SBD Global Fund

Jan 23, 2013

Reprints Telcentris, which provides voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services through its VoxOx technology platform, has raised $5.3 million from SBD Global Fund in what Telcentris describes as its first round of institutional funding. Telcentris said it plans to use the capital to expand its mobile strategy. Users can download a VoxOx app onto their desktop or iPhone. The technology integrates calls, text messaging, and other types of communications into a single user interface. Telcentris derived the name for its VoxOx business from “voice over X,” meaning its cloud-based software can send a voice call over any number of networks to a user’s computer or phone. Like Google Voice, VoxOx provides users a free phone number and allows free calls to other VoxOx users. The San Diego company, which operates as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier, says it maintained a low profile last year as it expanded from its initial focus on the consumer market to its “VoxOx In Business” offerings. Telcentris said a boutique investment banking advisory firm, Dallas, TX-based Pepperwood Partners, which is assisting the company in securing as much as $40 million in financing, helped arrange the deal with SBD Global Fund . In its statement , Telcentris says SBD Global Fund was established in 2010 and is based in Limassol, Cyprus. SBD Global Fund’s chief investment officer, Gregory Klumov, also is joining Telcentris’ board of directors. Klumov is a Russian Internet entrepreneur and investor who joined SBD Global in 2011 “to source and execute all acquisitions outside Russia.” In July, Klumov joined the board of Austin, TX-based Cinsay, a Web-based startup that uses its proprietary interactive video “Smart Store” technology to sell products and provide other e-commerce services. Bruce V. Bigelow is the editor of Xconomy San Diego. You can e-mail him at bbigelow@xconomy.com or call (619) 669-8788 Follow @bvbigelow