Initiatives

We have a disciplined, thematic approach to sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities and focus on areas where we can leverage our domain expertise and networks of relationships. Each quarter, we meet for our quarterly investment review where the Partners share their outlook, ideas and conclusions on areas of investment interest. These quarterly Investment Reviews help Rustic Canyon focus on sectors for our pipeline of potential investments and provide an institutionalized process for us to refine and revise our areas of focus. At our Investment Reviews, we often bring in outside industry and technology experts as well as seasoned operating executives to supplement our discussions. Our present focus is on the following five areas: digital media, clean technology, technology-enabled process out-sourcing, business and information services, and wireless and wireline broadband.

CleanTech

Initiative Name: 
CleanTech
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Short Description: 
Rustic Canyon Partners invests in and supports promising cleantech entrepreneurs. We believe that answering the world's demands for clean, efficient products and power is both an important challenge and an enormous opportunity. We look for emerging businesses that bring breakthrough technological innovations to these opportunities. Through our unique partnership with US Renewables Group, Rustic Canyon has a broad presence in emerging companies related to clean technology, and can bridge the traditional gap between venture capital and project finance. US Renewables Group invests primarily in Renewable Power Projects (Biomass, Geothermal, Landfill Methane, and select Solar projects), as well as Clean Fuels Projects (Ethanol and Biodiesel). Their primary focus is on the acquisition of operating assets, and on a selective basis, investment in development projects or expansion opportunities at existing renewable energy facilities.
Initiative Inner Image: 
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Rustic Canyon Partners invests in and supports promising cleantech entrepreneurs. We believe that answering the world's demands for clean, efficient products and power is both an important challenge and an enormous opportunity. We look for emerging businesses that bring breakthrough technological innovations to these opportunities. Through our unique partnership with US Renewables Group, Rustic Canyon has a broad presence in emerging companies related to clean technology, and can bridge the traditional gap between venture capital and project finance. US Renewables Group invests primarily in Renewable Power Projects (Biomass, Geothermal, Landfill Methane, and select Solar projects), as well as Clean Fuels Projects (Ethanol and Biodiesel). Their primary focus is on the acquisition of operating assets, and on a selective basis, investment in development projects or expansion opportunities at existing renewable energy facilities.

Initiative Detail Bottom: 

Current theses include:

  • Energy and Power: generation from renewable resources, distributed generation, power management, and transportation systems.
  • Building materials: construction goods and processes that are enabled by technological innovation.
  • Water: Systems for water purification, monitoring, and management.
Linked Companies: 
VSK Photonics
NanoNexus
EM4
MediaSpan

Technology-Enabled BPO

Initiative Name: 
Technology-Enabled BPO
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Short Description: 
Enterprises as currently structured were built for the industrial economy, not the knowledge economy. Companies need to account for the change in the declining value of inputs, including labor. The “death of distance” has enabled operations in overseas environments such as India and China to seamlessly service international customers. Globalization is not new to companies, but its new driver is technology. Technology-enabled business processes provide companies with greater ability to differentiate ones product in a global economy.
Initiative Inner Image: 
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initiative_top_detail: 

Enterprises as currently structured were built for the industrial economy, not the knowledge economy. Companies need to account for the change in the declining value of inputs, including labor. The “death of distance” has enabled operations in overseas environments such as India and China to seamlessly service international customers. Globalization is not new to companies, but its new driver is technology. Technology-enabled business processes provide companies with greater ability to differentiate ones product in a global economy.

Initiative Detail Bottom: 

Our theses include:

  • Leveraged services: Coupling technological innovations with falling input costs including labor.
  • Process automation: Simplify common business and consumer processes with hosted software (software-as-a-service or SaaS).
Linked Companies: 
Serious Materials
Transonic Combustion
Cyrano Sciences
Auxora
SiliconSystems

Internet and Digital Media

Initiative Name: 
Internet and Digital Media
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Short Description: 
Rustic Canyon Partners has a long history in online and offline media, as entrepreneurs, executives, advisors, and investors. Our collective experience provides the firm a unique perspective and access to industry leaders. This network of relationships among the leading content and service providers enable our portfolio companies to accelerate growth and define market position.
Initiative Inner Image: 
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initiative_top_detail: 

Rustic Canyon Partners has a long history in online and offline media, as entrepreneurs, executives, advisors, and investors. Our collective experience provides the firm a unique perspective and access to industry leaders. This network of relationships among the leading content and service providers enable our portfolio companies to accelerate growth and define market position.

Initiative Detail Bottom: 

Current theses include:

  • Online Gaming: New business models for the development and monetization of interactive entertainment.
  • Vertical Media: Premier online properties targeting consumer interest groups with high levels of engagement.
  • Advertising: New inventory (platforms, content, networks) and infrastructure for improved measurement and monetization.
Linked Companies: 
DataDepth
InternetBrands
GSI Commerce
HomeGain
IdeaForest
Gluecode Software
LimeLife
PlayFirst
Intersperse
PLX Systems
RiverOne
FieldCentrix
DanceJam
US Renewables Group
Pemco Aviation Group
Dipity
Docstoc

Wireless and Wireline Broadband

Initiative Name: 
Wireless and Wireline Broadband
initiative_image: 
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Short Description: 
Communication applications and infrastructure with advanced networking technology enablers are integral and complementary to our approach to Internet/media, New data rich applications (e.g. video) continue to create a need for innovative communication platforms.
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Communication applications and infrastructure with advanced networking technology enablers are integral and complementary to our approach to Internet/media, New data rich applications (e.g. video) continue to create a need for innovative communication platforms. We focus on companies that enable consumers and enterprises to access value-added content and data across wireless and wireline networks. Our Senior Advisor, Dr. Shoa-Kai Liu, brings to Rustic Canyon a deep and unique experience base developed over 25 years in the communications industry, including leading the Advance Technology Lab at MCI.