socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 13, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 13, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Stockr Raises $1.5M For Social Networking Site For Investors --Response Genetics Gets $8.8 Million in Private Placement --Row 44 Racks Up 350th Install Of In-Flight Wireless --Cricket Gets iPhone 5 --Edmunds.com Plans Hackathon --GlySens Scores Funding For Glucose Monitoring Devices --CallFire Debuts New Platform --Telcentris Opens New York Data Center --Amazon Studios Releases Digital Comic MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Silicon Beach @ USC - September 13th RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Marketing Production Coordinator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks --Lead UX Designer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial Inc --Lead Mobile Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial, Inc. --Director, Engineering for funded startup - great ground floor opp, El Segundo, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator The Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) is a high-tech business incubator located in downtown Ventura, CA. V2TC offers a creative environment where high-tech start-ups and entrepreneurs can network, brainstorm, and grow their business. Work-spaces are affordable, flexible and scalable in order to allow companies the ability to manage their growth effectively and efficiently. Learn more at http://www.v2tc.com --ADVERTISEMENT--- Stockr Raises $1.5M For Social Networking Site For Investors Stockr, the social networking service aimed at financial investors based in Los Angeles, has raised $1.5M in a seed funding round, the firm said yesterday. The company said the round came from Personal Capital, The Doyle Investment Group, and Adam Townsend. Stockr, which was co-founded by Vinny Jindal, Tim Symington, and Brendon Crawford, helps investors by connecting them with news, information, discussion, and more about stocks. The firm is looking to create a service which avoids stock trading rumors, partly by using real names and authentication via Facebook Connect. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=45288 Response Genetics Gets $8.8 Million in Private Placement Los Angeles-based Response Genetics, a publicly held provider of molecular diagnostic testing services for cancer, announced this morning that it has raised $8.8M in a private placement of its stock. The new funding came from GlaxoSmithKline and an un-named, existing stockholder. GlaxoSmithKline is a new investor in the company. Response Genetics said the new funding will go towards buiolding a sustainable business and grow its top line revenue. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=45289 Row 44 Racks Up 350th Install Of In-Flight Wireless Row 44, the provider of in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment systems based in Westlake Village, reported Wednesday that it has surpassed 350 aircraft installations of its system. Row 44's systems used a satellite network to connect users in-flight with the Internet, and also include entertainment and video on demand and streaming services. In related news, the firm said it has increased its satellite capacity over North America, Southern Europe and North Africa, doubling the number of satellite transponders in its network. Cricket Gets iPhone 5 San Diego-based Cricket Communications, the provider of pre-paid wireless services, announce today that it will be offering the newly announced iPhone 5. Apple's newest iPhone was announced Wednesday, featuring a 4-inch high resolution Retina display, 8 megapixel camera, and other features. Cricket said it will begin offering the iPhone 5 to its customer in select markets beginning Friday, September 28th. Edmunds.com Plans Hackathon Santa Monica-based Edmunds.com is joining the Hackathon bandwagon, and is getting set to launch a two-day event at its headquarters to brainstorm and solve problems around the car buying process, the company said today. Edmunds.com did not say how much it plans to award for its hackathon, which it says it will be opening up to auto industry insiders and other innovative thinkers. Innovative developers with a penchant for creating new applications have had quite
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, September 17, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, September 17, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Two Bit Circus Takes On Hardware, Software Creations --Ze Frank Games Acquired By Buzzfeed --Life Technologies In Deal With Bristol-Myers Squibb --Guidance Software Ties With RSA --Local Drops Dot Com From Name --Epicor Buys Solarsoft --Friday Video: Storybots' Letter N --AMP Turns To Crowdfunding For Sustainable Business Networking MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Lead Programmer / Co-Founder , Los Angeles, Startup --Web development, paid intern , Pasadena , Minea USA --Python Developer, El Segundo, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Marketing Production Coordinator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks --Lead UX Designer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial Inc --Lead Mobile Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --ADVERTISEMENT--- Two Bit Circus Takes On Hardware, Software Creations A new, Los Angeles-based company, Two Bit Circus--headed by Brent Bushnell--has emerged, and announced it has finished its first few projects, including a series of videos created for Best Buy. Bushnell was previously founder of mobile games firm Doppelgames, and has also been involved with Anti-Aging Games, Syyn Laabs, and other startups. Bushnell announced on his blog that the company has created a five episode mini-series for Best BUy featuring the company, which is described in the videos as a unique team of mad genius innovators. Bushnell's personal website said that Two Bit Circus is a Los Angeles idea factory focused on software, hardware and machines Ze Frank Games Acquired By Buzzfeed Ze Frank Games, the Los Angeles startup led by web video's Ze Frank, has been acquired by BuzzFeed, a social news publisher, the firm said Friday. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to BuzzFeed, Ze Frank has joined the company to build a team of video producers in Los Angeles, setting up a studio to create content native to the social web. Ze Frank is known for his video blogging. Ze Frank Games was a stealth mode startup in the social gaming space, which was venture backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Founder Collective, Crosscut Ventures, First Round Capital, betaworks, SV Angel, Lerer Ventures, and others. Life Technologies In Deal With Bristol-Myers Squibb Carlsbad-based Life Technologies, which develops genetic analysis and other scientific instruments, said today that it has entered into a partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb. According to the company, the two will work on companion diagnostics development on an initial project for oncology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Life Technologies said the deal is the second between the two companies. Guidance Software Ties With RSA Pasadena-based Guidance Software, the developer of digital forensics software, said today that it has linked with RSA in an interoperability partnership. Guidance said the move would interconnect its Encase Cybersecurity product with RSA's enVision security information and event management (SIEM) platform. Encase's software is used for incident response and data auditing software used in responding to cyber attacks. Local Drops Dot Com From Name Irvine-based Local Corporation has officially dropped the dot com in its name, saying it has legally changed its corporate name from Local.com Corporation to Local Corporation. The firm said the name change reflects the grwoth in the company's operation beyond its Local.com website. The company has been operating without the dot com for some time in its communications. The company operates a number of online marketing properties. Epicor Buys Solarsoft Epicor Software, the business and manufacturing software developer, said last week that it has acquired Solarsoft Business Systems. Financial terms of the buy were
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, September 24, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, September 24, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --Tribogenics Gets $6.2M --SocialEngine Adds Big Customers, Launches Hosted Service --PCN Finds $5.25M For Ethernet Networking Technology --Nirvanix Selected By IT Services Provider Logicalis --Clearlake Capital Group Buys Mobile Device Management Firm Mformation --Vitesse Opens New Office in Shanghai --Teledyne CFO Sets Retirement --Rodedog: 11 Year Old's App Wins 20K To Stop Texting While Driving --SpaceX Gets Launch Date For First ISS Supply Run --Apple's iPhone 5 Powered By Broadcom, Qualcomm, Skyworks Chips --MobileCause Partners With Sage --GraphEffect Ties Into Facebook Partner Program MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Product Manager, File Systems and Storage Management, Sunnyvale, DataDirect Networks --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Manager, Sales Operations, Sunnyvale, DataDirect Networks --PCBA Process Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Supplier/Product Quality Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- OCtane Strategic Growth Conferences Please join us September 27 to hear Ray Bingham, CEO of Cadence from ’99-’04. Now currently a Managing Director at growth equity firm General Atlantic, Ray will be the keynote presenter at this special OCTANE event. Whether you are acquiring another company, being acquired, or are considering MA as part of your overall exit strategy, Ray will discuss his perspectives on how best to manage and/or leverage it. Specific points to be discussed include: · Is this a good time to consider acquisitions · Key factors in positioning to achieve highest value in MA situations · 5 common pitfalls of bad acquisitions Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012 and Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Stradling Yocca Carlson Rauth – 660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600 – Newport Beach, CA 92660 If you are a CEO, CFO, or entrepreneur, you will not want to miss this chance to hear and network with one of Silicon Valley’s most successful leaders. Register now, space is limited! Register at: http://www.octaneoc.org/events/mergers-acquisitions-a-ceo-perspective/ --ADVERTISEMENT--- Tribogenics Gets $6.2M Marina Del Rey-based Tribogenics, the developer of X-ray technology being aimed at enabling handheld, ultra-miniature portable x-rays, has raised $6.2M in a Series A funding round, the firm said today. The round was led by the Founders Fund. The company, which is led by Dale Fox, said it will use the funding to hire additional engineers and scientists, and to expand its internal RD facility. Tribogenics' technology---based on research out of UCLA--enables the generation of X-rays without need for high voltage power sources. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=45413 SocialEngine Adds Big Customers, Launches Hosted Service Los Angeles-based SocialEngine, the developer of discussion software headed by Alex Benzer, told its supporters this morning that it has added a number of big name customers, including MasterCard, Shell, Entrepreneur.com, and NASA. The company also said it has quietly soft-launched a new, software-as-a-service, hosted version of its service, SocialEngine Cloud. The new cloud-based service lets anyone create a community website, including discussion communities and more. PCN Finds $5.25M For Ethernet Networking Technology San Diego-based PCN Technology, a developer of Ethernet and IP networking hardware, said this morning that it has raised $5.25M in a funding round. The firm said the round included its existing investors, executives, and board members, along with Enertech Capital and new individuals in San Diego. PCN's products include a managed Ethernet switch and routers. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=45414 Nirvanix Selected By IT Services Provider Logicalis San Diego-based
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, September 25, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, September 25, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --In Venice Beach, A Coming Out for Silicon Beach --Wedge Buster Gets $2.2M For Social, Mobile Sports Apps --EverySignal Looks To Filter Social Noise, With Backing From Science --ACTIVE Network Refreshes Plancast --EQAL Acquired By Everyday Health --Mobile Roadie Adds Sacramento Kings --Paragon Biomedical Acquired By Clinipace --Quality Systems Names Morefield COO --MySpace Shows Off New, Sexy UI --Report: ShoeDazzle's Brian Lee Back As CEO In Shuffle --BUZZMEDIA Rises To Top In Traffic Ranking --FamilyFinds Dangles $20 Off $40 Honest Co. Deal --Factual Bolsters Places Dataset --Hulu Plus Adds Content From WWE --Steelhouse Launches New Display Ad Technology --GroundMetrics Digs Up $1.2M For Oilfield Technology MARKETPLACE --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Product Manager, File Systems and Storage Management, Sunnyvale, DataDirect Networks --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --PCBA Process Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Supplier/Product Quality Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- OCtane Strategic Growth Conferences Please join us September 27 to hear Ray Bingham, CEO of Cadence from ’99-’04. Now currently a Managing Director at growth equity firm General Atlantic, Ray will be the keynote presenter at this special OCTANE event. Whether you are acquiring another company, being acquired, or are considering MA as part of your overall exit strategy, Ray will discuss his perspectives on how best to manage and/or leverage it. Specific points to be discussed include: · Is this a good time to consider acquisitions · Key factors in positioning to achieve highest value in MA situations · 5 common pitfalls of bad acquisitions Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012 and Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Stradling Yocca Carlson Rauth – 660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600 – Newport Beach, CA 92660 If you are a CEO, CFO, or entrepreneur, you will not want to miss this chance to hear and network with one of Silicon Valley’s most successful leaders. Register now, space is limited! Register at: http://www.octaneoc.org/events/mergers-acquisitions-a-ceo-perspective/ --- In Venice Beach, A Coming Out for Silicon Beach These days, it's not unusual for a handful of tech and startup mixers and events to be going down on the westside. Still, there was something special about the Nextspace @ Amplify Grand opening on Wednesday night. Something very, established about it. (More...) http://bit.ly/Pjwkr5 --- Wedge Buster Gets $2.2M For Social, Mobile Sports Apps Los Angeles-based Wedge Buster said this morning that it has launched its new, social sports gaming and mobile company, focused on developing a wide portfolio of sports games on both platforms. The firm said it has raised $2.2M in a Series A round, including such investors as Drew Brees (Super Bowl MVP), Rob Dyrdek (pro skater), 37 Technology Ventures, as well as other angels. The new company is headed by Scott Philp, and has already acquired and developed over 100 sports focused games. Wedge Buster said it has launched its games on Facebook, and will be soon launching on mobile platforms. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=45463 EverySignal Looks To Filter Social Noise, With Backing From Science In a world where we are overwhelmed with social updates (had a turkey sandwich for lunch, just went for a walk), how do you cut through all that noise and actually learn about important things going on in your personal networks without spending 100 percent of your time on Facebook or other sites? A new, Los Angeles startup, EverySignal looks to be tackling that problem with its new service. (More...) http://bit.ly/PjvrP3 ACTIVE Network Refreshes Plancast San Diego-based Active Network
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 27, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 27, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --How Wedge Buster is Building A Sports Gaming Empire, With Scott Philp --Insights and Opinions: How To Position Your Company For A Sale --MSC Software Acquires Buys e-Xstream --Local Corporation Launches Mobile Apps --ViSalus, With LA Tech Founder, Drops IPO Plans --HotOutlines.com Looks To Cut Class Time, Earn Students Money --BUZZMEDIA Ties For Brand, Influence Research --KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals Sets IPO Pricing Range --Fisker Karma Panned In Consumer Reports --Movie Hackathon Combines Film, Technology, Prizes MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --PCBA Process Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Supplier/Product Quality Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- OCtane Strategic Growth Conferences Please join us September 27 to hear Ray Bingham, CEO of Cadence from ’99-’04. Now currently a Managing Director at growth equity firm General Atlantic, Ray will be the keynote presenter at this special OCTANE event. Whether you are acquiring another company, being acquired, or are considering MA as part of your overall exit strategy, Ray will discuss his perspectives on how best to manage and/or leverage it. Specific points to be discussed include: · Is this a good time to consider acquisitions · Key factors in positioning to achieve highest value in MA situations · 5 common pitfalls of bad acquisitions Date: Thursday, September 27, 2012 and Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Location: Stradling Yocca Carlson Rauth – 660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600 – Newport Beach, CA 92660 If you are a CEO, CFO, or entrepreneur, you will not want to miss this chance to hear and network with one of Silicon Valley’s most successful leaders. Register now, space is limited! Register at: http://www.octaneoc.org/events/mergers-acquisitions-a-ceo-perspective/ --- How Wedge Buster is Building A Sports Gaming Empire, With Scott Philp How do you convince guys to start playing social games? For Wedge Buster (www.wedgebuster.com), you do it by pulling together a huge collection of sports-related social and mobile games. Wedge Buster just raised a $2.2M round from the NFL's Drew Brees, skating's Rob Dyrdek, and a number of local venture and angel investors to create what the company hopes is the dominant provider of social and mobile sports game. We spoke with Scott Philp, the company's CEO and Founder, to learn about its plans. Explain what Wedge Buster is? Scott Philp: At a high level, Wedge Buster was created to go after the sports gaming, in social and mobile, in a big way. We are building a robust social gaming platform with a (More...) http://bit.ly/S7xUMb --- Insights and Opinions: How To Position Your Company For A Sale For today's Insights and Opinions section--where we share useful advice, opinions, and more from the community--we have an article from attorney Jonathan Hodes, of Stubbs Alderton Markiles LLP. Hodes talks about how you might position your company for a sale, and some of the things you need to do as part of that process. In times of recession there is pent-up demand by entrepreneurs to sell their companies. Even in good times investment bankers will tell a seller that the company must be positioned for sale to be successful. (More...) http://bit.ly/RYw1qM --- MSC Software Acquires Buys e-Xstream Santa Ana-based simulation software developer MSC Software has acquired a developer of advanced materials simulation software, e-Xstream, the company said today. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. e-Xstream's software already works with a range of MSC's software tools. That software is used
