KonaWare Close to Gaining Big Capital

A company with significant operations in Harrison is about a month from closing on $3 million in investment capital.

KonaWare Inc., based in Menlo Park, Calif., is an information technology and software company focused on logistics and freight tracking. The firm opened an office in Harrison last year, down the road from FedEx Freight East, because Northwest Arkansas is “the place to be” for logistics technology.

The company’s engineers are developing new applications for personal digital assistants and cell phones that support hours of service compliance, RFID technology, and other productivity tools.

Jeff Amerine, vice president of transportation, said the capital will come from about six different investors, about half from Arkansas and about half from California.

At least half of the capital will go to growing KonaWare’s business in the state, Amerine said, including hiring employees, gaining new clients and maybe acquiring other companies.

In March, KonaWare announced it had signed an agreement with Qualcomm Inc. of San Diego to supply software applications for wireless productivity tools. There was no word on the terms of the agreement.