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WaterSmart Raises $4.5M

WaterSmart Software, a customer engagement solutions company for water utilities, has closed a $4.5M Series A led by the Westly Group. Physic Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), and Apsara Capital, also participated in the investments. WaterSmart says it plans to use the Series A funds to expand its sales and marketing teams.

Steve Westly will join the board of directors of WaterSmart, which includes Andy Donner from Physic Ventures, Gary Kremen, founder of Clean Power Finance and Match.com, Henri Lambert of Apsara Capital, and Peter Yolles, WaterSmart’s founder and CEO.

This is the WaterSmart’s third round of funding. The company, incubated by Menlo Incubator, also raised $900,000 in 2011 from Menlo Incubator, Sand Hill Angels, DFJ, and Physic Ventures; and $1.5M in 2012 from the same investors plus Apsara Capital.

[Image courtesy: WaterSmart]

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