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DH Board Member cracks Inc 500 | 5000 Top 20

What started in 1982 as a print publication, the Inc. brand has grown into one of the most trusted names for entrepreneurial and business resources in print and on-line. From industry insights to profiles of professionals, it spans the volatile domestic entrepreneurial landscape to educate and inspire like-minded individuals. Among its more recognizable honors are its annual Inc. 500 | 5000 awards, which celebrate the fastest growing companies in the United States.

About the time Inc. Magazine expanded its Inc. awards from 500 to 5000 in 2007, Matias de Tezanos was on the heels of another successful venture, selling advertising network ClickDiario.com to News Corporation. Drawing on his experience of building and selling the Spanish-speaking hotel reservation site – Hoteles.com – to travel giant Expedia in 2002, his success with ClickDiario.com was no surprise.

Now in 2011, de Tezanos has been named to the Inc. 500 | 5000 list for successfully leading the Miami-based BrokersWeb to become the fastest growing insurance company in the United States. Previously, de Tezanos’ BrokersWeb received local recognition as South Florida’s Fastest Growing Company by the South Florida Business Journal.

BrokersWeb operates 12 sites, offering both insurance and end-users options for advertising and plan comparisons respectively. Ranked No. 20 overall in the Inc. 500 | 5000 list, BrokersWeb has seen an 8,127-percent three-year growth, with $15.7 million in revenue in 2010.

Adding to de Tezanos’ honors was his inclusion in Inc.com’s Top 10 Latino and Hispanic Entrepreneurs list. Interestingly, his arrival in the insurance vertical was spawned in large part because of a non-compete clause that didn’t allow him to enter the Latin Market. “I knew nothing about insurance four years ago,” de Tezanos told Inc.com. “It’s growing even faster than I thought.”

Clearly, there is little he cannot tackle.

Domain Holdings raises $2.9M in Venture Capital Funding led by Valhalla Partners, Debuts Retooled Domain Development Platform

Domain Holdings, an industry leader in domain lifecycle management and monetization, announced that it has launched its retooled domain development platform – DomainPower – on the heels of a $2.9 million Series A venture capital funding round from Valhalla Partners, WWC Capital and BrokersWeb Inc. Founder and CEO Matias De Tezanos, as well as other angel investors.

The newly launched platform is a complete rewrite of its predecessor Rapid Domain Builder, initially launched in November 2010. The rebranded DomainPower keeps its original intent as a turnkey solution for domain owners, offering vertical-specific frameworks for quick SEO-ready website development, site enhancement plug-ins and multiple revenue opportunities, all managed in one location.

“We are excited to come out of stealth mode with a new look to our award-winning platform,” Domain Holdings CEO Jason Boshoff said. “This gives users a powerful domain management and monetization solution that can help identify the overall status of a domain portfolio, recognize growth opportunities and, overall, offers easy management.”

The redesign’s primary focus was a new user interface, developing a larger selection of vertical-specific frameworks and adding domain portfolio management solutions. The newly launched UI features an upgraded dashboard, sortable by individual domain performance or a full portfolio performance overview, with real-time updates of site and portfolio statistics. Updates include revenue, traffic, traffic sources, keywords and other site vitals integral to the growth, health and maintenance of domains.

The funds raised will go to continued technological development for the DomainPower platform, including research and development of new revenue models for site users, as well as adding resources to optimize, analyze and help increase yield and domain value.

About Domain Holdings

Domain Holdings, a full-service domain lifecycle management company, is an industry leader in the acquisition, development, management and monetization of domain portfolios and premium web properties. The company was co-founded by Chad Folkening, a longtime domain industry veteran, and John Ferber, co-founder of Advertising.com which was acquired by AOL for approximately $500 million in 2004, and whose collective online products and services have grossed more than $3 billion since 1996. DomainPower is a comprehensive monetization and domain development platform, providing domain owners with a rev-share enhancement and website development solution.

About Valhalla Partners

Valhalla Partners is a partner and advisor to technology entrepreneurs in their quest to build world-class companies. Based in Vienna, Virginia, the firm’s management team has made more than 120 investments over the past twenty years and produced over $1 billion of investment proceeds. Valhalla prefers investments where the mission of the company is to innovate, challenge and fundamentally change the dynamics of new and existing markets. Investments by Valhalla’s team include Advertising.com, CareerBuilder.com, Clarify, EnterpriseDB, Epicor, Exchange Solutions, JumpTap, LeftHand Networks, Mobius, NextLink, Nirvanix, Progress Software, Proxicom, RealOps, Register.com, Riverbed Technologies, SafeNet, SEPATON, ServiceBench, SolidFire, TidalTV, Trilogy, and webMethods. Valhalla Partners brings the full power and network of its experienced team to every investment it makes, helping companies grow faster and smarter regardless of size or maturity.

For more information, go to www.valhallapartners.com.

About WWC Capital

WWC Capital is an investment banking and private equity firm dedicated to serving middle market companies in need of capital or advisory services. WWC has deep experience in the technology, government services, and new media sectors. Our professionals have extensive advisory and transaction experience in operating companies, investment banks and professional services firms. WWC principals have completed over 325 transactions totaling over $15 billion in value. WWC Capital is based in Reston, Virginia.

For more information, go to www.wwccapital.com.

Domain Holdings Launch Party and Strategic Political Fundraiser

Mojitos, Models and Mingling: Sunday Oct 17th, 8 pm – Midnight at Domain Holdings’ Private Miami Venue – Invite Only

Domain Holdings is inviting selected domainers to join us on Sunday, October 17th from 8:00 – 9:30 pm at our Miami Style Party. Prior to the all-night festivities, we will be holding a Strategic Political Fundraiser for member of the Energy and Internet-Sub-committee, and current member and future Chairmen of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Rep. Cliff Stearns, and Junior member candidate, Rep. Todd Rokita.

Both men are an asset to our field, and your support and contributions, which are to be made directly to the candidates (don’t forget to mention you’re a domainer or own a domain industry company!), will be of great benefit to the industry.

From there, the Domain Holdings launch party will ensue from 9 pm – midnight. Guests will enjoy Miami models, Mojitos and Mingling while living it up at our exclusive party.

This is an invite only event — please RSVP. Contact [email protected] for details.