterprise and Advantage applications were designed specifically for seamless integration with websites, call centers, corporate offices and other business systems. Centershift's primary goal is to help self storage operators increase revenue, improve efficiencies and reduce costs. For more information, please visit http://www.centershift.com or call (877) 927-4438.

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Epicure Digital Menu Boards with Nutritional Menu Labeling Featured at the NRA 2011 Restaurant Show

Beverly Hill, CA (PRWEB) May 17, 2011

Epicure Digital, a leader in digital menu boards, presents the Epicure Digital Menu System with special emphasis on nutritional labeling at the NRA 2011 National Restaurant Association show, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, 21-24 May, 2011, Booth #1212.

Epicure Digital custom designs highly graphical digital menu board systems to solve your complex menu and point-of-sale marketing issues.

Epicure Digital specializes in developing nutritional menu labeling systems to educate and inform customers to make healthier meal choices. These nutritional labels display as nutritional data, nutritional scoring, and icons representing food groups, healthy choices, allergens, vegan, vegetarian, local and organic, whichever and whenever are applicable.

Epicure Digital menu boards help customers become aware of their choices, helping them make the right decision to achieve a balanced life by eating well. These systems provide tools to increase efficiency, revenues and profitability.

"The restaurant industry has an important journey along the road to improved health and customer satisfaction, according to Kim Blum, MS, RD, at KB Nutrition Consulting in Dallas, TX. Ms. Blum explained The FDA released proposed menu regulations on April 1, 2011, which detail how the restaurant industry must implement the new rules. Per the FDA, retail food establishments with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name and with substantially the same menu items, will be required to clearly list the calorie information on their menus. This is great news for nutrition educators and customers alike! Since 76% of adults said they are trying to eat healthier now at restaurants than they did two years ago (National Restaurant Association Top Ten Facts in 2011), this is the perfect opportunity for restaurants to highlight foods on their menu boards that meet certain calorie and nutrient guidelines. In addition, 54% of Americans polled for the American Dietetic Association Nutrition and You: Trends 2008 survey say it takes too much time to keep track of their diet. Since Americans now consume about one third of their total calories on foods prepared outside the home, it is critical for nutritional information to be available at restaurants in order to help consumers make informed decisions. This journey can be simple and rewarding. Once restaurants move forward to display nutritional information on their menu boards as well as identify healthier menu items, they will meet consumer needs and help Americans lead healthier lifestyles."

Kim Blum is a former USDA employee, owns a consulting company, KB Nutrition Consulting, dedicated to working with restaurants to provide the nutrition information of their recipes.

Epicure Digital Systems is a digital menu board company uniquely integrating its expertise in software technology and food service operations and marketing to create digital signage products and services for the food service industry. Its core product is the Epicure Digital Menu System. Its core services are menu engineering, nutritional menu labeling, and content creation.

The Epicure Digital Menu System lets operators control LCD menu boards and signage in any number of locations, easily and quickly, online, with customized configurable web templates using Epicure Digital LiveMenu and LiveText user interfaces. Operators can change prices and menus, schedule menus and promotions by day part and menu cycle, and display other information such as nutritional labeling and data, videos, photos, and live feeds from the Internet. Clients operate more efficiently and engage customers in powerful new ways.

Epicure Digital engineers and designs customized digital menu boards for each client that solve their complex menu engineering and point-of-sale marketing issues with multi-screen and multi-station digital menus, signage and greeter board systems.

In new construction, remodeling and renovation projects, Epicure Digital works closely with food service consultants and clients to determine the best digital menu system strategy and participates in the management of the projects from concept phase to full implementation.

Epicure Digitals clients include colleges and universities, hospitals, K-12 Schools, independent and chain restaurants, contract food service companies, business & industry, and cinemas and casinos among others.

The companys website (http://www.epicuredigital.com) has an extensive portfolio of its clients multi screen and multi station digital menu board projects.

