Mobile tech firm VenueNext announced it has raised $9M in strategic financing through Causeway Media Partners, Twitter Ventures and Aruba Networks, now part of HP. As a result of the transaction, Causeway Managing Partner and 49ers investor Mark Wan joins the VenueNext BOD. The tech firm was formed in October '13 to help the 49ers develop their mobile app for Levi’s Stadium. VenueNext’s original financial backer is Aurum Partners, an investment company started by the York family, which owns the 49ers. VenueNext has a pending deal with the Magic to upgrade mobile technology at Amway Center (Don Muret, Staff Writer). RE/CODE's Kurt Wagner writes Twitter’s deal with VenueNext -- its "third public investment" -- is a "strategic one, and yet another sign that the company is increasingly interested in live events like NFL games." Twitter "has always cared about getting people to tweet during these events, from their couches at home but also from the stadiums and arenas." The company is "even building a new product to curate specific timelines around these events to make them easier to follow on the service." The investment in VenueNext "seems to imply Twitter may want to get involved with other aspects of live events, too, like ticket sales or concessions or merchandise." VenueNext Founder & COO John Paul said that he "expects VenueNext to be in 30 venues by the end of the year." Wagner writes it "seems like a safe bet that at least some of those new partners will be owned or operated by Live Nation" (RECODE.net, 6/24).
