Utility Associates Announces Braemar Energy Ventures Investment
May 25, 2006
For Immediate Release
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ATLANTA, Georgia (May 25 , 2006) — Utility Associates Inc. (www.utility.com), a leading provider of hosted mobile field workforce solutions, announced today that Braemar Energy Ventures recently completed a $1.5 million Series A Preferred investment in the company.
The funding will be used primarily to provide additional working capital as Utility Associates launches new sales and marketing programs to further capitalize upon rapid market acceptance of its Avail ™ mobile field workforce solution. The AVaiL ‘software as a service’ solution is used to track and manage field crews and assets. The platform was successfully used recently by several utilities to safely and effectively implement Mutual Aid operations in support of Hurricane Katrina recovery.
Utility Associates chairman and co-founder Robert McKeeman remarked, “We are excited to welcome Braemar Energy Ventures to the team and we look forward to leveraging the experience of Bill Lese as the newest member of our board of directors.”
Braemar Energy Ventures partner Bill Lese remarked, “Utility Associates is redefining mobile workforce automation by providing a new generation of hosted communication and control capabilities required to efficiently manage its customers’ large and complex mobile field operations.”
The Braemar Series A Preferred round is the first outside investment in Utility Associates since a seed round of funding was completed by Allegheny Energy Inc., a Utility Associates early adopter customer. Allegheny Energy CIO Tom Gardner is also a member of the Utility Associates’ board of directors.
In just over 24 months since launch, Utility Associates’ AVaiL has become the field mobile operations communication, control, and mutual aid collaboration solution of choice for a number of utilities and government agencies across the United States. Major customers include Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light. The company has plans to double its staff in 2006 while also expanding into the government field workforce and construction services market.
Utility Associations recently launched its Avail OnComm™ hardware solution that supports field crew connectivity and mobile asset tracking. With WiFi connectivity the OnComm™ fleet-based on-board computer provides broad mobile operations communication functionality including highly reliable, high-bandwidth Internet connectivity, and GPS location services.
About Utility
Utility, the innovative technology-enabled service provider recognized for creating groundbreaking digital systems for frontline professions, provides a universe of intuitive products for effectively capturing, managing, and releasing video evidence. Technologies include a variety of cameras, sensors and devices, as well as situational awareness software solutions for law enforcement, first responders, transportation agencies and utility providers. To learn more about Utility and its technology solutions, please visit www.utility.com.
About Braemar Energy Ventures
Founded in 2003, Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in transformative energy-tech and related companies contributing to global sustainability and combating climate change. Using sector expertise and experience, Braemar aims to be an engaged partner with its portfolio companies to best help them navigate the path to creating significant global impact. For more information, visit braemarenergy.com.
Contact information
- Don McDonnell
- The McDonnell Group
- (404) 583-0003