[April 03, 2014]

North Carolina Tech Startup Windsor Circle Wins Google Demo Day Competition

Windsor Circle pitched its Retention Automation software for retail and prevailed against 10 startups from the 7 Google (News - Alert) for Entrepreneurs tech hubs across North America in yesterday's first ever Google Demo Day competition, held at Google Ventures' Startup Lab.

Windsor Circle joined Automated Insights as one of two North Carolina teams who earned the chance to compete, from well over 1,000 start-ups nationwide, Windsor Circle's victory not only means increased opportunities for the company itself, but also promises to help further the growth and entrepreneurial potential of regional markets like North Carolina's Triangle area.

Revolution Ventures CEO and AOL (News - Alert) Founder Steve Case, who helped judge the event, presented Windsor Circle's team with the winning trophy. Case then surprised the audience by personally pledging $100K in investor funds to each of the contestants, as part of each of their larger fundraising rounds. In addition, the Windsor Circle team, including CEO Matt Williamson, CTO Chris Humphres and Vice President of Marketing Andrew Pearson, will remain in Silicon Valley throughout the week to meet with other interested investors.

"This victory couldn't have come at a better time for Windsor Circle," remarks Humphres. "We are currently in the midst of raising $5M+ in new investment funds. National attention during this process will help us augment the incredible financial and other support we've received from the NC-based investment community with larger capital contributions from other markets essential for growing our company."

At the event, Williamson pitched Windsor Circle's powerful marketing softwae to a group of nearly 150 people that included Silicon Valley financiers, as well as venture capitalists and angel investors from around the country. His pitch addressed the ways that Windsor Circle's powerful automated retention platform helps e-commerce retailers leverage consumer data and their marketing software in order to better reach and retain existing customers.

"The average marketer doesn't know what to do with big data - it's a big problem," said Williamson. "Windsor Circle has solved it. Our retention automation platform makes it push-button simple for any retailer to enjoy the data-driven marketing techniques used by the top 1% of companies."

Google for Entrepreneurs, with 7 partner tech hubs across the U.S. and Canada, planned the event in response to requests for more access to capital for startup companies located outside of larger areas, like Silicon Valley, where investment opportunities abound. Windsor Circle's Andrew Pearson praises the effect that the competition will have for the future of such regional markets.

"Google for Entrepreneurs has delivered on their pledge to help tech startups outside of the Valley. This is a huge moment for Durham and the Triangle area, and for other growing regions with amazing entrepreneurial talent to be discovered. It puts us on the map and shows that companies from smaller areas are as viable and fundable as those in typical investor markets," notes Pearson, himself one of Windsor Circle's first seed investors.

Many local contingents put a great deal of time, energy, and money into supporting Windsor Circle and the local entrepreneurial spirit by hosting networking events, providing office space, and offering funding. Representatives from several of these companies also traveled to support Windsor Circle at the event, including John Cambier from IDEA Fund Partners, one of Windsor Circle's investors; the American Underground's Adam Klein; Research Triangle Foundation's Anna Penner and Mason Ailstock; Bull City Venture Partners' David Jones; and the Center for Entrepreneurial Development's Dhruv Patel. "We couldn't have done it without them," Williamson states.

On April 11, the American Underground, 1 of the 7 Google for Entrepreneurs tech hubs, will host a victory celebration party for Windsor Circle at their Main Street location in Durham. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, visit startupjourney.eventbrite.com.

To learn more about Windsor Circle's retention marketing automation software and e-commerce data solutions, visit www.windsorcircle.com, or contact sales (at) windsorcircle.com.

About Windsor Circle: Windsor Circle's Retention Marketing Platform helps online retailers keep and monetize their existing customers through data-driven, personalized and automated lifecycle marketing programs, connecting e-commerce platforms, email marketing software, and other data sources; analyzing customer purchase history and behavior; and automating customer loyalty, product recommendation, and other segmented email campaigns.

For press queries or further information, contact Andrew Pearson at (877) 848-4113, or via email at andrew (at) windsorcircle.com.

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