Industrial technology and appliance producer Robert Bosch exited US-based digital collaboration platform developer Kaptivo yesterday in an acquisition of undisclosed size by communications software provider Lifesize.
Founded in the UK as Light Blue Optics, Kaptivo has built a digital whiteboard system that allows business or education-based users to visually collaborate and stream the results to online platforms such as Zoom.
David Hsieh, Kaptivo’s chief executive, said: “The entire Kaptivo team is excited to join Lifesize, a trusted partner and seasoned leader in the unified communications industry.
“As schools and businesses adjust to remote work, advanced collaboration solutions that make all forms of work more productive are vitally important. Together, we are uniquely positioned to lead the market.”
The company had most recently raised $6m in an October 2018 round led by Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV) that included Draper Esprit and Generation Ventures.
Draper Esprit (then DFJ Esprit) led a $13m round for the company in 2010 featuring Robert Bosch subsidiary Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), visual display technology producer Christie Digital Systems, Earlybird Venture Capital, Capital-E, Nesta Ventures and WhiteGold Fund Management.
RBVC had led a $15m extension to Light Blue’s series A round the year before, investing with Earlybird Venture Capital, Capital-E, Nesta Ventures and 3i Group. The last four had combined in the $26m first tranche in 2007, which followed $3.5m in seed capital from 3i and Nesta the previous year.
