Private Equity Week Wire for Friday 1/12

PRINCETON, NJ — JustBalls Inc. the sports equipment and affinity marketing company focused on the $5 billion global ball market, announced the completion of a successful capital fundraising campaign which brings over $13 million of new working capital to the Company. The new round, led by Zesiger Capital Group, was accomplished despite an overall scarcity of venture capital, and the recent demise of many e-commerce businesses, both large and small.

STAMFORD, CT — FitLinxx, the leader in helping fitness and wellness facilities deliver higher levels of member service through interactive electronic training systems, today announced that it has secured its latest round of financing, led by Canaan Partners, UBS Capital Americas, and Whitney & Co. This investment brings the total funds raised to date to over $50 million, confirming strong investor confidence in the company’s unique position to create a link between fitness and healthcare. The investment also validates FitLinxx’s position as the clear leader in driving new member attraction, existing member retention and ancillary revenue streams for fitness and wellness facilities. The new funding will be targeted at continued product expansion and healthcare integration; for instance, allowing customers to attract a broader range of members after physical therapy.

NASHVILLE, TN — Harpeth Capital, LLC, a Nashville-based, mid-market investment banking firm that has ownership ties to R. Clayton McWhorter’s venture capital management firm, Clayton Associates LLC, today announced that it has launched a new Atlanta-based affiliate firm specializing in mid-market health care transactions.

SAN DIEGO — Mission Ventures today announced that Leo Spiegel has joined Mission Ventures as general partner. Mission Ventures is a Southern California venture capital firm, headquartered in San Diego, with over $280 million under management. Spiegel has served as president of Digital Island since December 1999 and previously served as Sandpiper Networks’ chairman, president and CEO.

ATLANTA — NextStart Capital, a firm which specializes in developing early-stage Internet companies that show promise of profitability within 18 months, is investing $500,000 and serving as technical adviser for Bedstat (www.bedstat.com), the only healthcare interchange placement system in the Southeast that provides skilled nursing facility vacancies to hospitals in real time in order to speed up the discharge planning process, announced NextStart Capital’s chairman and CEO, Rick Jackson, today.