Come and see the Epicure Digital Menu System at the following shows:

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, May 21-24, 2011, Booth #1212.
The Texas School Nutrition Association (TASN) Annual Conference, Fort Worth Convention Center, Fort Worth, TX, 19-22 June, 2011, Booth #125
The Association of Healthcare Foodservice (AHF) Annual Conference, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ June 5-9, 2011, Booth #316
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) National Conference, Gaylord Opryland Convention Center, Nashville, TN, July 14-15, 2011, Booth #2330.
The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) National Conference, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, TX, July 14-15, 2011, Booth #115.
The National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS) National Conference, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort & Club, Orlando, Florida, October 25-26, 2011, Booth # 228
CSNA California School Nutrition Association Annual Conference, Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, California, November 11-12, 2011, Booth #723

For more information, contact:

Tommy Orpaz, 310-652-8246

torpaz(at)epicuredigital(dot)com

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Tobin Heath Selected for the Womens World Cup Soccer Team

Fair Lawn, NJ (PRWEB) May 17, 2011

Tobin Heath has been tagged for the Womens World Cup Soccer team, no surprise to her long-time trainer Steve Leo, the Director of Training at Parisi Speed Schools in Fair Lawn and Morris Plains. Leo says of Heath, a member of the last Womens Olympic team, She set her goals in high school, has worked every day since to pursue her dream, and has a lot of fun; she loves the game.

Tobin went from Ridge High School in New Jersey to the University of North Carolina on a full scholarship, returning to train at Parisis Morris Plains facility during the summer and on breaks. In college she played on National teams in addition to being instrumental in UNCs three NCAA Womens Soccer Championships - so the biggest challenge for her trainers was keeping her workouts paced correctly to maintain her strength and see she wasnt overtraining. Her dedication to her sport paid off; in 2008 Heath became the youngest member of the US Olympic team where she was a reserve mid-fielder and also the youngest member of the US National team.

When Tobin returned to Parisis and her trainer as a gold medalist, she brought Steve Leo her jersey from that Gold Medal team, a memento that he treasures. Thats Tobin, said Leo, she is a great competitor and a great person. In 2010 Tobin again made soccer headlines as the number 1 draft pick in Womens Professional Soccer, and now plays for Sky Blue FC.

Centric Software Achieves Record Year, 60 Percent Sales Growth

Campbell, CA (PRWEB) February 25, 2009

Centric Software, Inc., recently closed out its fiscal year with record sales, significant growth and positive performance across operations.

Effectively leveraging investments, the company grew aggressively and improved awareness and leadership position in targeted consumer markets, while developing the foundation for additional products in its core Centric 8 product suite.

Centric provides product lifecycle management (PLM) and sourcing solutions for companies in the fast-moving consumer goods industries, including those that globally source private-label products. At a time when many businesses are struggling to survive, Centric closed out its fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31, on an upswing, continuing a three-year trend of year-over-year sales growth. "We continue to build traction in our target markets," says Chris Groves, president, "as evidenced by new customer wins and significant additional investments from existing customers. Especially in the current environment, customers seek the rapid, economic results our solutions deliver."

Among the company's highlights:

Sales and bookings growth. Centric experienced 60 percent year-over-year sales growth from new licenses and expansion of deployments in targeted vertical markets.

Management and staffing. The company expanded global operations to drive growth and better serve its customers with the addition of PLM and sourcing industry experts in its sales, marketing, product development, and services departments.

Funding. In January 2008, Centric announced closing of $ 14.3 million in series B venture capital financing. Oak Investment Partners led the funding round, which included Masthead Venture Partners and BancBoston Ventures (a Bank of America company), Centric's current investors. Centric is using the additional financing to expand product development, and sales and marketing efforts.

Product investment. Centric continues to aggressively invest in its product offerings, with the overarching goal of satisfying customer demand for solutions that deliver economic benefits and measurable results.

Market and industry recognition. Centric received accolades throughout the year for its technology and industry leadership.

Consumer Goods Technology. The media group recognized Centric for its unique contributions to the consumer goods industry as a "CGT Editors' Picks" choice.
START-IT 125. The manufacturing industry publication named Centric to its "125 List of Top Manufacturing Technology Providers."
Aberdeen Group. The research and analyst firm, in its report detailing PLM use, cited Centric PLM technology as "helping fashion, apparel, and footwear companies become more agile and meet the challenges of their markets."
The Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni, Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Engineering, inducted Ravi Rangan, Centric's chief technology officer, for his significant contributions to the profession and the distinction he brings to Georgia Tech.

