Widget tools and syndication firm Clearspring Technologies has lined up some heavyweight investors in its $5.5 million second round of funding. The investors included AOL founders Steve Case and Ted Leonsis, and Mark Jung, the former COO of Fox Interactive Media. The round was led by existing investors Novak Biddle Venture Partners and ZG Ventures, who also led Clearspring’s first round of $2 million in April 2006.
Jung has also joined as chairman of the Arlington, VA-based firm and will help set strategic direction of the company. Among the clients that have been testing Clearspring’s widget syndication services since November are the NBA, Universal Pictures and Indianapolis Colts.
There are tons of competitors (at least 23 widget development and management startups, according to Brad Feld), so getting some big names in might help.
Related: Content Widgets Syndication Firm Clearspring Gets $2 Million Funding