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, September 28, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, September 28, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Few SoCal Investors In List Of VCs Using Social Media --Vital Therapies Raises $16M --Viddy: Last Day For Contest Submissions --Contour Energy Targets Use In Medical Devices --Delivery.com Expands Into Los Angeles --Cytori Gets $106M Contract Award --Mogreet Targets Developers, Debuts Mobile API --WSJ Top Startups List: SoCal Matches Silicon Valley On IPOs --StockTwits Racks Up Investors Relations Customers --Fisker Automotive Raises $103M More --Freedom Meditech Gets $2M In Credit Line --Oversee.net Ramps Mobile Efforts, Names Mobile GM --Novatel Powers ATT's New MiFi Liberate --AutoGenomics Files For IPO --Xirrus Ranks Two In WSJ Top Startups List MARKETPLACE --Learn to Successfully Build and Finance Your Startup --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --PCBA Process Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Few SoCal Investors In List Of VCs Using Social Media Kred, a company which it tabulating social media influence, released its list of top venture capitalists this week, with only a single representative from Southern California: Mark Suster of GRP Ventures. Suster was the sole Southern California venture capitalist on the list of top 50 influencers and outreachers, taking sixth place on both rankings. Kred creates its rankings based on how frequently a person is retweeted, replied, mentioned and followed on Twitter. A majority of venture capitalists in the region apparently are not socially active on Twitter, and did not show up on the list. Vital Therapies Raises $16M San Diego-based Vital Therapies, a biotechnology firm focused on treatments for acute liver failure, said Thursday that it has raised $16M, part of a $76M mult-stage commitment to the firm by its investors. The firm said the funding will go towards funding three, phase 3 trails of the company's liver therapy, which is aimed at treating acute liver failure. The trials are being held in the US, EU, and Australia/New Zealand. The firm did not say which of its existing investors are participating in the funding. The company says on its website that it has so far raised more than $75M in funding since inception in 2003. Viddy: Last Day For Contest Submissions Today (Friday) is the last day for contest submissions for Los Angeles-based mobile video sharing site Viddy, the company said last night, as part of its Rule the Beach: Hack Your Way into Viddy contest. Viddy is dangling $10,000 and a trip to Los Angeles to interview for a position at the company, which it looking to do for mobile videos what Instagram did for photos. Viddy--which has been running its contest for the last two months--said that submissions are due on or before midnight. Contour Energy Targets Use In Medical Devices Azusa-based Contour Energy Systems, the venture backed developers of advanced battery systems, said today that it is targeting the medical device market with its products. The firm said its Li/CFx battery cells are particularly well-suited for medical applications, due to a flat discharge profile, low internal resistance, and light weight. The firm said it hopes that manufacturers of drug infusion pumps, neurostimulators, pacemakers, bone-growth stimulators, glucose monitors, defibrillators and other devices will consider its products; the firm did not say if it has yet sold its batteries into the market. Delivery.com Expands Into Los Angeles Delivery.com, which provides online ordering and delivery from restaurants, grocery stores, and other local stores, said Thursday that it has expanded into the Los Angeles area. The New York company said it will provide its delivery services in such areas as Central Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills. Delivery.com's service lets users search for nearby restaurants, and browse prices
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 3, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 3, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Insights and Opinions: Forget Politics, Just Shut Up And Sell --ACTV8.me Wins WSOP --Qualcomm Technologies Links With Oracle On Java for M2M --ESET Fixes Android Vulnerability --Tubular Labs Gets $650K For YouTube Analytics --ShoeDazzle Raises $6.0M In New Funding --LeisureLink Upgrades Vacation Rental Management Software --NewAer Gets Funding From Intel --Calacanis Invests In DNS Provider Dyn --TCVN Dangles $25,000 Cash in Survivor Pitch Contest --Nimble Updates Social CRM Tool --Gravity Gets $10.6M More For Real Time Personalization --Fandango Launches Original Video Effort --Givit Gets $2.5M For Social Video App MARKETPLACE --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --PCBA Process Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Insights and Opinions: Forget Politics, Just Shut Up And Sell It's election season, so we thought that for today's Insights and Opinions section, we thought we'd share the advice of John Greathouse, of Rincon Venture Partners, with his piece, Shutup and Sell: Entrepreneurs Shouldn't Discuss Religion, Politics Or Sex(ual Orientation): In 2003, the lead singer of the country music group, The Dixie Chicks, criticized then-current President George Bush during a concert in London. The reaction among the group's American fans, who were largely politically conservative, was visceral and negative. One irate fan sent the group a death threat, which offered them clemency if they would, shut up and sing. Business leaders should not need a death threat to encourage them to follow similar advice, substituting sell for sing. A startup leader's primary responsibility is to maximize the return to its stakeholders, which include the company's global and local neighbors, employees, suppliers, customers and investors. When a corporate leader makes a public statement that increases the friction involved in satisfying their company's value proposition, the executive is betraying each of these constituents. Be boring in public. If you want to be an opinionated blowhard in private, go for it. (More...) http://bit.ly/QMOxAw --- ACTV8.me Wins WSOP Beverly Hills-based ACTV8.me, a developer of mobile, interactive applications for the television and entertainment market, announced today that it has linked with Caesars Interactive Entertainment, to produce an application for the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Financial details of the win were not disclosed. The firm said it has created a second-screen experience for the WSOP telecasts on ESPN. The app currently runs on the iPhone or iPad, and the company said an Android version will follow in a few weeks. The new app includes interactive and social content, such as polls, trivia questions, and predictions. Qualcomm Technologies Links With Oracle On Java for M2M San Diego-based Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, said that it has linked with Oracle to bring the popular Java programming language to its machine-to-machine (M2M) chipsets. The two said they are working to bring Oracle Java ME Embedded 3.2 to ATI's QSC6270-Turbo chipset. Those chips are used for M2M applications with embedded cellular capability. The two said the support will allow developers with little mobile experience to write and execute Java applications directly on the Qualcomm chips, which are used for 3G connectivity in embedded devices. ESET Fixes Android Vulnerability San Diego-based security software provider ESET said today that it has released a new, free app to fix a vulnerability of Android devices. ESET said its new app, ESET USSD Control, removes and prevents a flaw in certain Android-based smartphones, which could potentially wipe all of a user's data. ESET said the flaw is present
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 5, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 5, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --Jonathan Taplin On Decoding A Presidential Election, via Twitter --Insights and Opinions: Everybody's a Critic --Cornerstone OnDemand Adds Social Recruiting Features --Edmunds.com Offers Up $25 In Gas For Bay Area Car Buyers --Microsemi Names Marketing VP --MaintenanceNet Names Marketing VP --Report: ShoeDazzle Cuts Staff --ZEFR Picks Up Staff From BetterWorks, Expands In London --Microsoft Buys Telesign Competitor --Bragstr Combines Fantasy Sports, Sport Wagering --Sony Online Entertainment Takes PlanetSide 2 To Russia --Aragon Pharmaceuticals Adds $50M In Series D MARKETPLACE --Ecosystems for Solid State Lighting (SSL) - October 10, San Diego --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Linux System Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Database Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation --Senior Program Manager, Camarillo, OSI Electronics RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Smithers Apex's 13th Annual LEDs Conference October 10, San Diego Book your free exhibit pass to LEDs 2012! Network with LED and solid state lighting professionals from all over the world at LEDs 2012, taking place October 11-12 at The Hilton San Diego Resort Spa. Companies participating in the LEDs exhibit hall include American Bright Optoelectronic Corp., Bergquist Company, Cree, Gamma Scientific, Palomar Technologies, Seren Photonics Ltd, TUV SUD and many others. Exhibit hall hours are Thursday, October 11 - 10:00am - 7:30pm and Friday, October 12 - 10:00am - 2:00pm. A reception will take place in the exhibit hall on Thursday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. and is included with your exhibit pass if booked online before Wednesday, October 10. For complete information about LEDs 2012, visit http://www.ledsconference.com. --- Jonathan Taplin On Decoding A Presidential Election, via Twitter ow do you figure out, in real time, what the public thinks of something like Wednesday night's first Presidential debate? For USC's Annenberg Innovation Lab, you tap into the power of Twitter, and create a tool to try to figure out the real time sentiment of Twitter's users--and account for unique things in politics like the frequent use of sarcasm--to try to figure out what people think of the candidates. We caught up with Jonathan Taplin, director of the lab, to better understand how they've been using Twitter to decode the sentiment behind the current election, and also how that technology might be used in other fields. What is your project about? Jonathan Taplin: What we're doing is a real time twitter sentiment analytic tool for politics. It's a fairly complicated domain because most people who tweet on politics are (More...) http://bit.ly/SByENw --- Insights and Opinions: Everybody's a Critic So, your company has a great new mobile app... Only, you've got a few people (or competitors!) putting in negative reviews. What can you do about it? In our Insights and Opinions section today, we get some advice from Alex Quilici, the CEO of YouMail, who talks about what his firm has done to help manage app store critics. A key to any successful mobile app -- whether for Android, BlackBerry or the iPhone -- is driving downloads from people visiting the app stores. Many people have discussed how to do this by optimally buying downloads or having one of these app stores feature the app. Just as critical, however, is to ensure your app is consistently receiving very solid reviews. In our experience with YouMail, we’ve seen that going from three to five stars doubled the number of iPhone daily downloads in the App Store, and going the other way on our Android app -- where a competitor essentially manipulated the review process -- drove Google Play daily downloads down by 25-30 percent. The problem for any app developer: how do you cultivate those positive reviews while minimizing legitimate negative reviews (and eliminating the bogus ones)? (Continued...) http://bit.ly
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 8, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 8, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --YouTube Injects $200M Into More Content --Cornerstone OnDemand Goes Mobile --Virgin Galactic Takes Full Ownership Of JV --Rumor: Cooking.com Slashes Staff, Seeks Buyer --NeuroGeneration Opens Office In La Jolla --CareFusion Buys Brazilian Company --SpaceX Resupply Mission Launches Successfully MARKETPLACE --Ecosystems for Solid State Lighting (SSL) - October 10, San Diego --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Safire Partners Executive Search --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Quality Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Linux System Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Database Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Smithers Apex's 13th Annual LEDs Conference October 10, San Diego Book your free exhibit pass to LEDs 2012! Network with LED and solid state lighting professionals from all over the world at LEDs 2012, taking place October 11-12 at The Hilton San Diego Resort Spa. Companies participating in the LEDs exhibit hall include American Bright Optoelectronic Corp., Bergquist Company, Cree, Gamma Scientific, Palomar Technologies, Seren Photonics Ltd, TUV SUD and many others. Exhibit hall hours are Thursday, October 11 - 10:00am - 7:30pm and Friday, October 12 - 10:00am - 2:00pm. A reception will take place in the exhibit hall on Thursday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. and is included with your exhibit pass if booked online before Wednesday, October 10. For complete information about LEDs 2012, visit http://www.ledsconference.com. --ADVERTISEMENT--- YouTube Injects $200M Into More Content In what can only be good news for the ecosystem of content providers and startup firms here in Southern California, Google's YouTube said Sunday that it is expanding into Europe, and adding more than 50 original channels to the 100 it introduced last year. The company is reportedly also investing another $200M in its channel efforts, on top of the $100M effort it kicked off last year. That original investment has skyrocketed a large number of Southern California, content focused startups to the top channels on YouTube, including such companies at Machinima, Maker Studios, Big Frame, FullScreen, MOVIECLIPS/ZEFR, and others. New channels listed in the preview of YouTUbe's new content effort include channels developed by My Damn Channel, EQAL, Big Frame, Katalyst, Mahalo, Demand Media, Maker Studios, DECA, and many others. Cornerstone OnDemand Goes Mobile Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand, the developer of cloud-based HR and talent management software, has expanded its offerings, saying it has a new set of mobile applications. Cornerstone OnDemand said it now offers up mobile applications for its enterprise and mid-seized, as well as small business customers. The new set of apps include Cornerstone Mobile aimed at its enterprise/mid-sized customers, and CSB Mobile for small businesses. The enterprise app is being targeted for release in November, and the small business version sometime in 2013. Pricing on the new products were not announced; the firm said the will run via mobile browser. Virgin Galactic Takes Full Ownership Of JV Mojave-based Virgin Galactic, the commercial spaceflight firm owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, said late Friday that it has acquired 100 percent ownership of its sister company, The Spaceship Company (TSC). Virgin Galactic said it acquired the 30 percent stake in the joint venture which had been owned by partner Scaled Composites. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Virgin Galactic said the buy marks the successful completion of its development phase of its WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles. Those two vehicles are designed to deliver tourists into suborbital space, and are based on the SpaceShipOne aircraft developed by Scaled Composites in 2004, which won the $10M Ansari X Prize. The two firms are still in testing phase of its new vehicles. Rumor: Cooking.com Slashes Staff
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 9, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. --Insights and Opinions: Co-Marketing or Joint Venture? --NetZero Offers Up Free, Wireless 4G Data To Facebook Friends --OptionEase Acquired By Solium Capital --Anametrix Raises $4.4M --Life Technologies Buys Compendia Bioscience --Verenium Gets $10M In Credit Facility --ServiceNow Updates IT Automation Software --Novatel Wireless In Mobile Tracking Deal With Thrifty Car Rental --World of Warcraft Hacked By Players --Moviepilot Sets Up Office In Venice, Hires Two Execs --Green Dot Shares Hit By Amex, Walmart Deal --Elon Musk's SolarCity Files For IPO --Boingo Inks Wi-fi Sponsorship Deal With Microsoft MARKETPLACE --Ecosystems for Solid State Lighting (SSL) - October 10, San Diego --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Quality Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Linux System Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Database Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Smithers Apex's 13th Annual LEDs Conference October 10, San Diego Book your free exhibit pass to LEDs 2012! Network with LED and solid state lighting professionals from all over the world at LEDs 2012, taking place October 11-12 at The Hilton San Diego Resort Spa. Companies participating in the LEDs exhibit hall include American Bright Optoelectronic Corp., Bergquist Company, Cree, Gamma Scientific, Palomar Technologies, Seren Photonics Ltd, TUV SUD and many others. Exhibit hall hours are Thursday, October 11 - 10:00am - 7:30pm and Friday, October 12 - 10:00am - 2:00pm. A reception will take place in the exhibit hall on Thursday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. and is included with your exhibit pass if booked online before Wednesday, October 10. For complete information about LEDs 2012, visit http://www.ledsconference.com. --- Insights and Opinions: Co-Marketing or Joint Venture? As part of our Insights and Opinions section on our site, we regularly feature advice from entrepreneurs, investors, attorneys, and many others on a variety of topics of interest to high tech companies. Today, we have an article from Greg Akselrud of Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP, who talks about some of his thoughts on deciding between co-marketing and a joint venture: Co-marketing arrangements present a wealth of opportunities to expand your business. They allow business owners to expand distribution and revenue while leveraging another’s strengths, all while providing a better offering to users. But at a certain point, a longer term initiative presents itself - the joint venture. Joint ventures offer many advantages to traditional co-marketing arrangements, but also bring significant disadvantages and risks. What is co-marketing? Co-marketing takes many forms. When online, co-marketing can mean two parties marketing each other’s products and services, co-branding a single product or service under a combined brand or using each party’s (Continued...) http://bit.ly/R8RxHs --- NetZero Offers Up Free, Wireless 4G Data To Facebook Friends Woodland Hills-based NetZero Wireless, the 4G wireless service run by United Online, announced that it has launched a campaign to give away free 4G wireless data to Facebook users. NetZero said it will offer one free gigabyte of wireless data per month to its current users to give away to their friends on Facebook, via a new Netzero 4G Data Share program. NetZero is offering free, 4G wireless---powered by Clearwire--with data transfer of up to 200MB/month, in addition to tiered plans starting at $9.95 for 500MB/month. The program appears to be an attempt to create virality in awareness of its service, and comes only a week after NetZero started seeing competition from another, free 4G wireless carrier--FreedomPop--down the street. OptionEase Acquired By Solium Capital
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 17, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Gridtest Debuts European Charging Support --Cymer Acquired By ASML For $2.5 Billion --WiSpry Debuts Developers Kits For Smartphones, Tablets --Report: Fisker Delays Plug-In Sedan Until 2014 --ThinkNear Among SoCal's First Accelerator Exits --Fisker Battery Supplier A123 Files For Bankruptcy --Goldstar Integrates With Apple's Passbook --SoCal's Cloud Dreams Surface At OpenStack Summit --Inktank In Two Partnerships --HireRight Launches Outplacement Service Powered By CareerArc --ThinkNear Acquired By TeleNav --textPlus Lands $18M, Buys Jarvus --Media Temple Launches OpenStack Cloud MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Python Data Engineer , Santa Monica, Enervee --Quality Engineer, Camarillo, OSI Electronics --Linux System Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Database Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Executive Director, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, Los Angeles, USC Stevens Center for Innovation RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Meet The VCs - October 17th, Santa Monica Calling all Startups! The Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA) invites you to our fourth annual Meet the VCs night. Here's your big opportunity to meet with more than 30 venture capitalists and major angel groups. During the course of two hours, you will get to meet each of them and learn about what they look for in potential startup investments. This event has sold out early each of the last three years. Please register early to avoid losing your seat. This event is designed to help investors and entrepreneurs engage with each other. Only 100 entrepreneurs will have access to this sessions, after having their applications approved. Learn more at: http://www.lava.org/events/event_details.asp?id=264874 --ADVERTISEMENT--- Gridtest Debuts European Charging Support Calabasas-based electric vehicle testing systems manufacturer Gridtest Systems has expanded its equipment to support european electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, the company said this week. The firm said its new European Electric Vehicle test system validates the functionality, safety, and interoperability of EV charging stations in the European market. Gridtest's systems are used to test and validate electric vehicle charging stations and their connections to electric vehicles. Gridtest says its systems have been fully CE certified, one of the requirements for selling products into the European market. Cymer Acquired By ASML For $2.5 Billion San DIego-based Cymer, the supplier of light sources for lithography systems for the semiconductor industry, has been acquired by ASML, a Netherlands-based provider of lithography systems. ASML said it will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Cymer in a deal worth EUR 1.95 billion (2.55 billion US dollars). The deal is a mix of cash and stock. Cymer's products are used as a core part of the semiconductor device manufacturing process. ASML said that it has been collaborating with Cymer on products for over a year. WiSpry Debuts Developers Kits For Smartphones, Tablets Irvine-based chip maker WiSpry said Tuesday that it has shipped a new development/evaluation kit, aimed at developers of smartphones and tablets. The firm said its new Antenna Tuning Developers' Kit features a miniature size so that developer can evaluate its products in a true form-factor smartphone or tablet. WiSpry is a developer of tunable chips used for wireless antennas. The firm said the kit will help OEMs evaluate and streamline the process of integrating its antenna tuning capabilities into their products. Report: Fisker Delays Plug-In Sedan Until 2014 Irvine-based Fisker Automotive has delayed the release of its plug-in hybrid car, the Fisker Atlantic, until at least 2014, according to Green Car Reports. News of the delay came at a news conference Monday. Fisker had originally said it would start shipping the Atlantic (formerly Project Nina) in 2012. Fisker has raised more than
