We would like to extend our congratulations to three Revolution Growth portfolio companies, CustomInk, Optoro Inc., and sweetgreen, for being named 2014 Corporate Growth Award finalists by The National Capital Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG). The three D.C. based organizations are finalists in the Venture Deal of the Year category, which seeks to recognize the most outstanding venture deal from 2013.
CustomInk, Optoro, and sweetgreen are three of five new companies added to Revolution Growth’s portfolio last year, helping the Washington, D.C. region reach a monumental milestone in 2013 – $1.5 billion in venture capital investments, even surpassing an optimistic and “bullish” public prediction of $1.1 billion by our Chairman, Steve Case.
All three companies have experienced tremendous growth and success over the last year:
CustomInk, a web-based, custom apparel company founded 14 years ago currently delivers more than 20 million custom t-shirts a year and is experiencing impressive year-over-year growth, with room to grow. CustomInk is working on two new creative growth platforms, Booster and Pear, which will further enable users and brands to engage with the custom apparel company on charitable and sponsorship opportunities.
Optoro Inc. is a technology company enabling retailers and manufacturers to increase revenue from returned and excess inventory. Last year, they completed three rounds of funding and have been focusing on expanding their management team, and recently acquired a 13,000 square foot office space in Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown to accommodate their rapidly growing staff. Optoro was also recently named an Emerging Firm of the Year finalist at The Tech Council of Maryland’s (TCM) 26th Annual Industry Awards.
sweetgreen, the fast-growing organic, farm-to-table salad shop founded in Washington, D.C, expanded to 20+ restaurants in 2013, recently opening restaurants in Boston and Philadelphia with plans to open additional locations this year and next, including its first West Coast location (in Los Angeles). They also launched a new mobile app to customers, helping bring new a new layer of data to their next stage of expansion.
We’re thrilled to be partners with these three great companies nominated for the 2014 Corporate Growth Awards. These nominations represent the growth and momentum in venture capital across the Washington, D.C. region, as well as the acceleration of innovation and entrepreneurship across the nation.
The winner will be announced at the annual awards gala on April 24, 2014.
