WidgetBucks' Oprah's
Book Club widget

Mpire Corporation, the parent company of ad network WidgetBucks, garnered $10 million in Series B investment.

WidgetBucks was the first ad widget network to rank in comScore's ad network report, coming in No. 33 in April. The company plans to use its funds to improve ad algorithms, expand sales and marketing, and explore verticals like finance, travel and text advertising. CEO Matt Hulett compared his company to "an AdSense for commerce." Read more about WidgetBucks' plans at its blog.

According to Clearspring (via MediaPost), venture capitalists have invested almost $70 million into widget developments since mid-May. And a recent eMarketer report found US companies will spend $40 million creating, promoting and distributing widgets this year, up 166 percent — or $15 million — from 2007.