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 25, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 25, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Factual Adds Nutrition Information --InTouch Health Names New Board Member --Semtech Launches New Line of ICs --Appetize Lets You Order Food At Sports, Other Events --Health Essentials Gets Backing From Bessemer, SV Life Sciences --NantHealth Gets Funding From Verizon --OpenGate Capital Buys Unit From Thermo Fisher Scientific --Laffster Lands $750K MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Perl Developer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Junior Security Engineer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Software Tech Support Lead, Santa Barbara, SnapComms, Inc. --Python Data Engineer , Santa Monica, Enervee --Linux System Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com --Database Administrator, Marina del Rey, TeleSign.com RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Factual Adds Nutrition Information Los Angeles data startup Factual has expanded its big database in the sky to include nutrition information, including ingredient lists and nutrition attributes for consumer packaged goods. Factual said late Wednesday that its service now includes ingredient lists for over 350,000 of the most popular consumer packaged goods, and nutrition facts for over 150,000 packaged foods. Factual's APIs and data is used by software developers to easily access and update a wide range of data, including location information and other data sets; the expansion into nutrition allows mobile, web, and other developers to call up things like number of calories for a snack, to find foods which do or do not include certain ingredients, and much more. The nutrition information is part of its Global Products dataset, which also is tied into UPC codes. InTouch Health Names New Board Member Santa Barbara-based telemedicine equipment developer InTouch Health announced this morning that it has named John Glaser, Ph.D., to its board of directors. Glaser is CEO of the Health Services Business Unit of Siemens Healthcare, and also has served at Partners HealthCare and at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. Semtech Launches New Line of ICs Camarillo-based Semtech, which develops analog and mixed signal semiconductors, said today that it has launched a new set of integrated circuits aimed at providing capacitive touch sensing for home appliances and consumer electronics. The company said its new SX95xx platform is aimed at green home appliances, such as LCD TVs and monitors, automotive, consumer products, and more. Appetize Lets You Order Food At Sports, Other Events A new, Los Angeles startup, Appetize, is looking to make it easier for sports and other event fans. Appetize said Wednesday that it has released a new version of its app, which lets fans at venues order from a menu and have food delivered right to their seat. The app--which runs on both iPhone and Android--is currently live at a number of concert and sporting venues in California, according to the company, including at the Valley View Casino Center, which is hosting Thursday's Laker's pre-season game. Appetize said that so far, its app has been live at events in San Diego, including at The Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, WWE, LMFAO, American Idol Live and Red Hot Chili Peppers. http://www.appetizeapp.com Health Essentials Gets Backing From Bessemer, SV Life Sciences Santa Ana-based Health Essentials, a provider of post-acute care for the frail and elderly, has scored a round of growth capital from two Silicon Valley venture investors. Health Essentials said it raised a round of funding from SV Life Sciences and Bessemer Venture Partners, which will be used for expansion of services and geographies. Size of the funding round was not disclosed. Health Essentials is headed by Kim Phan, and offers up clinical services to skilled nursing facilities, hospices, pharmacies, and more. The company's affiliates
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 29, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 29, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Decoding The Science Behind The Laughs, With Daniel Altman of Laffster --Insights and Opinions: Founder Restricted Stock 101 --SpaceX Dragon Returns Successfully From ISS --OpenX Buys JumpTime --Kurion Names Board Member --Qualcomm, IDT Link On Wireless Charging Chips --GameSalad Supports Windows 8 Apps --BrandBounty Uses Crowdsourcing To Fight Counterfeiting --Friday Tech Video Roundup for Southern California --LED Lighting Manufacturer Sets Up Shop In Anaheim --Surf Air Gets (Slight) Competition From BlackJet --DeveloperAuction Targets Los Angeles With Job Auctions MARKETPLACE --Turn Your Software App into SaaS in Days! - Nov 1 7, La Jolla Glendale --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --SQL Reporting Analyst, Norwalk, Search Solutions --Senior Linux Systems Engineer, Agoura Hills, Search Solutions --Senior Perl Developer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Junior Security Engineer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Software Tech Support Lead, Santa Barbara, SnapComms, Inc. --Python Data Engineer , Santa Monica, Enervee RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Decoding The Science Behind The Laughs, With Daniel Altman of Laffster ne of the major growth areas along Silicon Beach has been in the whole area of creating content for digital platforms. But, how do you figure out what actual content will resonate with online consumers? And in particular, if you're developing comedy and humor content -- which is a big segment of the content being created--how to do you help people find the content which will resonate with them. In the case of Los Angeles-based Laffster (www.laffster.com), you apply software algorithms, science, and research to figure it all out. We spoke with Daniel Altman, the CEO of the company, to learn more. Tell us a little bit about your background and the company? Daniel Altman: We recently were in the fall class of MuckerLab. We just graduated, and wrapped up a round of $750,000, with a bunch of great folks from both up north and http://bit.ly/WV3d3W --- Insights and Opinions: Founder Restricted Stock 101 With our Insights and Opinions section on socalTECH, we're trying to help the startup and high tech community, including including hints, tips, and other education on the world of high tech startups. So, to that goal, we're sharing the following article from Sean Greaney, attorney with Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP, who gives an informative introduction to Restricted Stock for startup companies. Stubbs Alderton is a sponsor of socalTECH, but the Insights section is open to everyone in Southern California's high tech community. What is founder restricted stock? Founder restricted stock refers to shares of common stock that are owned by a founder (More...) http://bit.ly/RnQwcY --- SpaceX Dragon Returns Successfully From ISS The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully touched down at 12:22 p.m. on Sunday, landing off the coast of Baja California, in the first cargo delivery flight of the spacecraft to the International Space Station. According to NASA, the Dragon is now returning to a port near Los Angeles in preparation for being returned to NASA in the next 48 hours, to process research samples from the ISS. The successful return of the SpaceX Dragon is the first time since the retirement of the Space Shuttle that NASA has been able to return significant amounts of samples and cargo from the ISS. The Dragon had been docked at the ISS since October 7th; the capsule returned to earth with 1,673 pounds of cargo. Hawthorne-based SpaceX is a venture funded startup, headed by tech mogul Elon Musk. OpenX Buys JumpTime Los Angeles-based OpenX announced this morning that it has acquired JumpTime, a developer of technology to help publishers calculate the value of their content assets. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. OpenX said that JumpTime's team will join
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 30, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 30, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Amazon Studios Options Another Comedy Series --Reflexion Health Raises $4.25M --Nirvanix Offers To Shift Data Due To Hurricane --RealD Gets Chinese Win --Red 5 Studios Lands $15M More --Unusual Perk For SoCal Technology Firm: Unlimited, Paid Vacation --The Resumator Gets $2.1M From Rincon --Adhesive Games Gets $18M For Massively Multiplayer Game --FreedomPop Debuts 4G iPod Touch Sleeve MARKETPLACE --Turn Your Software App into SaaS in Days! - Nov 1 7, La Jolla Glendale --Safire Partners Executive Search --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --SQL Reporting Analyst, Norwalk, Search Solutions --Senior Linux Systems Engineer, Agoura Hills, Search Solutions --Senior Perl Developer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Junior Security Engineer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Software Tech Support Lead, Santa Barbara, SnapComms, Inc. --Python Data Engineer , Santa Monica, Enervee RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Amazon Studios Options Another Comedy Series Amazon Studios, the content production arm of Amazon.com, said Monday that it has optioned another comedy series. Amazon said that it has optioned Those Who Can't, a comedy show written by Andrew Orvedahl, Adam Cayton-Holland, and Benjamin Roy, the writers behind the web series The Grawlix. Amazon has been in the process of optioning different content projects, which it intends to turn into original content for its streaming video service. The firm set up shop recently in Los Angeles as part of those efforts. Reflexion Health Raises $4.25M San Diego-based Reflexion Health, a new startup using Microsoft's Kinect for physical therapy products, has raised $4.25M in a funding round, the company said this morning. Reflexion Health said the funding came from West Health Investment Fund, and that it has licensed West Health Institute's Kinect-based physical therapy software. Reflexion Health has also moved into West Health's business incubator. Reflexion Health's first software product uses Kinect for Windows for motion tracking to provide interactive feedback and education for patients with musculoskeletal disease. The company said its application helps physical therapists and physicians measure a patient's rehabilitation and eventually improve patient adherence to prescribed physical therapy. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=46162 Nirvanix Offers To Shift Data Due To Hurricane San Diego-based online storage provider Nirvanix said Monday that it would shift customer data from its New Jersey data center for free, due to Hurricane Sandy. Nirvanix said customers currently storing data at that data center can shift that data to its other locations, on a temporary or full time basis, free of charge. The company said its data center operations there were normal, and that its data center there is fully redundant and backed by diesel-generators, but it would also like to provide its customers with extra piece of mind. Nirvanix also has data centers in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. Nirvanix offers up an enterprise focused, cloud storage service. RealD Gets Chinese Win Los Angeles-based 3D movie projection technology provider RealD said Monday that it has signed a deal with Chinese theater group Womei Theater Chain. RealD said it will install its technology on 100 screens across China. Financial impact of the deal was not announced. RealD said it has already started installing screens for Womei, and that installs are expected to continue over two years. RealD said that it currently is installed on approximately 850 cinema screens in CHina ,and has future commitments to install an additional 1,200 more in that country. Red 5 Studios Lands $15M More Aliso Viejo-based videogame developer Red 5 Studios has just raised $15M in a debt funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the company. Details on the funding have not yet been announced by the company. Red 5 develops massively multiplayer, online games, and was started by the former team that developed World
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 5, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 5, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --3D Robotics Helps You Design Your Own, Personal Drone Aircraft --Boingo Wins Three Norwegian Airports --Regulus Gets $80.9M In Financing Efforts --Life Technologies Buys Advanced Microscopy Group --Fallbrook Technologies To Move HQ To Texas --Mindspeed In Chinese Small Cell Rollout --Stacking Up Southern California's Cheap/Free 4G Wireless Providers --Boingo Extends VPN Support To Windows, Mac --Friday Tech Video Roundup for Southern California for November 2, 2012 --Nanoogo Gets Funding To Spur Creativity In Kids --Tech Coast Angels Top Angel Group Investments In First Half MARKETPLACE --Turn Your Software App into SaaS in Days! - Nov 1 7, La Jolla Glendale --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Lead Mobile Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial, Inc. --Lead Data Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial --SQL Reporting Analyst, Norwalk, Search Solutions --Senior Linux Systems Engineer, Agoura Hills, Search Solutions --Senior Perl Developer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost --Junior Security Engineer, Los Angeles or San Francisco, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Safire Partners Executive Search Safire Partners has completed 150+ retained executive searches since 2006 working with emerging businesses in digital media, Internet, eCommerce, software and clean technology across Southern California. Please visit our website to see an updated list of our clients and searches completed at http://www.safirepartners.com/. We are always interested in meeting new candidates and potential clients, so feel free to email our Managing Partner, Todd Gitlin at t...@safire.la. We can also always be a friendly source for investor introductions and general market / compensation intelligence. --- 3D Robotics Helps You Design Your Own, Personal Drone Aircraft Looking for your own, personal drone aircraft? San Diego-based 3D Robotics, is looking to let anyone develop and operate their own personal, drone aircraft, and is currently selling parts, instructions, and more for hardware hackers to create their own remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The firm came to light last week when the editor of Wired Magazine, Chris Anderson, said he was leaving the magazine to work full time on 3D Robotics (which is doing business as DIY Drones). Drone aircraft have become a staple of the military, particularly in such locations as Afghanistan and Iraq; however, they've been costly and unavailable to civilians. http://www.diydrones.com Boingo Wins Three Norwegian Airports Boingo Wireless reported another airport win this morning, saying it has been selected to manage and operate Wi-Fi services at three, Norwegian airports. Boingo said it was selected by Oslo Lufthavn Tele Data AS (OLTD) to operate the Wi-Fi networks at Oslo Airport (OSL); Bergen Airport, Flesland (BGO); and Stavanger Airport, Sola (SVG). The three airports serve more than 30 million passengers a year. Financial details of the win were not announced. Boingo said it now manages Wi-Fi services at 20 European airports, serving 275 million passengers; the company says is now manages Wi-Fi at more than 60 airports worldwide. Regulus Gets $80.9M In Financing Efforts La Jolla-based biopharmaceuticals firm Regulus Therapeutics, which is developing microRNA-based biopharmaceuticals aimed at oncology, fibrosis, hepatitis C and metabolic diseases, said it has raised $80.9M in total proceeds from its IPO, a private placement, and convertible note. The firm said $50.9M came from its sale of common stock, $25.0M in a private placement to AstraZeneca AB, and $5.0M from a convertible note sale to Biogen Idec. The firm said those funds will enable it to executive its current strategic objectives for the foreseeable future. Life Technologies Buys Advanced Microscopy Group Carlsbad-based life sciences equipment company Life Technologies announced today that it has acquired Advanced Microscopy Group, a developer
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 14, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --HelloInsights.com Decodes Pinterest, With Backing Of Science Inc. --SolarReserve Raises $586M For South African Projects --Deloitte Announces Local Fast 500 Winners --Nimble Opens API --Citysearch Launches Annual Business Ranking Polls --Sapphire Energy Snags COO From Solazyme --WD Debuts Wireless Router Aimed At Streaming Media --Biosynthetic Technologies Gets $7M --Phone Halo Turns To Crowdfunding For Wallet Tracker --SpaceX Tests Grasshopper Rocket --Fan Appz Launches Social Media Marketing Product --Call of Duty: Black Ops II Hits Stores --Minitime Takes On Family Vacations MARKETPLACE --DevCON5 HTML5 and Mobile App Developer Conference --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Front End Engineer, Santa Monica or San Francicso, BermanBraun --Front End Engineer, Santa Monica or San Francicso, BermanBraun --Senior Web Application Developer, Carlsbad, Zurple --Senior Software Developer, Carlsbad, Zurple --Lead Mobile Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial, Inc. --Lead Data Engineer, Pasadena, Wallaby Financial RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Binary Pulse Technology Marketing We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies For more than ten years, dozens of Southern California's industry-leading tech firms have turned to Binary Pulse for their demand-generating strategies and programs. Our services include: -- Demand Generation Planning and Execution -- Channel Program Development -- Lead Capture and Management -- Web Site Development Search Engine Marketing -- Corporate and Product Branding -- Online Integration Strategies -- Reseller Recruitment -- Multimedia Presentations -- Social Media Marketing Please visit us at http://www.binarypulse.com to learn more or give us a call at 949-336-7400. --- HelloInsights.com Decodes Pinterest, With Backing Of Science Inc. Social media marketers looking to figure out what works--and what doesn't--on Pinterest.com have mostly been going on their gut. But, not for long. The newest startup out of Los Angeles startup incubator/studio Science, Inc, HelloInsights.com, is looking to decode the secrets behind popularity and effectiveness of posts on the popular pinning site. HelloInsights launched today, using its own proprietary algorithms to figure out who are the most effective pinners, track popular items, and help brands figure out the best to reach out to users on Pinterest. HelloInsights is based on technology acquired earlier this year by Science Inc. from PinPuff, a developer of PInterest analytics tools. As part of the launch, HelloInsights said that Science Inc. has made an investment in the firm; no details of that investment were announced. SolarReserve Raises $586M For South African Projects Santa Monica-based solar energy project developer SolarReserve has raised $586M in a combination of equity and debt, for two South African projects, according to reports today. The funding came from FirstRank Bank Ltd, with equity from Kensani Capital Investments, Intikon Energy, IDEAS Managed Fund and GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd. The funding goes towards a solar energy project being developed for South Africa's state owned utility, and will have a total capacity of 75 megawatts. Deloitte Announces Local Fast 500 Winners The annual ranking of the fastest growing companies by Deloitte, the 2012 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, was released today, showing a healthy list of Southern California companies in growth mode. Topping the list for Southern California was EdgeCast Networks, the content delivery network headed by Alex Kazerani, which showed an astounding five year growth rate of 21406%. San Diego's Optimer Pharmaceuticals was number 15, at 18798% growth; Marina Del Rey-based TeleSign ranked 23 at 7534% growth; followed by FastSpring in Santa Barbara, with a 6742% growth rate. Next was San Diego's Neurocrine Biosciences, with 6225% growth rate at number 30; then ServiceNow, also in San Diego, with 4873% growth. Trius Therapeutics