"This year has demonstrated that, despite a challenging economy, Centric provides the value companies need to improve their competitive position and to ensure their ongoing success," says Groves. "Our customers are taking a leadership position in their respective markets by investing now in Centric solutions to improve their operations today and into the future. Customers tell us they are expanding their use of Centric PLM and sourcing to improve efficiency and do more with less, and thereby create a competitive advantage. We see customers achieve real impact to their profit and loss statements within the first fiscal year after deploying Centric solutions."

About Centric Software, Inc.

Centric Software is a leading provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) and sourcing solutions for companies in the fast-moving consumer goods industries, including those that globally source private-label products. Centric 8 enables companies to speed new products to market, drive margin improvement, and improve global collaboration and compliance.

Centric's proven Web-based product intelligence technology enables team members and partners to securely access the information they need to improve global collaboration, execution and business performance. Global enterprises including Artsana, Best Buy, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coleman, Kiewit, Le Coq Sportif, Moen, Timex and United Stationers Inc. use Centric's solutions to achieve top-line revenue growth and cost reductions.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software and Product Intelligence is a trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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creativemind™ Introduces “istyle™

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 16, 2005

CreativeMind™ today announces a new line of accessories called “istyle” for the iPod line of Apple Computer digital lifestyle products. The first series of products to be released include “istyle for iPod”, a full body wrap that protects the screen, scroll wheel, top, bottom, sides and corners and comes in over 50 different eye catching designs, to allow the iPod owner total visual customization of their iPod while also protecting it from daily abuse.

The istyle product line is focused on the concept that individual style should be embraced and that you should be able to use your sense of style on your “digital lifestyle” products. The product line’s other focus is on protecting your Apple product investment and extending its design by giving the user customizable graphics and product protection in a variety of colors, graphics, and text to make your product uniquely your own.

Product Protection

istyle protects your product by adding a layer of clear cling plastic over the Apple product, protecting it from daily abuse, in the case of products such as the iPod and iBook this issue demanded a solution. Robert Stewart designer and developer of istyle explained, “…you could use one of the many cases on the market but the problem we wanted to solve was what happens when the product is not in the case, we thought most Apple product owners probably have a sense of individual style and should be able to reflect that in their product protection solution, hence “istyle” was developed to address’s those concerns…” istyle protects your investment and gives the user a customizable look to their product for a nominal cost.

User Customization

One of the main benefits of istyle is its ability for the Apple product owner to customize the appearance of their product to reflect their own personal style. istyle products will be available in several versions, including: clear, solid color’s, quotes of wisdom, eye catching graphics as well as specialty plastics. Installation of all products is easy, our static cling product (“istyle icling”) adheres with no tape, glue or adhesive. While our low-tack adhesive product has a very mild stick that allows for easy on and off installation and does not leave a residue.

Corporate Customization

CreativeMind will also have the option for schools and companies to purchase the istyle line of accessories with custom graphics to display corporate logo’s, company names, division’s, or school departments. Personal orders to customize graphics will be available as well for an additional cost.

Other benefits

istyle accessories provide a simple way to protect your Apple investment, customize its look, and extend the unique user experience of your Apple product. All istyle accessories allow for the industrial design of the Apple product to remain completely intact and will not harm the operation of your Apple hardware*. The istyle product will not harm or impede on the performance of your Apple product when used properly and will provide protection against scrapes, scratches and minor nicks into the plastic and metal body parts.

The istyle vinyl plastic can withstand the heat of the iPod and will not melt, or yellow, and the color will not fade for 6 months* or longer. istyle even provides basic moisture and water protection to your Apple product once applied. The application of our our istyle “icling” (static cling) product requires no adhesive so there is never any sticky residue left on the product once removed.

istyle Accessories:

For iPod, Apple’s breakthrough MP3 player we have developed a one sheet wrap around design that protects the screen, scroll wheel, top, bottom, sides and corners though still allows full access to all ports and docking accessories. The product compliments any existing case, and it’s color designs can be seen when used with white or clear rubber molded cases.

