Search marketing tech and services firm ClickFuel has raised $2.5 million in its first round of funding. Baird Venture Partners led the investment; Baird Principal Jim Pavlik, and Partner Bill Filip are joining the startup’s board. Founded in 2008 by AuctionPal co-founder Colby West, it’s now helmed by Steve Pogorzelski, former group president, international at Monster Worldwide (parent company of Monster.com). Boston-based ClickFuel helps small and medium-sized businesses manage their paid and organic search marketing efforts; it will use the new funds to build out its search tech platform.

Pogorzelski spent over 10 years with Monster Worldwide (NSDQ: MNST), and brought a team of Monster.com vets with him: Brian Farrey, former president of Monster Technologies;  Rob Hayes, former VP of finance and global sales; David Lynch, former director of sales; and most recently Denise Cautela, former senior director of marketing for emerging markets. Release.