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 26, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 26, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --Greycroft Partners Raises $175M For Third Venture Fund --Black Friday Spending Up In 2012, Hits $1.042 Billion --BeachMint Plans Live Shopping Event --Ceres, Syngenta In Market Development Deal --Volcano Corporation Buys Sync-Rx --DogVacay Reaches Million Dollar Milestone --RingRevenue Gets $3.25M For Call Marketing Automation --Hulu Plus Rolls Out On Wii U MARKETPLACE --Get the latest PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --DevCON5 HTML5 and Mobile App Developer Conference RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Lead / Sr. Interaction Designer, Burbank, M-GO --Head of Live Operations, Burbank, M-GO --Media Technician, Burbank, M-GO --Senior Software Engineer, Ruby on Rails + Hadoop + MongDB + Bash, Burbank, M-GO --Senior Software Engineer, Java + Spring + BigData + Web Services, Burbank, M-GO --Front End Engineer, Santa Monica or San Francicso, BermanBraun RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- *** Welcome back everyone, hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! - The Editor --- Greycroft Partners Raises $175M For Third Venture Fund One of the more active venture capital firms in Los Angeles, Greycroft Partners, said today that it has closed a $175M, third fund, Greycroft III. The venture firm said its LPs include JP Morgan, BlackRock Private Equity Partners, Fairview Capital, and Invesco Private Capital, along with Hall Capital, Hamilton Lane, Greenspring Associates, and Cambridge Associates and a number of foundations and educational institutions. Greycroft is split between Los Angeles and New York, and has invested in such local companies as uSamp, AdLy, HipSwap, GameSalad, Scopely, Steelhouse, and Viddy, just to name a few. The company said Greycroft III will follow the same strategy as its prior two funds, focusing on B2B and B2C Internet and mobile companies, with an emphasis on smaller, Series A rounds. Greycroft's efforts in LA are headed by Dana Settle; the firm's venture partners also include Amplify LA's Paul Bricault. Black Friday Spending Up In 2012, Hits $1.042 Billion According to numbers released over the weekend by Internet traffic and e-commerce measurement service comScore, online Black Friday sales surged 26 percent from last year, and totaled $1.042 billion. The company said that U.S. retail, e-commerce spending on Friday was the heaviest, online spendin day to date in 2012. The firm tallied sales of $633M on Thanksgiving. The big Black Friday sales bring total online sales to $13.7 billion for the holiday season so far. Online retailers traditionally have seen their biggest sales online today, Cyber Monday, as people head back to work and take advantage of online sales; comScore said it expects to see sales approaching $1.5 billion or higher today due to all that shopping. Image courtesy BigStock. BeachMint Plans Live Shopping Event BeachMint, the e-commerce firm led by Josh Berman, said this morning that it is holding a live shopping and broadcast event today for Cyber Monday. The Santa Monica company--which runs a large portfolio of celebrity-themed, social shopping sites--said it is partnering with Ustream, Who What Wear, and StyleList for the event. The online broadcast will feature ShoeMint's Rachel Bilson, Nicole Chavez, intiMINT's Brooke Burke-Charvet, as well as other celebrities. http://www.cybermint.tv/ Ceres, Syngenta In Market Development Deal Thousand Oaks-based Ceres, the developer of seeds for the energy and biofuels industry, said today that its Brazilian subsidiary, Ceres Sementes do Brasil Ltda., is in a deal with Syngenta to develop sweet sorghum-based products to power Brazil's ethanol mills. The two said they will collaborate on small-scale trials and larger demonstration field evaluations of its hybrid seeds. Financial details of the deal were not announced. The two said that Brazil has more than 400 ethanol mills who potentially would use crops based on its seeds. Volcano Corporation Buys Sync-Rx San Diego-based Volcano Corporation, a developer of diagnostic tools for treating coronary and peripheral vascular disease, said
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, December 5, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Connecting People Over Food, With SupperKing and Kai Stubble --Insights and Opinions: 5 Don'ts for Raising Startup Funds --StackSocial Partners With Digital Trends --Call of Duty: Black Ops II Tops $1 Billion Sales Mark --FitOrbit Partners With BodyMedia --Cinedigm Sets Software Head --uSamp's Mobile App Pays Users For Business Intelligence --Cleantech Investor SAIL Capital Adds EPA Expert --Venture Backed Restaurant,The Melt, Expands Into LA --ServiceNow's Slootman Backs ScaleIO --Shopatron Gets $4M In Venture Debt Funding --Ebyline Launches New Service For Publishers --Report: Fisker Automotive Seeks Strategic Partner --Sonos Adds Chinese Music Service --Supperking Launches To Bring Together People Around Home Cooked Meals MARKETPLACE --LAVA Holiday Party - Thursday --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --PHP Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Connecting People Over Food, With SupperKing and Kai Stubble What's the best way to meet new people and friends? Supperking (http://www.supperking.com./), a newly launched startup, is hoping that one of those ways will be over a home cooked meal you discover over the phone's iPhone application. We spoke with CEO Kai Stubble to hear about how SupperKing is looking to create a service--inspired by collaborative consumption sites like Airbnb--which will let people host meals in their homes for strangers, to get to meet new people, show off your cooking skills, and hopefully make new friends. First, what is SupperKing all about? Kai Stubble: SupperKing is basically the first platform that enables a peer-to-peer, in-home dining experience. (More...) http://bit.ly/TFhdNe --- Insights and Opinions: 5 Don'ts for Raising Startup Funds What are some of the things you ought to avoid when raising money for your startup? David Ehrenberg or Early Growth Financial Services shares some in this article for our Insights and Opinions section: Of course there are a lot of things you need to do when you're trying to raise money for your startup. But there are also a lot of things you want to avoid. If you’ve landed a meeting with a potential investor, you don't want to blow it! Avoid the following 5 “don'ts” and you'll be on the right path to making a favorable impression: 1. Don't raise more money than you will need. You may be tempted (More...) http://bit.ly/QH8SrT --- StackSocial Partners With Digital Trends Venice-based StackSocial, which develops an e-commerce platform for publishers, said today that it has partnered with technology publication Digital Trends. StackSocial said that the deal will offer up new products via a new Digital Trends Deals section, which will offer up new apps and products to users. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. StackSocial said that Digital Trends provides technology editorials, reviews, and more to over 15 million tech enthusiasts every month. StackSocial is one of the companies in the Amplify startup accelerator, and is headed by Josh Payne. Call of Duty: Black Ops II Tops $1 Billion Sales Mark Santa Monica-based videogame developer Activision Publishing, which is a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, reports that its newly launched title, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, just crossed the $1 billion mark in retail sales. (More...) http://bit.ly/11DH9vs FitOrbit Partners With BodyMedia Los Angeles-based online personal training site FitOrbit said this morning that it has partnered with fitness monitoring device provider BodyMedia. The two said that calorie burn and activity data from BodyMedia's
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, December 17, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, December 17, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --How Younity Is Unifying Your Files Across Devices, with Erik Caso --Verdezyne Sells Technology To DuPont --StockTwits Integrates With HootSuite --Condusiv Technologies Launches New VM Software --Local Corporation Targets HVAC Market --Machinima Chops 10 Percent --ThisWeekIn.com To Wind Down Video Podcasting Network MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --PHP Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- How Younity Is Unifying Your Files Across Devices, with Erik Caso If you're like the typical device user today, you've got a smartphone, laptop, desktop, not to mention a dozen cloud accounts where you're storing your documents, music, video, and other files. How do you track where those files are? And how do you make sure you can access those files from anywhere? How about if it didn't matter where you stored those files, and they were available from anywhere? Entangled Media, one of the startups out of the current class at MuckerLab, has developed Younity (www.getyounity.com), a service which hopes to do just that--make your files available from anywhere. We caught up with Erik Caso, the firm's CEO, to learn what the startup is trying to do. Describe what Younity is all about? Erik Caso: Younity creates a personal cloud for all of your files, (More...) http://bit.ly/TqZcjD --- Verdezyne Sells Technology To DuPont Carlsbad-based Verdezyne, the developer of industrial biotechnology and renewable chemicals, said today that it has sold its proprietary xylose isomerase technology to DuPont Industrial Biosciences. Verdezyne did not disclose financial details of the technology sale. Verdezyne said DuPont has purchased rights to its patented xylose isomerase technology, for us in the biofuels and biochemical fields. The technology is used for converting sugar to fuels and chemicals. Verdezyne is venture backed by BP Alternative Energy Ventures, DSM Venturing B.V., OVP Venture Partners and Monitor Ventures. StockTwits Integrates With HootSuite San Diego-based StockTwits said today that it has launched a new, app for HootSuite, the provider of software used for social media management. According to StockTwits, the new app and integration makes it easy for HootSuite users to post messages directly to StockTwits.com. StockTwits operates a micro-messaging service--similar to Twitter--focused on stocks and finance discussions. HootSuite allows businesses and others to run marketing campaigns across multiple social networks, and is commonly also used by people to time announcements on Twitter, for example. HootSuite also connects into social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. StockTwits is lead by Howard Lindzon. Condusiv Technologies Launches New VM Software Burbank-based Condusiv Technologies, the developer of utility software which was formerly known as Diskeeper Corporation, said that it has launched a new product aimed at accelerating access to virtual machines. The firm said its new product, V-locity 4, is a virtual machine accelerator aimed at VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V. According to the firm, it says its software improves performance up to 50% on all VM platforms, according to recent benchmark testing of the product. Local Corporation Targets HVAC Market Online local business advertising firm Local Corporation announced this morning that it has launched a new, industry-specific website focused on the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market. The new site offers educational articles and other information aboud HVAC services
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, December 20, 2012
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, December 20, 2012 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Invested.in Powers Crowdfunding For Black Isle --Sonos Gets Plug On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon --MEI Pharma Gets $27.5M In PIPE --NextWave, ATT Get FCC Approval On Acquisition --Novatel Wireless Hits Three Million LTE Devices --ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Get Research Funding --Domain Associates, Rusnano Boost Three Firms By $93M --Givit Enhances Twitter Integration, DropBox Importing Tools --ParkMe Competitor Finds Funding --THQ Files For Bankruptcy --Infographic: Social Media Spurring E-Commerce Activity --Allergan Completes SkinMedica Buy --Focus@will Aims To Help Users Focus, Using Music --Tubular Labs Finds $2.5M More --MarkedUp Debuts Windows 8 Analytics Tools MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Invested.in Powers Crowdfunding For Black Isle Los Angeles-based crowdfunding software firm Invested.in is powering a new campaign for Black Isle Studios, a subsidiary of Interplay, which is looking to revive a game called Project V13. The game studio developed Baldur's Gate and Fallout 2. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. Invested.in is the crowdfunding software firm which is part of the Amplify LA accelerator. http://www.blackisle.com Sonos Gets Plug On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Santa Barbara-based Sonos, the developer of the popular, whole home audio systems, got a big endorsement this week, when its SONOS PLAY:3 was featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. SONOS was featured on the annual gift-highlighting on the late night show. Sonos did not say how it was selected for the show. http://www.hulu.com/watch/436637 MEI Pharma Gets $27.5M In PIPE San Diego-based MEI Pharma, a publicly traded developer of oncology drugs, said today that it has completed a $27.5M private placement. The new funding was led by Vivo Ventures and New Leaf Venture Partners. MEI Pharma said the new funding will go to advance clinical development of its lead drug candidate, which is an oral histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. That compound is being used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia and myelofibrosis. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=47352 NextWave, ATT Get FCC Approval On Acquisition San Diego-based NextWave Wireless said last night that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the transfer of control of its various spectrum licenses to ATT, the last remaining regulatory approval required under the merger agreement between the companies. NextWave said it now expects the merger to occur in the first quarter of 2013. ATT and NextWave reached a deal for ATT to acquire NextWave's spectrum in August, in a deal worth $25M and up to $25M more in contingent payments; ATT also acquired a substantial amount of NextWave's outstanding debt, to the tune of around $600M. ATT is hopin to use the bandwidth from NextWave to power a mobile Internet service. Novatel Wireless Hits Three Million LTE Devices San Diego-based Novatel Wireless, the developer of mobile broadband devices, reports this morning that it has now shipped more than three million of its 4G LTE products. Novatel Wireless is the maker of the popular portable MiFi hotspot devices, including its latest, the 4G LTE MiFI Liberate, which is being shipped by ATT. Novatel's MiFi hotspots turn any 4G cell phone connection into a portable wireless WiFi hotspot. Novatel also makes wireless modem cards and M2M modules. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Get Research Funding ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, which is developing treatments for central nervous system and neurological disease, said this morning that it has received funding from Fast Forward LLC, a nonprofit established
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, January 2, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, January 2, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --9 Ways socalTECH Can Help You With Your New Year's Resolutions --Fisker Automotive Sues Insurer Over Flooded Cars --Crystal Engineering Acquired By AMETEK --Cohu Completes Ismeca Buy --Kurion Shuffles Execs --Vitesse CTO Names To Industry Board --Southern California's Top 10 Most Popular Tech Stories Of The Year --TigerLogic Acquires Storycode --VIRURL Adds RSS Ads --Qualcomm Backs goBalto For Clinical Trials Software --AwarePoint Receives $4.0M In Funding --SpaceX Shows Off Grasshopper Test Flight --POP Charger Gets Reprieve --Surf Air Gets Delivery Of Aircraft --Mogreet's Serena Ehrlich Tapped For Mobile Marketing Award --Surf Air Raises $2.6M --Nasty Gal In Major Expansion --What Mattered in 2012: Paul Bricault, Amplify LA --What Mattered in 2012: Aber Whitcomb, io/LA --What Mattered in 2012: Marc Averitt, Okapi Venture Capital --What Mattered in 2012: Kevin Winston, Digital LA --What Mattered in 2012: Rory Moore, CommNexus --What Mattered in 2012: Mark Suster, GRP Partners --What Mattered in 2012: Howard Marks, StartEngine --What Mattered in 2012: Erik Rannala of MuckerLab MARKETPLACE --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Safire Partners Executive Search --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- *** Welcome back, everyone! We're restarting our regular emails now that the holidays are over (we've been continuing coverage over the holidays over at the web site), now that it's a new year. Happy New Year! --- 9 Ways socalTECH Can Help You With Your New Year's Resolutions Have you compiled your list of New Year's resolutions? We're here to help you in 2013, with our own set of ways we might be able to help you reach your goals for the coming year. 1. Find a new job. Browse our job postings, and navigate our (new) extensive map of Southern California high tech companies in your neighborhood. (More...) http://bit.ly/VzbiXf Fisker Automotive Sues Insurer Over Flooded Cars Anaheim-based electric auto firm Fisker Automotive has filed a lawsuit against its insurance company, over the 338 Karma cars which were destroyed in Hurricane Sandy. The lawsuit, against XL Insurance America, claims breach of contract for denying coverage for the damaged vehicles, which were parked in Port Newark, New Jersey. The autos were among the thousands damaged in Sandy from multiple manufacturers. Apparently, Fisker estimated a loss of $33M from the loss of those cars, just one of the many trials and tribulations faced by the auto maker in 2012. Fisker said in December that it was seeking a strategic partner and financing to continue its efforts, and is even considering bankruptcy protection. The lawsuit was first reported by Reuters. Crystal Engineering Acquired By AMETEK San Luis Obispo-based Crystal Engineering, a developer of high tech, digital pressure calibrators and digital test gauges, has been acquired by Berwyn, Pa.-based AMETEK. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. AMETEK said that Crystal Engineering becomes part of AMETEK Measurement Calibration Technologies (MCT), a division of AMETEK's Electronic Instruments Group. Cohu Completes Ismeca Buy Poway-based semiconductor test equipment provider Cohu said today
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, January 3, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, January 3, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Insights and Opinions: Startup Mentors --SupperKing Launches Support For Charity Dinners --Questcor Pharmaceuticals Buys BioVectra --DTS Connects With Microsoft --Broadcom Leads In Connectivity Chips --TapIt Media Acquired By Phunware For $23M --Ignyta Lands $6M For Personalized Medicine --The Gores Group Completes Therakos Acquisition --Report: Broadcom In Deal To Power 802.11ac For New Macs --Elon Musk Settles In With New, Bel-Air Mansion --Fandango: Best Year Ever --Angel5 Highlights Top Angel Investors --Independa Raises $5M In Series A --Nexsan Acquired By Imation MARKETPLACE --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Insights and Opinions: Startup Mentors In our Insights and Opinions section, we regularly feature useful advice, opinions, and more from the local community. For this year's first article, we share the advice of Tony Karrer, Founder and CTO of TechEmpower, Founder and CTO of Aggregage and organizer of the LA CTO Forum and Startup Specialist Network, two local groups focused on startups. I've had several startup CTO consulting sessions recently where it became apparent that the Founder needed help with the business and product as much or more than the technology. I suggested that they should look for someone like me, but on the business end. Then we discussed how they could go about finding this startup business advisor. Then I got an email that asked: (More..) http://bit.ly/Xk78bK --- SupperKing Launches Support For Charity Dinners Los Angeles-based SupperKing, the startup which develops a mobile app enabling people to link with their friends and neighbors for a social dining experience, has tied with a group to promote social dining for charities. The startup said it has linked with the Creative Visions Foundation, which will allow organizations to raise money for charity by creating and hosting community dining events. SupperKing's mobile app allows users to offer up home-cooked meals to friends and neighbors, and allows anyone to sign up to participate in those social dining events. Creative Visions said that SUpperKing's concept is ideal for organizations who want to crowd-fund charitable causes. Questcor Pharmaceuticals Buys BioVectra QuestCor Pharmaceuticals, the Anaheim-based biopharmaceuticals firm providing treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, said yetserday that it has acquired BioVectra, a supplier of contract manufacturing services to the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industry. The deal was worth approximately $50.7M (C$50M). BioVectra has been Questcor's manufacturing partner for nearly a decade, and is based in Prince Edward Island, Canada. DTS Connects With Microsoft Calabasas-based DTS announced this morning that it high definition audio enhancement product, DTS-HD, is now being supported as part of Microsoft's Smooth Streaming platform. Microsoft's Smooth Streaming platform, part of its IIS Media Services, is an adaptive bit rate streaming protocol for sending HD, 1080p media over the Internet. DTS said the new support will allow consumers on PCs, tablets, connected TVs, and set top boxes to experience DTS surround sound. Broadcom Leads In Connectivity Chips That brand new, Wi-fi connected tablet you got for Christmas? The new GPS-enabled smartphone you got in your stocking? All of that is good for Broadcom, the Irvine-based semiconductor maker, according to a report published Wednesday from ABI Research. According to the report, Broadcom is the leading supplier for chips powering Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, satellite
