Investment firm generates millions in funding for ShopWiki

Shopping search engine ShopWiki has completed a $6.2 million round of private equity funding from Generation Partners. As a result of the investment, John Hawkins, managing partner at Generation Partners, now is a member of ShopWiki’s board of directors. “This is a company with a bright future,” Hawkins predicts.

Launched in 2005, the ShopWiki search engine uses search and web crawling technologies with consumer-driven wiki technology to help online shoppers make informed buying decisions. The engine crawls the Internet to find and index products from more than 120,000 retail stores and features more than 1,300 buying guides written and edited by users. The site does not accept data feeds or charge for inclusion.

Generation Partners is a $325 million private investment firm that focuses on providing equity capital to companies through buyout, growth equity and venture capital investments. The firm targets $5 million to $25 million investments primarily in business and information services; health care services and technology; and media, communications and entertainment.