Architectural SaaS Leader Sefaira Raises $9.2m to Accelerate Growth

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Oct 2, 2013) - Sefaira, the leader in software for high performance building design, today announced that the company added more than 50 new architectural firms as customers in Q3, taking the total number of customers to more than 200.

In addition, Sefaira announced that it had raised $9.2 million in new capital to fund continued business growth. Sefaira's existing investors, including Braemar Energy Ventures, Chrysalix SET and Hermes GPE, invested $7.2 million in new venture capital while the company additionally secured a $2 million venture debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank.

"We are excited to be able to extend this facility to Sefaira," said Erin Lockwood, Managing Director of Commercial Banking, for Silicon Valley Bank's UK Branch. "Sefaira has proven itself a leader in software for high performance building design and energy efficiency, and we are pleased to become a partner and support their continued growth." 

Sefaira also announced that Philip Crawford (former senior vice president of Oracle Corporation and president of EDS International) will assume the role as chairman of the board. Mr. Crawford joined Sefaira's board as non-executive director in January, and has since worked closely with the company in refining its growth strategy. "We are proud that our existing investors continue to strongly support the company and especially that we are bringing on board as highly respected a financing partner as Silicon Valley Bank," said Mr Crawford.

Sefaira CEO Mads Jensen said, "We are delighted that we are enjoying the backing of a strong investor syndicate, now also joined by Silicon Valley Bank. We are also very pleased that Philip Crawford has agreed to serve as chairman to help us grow the company. More than anything it is terrific that we are welcoming a rapidly growing number of leading architectural firms as customers. Architects keep looking for better ways to design great, sustainable and energy efficient buildings, and Sefaira offers unique technology to help our customers do just that."

With a number of exciting new product announcements planned for Q4, Sefaira continues the rapid pace of innovation around real-time energy analysis for building design.

About Sefaira
Founded in 2009, Sefaira produces cloud-based energy efficiency software to help architects design high performing buildings. Using Sefaira, architects and other building designers can analyze and compare multiple building strategies within a fraction of the time and cost previously required. This includes defining, quantifying, and optimizing the energy, water, carbon and financial benefits of relevant design strategies.

Sefaira won Gold at the 2013 Ecosummit award in Berlin as well as the "Green Building Innovation of the Year" award at London's Ecobuild 2011. It has been named to the Red Herring Top 100 Europe in 2013 and Going Green Global Top 200 private companies in 2012. Sefaira has offices in London and New York.

About Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank is the premier bank for technology, life sciences, cleantech, venture capital, private equity and premium wine businesses. Silicon Valley Bank and its affiliates within SVB Financial Group provide industry knowledge and connections, financing, treasury management, corporate investment and international banking services to its clients worldwide through 27 US offices and seven international operations in China, India, Israel and the UK. http://www.svb.com/uk

Silicon Valley Bank is authorised and regulated by the California Department of Financial Institutions and the United States Federal Reserve Bank; authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority with number 577295; and subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request Silicon Valley Bank is authorised and regulated by the California Department of Financial Institutions and the United States Federal Reserve Bank; authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority with number 577295; and subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and limited regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.