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, January 4, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, January 4, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --How Frequency Wants To Bring You Internet Video, with Blair Harrison --Rovi Plans To Sell CinemaNow --Baboo Sets Sights On Digital Marketing --ADVENTRX Sets New CFO --Anametrix Names New CEO --Xirrus Ties With Sales Software Provider --SolarFlare Raises $22M More --YouMail Teams With Contract-Free Wireless Provider --Cooley Attorneys Setting Up Venture Fund --BioSurplus Gets $1.75M In Debt Financing MARKETPLACE --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- How Frequency Wants To Bring You Internet Video, with Blair Harrison Just before the holidays, we caught up with Blair Harrison, founder of Frequency (www.frequency.com), a personal video service which lets consumers watch video from the Internet on any of their devices. Harrison created one of the Internet's first video search sites, FastTV, and also ran IFILM, which he sold to Viacom in 2006. We caught up with Blair to learn more about his new startup, and why he thinks we need Frequency. What is Frequency? Blair Harrison: Frequency is an Internet video service. We connect consumers to great content from around the Internet, from social networks, from thousands of branded video channels, and around any particular topic (More...) http://bit.ly/Un5n7f --- Rovi Plans To Sell CinemaNow The long, turbulent history of the video-on-demand technology developed by former Marina Del Rey-based CinemaNow continues today, after current owner Rovi Corporation said Thursday afternoon that it plans to pursue a sale of its Rovi Entertainment Stores business--the remains of CinemaNow. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/rovi_plans_to_sell_cinemanow/s-0047026.html Baboo Sets Sights On Digital Marketing A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Baboo is looking to help brands and marketers in the entertainment space reach consumers, and recently launched an alpha of its services. The startup, headed by Drake Sutton-Shearer, is offering up media content in exchange for micro-survey answers, to help bolster music, film, TV, sports, and gaming brands. Co-founder Sutton-Shearer previously co-founded Movie Song Vault and The Gift App, and is a former entertainment industry executive. ADVENTRX Sets New CFO San Diego-based ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that it has named Brandi L. Roberts as its Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President. Roberts has been VP, Finance at the company since March of 2011, and also has served at such firms as Alphatec Spine, Pfizer/Agouron, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. ADVENTRX's lead compound is aimed at treating complications arising from sickle cell disease. Anametrix Names New CEO San Diego-based Anametrix, the venture-backed developer of marketing analytics software, said today that it has named Pelin Thorogood as its new CEO. Thorogood was previously CMO at the company. Thorogood also joins the company's board. She succeeds co-founder and Chairman Blaise Barrelet, who the company said will remain as Chairman. Barrelet also has started a new, investment firm called Analytics Ventures, which the company said will help extend the Anametrix analytics platform to new markets. Anametrix is backed by TVC Capital, which made an investment in the company in October. Xirrus Ties With Sales Software Provider Thousand Oaks-based Xirrus, the developer of high performance wireless networking equipment, is tapping into Relayware, a provider of collaboration and communicaitons software as part of its sales efforts, the firms said Thursday. According to the two
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, January 14, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, January 14, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Tongal Raises $15M For Crowdsourced Video --Ixia Bumps Estimates As Acquisitions Grow --Esri Wins Arizona Firm --StartEngine Opening Up New Downtown Location --GameFly Wins Ruling Against Postal Service MARKETPLACE --CLEARSTONE VENTURES: Venture Capital for Technology Innovators --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Tongal Raises $15M For Crowdsourced Video Los Angeles-based Tongal, an online platform which helps brands crowdsource video for their advertising, said this morning that it has raised $15M in a Series B funding. The funding came from Insight Venture Partners. Tongal, which was founded by Rob Salvatore, James DeJulio and Mark Burrell, allows creative types--directors, actors, animators, writers, and others--submit their ideas, videos, and more for specific projects solicited by brands. The firm says it has worked with such brands as LEGO, Pringles, McDonalds, Crest, Ace Hardware, Scope, and others. The firm said the funding will go towards build out of its community and expansion of its community. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=47864 Ixia Bumps Estimates As Acquisitions Grow Ixia, the developer of network testing hardware and software, said this morning that it has bumped its revenue guidance for the fourth quarter of 2012, and now expects its revenues to be between $123.5M and $124.5M. The publicly held company said that the fourth quarter combined revenues for its two recent acquisitions, Anue Systems and BreakingPoint Systems, will be in the range of $30 to $31M, versus an earlier guidance of $26 to $28M for those two businesses. Ixia has been in a very acquisitive mode in the last year, as it picked up both Anue Systems and BreakingPoint Systems as it looks to grow the company. Ixia is headed by Vic Alston. Esri Wins Arizona Firm Redlands-based geographical information systems software developer Esri has signed on Phoenix, Arizona-based Intellimed International as a customer, the firm said Friday. Esri said that Intellimed, which is a major health care data and analytics company, will use Esri's demographics data for its future health care forecasting and planning projects with hospitals. Size of the deal was not announced. Esri is a major provide of geographic information system (GIS) technology, with its ArcGIS software being widely used across industries for overlaying data onto maps for better understanding and visualization of that data. StartEngine Opening Up New Downtown Location StartEngine, the startup accelerator founded by Howard Marks, the co-founder of Activision, is expanding, saying thta it is opening up a new location in downtown Los Angeles. The accelerator--which has its first space in Westwood--said it is opening up a new office at 1010 Wilshire Blvd with TENTEN Wilshire, to provide startups with space and opportunities for growth across Los Angeles. The accelerator is the first one to target the downtown area with an office location. StartEngine said the new office is a split-level loft, with access to such locations as the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and a few metro stops from Pasadena. StartEngine announced the new location in an invitation to an opening event January 15th for its mentors and companies. StartEngine offers up mentoring, funding, and a program to help early stage startups get to the next level, and is one of a number of accelerator programs which have been active in the Los Angeles area over the last year or so. GameFly Wins Ruling Against Postal Service Los Angeles-based games-by-mail service Gamefly scored a victory Friday in a dispute with the U.S. Postal Service, after a U.S. appeals court ruled that the the Post Office unfairly gave Netflix and Blockbuster special
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, January 15, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, January 15, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Creating A Culture Of DIY Hacking, with Tara Tiger Brown and LA MakerSpace --MySpace Debuts New Timberlake Design --Source Scientific Acquired By BIT Analytical Instruments --Nimble Snags Salesforce Vet --NantHealth Raises $6.1M --Pelican Products Buys Minnesota Thermal Science --DFJ Frontier, Anthem Boost Janrain --Convertro Lands $5M For Ad Targeting MARKETPLACE --TVC Capital LLC --Safire Partners Executive Search --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Creating A Culture Of DIY Hacking, with Tara Tiger Brown and LA MakerSpace What is a hackerspace, and why might having them available in the area help the tech community? The idea is a community space where people can come together, learn something from one another, build that electronics project, software, or even arts and crafts, in a supported environment. One hackerspace coming together in Los Angeles, LA Makerspace (www.lamakerspace.com) is being put together by Tara Tiger Brown. We caught up with Tara--who some might know from her efforts on RepresentLA--on what LA Makerspace is all about--and how places like LA Makerspace are key to bringing the technology and technical community together. What is LA Makerspace? Tara Tiger Brown: Makerspace is a kid-friendly hacker space. Essentially, it's a community space where you can (More...) http://bit.ly/V6hjjt --- MySpace Debuts New Timberlake Design MySpace, the online social networking site which is now owned by Specific Media, has finally rolled out its new, Justin Timberlake-inspired web design, in conjunction with the release of a new single from Timberlake and JAY Z. The new design--which has been in limited beta since fall of last year--is part of an overhaul of the site being made by Specific Media since its purchase of MySpace in 2011. The new interface includes full screen graphics, modern styling, right left scrolling, Pinterest-style tagging and conversations, as well as other slick UI updates. The new MySpace has been fighting a somewhat uphill battle to gain back relevancy and overcome the negative bias of the technology press to the brand. Source Scientific Acquired By BIT Analytical Instruments Irvine-based Source Scientific, a provider of outsourced engineering, manufacturing, and services for the medical and diagnostic instruments industry, has been acquired by BIT Analytical Instruments, the firms said this morning. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. BIT Analytical Instruments is based in Schwalbach, Germany. BIT Analytical Instruments previously owned 50 percent of Source Scientific, and the companies said the acquisition was part of a planned, five year transition to full ownership. Nimble Snags Salesforce Vet Santa Monica-based Nimble, the developer of social relationship management software, reported yesterday that it has tapped a Salesforce.com veteran to head up its content and product marketing strategy. The firm said that Alyson Stone, who formerly served in the same role at Salesforce's Desk.com division, will lead expansion of its content and education strategy. Nimble said that Stone also served at Assistly, in addition to having over 20 years of experience at startups and large companies. Nimble develops cloud-based, contact management software which incorporates features and links into social services, and was founded by Goldmine creator Jon Ferrara. NantHealth Raises $6.1M NantHealth, the advanced, next-generation healthcare services startup which is part of NantWorks, the startup incubation effort of billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, has raised $6.1M in a funding round
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, January 25, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, January 25, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --PromoJam's New Social Promotion Tool Surfaces Esri Startup Effort --Anametrix Plugs Into Microsoft Excel --DTS Ties With RGB Networks --Belkin Buys Linksys From Cisco --Webfest Taps Kim Kardashian For Keynote --AlpineReplay Takes Bragging Mobile For Skiers, Snowboarders --CircuitHub, With Roots At UCLA, Launches Hub For Hardware Designers --Doorbot Hits $250K Crowdfunding Goal --Gobbler Gets $1.5M More --Central Desktop Accelerates File Transfers --TapShare Takes On Social, Mobile Photo Sharing MARKETPLACE --WEBFEST GLOBAL CONFERENCE FEB 5-7 IN SANTA MONICA --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --CLEARSTONE VENTURES: Venture Capital for Technology Innovators --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Business Manager, Industry, CONEXiS --Director/Co-Founder of Digital Marketing, Calabasas, AppNRG --Sales Manager-Direct Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Graphic Designer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --UI/UX Developer, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch --Director of Business Development-Franchise Sales, Santa Barbara, Local Market Launch RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PITCHFEST CONTEST FEB 7 AT WEBFEST GLOBAL CONFERENCE SANTA MONICA Want to pitch your business model to a panel of angel investor judges and an audience of successful online business entrepreneurs? Ten finalists will be selected and given 3 minutes to give a pitch. The judges will score each biz model based on CREATIVITY, VIABILITY, ORIGINALITY and REVENUE POTENTIAL. The audience will vote separately. Two winners: Judge's Choice People's Choice. Winner gets trophy and mention in conference press release. Plus exposure to audience of online entrepreneurs and investors looking for new ideas. Apply before 1-28-13 at http://www.webfestglobal.com/pitchfest. --- PromoJam's New Social Promotion Tool Surfaces Esri Startup Effort Among the new features of the social promotion tool released by Los Angeles-based PromoJam earlier this week: a new link to demographic data from Esri in it analytics. The tool, which lets users analyzing the web traffic from their promotions, lets users click into a map of where users are interacting with their promotions, and get detailed demographics data--household income, education, net worth, neighborhood data, and more--at the street level. The tool is one of the first publicly shown efforts of a new push by Redland-based GIS leader Esri to work with startups and other technology companies. (More...) http://bit.ly/10Iyh4o Anametrix Plugs Into Microsoft Excel San Diego-based marketing analytics software developer Anametrix has rolled out a new plug-in, which ties its analytics data directly into Microsoft Excel, the firm said Thursday. According to Anametrix, the new software tool embeds its marketing analytics capabilities directly into the spreadsheet program, and allows for bi-directional data exchange between the platforms. Anametrix was founded by former team behind WebSideStory, and is backed by TVC Capital. DTS Ties With RGB Networks Calabasas-based audio processing technology developer DTS has tied with IP video deliver firm RGB Networks, to supply its audio technology into RGB's products, the two said Thursday. The two said that RGB Networks will implement DTS technologies initially in its TransAct Encoder/Transcoder, a device used to distribute high definition audio across consumers' portable devices and set-top boxes. Financial impact of the deal was not announced. The two said that RGB Networks is using DTS in part to meet the legal requirements of the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, to control content loudness particularly with commercials. Belkin Buys Linksys From Cisco Linksys, the Irvine-based manufacturer of network switches, wireless routers, and other products, has just been sold to Playa Vista-based Belkin, bringing the firm's corporate ownership back to Southern California. Belkin said Thursday that it has entered an agreement to acquire Cisco's Home Network Business Unit--which owns the Linksys business and brand
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 - ReachLocal, OpenX, Fandango, Robotoki, DataPop
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --ReachLocal Launches Trio Of Products, Targets Home Services --OpenX Adds Japanese Investor --CraveOnline Sharpens Focus With Relaunch --Viddy Chops Staff --Esri Expands Map Data --Ixia Targets LTE Testing --Fandango Ties With Telemundo On Hispanic Movie Hub --Robotoki Nabs Funding For Zombie Apocalyse Game --DataPop Launches New Semantic Advertising Product MARKETPLACE --Where is Tech Going? SoCalERA Event February 27th --Silicon Beach Sunday Funday - Austin - March 10th --TVC Capital LLC --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Pre-Sales Engineer – Americas (Entry / Associate Level), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Account Manager - Americas (Intellectual Property; Licensing; Rights Royalties), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --QA Tester, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Search and Data Engineer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Node/Python Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Front End Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- ReachLocal Launches Trio Of Products, Targets Home Services Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal said today that it has launched three, brand new services today, including a new website focused on the booking of home services. The new products are part of a push by the company to expand the services it offers to small and medium sized businesses, beyond its roots in helping those firms advertise their businesses online. (More...) http://bit.ly/13PrRlH OpenX Adds Japanese Investor Los Angeles-based OpenX Software has a new investor, the firm said today, Japanese company cyber communications, inc. According to OpenX, cyber communications, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dentsu Inc., joined in providing additional financing in the company's Series E round. OpenX said it has now raised more than $75M in funding. (More...) http://bit.ly/VKDFVR http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=47896 CraveOnline Sharpens Focus With Relaunch Los Angeles-based Evolve Media announced today tha/ it has relaunched CraveOnline, its flagship, male-oriented website. According to Crave, it has split the site into five categories, Entertainment, Gaming, Sports, Music, and Life Style. The firm said the redesign would help keep its visitors engaged. CraveOnline also said it has added targeted content on the site which is contextually relevant to visitors, and also help marketers reach users. The changes look to also have been structured to help the company integrate brand messaging into its site--the company said the new categories also help it integrate brand messages into the online lifestyle site. Viddy Chops Staff Venice-based mobile video app developer Viddy has cut one third of its staff, the firm said Monday. The cuts of 12 employees come shortly after the company's board parted ways with its co-founder and CEO, Brett O'Brien. According to Viddy, in a statement, the move came to streamline costs and now gives it the right team to execute on moving forward. Viddy has been undergoing some turmoil, as the firm has seen an increasing amount of competition from others looking to be the Instagram of video; the firm also suffered from an over-hyped launch last year. Esri Expands Map Data Redlands-based GIS software maker Esri announced a deal Monday to expand the amount of aerial imagery available for the firm's ArcGIS software, via a deal with satellite imagery firm DigitalGlobe. Esri said the deal adds more than 10 million square kilometers of high resolution, aerial viewing to its free ArcGIS World IMagery map service. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Esri's software is very widely used for geographical information systems (GIS
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, March 5, 2013 - Toba Capital, DecisionPoint, DTS, SideCar, Amgen, Arkami
