MetaCommunications Inc., developer of software solutions for marketing and creative teams worldwide, announced the close of an $8M growth funding round led by Next Level Ventures, a Des Moines based VC firm that invests in high-potential Iowa companies. The investment, the largest yet made by the firm, will be used to expand Meta's sales and marketing efforts, support new business partnerships, recruit additional talent and further develop Meta's industry-leading technologies.

'We felt the time was right to take on investment to accelerate our growth and we're very pleased to be partnering with Next Level Ventures to make that happen. We pride ourselves on developing software that empowers creative people around the world to work better together. Our enterprise, SaaS and B2C products all focus on giving creative teams the tools they need to produce their best work and compete in a global marketplace. We look forward to continuing to innovate for this market, now with even greater speed and flexibility. My entire team is very excited about what we'll do over the next couple of years,' says Bob Long, the CEO and co-founder of Meta.

Meta has been growing rapidly and gaining market share since Long led an employee buyout of the company in 2011. Under his direction, Meta has grown into a leader in the productivity and workflow automation software space while maintaining a tight focus on designing products for marketing and creative teams. Its software solutions, including Workgroups DaVinci, Approval Manager and the newly-launched ProofMe, are used by hundreds of creative teams at the world's leading brands, including Crate & Barrel, Pfizer, Merck, Sony, Staples and Yamaha. Customers rely on Meta's software to manage design projects, streamline workflows and collaborate on content reviews and approvals. With its additional financing, Meta has plans to expand its operations significantly. The company is planning on expanding their workforce with more than 25 new hires over the short term.

Mark Nolte, the President of the Iowa City Area Development Group, was instrumental in connecting Meta and Next Level Ventures. 'Meta is one of the most exciting entrepreneurial businesses in the state and a great example of the type of tech innovation the Midwest's Silicon Prairie is becoming known for. The ICAD Group is pleased that Meta's growth will contribute to a rapidly-developing downtown Iowa City and we're excited for their plans to continue hiring great talent from the region,' he says.

Iowa City's mayor, Matt Hayek, is also enthusiastic about what Meta's bright future means for the city's burgeoning role as a tech hub. 'We are thrilled for MetaCommunications. Its growth indicates the potential for Iowa City to become a larger player in the technology sector. Our vibrant downtown and overall quality of life appeal to a diverse workforce that employers want. We are proud to have MetaCommunications call Iowa City home. Our hope is that its impressive success will signal to other firms that this is a great place to establish roots,' he says.

Meta's strong top line sales and its equally strong involvement in the Iowa tech community are a significant aspect of what attracted Next Level Ventures and led them to make this investment in the company. 'We're betting big on Meta. The business and its team have a proven track record of innovation and sustained growth in their industry and an enviable list of Fortune 500 customers to support this. In short, Meta has shown it has all of the needed elements to become a powerhouse growth story for Iowa and we want to be a part of that story,' says Craig Ibsen, Managing Principal of Next Level Ventures.

Joining Next Level in backing Meta is St. Martin Land Company. Based in Cedar Rapids, IA, St. Martin was founded in 1905. The respected company invests in established, profitable businesses in Iowa and the surrounding areas. Meta's demonstrated growth, loyal employee base, and strong management team attracted St. Martin to sign on as co-investors.

About Meta
MetaCommunications Inc. (Meta) is a technology company whose solutions are trusted by the world's leading brands. Meta focuses on helping marketing and creative teams overcome challenges that arise when creativity meets productivity with tools to improve project management, online proofing, digital asset management, financial management and more. For more information, visit www.metacommunications.com.

About Next Level Ventures
Next Level Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Des Moines that invests $1 to $4 million in fast-growing companies that are based in Iowa. For more information, see www.nextlevelvc.com.