Aim-To (www.aim-to.com) is a new entity formed by the merger of MarketDataInsite and Picasso.  The company offers an ASP-based proprietary software product that allows Wall Street financial service firms to monitor the multi-billion dollar acquisition, renewal, and entitlement costs of market data.  Clients include NASDAQ, Ryan Beck, Pershing, New York Life, Bank of New York, and DuPont Capital Management. 

Aquatic Designs, Inc. is a developer of patented waterproof, breathable, stretchable fabric for the activewear market. Based in Bethany Beach, DE, the company was formed and the technology patented by a group of extreme sports enthusiasts who wished to protect themselves from harsh weather and outdoor elements. The company is currently negotiating a licensing agreement for its technology to be introduced to the athletic apparel market.

Aviom, Inc. (www.aviom.com) developed and commercially introduced A-Net, a proprietary patent-pending streaming audio and video distribution protocol, the first local area network optimized for streaming data.  Aviom systems have been competitively selected for numerous demanding, high-profile applications by the pro audio industry, such as the live finale of the second season of The Apprentice, the Lion King road show, Radio City Music Hall, Saturday Night Live, and others.  Recording artists such as Barry Manilow, James Taylor and Jessica Simpson, among many others, use Aviom equipment.  The second generation of products, A-Net Pro, is expected to expand market opportunities into broadcasting, corporate conferencing, education, and audio management in conference centers, corporate offices, airports, hotels, churches, malls – anywhere streaming media can be beneficially networked.  The Philadelphia Business Journal stated: “What will [Aviom’s] products do? Maybe nothing short of revolutionizing the audio/music industry.” The company is located in West Chester, PA

Baton Networks, Inc. (www.baton.com) provides Internet advertising targeted to consumers who are moving.  Baton, located in Conshohocken, PA, provides high value ad inventory by allowing advertisers to target consumers who have revealed a specific interest in moving.  The Baton Network matches web sites and advertisers, increasing conversion rates and advertiser sales.  Clients include Home Depot, Sears, Sherwin-Williams, and Time Inc.

Foxfire Printing (www.foxfireprinting.com) is a full-service, technology-driven marketing solutions company that provides printing, fulfillment and data management services for complex printed material and packaging.  The company also provides graphic design, photography, warehousing, digital and offset printing and point-of-purchase signage for national chain retail stores throughout the U.S.  The DIF made its initial investment in Foxfire in 1999.  In 2000, the DIF introduced and led an investment syndicate with three other venture funds, allowing Foxfire to acquire a leading point-of-purchase technology company.  Headquartered in Newark, DE, the company has grown from 60 employees in 1999 to 115 today, and also has offices in Maryland and North Carolina. Foxfire has won several awards:  The “Philadelphia 100” honoring the 100 fastest growing privately-held companies in the tri-state area for three years in a row (2002-2004); and one of the “400 Largest Printing Companies in North America” by Printing Impressions Magazine in 2004 and 2005.

Mid-Atlantic Angel Group I (www.magfund.com) is a $3.5 million angel fund of Innovation Philadelphia organized to bridge the gap between angel and institutional venture capital funding.  MAG seeks to leverage various public and private funding resources and networks by providing equity capital to seed and early stage, technology- based, high-growth companies.  MAG will focus primarily on technology and life science companies in a nine-county Greater Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic region, including Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware.

Smart Button Associates, Inc. (www.smartbutton.com) headquartered in Newark, DE, is an industry leader in the development of loyalty marketing systems for the sports, entertainment, and retail industries.  The company’s software is a customer affinity tracking system, whereby information is integrated from multiple sources to build marketing programs. The DIF made an investment in Smart Button in 1999 when the company originated its loyalty marketing system in the horseracing industry.  Today, Smart Button’s loyalty marketing software is utilized in over 500 facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, including over 60% of the North American pari-mutuel venues, several Las Vegas casinos, professional sports teams (such as the Arizona Diamondbacks), and NCAA college athletics, as well as retail shops and restaurants.  Over 2.5 million patrons are enrolled in Smart Button’s database.  In 2003, Smart Button received a second round investment from Murex Investments, a SBA New Markets fund in Philadelphia, PA introduced by the DIF. 

Solstice (www.solsticesoftware.com) formerly known as Class I.Q., provides proprietary component and integration testing software.  Founded in the windowless basement of an apartment building in Wilmington, DE in 1996 by a University of Delaware engineering graduate student, Solstice has grown to offer its software testing tools to leading national and international companies.  Solstice’s software testing tools enable companies to perform component-level testing prior to completing a company’s entire program or application.  By testing earlier, defects are found earlier, thereby saving a company time and money.  The DIF first invested in Solstice in 2000.  In 2002, the DIF helped to recruit Core Capital Partners in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore-based Anthem Capital Management to complete a second round financing, followed in 2004 by a third round. Solstice has since relocated its headquarters to Claymont, DE and has grown to 20 employees.