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, March 5, 2013 http://www.socaltech.com/News Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Quorum Gets $11M From Former Quest CEO Vinny Smith's New Venture Firm --DecisionPoint Systems Gets $10M In Line Of Credit From SVB --DTS Gets Win In India --Kurion Signs Partner --SideCar Debuts Ridesharing App In LA --Amgen's Kevin Sharer Joins Healthcare Venture Capital Firm --Peregrine Semiconductor Licenses Technology To Murata --Arkami Racks Up Over $300K For Secure USB Drive MyIDKey --Nero Debuts New Photo Sharing App MARKETPLACE --CLEARSTONE VENTURES: Venture Capital for Technology Innovators --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Safire Partners Executive Search --Marketing Bootcamp for Startups - March 21st - Santa Monica --Silicon Beach Sunday Funday - Austin - March 10th RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Pre-Sales Engineer – Americas (Entry / Associate Level), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Account Manager - Americas (Intellectual Property; Licensing; Rights Royalties), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --QA Tester, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Search and Data Engineer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Node/Python Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Front End Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Quorum Gets $11M From Former Quest CEO Vinny Smith's New Venture Firm There's a new venture investor in town, thanks to Dell. Vinny Smith, the former CEO of Aliso Viejo-based Quest Software, appears to have become one of the most active investors in recent months in enterprise software, after starting up a new venture capital firm, Toba Capital. The latest investment from Toba is in backup, recovery, and business continuity appliance provider Quorum, based in San Jose, which reported an $11M Series B funding this morning from Toba Capital and Airtek Capital Group. (More...) http://bit.ly/13CGwox http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=48985 DecisionPoint Systems Gets $10M In Line Of Credit From SVB Irvine-based DecisionPoint Systems, which provides integration of enterprise mobility and wireless applications, announced this morning that it has received $10M in a line of credit. The credit line comes from Silicon Valley Bank. Terms of the new line of credit were not disclosed, however, DecisionPoint Systems said the new line of credit has improved terms than an earlier, line of credit. DTS Gets Win In India Calabasas-based audio technology provider DTS reports this morning that it has signed a customer in India for its surround sound technology. DTS said that Spice Mobiles, a mobile handset brand in India, will use its DTS Sound technology in its latest smartphones. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. DTS said its technology will begin shipping in Spice Mobiles' smartphones in May. Kurion Signs Partner Irvine-based nuclear waste management technology provider Kurion said today that it has signed on a new partner, Perma-Fix Environmental Services, a provider of nuclear and mixed waste management. Kurion said that Perma-Fix will deploy its GeoMelt In-Container Vitrification technology, in such areas as nuclear power plants, and other nuclear waste streams. Financial details of the deal were not annoucned by the companies. Kurion is developing a number of technologies around nuclear waste cleanup and disposal. The company is venture backed by Lux Capital Management, Firelake Capital Management, and Acadia Woods Partners. SideCar Debuts Ridesharing App In LA Need a lift, but don't have a car? Ridesharing app SideCar is the latest, peer-to-peer, smartphone-driven, ridesharing app to debut in Los Angeles, letting people find drivers willing to give them a ride around the city. SideCar--which quietly launched February 15--said it has begun accepting rides city-wide, teaming up app users with drivers who are willing to give other people a lift around town
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, March 6, 2013 - FindTheBest, EpoxyTV, Beats, Cheers, Xfire
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, March 6, 2013 http://www.socaltech.com/News Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Finding and Discovering New Music With Earbits --Beats Electronics Gets $60M, Spins Out Daisy Streaming Music Service --Althea Technologies Acquired By Japanese Company --Specific Media Taps Entertainment Exec As New CFO --CapLinked Looks To Challenge Data Room Services With Update --mobileStorm Upgrades Healthcare Product --Cheers Gains $2.5M To Spread Happiness, Joy --MomentFeed Signs Long List of High Profile Customers --Carolus Therapeutics Gets $2.25M In Debt Funding --Xfire Launches PC Tournament Service, Battleground --Twitter Shuts TweetDeck --Epoxy Tunes Into $2M to Enable YouTube, Video Publishing --FindTheBest Lands $11M For Comparison Engine MARKETPLACE --TVC Capital LLC --Key Info --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Marketing Bootcamp for Startups - March 21st - Santa Monica --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Pre-Sales Engineer – Americas (Entry / Associate Level), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Account Manager - Americas (Intellectual Property; Licensing; Rights Royalties), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --QA Tester, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Search and Data Engineer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Node/Python Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Front End Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Finding and Discovering New Music With Earbits What's the best way to find and discovery new music? Los Angeles-based Earbits (www.earbits.com) has developed a service geared around new music discovery and streaming, making it easy for passionate music fans to find new bands, tracks, and albums they like. We caught up with co-founder and CEO Joey Flores to learn more about the service (More...) http://bit.ly/XoMPbK --- Beats Electronics Gets $60M, Spins Out Daisy Streaming Music Service Santa Monica-based Beats Audio, the headphone and audio equipment maker, has raised $60M in a funding round, to spin out its streaming music service 'Daisy', the firm said late Tuesday. The new funding was led by Len Blavatnik's Access Industries, Marc Rowan, James Packer, and affiliates of Lee M. Bass. (More...) http://bit.ly/Xq5sw2 http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=49017 Althea Technologies Acquired By Japanese Company San Diego-based pharmaceuticals contract manufacturer Althea Technologies said today that it has been acquired by Japanese company Ajinomoto Co.. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Althea Technologies provides biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing services. The two said the buy will give Ajinomoto entry into the contract development and manufacturing market. Althea said it was advised by William Blair Company and Coolley LLP in the deal; the firm was founded in 1998, and has received funding from Telegraph Hill Partners. Specific Media Taps Entertainment Exec As New CFO Irvine-based Specific Media, the online advertising firm which now owns Myspace, said late Tuesday that it has named entertainment industry executive Larry Madden as its Chief Financial Officer. Madden was most recently CFO of SFX Entertainment, as well as CFO of 19 Entertainment and XIX Entertainment. He also served at the Weinstein Company, Loudeye, EMAK Worldwide, Atomic Pop, Def Jam Recordings, and PolyGram International. The selection of an entertainment industry CFO is very unusual in the high technology industry here, which has tended to pull exec talent from other, high tech companies, rather than the media and entertainment world. CapLinked Looks To Challenge Data Room Services With Update CapLinked, the Los Angeles-based developer of enterprise software for managing MA transactions, venture deals, and other business deals, is aiming squarely at legacy, virtual data room services with its latest updates. The firm announced this morning it has launched a new set of deal features, aimed at (More...) http://bit.ly/W39VUr mobileStorm Upgrades Healthcare Product
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, March 14, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, March 14, 2013 http://www.socaltech.com/News Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures --Domain Associates In Chinese Healthcare Venture --Qualcomm Names Venture Investment Prize Winner --Transphorm Releases Silicon Power Devices --WhooHooLive Takes On Rare Recordings, Videos --ValueClick Names Chief Marketing Officer --Myspace In Sponsorship Deal With Chevrolet --EdgeCast Ties With Indonesian Partner --Fisker Automotive Co-Founder, Henrik Fisker, Resigns --myIDkey Now Has Over $360K For Security Device Project --PublishThis Enhances Content Curation Tool MARKETPLACE --FUNDING THE BIG IDEA- March 28th - Riverside --TVC Capital LLC --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Marketing Bootcamp for Startups - March 21st - Santa Monica RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Pre-Sales Engineer – Americas (Entry / Associate Level), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Account Manager - Americas (Intellectual Property; Licensing; Rights Royalties), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --QA Tester, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Search and Data Engineer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Node/Python Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek --Senior Front End Developer, Los Angeles, FileTrek RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Domain Associates In Chinese Healthcare Venture San Diego-based Domain Associates is thinking outside the box. The venture capital box, that is. The venture capital investor said Wednesday that it has linked with Chinese advisory firm Elite Consulting, to bring advanced healthcare products and technologies to China. (More...) http://bit.ly/150Pk3H Qualcomm Names Venture Investment Prize Winner San Diego-based Qualcomm has named the winner of its annual, Qualcomm Ventures QPrize Venture Investment Competition, the company said this morning. Qualcomm said it has awarded $150,000 in convertible note funding to iOnRoad, and Israeli company which is developing apps to help drivers detect vehicles on the road and alerting them to danger. iOnRoad had previously won $100,000 from Qualcomm for winning the Israeli region competition of Qualcomm's QPrize competition. Qualcomm's venture prize competition is in its third year. The company said it awarded over $1M in total seed funding as part of the event this year. Transphorm Releases Silicon Power Devices Heavily backed power semiconductor developer Transphorm--which has raised north of $100M from such investors as Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Foundation Capital, Google Ventures, and others--said this morning that it has released a new, GaN-based power electronics product. The firm said it has released a 600 V GaN device, which is aimed at use in power supplies and adapters, PV inverters for solar panels, motor drives, as well as power conversion for electric vehicles. Transphorm said its new chips offer more compact, lower cost system than existing technology. The company said its new chips as dramatically more efficient than traditional, silicon-based power conversion products. Transphorm is based in Goleta. WhooHooLive Takes On Rare Recordings, Videos WhooHooLive.com, a new Los Angeles-based music streaming and download service, said Wednesday that it has debuted a new service focused on rare, live recordings and videos. The site said it will offer up audio and video concerts and music of such artists as Emerson Lake Palmer; Todd Rundgren; Iggy Pop and The Nice. The new site says it is looking to become a source for performances and music previously only available as bootlegs, and is working with the artists for authorized recordings. The new service said it will offer up $9.95 per month subscriptions, as well as single tracks for 99 cents. ValueClick Names Chief Marketing Officer Westlake Village-based ValueClick announced this morning that it has named Scott G. Eagle as its new Chief Marketing Officer. According to ValueClick, Eagle has previously served at such companies as Empowered
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, March 18, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, March 18, 2013 http://www.socaltech.com/News Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Divshot Raises $1.1M For Visual Web App Software --j2 Global Buys Metrofax --STEC Shareholders Seek Takeover Of Company --MaxLinear Scores Design Win In Latin America --Vitesse Takes On Network Encryption --Belkin Completes Linksys Buy --GonnaBe Helps Users Plan Social Events, Activities --Plixi, Formerly Tweetphoto, Shut Down By Lockerz --StyleHaul Gets $6.5M More For YouTube Fashion Channel --Vyclone Links With Microsoft's Internet Explorer MARKETPLACE --FUNDING THE BIG IDEA- March 28th - Riverside --TVC Capital LLC --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Marketing Bootcamp for Startups - March 21st - Santa Monica --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Pre-Sales Engineer – Americas (Entry / Associate Level), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Account Manager - Americas (Intellectual Property; Licensing; Rights Royalties), Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --QA Tester, Los Angeles, FileTrek RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Divshot Raises $1.1M For Visual Web App Software Need to build a web application, and wish you could do it in a more intuitive, visual way? Divshot, one of the startups out of Los Angeles startup accelerator Launchpad LA, said today that it has raised $1.1M in a seed financing round. The new funding was led by Rincon Venture Partners, and also included 500 Startups, Daher Capital, Floodlight Ventures, Cooley LLP, Drummond Road Capital, and Eric Hammond. (More...) http://bit.ly/15VFdzC http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=49194 j2 Global Buys Metrofax Los Angeles-based j2 Global, the provider of Internet fax, cloud-based online backup, unified communications, email, and other services--as well as the owner of publisher Ziff Davis--said this morning that it has acquired MetroFax, a provider of Internet faxing services. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. (More...) http://bit.ly/13483jF STEC Shareholders Seek Takeover Of Company Santa Ana-based solid state storage products firm STEC is facing a shareholder revolt this morning, after two of its largest shareholders, Balch Hill and Potomac Capital, said they will seek to replace the company's board and executives, and take strategic steps to improve shareholder value. The move comes after poor quarterly results for STEC. STEC said its settlement discussions with Balch Hill and Potomac Capital have broken down. The two shareholders said that STEC's management team have presided over a massive loss of revenue and market share in a strongly growing market for solid state storage. MaxLinear Scores Design Win In Latin America Carlsbad-based radio frequency chip designer MaxLinear reported a win in Latin America this morning. According to the company, its silicon tuner-demodulator device has been selected by an un-named OEM for use in a new, hybrid satellite plus terrestrial set-top box for the Latin America pay TV market. Financial impact of the deal and expected shipment volumes were not disclosed. MaxLinear said pay TV operators in Latina America have been integrating both broadcast television receivers and satellite set-top-boxes to allow customers to receive both free, local high definition channels as well as satellite broadcasts. Vitesse Takes On Network Encryption Camarillo-based networking semiconductor developer Vitesse Semiconductor announced a new product today, aimed at encryption of network layer traffic. According to the firm, its new Intellisec product is a lightweight security encryption technology aimed at encrypting data over the network. The firm said the new products are aimed at securing network applications such as e-commerce, cloud services, enterprise, and government communications. The new chips support the IEEE 802.1AE MACsec standard for encyrptyion over a network. Belkin Completes Linksys Buy Network router and wireless equipment provider Linksys, which has been part of Cisco since 2003, is now back in Southern California hands, after Playa Vista-based computer accessory maker Belkin said Friday it has completed its acquisition of the company. Belkin
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, March 21, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, March 21, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Sapphire Energy In Commercial Supply Deal With Tesoro --FreedomPop Aims At Low Income Families Through Partnership --Apmetrix Takes On Videogame Analytics --TowerJazz Ties With Avago --Report: Fisker Automotive's Future Uncertain As Buyers Pull Back --JetBlue Looks To ViaSat's Wi-Fi To Attract Business Travelers --Demand Media Expands In Ireland --Greycroft Bolsters Los Angeles Team MARKETPLACE --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Key Info --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Principal Software Engineer (Networking), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Quality Assurance Analyst, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Software Architect (Web Back-End), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Software Architect (VMware), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Configuration Management Build Engineer, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Software Architect (Linux), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- FUNDING THE BIG IDEA- March 28th - Riverside Ready to take your business to the next level? Don't miss TRITECH'S 4th Annual Funding Forum FUNDING THE BIG IDEA Where Capital Innovation CONNECT Municipal Auditorium | March 28, 2013 @ 1:00 PM 3485 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501 Doors Open at 12:00pm Don't miss: The Best BIG Idea Competition Speed Dating Raising Capital Gain insight into traversing the funding landscape. Piranha Pool Register today! http://ftbievent13.eventbrite.com --- Sapphire Energy In Commercial Supply Deal With Tesoro San Diego-based algae-based, biofuels producer Sapphire Energy has inked a commercial agreement with oil producer Tesoro, the company said Wednesday. According to Sapphire Energy, Tesoro will purchase crude oil from its Green Crude Farm in Columbus, New Mexico. The firm said the move is the first part of a commercial relationship to process green crude oil from Sapphire's future, commercial facilities. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. Sapphire Energy has raised over $300M in funding to develop its biofuels technology, which centers on extracting oil from algae. FreedomPop Aims At Low Income Families Through Partnership Can free Internet help low income families? Los Angeles-based free broadband provider FreedomPop hopes so, with a new partnership with a nonprofit called Connect2Compete. (More...) http://bit.ly/11jUV54 Apmetrix Takes On Videogame Analytics A new, San Diego-based startup, Apmetrix, said yesterday that it has launched a new, software-development kit aimed at providing analytics to videogame developers. (More...) http://bit.ly/WWP3AM TowerJazz Ties With Avago Newport Beach-based TowerJazz, the semiconductor foundry operator, has tied with analog component maker Avago, the two said this morning. According to the two companies, they are in an expanded, straegic collaboration where Avago's next generation products will use TowerJazz's SiGe BiCMOS technology platform. FInancial details of the partnership were not disclosed. Avago is already using TowerJazz for its existing, 10Gbps small form factor pluggable optical transceivers (SFPs). Report: Fisker Automotive's Future Uncertain As Buyers Pull Back The future of Anaheim-based electric vehicle maker Fisker Automotive looks more and more uncertain, on reports Wendesday that the Chinese auto makers who were considering buying the company have pulled back. the report, from the Wall Street Journal, says that neither Chinese auto maker Geely nor Dongfeng Motor Corp. will be making a bid for Fisker, which has said it needs to make a deal by the end of the month to remain in business. http://on.wsj.com/1486UqS JetBlue Looks To ViaSat's Wi-Fi To Attract Business Travelers JetBlue is getting set to launch in-flight, wireless service on its planes--powered by the new, high speed satellite internet from Carlsbad-based satellite service operator ViaSat--in a bid to attract more business travelers. According to reports, JetBlue has
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, March 29, 2013 - Goodreads Acquired by Amazon, Playdek, DogVacay
