JumpStart Invests $250,000 in 7signal

CLEVELAND, July 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- 7signal (www.7signal.com), developer of a Wi-Fi performance assurance and optimization solution that monitors and troubleshoots wireless local area networks (WLANs), received a $250,000 investment commitment from nonprofit venture development organization JumpStart Inc. (www.jumpstartinc.org). The Akron, Ohio-based company's Sapphire system serves mission-critical users and applications while reducing costs associated with network maintenance and management.

"Network troubleshooting requires an outlay of time—and perhaps even downtime-- which is something many businesses simply can't afford to have," says 7signal CEO Jeff Reedy. "That's why prevention is a key component of 7signal's Sapphire system. By keeping close, continuous tabs on WLANs in real-time—via customizable analytics tracking services, among other things—potential network problems can be detected and fixed before they cause performance issues. Our goal is to optimize networks so they work reliably."

7signal's Sapphire system consists of multiple components. The Sapphire Eye, is a Wi-Fi monitoring device that takes continuous data measurements. The company's Sapphire software collects, analyzes and stores data, enabling users to obtain end-to-end measurement of Wi-Fi quality.

Large-scale medical customers including Akron General Medical Center and Akron Children's Hospital already are benefiting from 7signal's Sapphire solution. "With the explosion of the wireless LAN market— it now brings in more than $4 billion in annual revenue—healthcare clients are just a small slice of the potential customer base for 7signal," says JumpStart Venture Partner Mark Smith. "Higher education institutions and manufacturing/distribution facilities are also going to benefit from this type of technology. Now more than ever businesses expect and need reliable, responsive Wi-Fi —and 7signal ensures businesses have the means to keep their networks running predictably, efficiently and more affordably."

In addition to JumpStart's investment, 7signal has received capital from the North Coast Angel Fund, Ohio TechAngels and the Akron BioInvestments Fund. 7signal plans to use the JumpStart investment for product and staff development.

7SIGNAL 7signal has developed the Sapphire wireless LAN performance optimization solution. The Akron-based company's innovative solution correlates wireless user performance experience directly and immediately to the source of each network problem. It serves healthcare, education and manufacturing/ distribution customers, whose access to reliable wireless LANs is most critical. To learn more, visit 7signal.com or follow @7signal on Twitter.

JUMPSTART INC. JumpStart accelerates the successes of diverse entrepreneurs, their companies and the ecosystems supporting them. Since 2004, the nonprofit development organization has given intensive business assistance to more than 380 entrepreneurial clients and been an investor in 76 early stage Northeast Ohio companies. For more information on the nonprofit development organization, visit www.jumpstartinc.org and follow @JumpStartInc on Twitter.

SOURCE JumpStart