Kindara shakes up executive team

BOULDER — Startup Kindara Inc. has a new executive team after receiving a second seed-round of funding led by Boston Seed Capital LLC.

Ira Hernowitz on Tuesday was named chief executive of the Boulder-based company after serving as interim CEO since May, when he replaced Denise Franklin, who was hired for the job in March and after two months left to pursue other opportunities.

Malte Muenke has been appointed chief technology officer, and Raychel Muenke will serve as executive vice president of the Boulder-based startup.

Kindara had raised $5.3 million in August 2015, including the conversion of $1.9 million in convertible notes, in a seed-round led by Boston Seed Capital with participation from SOS Ventures, Good Works Ventures, PV Ventures, MENA Venture Investments and 62 Mile Ventures. The most recent seed-round was about $750,000.

The privately held company declined to reveal Boston Seed Capital’s equity stake, but a spokeswoman said it was “significant.”

Kindara was founded in 2011 by Will Sacks and his wife, Kati Bicknell. Sacks has taken a spot on the company’s board of directors, and Bicknell has joined the company’s team of advisers, as the company prepares for the next step in its evolution.

Kindara’s products include mobile apps that help women track, among other things, basal body temperature, which is a key indicator of progesterone levels and ovulation. The Kindara Fertility App for iPhone and Android is designed to help women who want to get pregnant do so, as well as to provide those who want to avoid pregnancy a natural means to do so without the use of birth control. The company’s Bluetooth Wink thermometer adds convenience to those efforts by linking wirelessly to users’ mobile devices and inputting temperatures directly into the Kindara app.

Nicole Strata, founder and managing director of Boston Seed Capital, said Kindara is poised for continued growth and expansion because “the growth of WaaS (wellness as a service) bodes well for Kindara given the combined experience of the team.”

Hernowitz will oversee business growth, driving the overall brand strategy through product development, financing and operations. Previously, Hernowitz was president of Stride Rite, a children’s footwear brand. Prior to Stride Rite, Hernowitz was executive vice president for Toys“R”Us/Babies“R”Us and served as senior vice president of marketing North America during his 16-year tenure with Hasbro.

Malte Muenke co-founded Expertcity (now Citrix). He was behind the GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar products. Muenke will be tasked with driving innovation for Kindara’s mobile apps, web and data platform and connected devices.

Raychel Muenke was the product manager that brought GoToMyPC to the marketplace.

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