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, March 29, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Amazon Betas Gets Greenlight --Goodreads Acquired By Amazon.com --Playdek Gets $3.8M For iOS Games --DogVacay Debuts iPhone App For Hosts --RightScale co-founder Siegel Sells Exceptional.io To Rackspace MARKETPLACE --Key Info --PwC Emerging Company Zone --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Safire Partners Executive Search --CLEARSTONE VENTURES: Venture Capital for Technology Innovators RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Principal Software Engineer (Networking), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Software Architect (Web Back-End), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- *** Hi all -- yes, it's a market holiday (Good Friday), but enough news from yesterday to merit an email. We'll be doing minimal posting today (we generally follow market holidays with our schedule). --- Amazon Betas Gets Greenlight It looks like Ed Begley, Jr., is hanging out at Santa Monica technology coworking and tech hangout ROC--thanks to a new online series being piloted by Amazon.com (More...) http://bit.ly/10hSptv Goodreads Acquired By Amazon.com Book review and community Goodreads, which was founded in Santa Monica by Otis Chander, has been acquired by Amazon.com, Amazon said Thursday afternoon. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Goodreads' site revolves around sharing book recommendations and networking between book readers. Goodreads was venture backed by True Ventures, Mike Jones (now at Science, Inc.), James Currier, Michael Birch, Chris Michel, and Stan Chudnovsky. Amazon.com says that Goodreads now has more than 16 million members. Goodreads was started in 2007. Playdek Gets $3.8M For iOS Games Playdek, a Carlsbad-based mobile game developer, disclosed Thursday that it has raised $3.8M in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Qualcomm Ventures, and also included IDG Ventures, ff Venture Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Greycroft Partners, Jarl Mohn, and other angels. Playdek most recently announced it is developing an mobile, iOS version of the classic game Dungeons Dragons, with Wizards of the Coast, and also has a large catalog of other iOS games, including Fluxx, Penny Arcade, Ascension, NightFall, and more. The fir is led by Joel Goodman. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=49335 DogVacay Debuts iPhone App For Hosts DogVacay, the online peer-to-peer marketplace for dog sitting services, announced Thursday that it has released its own, iPhone application which makes it easier for its hosts to manage bookings through the service. (More...) http://bit.ly/XJcpoC RightScale co-founder Siegel Sells Exceptional.io To Rackspace Jonathan Siegel, who co-founded Santa Barbara-based startups RightScale, RightCart, and RightSignature, has scored an exit, and has sold Exceptional Cloud Services, his latest cloud software startup, to cloud hosting provider RackSpace. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced by the companies. Siegel joins Rackspace as part of the deal. Exceptional was based in San Francisco, and develops tools used for tracking and fixing errors from web applications. Siegel also headed by software development firm ELC Technologies. --- MARKETPLACE Reach 1+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html --ADVERTISEMENT--- Key Info Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures --ADVERTISEMENT--- PwC Emerging Company Zone Visit the Emerging Company Zone, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, for access to the latest MoneyTree venture capital report; thought leadership articles, information on IPOs and more. http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --ADVERTISEMENT--- Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, April 1, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, April 1, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures --How Rexter Is Turning Connections Into Business, with Andy Wilson --Insights and Opinions: Document your tribal knowledge --Fisker Automotive Hires Bankruptcy Lawyer --MaxLinear Wins Set-Top Box Makers --Toshiba Names Marketing VP --Rhythm Hues Acquired By Prana Studios --Report: Goodreads Exit Worth Around $150M-$200M --Factual Bumps Up Places Data --Magento Names Global Sales VP --Inktank Ties With Austrian Professional Services Firm MARKETPLACE --TVC Capital LLC --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Principal Software Engineer (Networking), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Software Architect (Web Back-End), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- How Rexter Is Turning Connections Into Business, with Andy Wilson In the age of social networking, everyone has hundreds--even thousands--of connections online. But, to a business person, those connections and network are only good as the real life relationships they create. That's the idea behind Rexter (www.rexter.com), which recently raised seed funding to ramp up its software to put LinkedIn on steroids. We spoke with CEO and founder Andy Wilson about how Rexter is looking to help business professionals further develop their relationships What exactly is Rexter? Andy Wilson: The core premise, is that the power of relationships as it relates to business success is overwhelming and (More...) http://bit.ly/X7w2cS --- Insights and Opinions: Document your tribal knowledge What would you do if a key employee walked away or was hit by a bus? Dave Berkus talks about why it's important to document the tribal knowledge in your company in our latest Insights and Opinions contribution. (More...) http://bit.ly/11bxBIg --- Fisker Automotive Hires Bankruptcy Lawyer Anaheim-based Fisker Automotive has hired legal firm Kirkland Ellis to advise the firm on a possible bankruptcy filing, accordig to reports over the weekend. The firm--which just furloughed its entire U.S. workforce last week--has been trying to find a buyer or investor for months. The maker of hybrid electric automobiles was last looking towards China for a buyer. MaxLinear Wins Set-Top Box Makers Carlsbad-based RF semiconductor maker MaxLinear said today tht at a number of OEMs are using its silicon tuners in Internet video, set-top boxes. MaxLinear did not say which OEMs were using the firm's chips, however, the company said that the firm's chips are being used to provide free, over-the-air local broadcast channels on Internet video set-top boxes, which stream video from online providers like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video. MaxLinear said those OEMs are using its MXL603 chip. Toshiba Names Marketing VP Tustin-based Toshiba America Medical Systems announced this morning that it has appointed Nancy Gillen as its Vice President, Marketing. Gillen has previously served at Philips HealthCare, as well as serving for more than 20 years at Siemens Healthcare. Toshiba said that Gillen will manage all marketing activities for the company. Toshiba America Medical Systems is a provider of CT, MR, ultrasound, X-Ray, and other equipment. Rhythm Hues Acquired By Prana Studios Visual effects and animation studio Rhythm Hues has been acquired by Los Angeles-based Prana Studios, the firms said over the weekend. Prana is split between Los Angeles and Mumbai, India. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Rhythm Hues was acquired out of bankruptcy. The visual effects studio most recently worked on the Life of Pi. Report: Goodreads Exit Worth Around $150M-$200M It looks like the sale of book review and community Goodreads was worth between $150M to $200M, according to a report form AllThingsD Friday, potentially making the acquisition one of the better returns on capital from a Southern California technology startup in recent years. (More...) http://bit.ly/XhnJgR Factual Bumps Up
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 4, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 4, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Calacanis Starts Up New Venture Fund --Cornerstone OnDemand Adds New Social, Recruiting Features --Quarterly Co. Adds Laughing Squid --Jacobs Buys Wireless Telecommunications Services Firm --DriveCam Wins Cement Hauling Fleet Operator --Zynga's Loss, SGN's Gain --Surf Air Gets New Funding, FAA Clearance --Zynga Details Job Cuts --SpaceX Test Fires New Rocket --Zynga Layoffs Hit LA Office --PublishThis Ties Into WordPress --Siemer Ventures Backs Southeast Asian Startup Incubator MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP --TechCXO - New Los Angeles Office To Serve Technology Companies --Key Info --TVC Capital LLC --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Project Manager, Los Angeles, Counterpoint Systems --Field Sales Engineers, Burbank or San Jose or NYC or Atlanta or Wash DC, Condusiv Technologies --Technical / field sales engineer, SFV, Bager Electronics --Principal Software Engineer (Web Front End), Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Technology Fast 500 — Call for nominations Powerful Connections Deadline to submit: June 28, 2013 Submit your nomination for Deloitte's 2013 Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in the United States and Canada based on percentage revenue growth from 2008 to 2012. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.fast500.com or contact the Fast 500 team at fast...@deloitte.com. We look forward to your participation! --- Calacanis Starts Up New Venture Fund Jason Calacanis is busy. Not only is he running his own technology conference, Launch, he's also making angel investments, and opening up his own coworking space, he's also created a new venture capital fund, the Launch Fund. According to a regulatory filing, Calacanis is raising $10.0M for the fund, which he said is being funded by himself, David Sacks, and one or two other LPS. Calacanis said the fund will go to focus on funding companies out of his series of LAUNCH festivals. Cornerstone OnDemand Adds New Social, Recruiting Features Cornerstone OnDemand, the developer of talent management software which is headed by Adam Miller, has rolled out some enhancements to its service today, including adding a new social collaboration feature to the company's software suite, as well as enhanced recruiting tools. (More...) http://bit.ly/10NO6ej Quarterly Co. Adds Laughing Squid Hollywood-based subscription gift service Quarterly Co., which is backed by True Ventures, Collaborative Fund, SV Angel and others, said today that it has added the team behind the popular technology blog Laughing Squid to its service. (More...) http://bit.ly/10NMa5v Jacobs Buys Wireless Telecommunications Services Firm Pasadena-based Jacobs, the provider of professional technical services and construction and engineering services, said today that it has acquired Compass Technology Services, a provider of wireless telecommunications infrastructure design and construction services. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. Compass Technology Services is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and provides telecommunications professional and field services in the Southeastern U.S. DriveCam Wins Cement Hauling Fleet Operator The next time you're stuck behind a big, lumbering concrete truck, you just might be a little safer, thanks to San Diego-based driving monitoring product developer DriveCam. DriveCam said today that it has scored a win with TXI, which runs a fleet of ready-mix concrete trucks, and aggregate hauling and cement hauling vehicles. According to DriveCam, TXI is rolling out its products across all of its fleet, after a period testing DriveCam in its fleet, and seeing a dramatic reduction in claims. DriveCam's systems provide both driving data and video to help monitor fleet drivers, which helps both with better safety and better fuel efficiency. TXI is a cement supplier in Texas, with major operations in California. Zynga's Loss, SGN's Gain The announcement
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 11, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: Clearstone Ventures (www.clearstone.com). Venture capital for innovators. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) We build private cloud architectures --Walk In My Closet Debuts iOS App --Cornerstone OnDemand Looks To Raises $220M In Debt --Metacloud Upgrades OpenStack Service --VIZIO Wins In Patent Lawsuit --Linksys Ships Home Powerline Networking Equipment --Naki Laundry Offers Up Deal In Launch Of Smartphone Laundry Service --Green Dot Buys GE Capital's Walmart Cards --Silicon Beach Fest Expands Event Lineup, Sets Keynotes --Naki Laundry Debuts In Santa Monica With Tech Friendly Laundry Service --Amazon Launches Grocery Delivery In LA MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP --BUSINESS ROCKSTARS ACADEMY - June 18-30th --Technology Fast 500 — Call for nominations --TVC Capital LLC --Safire Partners Executive Search --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Software Engineer, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Senior Test/Development Engineer, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- *** Member of socalTECH? Looking for employees? You can post your jobs for free at our job board at: http://www.socaltech.com/Jobs --- Walk In My Closet Debuts iOS App Walk In My Closet, a Los Angeles startup which develops a service for letting users resell their high end fashion clothing, has released a new iOS application. Walk In My Closet said its app is a high-end virtual wardrobing app which lets users take pictures of their closet, and display those as a online boutique. The company said the app lets users shoot and upload photos, share their style, and look into the closets of fashion influencers. Walk In My Closet lets people sell their fashions through a designer recycled section. The new app is free. Cornerstone OnDemand Looks To Raises $220M In Debt Cornerstone OnDemand, the developer of software-as-a-service for talent management and human resources, is raising $220M in a debt funding, the firm said today. The company said it is offering up $220M in an offering of convertible senior notes, due in 2018. The publicly held company said it would use the new funds for general corporate purposes. Metacloud Upgrades OpenStack Service Pasadena-based Metacloud announced this morning that it has released a new version of its product, Carbon|OS. Metacloud offers up software to help businesses and enterprise deploy their own, OpenStack-based enterprise cloud. The upgraded software is based on OpenStack Grizzly. MetaCloud said it is one of the first, commercial deployments of the latest OpenStack release, OpenStack Grizzly. The update includes a new self-service tenant management system; new tools to maximize the performance of virtual machines; a better web interface; and more. Metacloud said it has already deployed the new software at its clients, which include Fortune 5000 companies in industries including entertainment, finance, and technology. Opencloud is led by Sean Lynch. VIZIO Wins In Patent Lawsuit Irvine-based VIZIO, the manufacturer of HDTVs and other consumer electronics, said it has scored a win in another patent lawsuit today, saying that it has defeated a patent troll. VIZIO said that it was granted summary judgement of invalidity on a patent held by Lochner Technologies LLC, a non-practicing entity (NPE). VIZIO explained that the win was the seventh recent victory by VIZIO over a patent troll--the many companies out there which buy patents and then proceed to aggressively license those patents to companies under threat of a lawsuit. The entire issue of patent trolls is now being advised by a White House task force to address the issue. Linksys Ships Home Powerline Networking Equipment Irvine-based networking equipment manufacturer Linksys has released a new product today, for the home, powerline networking market. LInksys says it has shipped a new product, its Powerline HomePlug AV2 Kit, which helps consumers connect their computers into the Internet. The new product takes advantage of a home's network of power lines to provide high speed, Internet connections. Linksys is targeting homes which do not work well with wirelesss networks with the product, such as homes with concrete or steel walls
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, June 12, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Colorescience Lands $10M For Cosmetics --SpaceX Pursues Air Force --BlackLine Systems Links With CohnReznick --DTS Powers Headsets For Turtle Beach --Domain Associates Promotes Shah To Partner --Surf Air's First Flight Set For Today --ChowNow Raises $1.19M More --CODA Automotive Affiliates File For Bankruptcy --Internap's Los Angeles Data Center Gets LEED Certification MARKETPLACE --SBIR Phase II Workshop - Los Angeles, June 20th, 2013 --CLEARSTONE VENTURES: Venture Capital for Technology Innovators --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Key Info --BUSINESS ROCKSTARS ACADEMY - June 18-30th RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Software Engineer, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies --Senior Test/Development Engineer, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Technology Fast 500 — Call for nominations Powerful Connections Deadline to submit: June 28, 2013 Submit your nomination for Deloitte's 2013 Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in the United States and Canada based on percentage revenue growth from 2008 to 2012. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.fast500.com or contact the Fast 500 team at fast...@deloitte.com. We look forward to your participation! --- Colorescience Lands $10M For Cosmetics Carlsbad-based Colorescience, the aesthetic medicines business spun out of SkinMedica when that company was acquired by Allergan, has raised $10M in a Series A funding round today. The company said the funding came from its existing investors, which include Split Rock Partners and Montreux Equity Partners. Both of those companies are adding executives to its board of directors. Colorscience spun out of Skinmedica, after SkinMedica was acquired by Allergan in December of last year. Colorescience is developing mineral-based cosmetics with SPF protection. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=50989 SpaceX Pursues Air Force Hawthorne-based commercial rocket and spaceship developer SpaceX is expanding its range of possible customers today, with a deal with the military's Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC). (More...) http://bit.ly/1bvyflW BlackLine Systems Links With CohnReznick Los Angeles-based financial software developer BlackLine Systems has tied with accounting, tax, and advisory firm CohnReznick LLP, the companies aid today. According to the companies, they are in a strategic alliance, where CohnReznick will provide advisory services and guidance to CFOS, controllers, and other finance department executives to support implementation of BlackLine's software. BlackLine develops financial close software that helps automate what has been a very manual process for companies. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. BlackLine has similar arrangements with other firms, including Deloitte and KPMG. BlackLine is headed by Therese Tucker. DTS Powers Headsets For Turtle Beach Calabasas-based audio processing and enhancement technology developer DTS announced a win with headset maker Turtle Beach today. According to DTS, its technology will be used in a select number of Turtle Beach's new media headsets. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Turtle Beach is using the DTS Headphone:X technology, which DTS says delivers realistic, multi-dimensional audio for headphones. Domain Associates Promotes Shah To Partner San Diego-based biotech investment firm Domain Associates announced this morning that it has promoted Nimesh Shah to Partner at the firm. Shah has been at the firm since 2006. Shah sits on the boards of Zyga Technology, Benvenue Medical, Cotera, Miramar Labs, Sequent Medical, and Twelve (Foundry Newco VII). He also is a board member for the San Diego Venture Group, and previously served at Cutlass Capital and Alex. Brown Sons (now Deutsche Bank). Surf Air's First Flight Set For Today Santa Monica-based Surf Air, the all-you-can-fly
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 7, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --ESET Updates Android Security Software --RFaxis Debuts New Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Chips --Websense Names New Sales VP --LAUNCH Fund Looks To Invest $200K In Startups --Music Publishers' Group Settles With Maker, Sues Fullscreen --Tealium Claims Record Growth --ReachLocal Partners With Yelp To Provide Home Service Bookings --Donuts Names New CFO --FreedomPop Expands Free Wireless Broadband On Sprint LTE --RF Industries Sells Division --Boingo Combines Free Wi-Fi, App Downloads MARKETPLACE --PortTech EXPO - September 11, 2013 in Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles --GROW2013: THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS - Enter To Win A Ticket! --Need insurance? Look at socalTECH's Service Provider Directory --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --British Consulate General - Los Angeles: Business Development Associate --Helpdesk Support Analyst - BreakMedia a High-Growth Company, Los Angeles , BreakMedia --Public Relations (PR) Manager, Santa Monica, TigerText --Product Marketing Manager (PMM), Santa Monica, TigerText --Marketing Communication (MarCom) Manager, Santa Monica, TigerText --Product Marketing - Virtualization, Burbank, Condusiv Technologies RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- ESET Updates Android Security Software San Diego-based security software developer ESET released an updated security product aimed at Android phones and tablets. According to ESET, it has completely rebuilt and redesigned its EST Mobile Security for Android product, improving scanning, anti-phishing, and adding a brand new user interface. ESET said the software is free, but also includes premium upgrade features. Among other features of the software is protection against phishing and malicious URLs in SMS messages, QR codes, or URLs. RFaxis Debuts New Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Chips Irvine-based semiconductor developer RFaxis announced this morning that it has begun volume production on a new single chip/single-die Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo RF front end IC. The company, which develops RF chips in low cost CMOS, said its new chip is aimed at the smartphone market. The company said its new product provides more functionality at a much lower cost than existing RF ICs. RFaxis develops a line of CMOS-based RF chips, which take advantage of the cheaper manufacturing costs of CMOS versus more exotic semiconductor materials. The firm said its RFX8422S chip provides key RF functions for dual-mode Wi-Fi/Bluetooth operation in a typical smartphone or other mobile devices. RFaxis is led by Mike Neshat. Websense Names New Sales VP San Diego-based security software developer Websense said today that it has named a new Vice President of Worldwide Channel Sales. Websense said it has appointed Shawn Pearson, formerly of RSA, to the position. Pearson was formerly Senior Director of Americas Inside Sales and Channels at RSA/EMC. Websense is a developer of web security, email security, mobile security and data loss prevention software. LAUNCH Fund Looks To Invest $200K In Startups The LAUNCH Fund, the angel investment fund of Los Angeles angel and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, is looking to invest $200,000 in startups who present at two of the events being run by Calacanis over the next couple of months, according to an announcement by Calacanis Tuesday. According to Calacanis, his angel fund will be investing up to $100k in the winners of the LAUNCH Hackathon and up to $100k in one of the presenters at the LAUNCH Mobile Wearables event, two events Calacanis is organizing in San Francisco later this year. The LAUNCH Mobile conference is being held from September 30th to October 1st, and the LAUNCH Hackathon developer conference is November 8-10th. Calacanis is one of Southern California's more active, and visible, angel investors. Music Publishers' Group Settles With Maker, Sues Fullscreen A group which represents music publishers said Tuesday that it has negotiated a private settlement with LA's Maker Studios, and filed a copyright infingement suit against Los Angeles YouTube network Fullscreen, over
