from www.bizjournals.com – A sex toy startup’s $2 million in new capital has effectively arrived in a discreet brown parcel.
San Francisco startup JimmyJane, which designs and sells high-end vibrators, recently raised $2 million and has raised $8.3 million to date, Private Equity Week reports. But according to an SEC filing on the latest round, the new investors wish to remain anonymous.
The money will help the hot, young company expand the marketplace for its products.
These are not toys you can just pick up at any corner store.
While a basic, low-end device starts under $50 — an “iconic bullet” sells for $16 — a platinum vibrator encrusted with 28 diamonds rises to $3,250. JimmyJane’s bestselling product, called the Form 6, is waterproof, rechargeable and sells for $185. Many of these are patent protected.
JimmyJane began selling its wares on the Internet in 2005, and today its devices are carried by trendy and prestigious retailers like Fred Segal in Los Angeles and Selfridges in London. W Hotel boutiques have also got JimmyJane goods.
JimmyJane was founded by Ethan Imboden [pictured], a recovering electrical engineer whose past includes a stint at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories.
Earlier backers of the company include $1.5 billion technology hedge fund, Palo Alto Investors, and an LLC controlled by Tim Draper, the venture capitalist. Draper’s firm Draper Fisher Jurvetson is not named an as investor.
Phil Schlein, a venture partner at U.S. Venture Partners, is a company director.