Apple’s iBook series will be available for both 12” and 14” models and will feature a top and bottom istyle skin. The top unit will be available in clear, various colors similar to Apple’s original iBook and iMac line as well as various eye catching graphics, as well as quotes of wisdom. This product was developed not only to protect your iBook and to give it individual style but also to resurrect an idea that came along with the classic Apple Powerbook 1400 that had an insert for color graphic art for the top of the case.

Istyle products that will be available on March 1st include the 3rd & 4th generation iPod’ wraps with later release dates for the 1st & 2nd generation iPod, iPod Mini, iPod shuffle, iBook, G5 iMac and iMac Mini products based on user demand. Please contact the istyle.us website for more details.

If you like what we have planned let us know and tell us what want in istyle products at ideas@istyle.us. If we hear from enough of the public we will develop these products further. If you have unique art or design’s that you would like to submit for possible consideration for use on an istyle product submit your information and files to art@istyle.us.

istyle Pricing & Availability:

CreativeMind will launch the istyle.us website and istyle product line officially on March 1st, 2005, accepting pre-orders for all 3rd and 4th generation iPod wraps. An online catalog will be available for viewing February 4th 2005 as well registration for our private istyle newsletter which will include latest designs, user submitted artwork and product news and announcements.

The website will feature easy navigation, product details, detailed photography, and secure on-line ordering. The istyle.us site will immediately have a private email list you can join to be kept up to date on the latest product news and announcements.

istyle will be available at istyle.us

The iPod istyle icling & low tack products will sell for $ 10 dollars not including shipping and handling fees. The iBook istyle top will sell for $ 15 dollars, and combo top case and lower under belly skins will sell for an estimated* price of $ 25 dollars.

Press Contacts:

Robert Stewart

CreativeMind

(347) 731-7938

press@istyle.us

Note to Editors:

For additional information call the CreativeMind Media Helpline at (347) 731-7938 or email press@istyle.us to receive press images.

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iMac, iMac mini, iBook, Powerbook, iPod, iPod Shuffle, G5, Apple, Macintosh, Mac are either registered trademarks of Apple Computer®. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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ASU, Caltech, UCLA and USC Showcase Top University Startups and Venture-Ready Technologies at Head Start(up) 2011 in Palo Alto

Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) May 10, 2011

Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE), the exclusive intellectual property management and technology transfer organization of Arizona State University, today joined with the tech transfer offices of Caltech, UCLA and USC to host Head Start(up) 2011, a half-day conference in Palo Alto giving Silicon Valley investors a look at some of the universities most promising startups and venture-ready technologies.

The commercialization of university research generates new jobs, new companies and even entire new industries, said Augie Cheng, AzTEs managing director. The startups and technologies that ASU, Caltech, UCLA and USC are presenting have that same potential, and were excited to be doing this in a forum loaded with top venture capital firms and angel investors.

Universities continue to conduct the majority of basic research in the United States. In the last two decades, more than 75 percent of all industrial patents issued in the United States have cited academic research as a key source of new knowledge. Studies have also shown companies spun out of research universities have a far greater success rate than other startups.

Investors are always on the lookout for the next great university startup, said Steve Jurvetson, managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. This event is a great way to see lots of technologies in a concentrated, efficient format. Im excited to see what the universities have to show us.

Approximately 60 invitation-only investors came from top Silicon Valley venture funds, including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Intel Capital, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Redpoint Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and many others.

A full list of presented technologies and startups can be found on the conference website: http://www.headstartup2011.com/technologies.

About Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE)

AzTE is a non-profit organization that operates as the exclusive intellectual property management and technology transfer organization for ASU and its research enterprise. Comprised of industry and university veterans, AzTE brings together ASUs researchers and industry partners to transform discoveries into marketable products and services, taking innovation out of the lab and into the commercial marketplace. AzTE currently offers for licensing more than 300 novel technologies in the life and physical sciences. For more information: http://www.azte.com/.

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