T-Commerce Startup Delivery Agent Raises $35.5 Million

Delivery Agent, a provider of TV-based commerce technology and services, secured $35.5 million in funding led by Intel Capital with strategic investments from Liberty Global and Grazia Equity.

The fifth round of financing included re-investment from all current investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, bringing total equity funding to date to $107.3 million.

San Francisco-based Delivery Agent provides "shopping-enabled programming" and related services for about 40 media companies, representing more than 350 entertainment properties. Customers include CBS, NBCUniversal, Twentieth Century Fox, Discovery Communications, A&E Television Networks, HBO, Showtime, The CW and Univision Communications.

Earlier this year, for example, AETN and NBC launched campaigns to sell products associated with some of their primetime shows through ads on Rovi's interactive program guides, in partnership with Delivery Agent.

Delivery Agent also has participated in Canoe Ventures' partner program exploring T-commerce opportunities.

"Our investment in Delivery Agent shows our conviction in the t-commerce space," Liberty Global Ventures vice president Bruce Dines said in a statement. "Based on Delivery Agent's proprietary technology platform, we believe the company is well positioned to lead contextually relevant transactional capability across television and other digital platforms, both inside and outside of the U.S."

GCA Savvian served as financial advisor to Delivery Agent on the latest round of funding.

"Delivery Agent secured global strategic investment from leaders that are entrenched in the evolution of interactivity in the digital home throughout the world," Delivery Agent CEO Mike Fitzsimmons said in a statement. "Our investors' capital and expertise in advanced media, e-commerce and digital delivery will enable Delivery Agent to drive substantial value for our partners in the evolving entertainment commerce ecosystem."