On-demand social networking solutions provider Lithium Technologies closed $9 million in a first round financing co-led by Shasta Ventures and Emergence Capital Partners. The company, which has been around for six years, plans to use the funding to help it accelerate its growth. In the past, Emeryville, CA.-based Lithium has counted Dell, Cingular, and Comcast among its clients that have used its online community management tools. Release.
TheDeal (sub. req.): The company capitalizes on technology originally created as part of online gaming portal Gamers.com. CEO Lyle Fong and his brother Dennis co-founded Gamers.com and its parent, GX Media, which raised $15 million from investors including CMGI in 1999.