Dream Local Digital raises $725,000 in Venture Capital

The team at Dream Local Digital is pleased to announce that it has raised $725,000 in venture capital to expand its nationwide offering of digital marketing products and services. The announcement on Thursday, January 31 was covered by industry outlets both locally and across the US including MaineBiz and its News Report, Press Herald, CentralMaine.com, PortlandTalks.com, MTI, and Maine Startup Insider among others.

View the press release below:

Dream Local Digital raises $725,000 in Venture Capital

CEI Ventures, Maine Venture Fund, MTI and Bangor Angels lead Series A funding round for fast growing digital media company

Rockland, Maine –  January 31, 2019 — Dream Local Digital, a fast growing digital marketing company, announced it has completed a $725,000 Series A round of financing. CEI Ventures (CVI) co-led the oversubscribed round along with Maine Venture Fund, Maine Technology Institute, Bangor Angels and other individual investors from Maine Angels. The investment will enable the woman-led company to expand into new markets, add products and hire new staff at its Rockland headquarters as well as remotely.

Dream Local Digital delivers a suite of products and services to small and medium-sized businesses nationally including social media management and advertising, search engine optimization and advertising, website development, strategic planning, display advertising, email marketing, mobile marketing and video. They have two models, working directly with customers and through a national reseller network made up largely of media companies.

“We have a validated and nationally-scalable model. With this round, we can now invest in sales and marketing to reach more customers nationwide and create more jobs,” said Dream Local Digital Founder and Client Success Officer Shannon Kinney. “We are proud to be in the CVI portfolio and help fulfill their important mission to bring quality jobs and shared prosperity to rural communities.”

Dream Local Digital is a notable early adopter of online marketing, having just celebrated its tenth anniversary. That tenure gives the company a proven model, positioning it for further growth in an exploding field. The company currently works in 65 markets nationwide and will use the investment to add 19 new jobs to its 40-person roster of full-time employees. From this investment, the company has already created and filled a Chief Revenue Officer role.

“Dream Local Digital is widely known as the best in the business for delivering online marketing, particularly social media marketing and SEO, at scale,” said Nat Henshaw, Managing Director of CEI Ventures. “That, coupled with the company’s rapid growth, dynamic market transformation and hiring forecast fits our mission of building an economy that works for everyone.”

The company is deeply committed to its community. Its headquarters on Main Street are in the heart of Rockland. Its success is expected to ripple through the booming arts and food scene there to the city’s working waterfront.

About Dream Local Digital:

Dream Local Digital is a digital marketing agency specializing in interactive media, marketing, social media, advertising, reputation and brand management, and SEO. Dream Local Digital works with publishers, media companies, ad agencies, and directly with businesses on all aspects of their online marketing plans, from website development, content strategy and social media to search engine optimization, paid ads for search and social networks, reputation management and email marketing. The company is celebrating its tenth year as a pioneer in the digital media space. Subscribe to the Dream Local Digital blog to keep up with the latest trends and insights from their team of experts. You can also learn more about Dream Local Digital’s culture and see what it’s like to be a #HoneyBadger.

About CEI and CVI

Coastal Enterprises (CEI) and CEI Ventures Inc. (CVI) integrate financing, business and industry expertise, and policy solutions to increase good jobs, advance environmentally sustainable enterprises, and grow more broadly shared prosperity in Maine and other rural regions.  CVI is the venture capital subsidiary of CEI and manages socially responsible venture capital funds. CEI and CVI are committed to building an economy that works for everyone, particularly people with low incomes, women, minorities and people of color. Learn more at www.ceimaine.org and www.ceiventures.com.