Mount Pleasant-based startup company raises $1.15 million from investors

Mount Pleasant-based GreenWizard LLC, a past presenter at InnoVenture Southeast held in Greenville, closed a Series A round of private investment from a syndicate of venture capital funds and angel investors. The investment was $1.15 million.

The investment was led by Zygote Ventures, based in San Rafael, Calif. Zygote Ventures also led an angel investment round in GreenWizard last year.

GreenWizard offers database search and comparison services for the architecture, engineering and construction market. Zygote Ventures principal partner Jerry Fiddler said that sector is eager for tools to navigate through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and other green-product options.

“We see an expansive opportunity for GreenWizard, as demonstrated by the immediate receptivity we have already seen for GreenWizard among the AEC community,” Fiddler said.

GreenWizard’s will use the money to build and market its interactive, searchable database system of green products for LEED and green commercial construction.

“Given today’s economy, an investment of this size for a startup like ours is an enormous vote of confidence,” said GreenWizard’s CEO Adam Bernholz. “But the venture capital community isn’t the only area where we have received such strong affirmation.”

GreenWizard has strategic partnerships with the U.S. Green Building Council, Scientific Certification Systems, GreenFormat and Sustainable Material Rating Technology and The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, Bernholtz said.

GreenWizard was among 15 presenters at InnoVenture 2009, a Southeastern investors conference that injects private sector innovations and university research. Other Lowcountry presenters last year were Avancen LLC, Belief Networks, BiblioLabs and Sable Medical Inc.

InnoVenture Southeast 2010 will take place May 11-12 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville.