Early stage venture capital roundup

Compiled by Alastair Goldfisher

SAN FRANCISCO (Private Equity Week) - Thomson Reuters tracked only five startups that raised early stage funding last week.

Among the young companies to raise money from venture capitalists was Everlater, a Boulder, Colo.-based Internet company that operates a website allowing travelers to post their experiences.

The company raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Highway 12 Ventures, a Boise, Idaho-based venture firm.

Everlater's Web platform lets users mix text, maps, photos and video into a travel journal, which users can share across social networking sties.

Along with adding two people to its three-person staff, Everlater intends to fund development of its Web-based product and expand its partner outreach efforts, co-founder Natty Zola says.

The company participated in the 2009 TechStars program in Boulder during the summer. The program provides seed funding, education and mentoring to 10 nationwide startups.

Other companies to raise funding last week including the following:

CONSUMER ENTERTAINMENT

Six Degrees Games Inc.

Marina Del Rey, CA

www.sixdegreesgames.com <www.sixdegreesgames.com>

Amount/Round: $7M/Series B

Investors: Time Warner Investments (led), Clearstone Venture Partners and Prism VentureWorks Details: Publishes video games for gaming consoles and personal computers, and it develops sports-themed virtual worlds designed for users six to 14-years-old. The company has now raised $14 million in funding.

CONSUMER INTERNET

Everlater Inc.

Boulder, CO

www.everlater.com <www.everlater.com>

Amount/Round: NA/Series A

Investors: Highway 12 Ventures

Details: Operates an online site for users to share travel experiences. George Mulhern, general partner of Highway 12, has joined the board.

PHARMACEUTICALS

Altair Therapeutics Inc.

San Diego, CA

www.altairthera.com <www.altairthera.com>

Amount/Round: $17M/Series A

Investors: Domain Associates (led), AgeChem Venture Fund, Thomas, McNerney & Partners, Forward Ventures and Isis Pharmaceuticals

Details: Develops drugs focused on asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Zyngenia Inc.

Rockville, MD

www.zygenia.com <www.zygenia.com>

Amount/Round: $10M/Series A

Investors: New Enterprise Associates Details: Operates as a biotherapeutics company focused on antibody drug development.

TECHNOLOGY

Mandelbrot Project Inc.

Boulder, CO

www.themandelbrotproject.com <www.themandelbrotproject.com>

Amount/Round: $500K/Series A

Investors: Foundry Group

Details: Details of the company are unknown. The stealth-mode startup was founded by former Daily Candy CEO Pete Sheinbaum. Seth Levine, a partner at Foundry, is on the Mandelbrot board.