Widget ad-syndicator iWidgets picked up $4.1 million in a first round of funding; Opus Capital and Utah-based University Venture Fund led the investment. The news follows investments in widget ad net SocialMedia and avatar-based widget-maker mEgo in late January. The SF-based company also added digital media vet Geoff Katz as VP of business development and marketing; Katz previously held positions with TiVo, DirecTV and design agency Method.

iWidgets has worked with CBS Interactive, YouTube, and even developed a package-tracking widget compatible with DHL, FedEX and others. It competes with widget-based advertising and tech firms like Slide and Interpolls, but the company claims its platform offers more customization than standard Flash-based applications.