SuperSecret Raises $10 Million

SuperSecret Inc., a San Francisco-based developer of online social games for tweens, has raised $10 million in Series A funding. Opus Capital led the round, with partner Ken Elefant taking a board seat.

PRESS RELEASE

SuperSecret Inc., a San Francisco-based start-up that is building the next generation of online social gaming for kids, today announced that it has secured $10 million in Series A funding led by Opus Capital, a leading early-stage venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California. SuperSecret will use the capital to fund ongoing product development, build an industry-leading distribution network, and deliver the most engaging online experience to kids around the world. Ken Elefant, general partner at Opus Capital, has joined SuperSecret’s board of directors.

 

“SuperSecret is an extremely compelling investment based on the strength of its business model and the size of its market opportunity,” said Mr. Elefant. “Nearly 12 million kids visited an online game site or social network last year, and this number will grow to 20 million in the next three years. With an experienced management team who understands how to build great consumer services – and a strong distribution network already in place, SuperSecret is poised to become a world-class brand that kids love and parents trust.”

 

SuperSecret is set to launch its flagship property, SuperSecret.com, this spring. SuperSecret.com is a new online social game for tweens who are ready to move on from Club Penguin or Webkinz, but are too young for World of Warcraft or Facebook. The company actively involves tweens in product design to create the most engaging experience available online, and its proprietary World Builder™ platform allows SuperSecret to quickly and easily expand game content to keep up with the imagination and skills of its tween audience. The company has already attracted major distribution partners based on the strength of its beta release, and tweens participating in the beta an average of 55 minutes per session.

 

“As we innovate social gaming, we’ve created an infrastructure that can support varied social interactions between millions of players,” said Tony Espinoza, co-founder and president of SuperSecret. “At the same time, we’ve assembled a truly amazing team of artists and game developers – and kids are responding. The word of mouth for our beta has been unlike anything I’ve seen.”

 

“As parents ourselves, we believe kids need a safe and fun environment where they can use their imaginations, test their skills, and learn the basics of online social interactions,” said Ted Barnett, co-founder and CEO of SuperSecret. “We’ve been very successful in attracting partners, parents, and players based on this value proposition and we’re thrilled to throw open the gates to the public next month.”

 

SuperSecret is led by Ted Barnett and Tony Espinoza, proven technology entrepreneurs who previously founded and sold Internet calendaring service When.com to AOL. Barnett has also led ground-breaking projects at AOL, Ofoto / Kodak, Apple, and PF Magic, where he played an integral role in developing Dogz, the first virtual life PC game. Espinoza has worked for leaders like Electronic Arts, Apple, IBM, and Diamond Multimedia and most recently founded recording studio SF Soundworks aimed at major label projects in the San Francisco area.

 

About SuperSecret

SuperSecret is a San Francisco-based start-up that is delivering the next generation of social gaming for kids.  Led by technology and gaming industry veterans with experience at AOL, Apple, and Electronic Arts, SuperSecret stands apart for its strong market focus, innovative technology, and wide distribution network.  For more information or to participate in the beta of its flagship social game for tweens, please visit http://www.supersecret.com. 

 

About Opus Capital

Opus Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm with more than $1 billion of committed capital under management, investing in committed, high integrity entrepreneurs building market-leading technology companies. The team has participated in the successful outcomes of more than 80 companies (including 50 IPOs) in the U.S. and in Israel including Adaptec, AirGate PCS, BlueNile, Brocade, Ciena, DoubleClick, Electronics for Imaging, FedEx, Genesys, Harmonic, Informatica, Kidaro and Vantive. Opus Capital is headquartered on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, California. For more information, visit www.opuscapital.com.