Zumbox Closes Series A Funding

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Zumbox said Monday it has raised $8 million for a national rollout of its system for sending electronic mail to postal addresses later this year.

The Westlake Village company said investors included former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michel Eisner of Tornante Co., Art Bilger of Shelter Capital Partners; Rick Braddock of Fresh Direct; Bill Guth of Guthy-Renker, and Donn Rappaport, the firm’s CEO and founder.

Zumbox’s service allows marketers and businesses to target individuals with electronic mailings, based on their street address. However, people would have to create their own “Zumbox” to get their mail, which could include electronic bank statements, car service reminders and marketing material commonly known as junk mail – a questionable prospect. The firm, which recently completed a test in New Lenox, Ill., said it will launch a national rollout in the fourth quarter.

The company claims its product is an eco-friendly and cheaper alternative to paper mail. The company has created a digital mailbox – a Zumbox – for every street address in the country. Messages can be sent as digital files and received online, with no paper, printing or postage, and no scanning.

“Despite a severely challenging economic climate, we were able to successfully complete this round of funding,” Rappaport said in a statement. “New investors include some of the most well-known and widely-respected names in the technology, marketing and entertainment industries.”

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