Gmail - Promotions tab
Hi all-- A quick note to readers of the socalTECH TechNews... If you're getting our email via Gmail, you might be aware that Gmail is now attempting to automatically categorize emails into social primary and promotions. That might (depending on the Google magic algorithm) put our newsletters into one of the other categories. So, if you haven't been seeing our emails, you might check on your settings with Google. To make sure you see us in your email inbox every morning (M-F, around 6am or so, except market holidays), you can drag our email from Promotions to Primary. Thanks, Benjamin Kuo Editor socalTECH.com ps. If you've had any issues with this, let me know... ___ Socaltech mailing list Socaltech@listserv.socaltech.com http://listserv.socaltech.com/mailman/listinfo/socaltech
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 22, 2013
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Actively seeking acquisitions of software companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Goldstar Debuts iOS App, Now Over $100M In Revenues --Teledyne Acquires Marine Sensor and Engineering Firm --BeachMint Expands Product Line --FreedomPop Links With Telespree --DriveCam Wins Wisconsin Trucking Company --DTS Adds UltraViolet Decoding To PowerDVD --Hulu Launches Chromecast For iPhone --Gumiyo Acquired By Talus Labs --Microsemi Buys Symmetricom --Vicente Capital Invests In Wireless Software Company --Insightra Medical Gets Funding For Medical Devices MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP --Need insurance? Look at socalTECH's Service Provider Directory --Robert Ramey Software Development --Safire Partners Executive Search --Key Info RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Network Administrator, los angeles, DreamHost --Mobile/Desktop App Developer w/Linux,Flex/Air or IOS Exp., San Clemente --Director of Marketing, Santa Monica, Ramprate --Director of Operations, Santa Monica, Ramprate --Director, Technical Strategy, Santa Monica, Fetch Recruiting, Inc --Director, Cloud Infrastructure Ops, Culver City, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Silicon Beach Tech Event Join the TeleSign team for an exclusive networking event in Santa Monica. Get a sneak peak of new products, network with industry leaders, and enjoy fresh food and drinks. Where: Huntley Hotel, Santa Monica When: October 24th Time: 7:00-10:30pm Register today: http://goo.gl/QxMecG Please feel free to contact Caitlin Huey, ch...@telesign.com if you have any questions. --- Goldstar Debuts iOS App, Now Over $100M In Revenues Pasadena-based discount event ticketing service Goldstar announced this morning that it has launched a new, iOS app to help its members discover events and purchase event tickets. The company, which was co-founded and is led by Jim McCarthy, also revealed that the company will have over $100 million in sales this year. Goldstar said the new app includes integration with Apple's Passbook, includes user reviews and event information, search tools, and more. The app is available in the Apple iOS store. Goldstar's service lets users get huge discounts on tickets, by connecting them with last minute event tickets. The company works with venues to help fill unsold seats to consumers who might not have been aware of events. Goldstar has so far been fully bootstrapped by its founders. Teledyne Acquires Marine Sensor and Engineering Firm Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies, the diversified provider of scientific instrumentation, digital imaging products, defense electronics, systems, and other products, said this morning that it has acquired marine engineering firm C.D. Limited (CDL), which is headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. Teledyne said that CDL is a supplier of subsea inertial navigation systems and motion sensors for a variety of marine applications. Those sensors are used in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other systems. Teledyne said CDL's products include gyrocompasses, attitude and heading reference systems, and inertial navigation systems. CDL will be renamed Teledyne CDL Limited. BeachMint Expands Product Line Santa Monica-based BeachMint said Monday that it is expanding its product line via its JewelMint web site, with a new collection of jewelry from designer Richard Chai. The company--which runs JewelMint, StyleMint, ShoeMint and intiMINT--said the new products are part of the JewelMint Studio Series Collection, where it is providing jewelry collections from award winning designers, at its accessible price points. BeachMint's investors include Accel Partners, Anthem Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Lightbank, Millennium Technology Value Partners, New Enterprise Associates, New World Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Stanford University, and Trinity Ventures. FreedomPop Links With Telespree Los Angeles-based FreedomPop, the venture-backed startup which is offering up both free broadband as well as free phone service, said today that it has selected Telespree Communications
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, February 19, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, February 19, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Actively seeking acquisitions of software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --QLogic Buys Ethernet Line From Broadcom In $147M Deal --Shopzilla Buys Connexity --OpenX Names Fuelling CFO --Hulu Names New CTO --Nativo Signs Up Major Newspaper Groups --Boing Scores Win With Dubai Airports --Lynda.com Launches Android App --inLA Looks To Galvanize Los Angeles Entrepreneurs, Investors --Tinder Goes Viral In Antartica --Boingo Wins Illinois Town --Happily Wants To Give You A Peek At Wedding Costs MARKETPLACE --DevLab by ATT: Speech API and In-App Messaging API Workshop - Feb 27 --Networking for Capital with Len Lanzi - February 27th --Get the latest Q4 2013 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report! --Safire Partners Executive Search --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --SoCal IP Law Group LLP RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Wi-Fi Field Engineers - Camp Pendleton, 29Palms, Yuma, Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless --Senior Network Engineer - Broadband Wi-Fi, Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless - L.A. --Network Management Systems Engineer (NMS Engineer), Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless --Front End Developer, Pasadena, Dotstudioz RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- QLogic Buys Ethernet Line From Broadcom In $147M Deal Aliso Viejo-based storage networking hardware provider QLogic is moving further into the Ethernet market, via the purchase of an entire line of Ethernet hardware from Irvine-based Broadcom, the two said late Tuesday. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/qlogic_buys_ethernet_line_from_broadcom/s-0053628.html Shopzilla Buys Connexity Los Angeles-based Shopzilla, the online comparison shopping site owned by Symphony Technology Group (STG), announced today that it has acquired Ventura-based Connexity, the programmatic media buying company led by Dave Gross. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to Shopzilla, it will use the acquisition of Connexity to help bolster Aisle A, its Audience Activation division. Shopzilla said that Connexity's entire team will be joining Aisle A. Connexity was venture backed by Rincon Venture Partners, Siemer Ventures, and Persistence Partners. Gross is the former founder of Internet advertising firm Fastclick. The acquisition looks to be the first from the set of clients at Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC), the startup incubator facility in Ventura. OpenX Names Fuelling CFO Los Angeles-based OpenX appears to be continuing to bolster its executive ranks--and a possible IPO bid--with the naming of Tom Fuelling, the former CFO of Hulu, as its Chief Financial Officer this morning. According to OpenX, it has appointed Fuelling to the post of Chief Financial Officer, to oversee the company's accounting, financial planning and analysis, and talent and organization functions. Fuelling helped launch Hulu, having been one of the original executives at the streaming television company, and also served as CFO at such companies as Ascent Media Network Services (part of Liberty Media); ARTISTdirect, and Village Roadshow Pictures, in addition to serving at accounting firm PriceWaterhouse. Fuelling was at ARTISTdirect when it went through its own IPO. Hulu Names New CTO Los Angeles-based streaming television provider Hulu said Tuesday that it has named Tian Lim as its new Chief Technology Officer. Lim was most recently SVP of Product Engineering at Sony Network Entertainment International, heading up that company's team which provided client and service engineering for the PlayStation Store on the web, PS3 and PS4. He also served at Microsoft, leading development on Xbox Live, the Xbox 360 operating system, and Kinect. Hulu said that Lim replaces Brad Suter, who had been overseeing the company's technology team on an interim basis. Nativo Signs Up Major Newspaper Groups Los Angeles-based native advertising technology provider Nativo, which is led by Justin Choi and is venture backed by Greycroft Partners, e.ventures and Signia Venture Partners, has signed up five major newspaper groups as customers. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/nativo_signs_up_major_newspape/s-0053630.html Boingo Scores Win With Dubai Airports
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, February 24, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, February 24, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Actively seeking acquisitions of software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Blackstone Expands Student Entrepreneurship Program To SoCal --MindBody Raises $50M --ACTIVE Network Splits, Sells Off Business Group --Boingo Enables Login Via iOS Passpoint --DTS Ties With Loudspeaker Manufacturers --Virgin Galactic Names New CFO --Lytx Adds Big Freight Operator MARKETPLACE --DevLab by ATT: Speech API and In-App Messaging API Workshop - Feb 27 --Win a VIP Tour of LA's Leading Tech Companies - NastyGal, YouTube, FullScreen, Honest Co. --Networking for Capital with Len Lanzi - February 27th --Ervin Cohen Jessup LLP - IP Tech Group - Turning rights into revenues. --Safire Partners Executive Search --TechCXO - New Los Angeles Office To Serve Technology Companies RECENT JOB POSTINGS --VP, Engineering, Glendale, CONEXiS --Wi-Fi Field Engineers - Camp Pendleton, 29Palms, Yuma, Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless --Senior Network Engineer - Broadband Wi-Fi, Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless - L.A. --Network Management Systems Engineer (NMS Engineer), Los Angeles, Boingo Wireless RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q4 2013 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report! NEW Q4 2013 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q4 2013 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20SoCal%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q4%202013.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Blackstone Expands Student Entrepreneurship Program To SoCal Private equity investment firm Blackstone said Friday that it is expanding its university entrepreneurship program, Blackstone LaunchPad, to Southern California. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/blackstone_students/s-0053700.html MindBody Raises $50M In one of the largest rounds for a Central Coast company in recent years--and the largest venture investment in San Luis Obispo ever--cloud software maker MindBody has raised $50M in a funding round. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/mindbody_raises___m/s-0053688.html http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=55287 ACTIVE Network Splits, Sells Off Business Group San Diego-based ACTIVE Network has split off its business products group, ACTIVE Network Business Solutions, and merged it with a Texas company, Lanyon. Financial terms of the merger and acquisitions deal were not announced. According to ACITVE Network Business Solutions, it is separating from parent company ACTIVE Network, and will merge with Lanyon to focus on the event marketing and meetings management space. Both companies are owned by private equity company Vista Equity. Boingo Enables Login Via iOS Passpoint Los Angeles-based wireless network provider Boingo Wireless announced an updated wireless hotspot service today across its network of 21 airports in the US, saying that it has now tied its service into Apple's iOS Passpoint feature. Boingo said the move gives users on iOS 7 devices instant access to networks at those airports. Passpoint automatically handles login of users into wireless networks, without requiring users to log in manually. Boingo operates a large network of Wi-Fi access points, both in airports as well as other public locations like stadiums and malls. DTS Ties With Loudspeaker Manufacturers Calabasas-based audio technology provider DTS said over the weekend that it has linked with two, loudspeaker manufacturers, who are rolling out Play-fi enabled wireless speakers. DTS said that AmTRAN Technology and Hansong Technology are both developing DTS-certified, reference designs using the DTS Play-Fi, wireless speaker technology. DTS has been looking to challenge competitors like Sonos and others with its own, wireless speaker design, which it is licensing to multiple partners. Play-Fi is the wireless
socalTECH TechNews - Breaking: TrueCar Files For IPO
socaltech.com TechNews - Breaking News TrueCar Files For IPO http://www.socaltech.com/truecar_files_for_ipo/s-0054404.html --- You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the socalTECH.com TechNews from our web site, or otherwise requested a subscription. If you do not want to receive this newsletter go to: http://www.socaltech.com/unsubscribe.php or email us at customerserv...@socaltech.com Legal Notices While SOCALTECH LLC has used its best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein, SOCALTECH LLC does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident or other causes. All contents Copyright (c) 2014 SOCALTECH LLC. All rights reserved. socalTECH.com - Dedicated to High Tech in Southern California http://www.socaltech.com/ SOCALTECH LLC 4607 Lakeview Canyon Road, Suite 290, Westlake Village, CA 91361 ___ Socaltech mailing list Socaltech@listserv.socaltech.com http://listserv.socaltech.com/mailman/listinfo/socaltech
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, April 11, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, April 11, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Insights: Five Secrets to Landing your Dream Job in the Mobile Industry --Kyocera Consolidates Operations Into San Diego --SecureAuth Names Marketing VP --Gores Group Invests In Tweddle --Former Maker Execs Sue To Stop Disney Acquisition --Media Temple Parent GoDaddy Approaches IPO --TouchCommerce Signs Up Total Gym --Sonos Connects With Google Play --Kareo Names New CFO MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Stradling --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Program a Tweeting bike! Twilio programmer needed, Los Angeles, PUSH PR --Sr. Director of Finance HR, Culver City, Sole Society --Software Engineer, Los Angeles, Talus Labs --Front-End Web (.NET) Developer in LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Entry/Mid Level UI Designer - Immediate Need - LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Professional Services Manager, Aliso Viejo, CONEXiS RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Insights: Five Secrets to Landing your Dream Job in the Mobile Industry For this morning's contributed article, we're featuring Dale Carr, the CEO of LeadBolt, who offers some tips to score a career in today's high tech industry. LeadBolt is based in Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. You can read more contributions like this from the local technology community at our Insights and Opinions section. With a growing reliance on mobile devices in our daily lives, more job opportunities open up as the industry grows. Job seekers may be lured by careers in the mobile field and as such may be equally as excited as they are intimidated by the ever-changing technology space. For candidates who are newly entering the tech field or switching paths mid-career, here are some tips for acquiring the skills and readiness that set you apart from other job-seekers and make you attractive to the hiring organization. Five strategic moves to land your dream job in mobile: 1. Understand the key debates and hot topics happening within the industry today. Whether it's the future of the wearables market, the rise in popularity of devices such as phablets, the efficacy of native ads, mobile advertising, the advancements in location-based (LBS) technology or the return of Flappy Bird, the hot topics of mobile are always in motion. Prepare by knowing the three big debates or key topics. Reading mobile trade publications and industry blogs are a great way to stay informed. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/articles/five-secrets-to-landing-your-dream-job/a-00248.html --- Kyocera Consolidates Operations Into San Diego Kyocera said Thursday that it is consolidating two of its North American business units into a single location in San Diego. According to Kyocera, it has consolidated the North American sales and technical operations of Kyocera SLC Technologies Corporation and Kyocera Circuit Solutions USA into the Organic Products Sales Group of its San Diego-based Kyocera America unit. Kyocera SLC Technologies (KST) is a provider of organic flip-chip ball-grid-array substrates used in high-end application-specific integrated circuit applications. Kyocera Circuit Solutions is the former NEC Toppan Circuit Solutions, a provider of multlayer PCBs. The impact on Kyocera's local employment and employee base in San Diego was not announced. SecureAuth Names Marketing VP Irvine-based SecureAuth, which provides two-factor authentication software, hsa named Darin Pendergraft as its new Vice President of Marketing, the company said this week. Pendergraft was most recently at Oracle, and had also served at Quest Software (which is now part of Dell). According to the company, he was most recently driving marketing strategy for Oracle's Identity management products. Gores Group Invests In Tweddle Los Angeles-based private equity investor Gores Group said Thursday that it has invested in Tweddle, a major provider of publishing and technology
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, April 15, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Tikr Looks To Keep You Up On What's Next --Ixia Aims At Heartbleed Protection --Zya Sees Big Bump In Downloads --Expose Takes Aim At Cool Planet's Mike Cheiky --Maker Studios Disney Deal Approved --Boingo Wins Utah Jazz Venue MARKETPLACE --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Expands Santa Monica Office --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Safire Partners Executive Search --Key Info --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Program a Tweeting bike! Twilio programmer needed, Los Angeles, PUSH PR --Sr. Director of Finance HR, Culver City, Sole Society --Software Engineer, Los Angeles, Talus Labs --Front-End Web (.NET) Developer in LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Entry/Mid Level UI Designer - Immediate Need - LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Professional Services Manager, Aliso Viejo, CONEXiS RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Tikr Looks To Keep You Up On What's Next Do you feel like you're always behind on what's next--that next iPhone release, movie, or trending topic? A new startup, Tikr, has been offering up a mobile app to make sure you're never behind on following what's next. The startup--founded by Nick La Maina, Kurt Braget, and Kevin Donovan--says its tool is designed to bringing information on future releases and upcoming events to communities of people very soon. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/tikr_what_s_next/s-0054551.html Ixia Aims At Heartbleed Protection Calabasas-based network testing equipment maker Ixia is targeting users in need of testing of the Heartbleed OpenSSL security issue, saying Monday that it has released an update to its software to help customers test for OpenSSL vulnerability. Ixia said its Application and Threat Intelligence (ATI) team is now able to simulate exploitation of the OpenSSL vulnerability with an update to its program, helping companies to address the security issue. Zya Sees Big Bump In Downloads Mobile music game Zya, which was developed by Calabasas-based Music Mastermind, has now been downloaded more than 350,000 times, according to the app developer, up dramatically from the 250,000 downloads the company had reported right before SxSW. According to the company's spokesperson, the numbers are an indication of the company's momentum. Zya was developed by former Virgin Records CEO Matt Sertelic, and is venture backed by Intel Capital and Liberty Global. Zya's app revolves around letting mobile users create their own songs. Expose Takes Aim At Cool Planet's Mike Cheiky A new expose from The Verge--published Monday--has taken aim at Mike Chieky, the founder of three of the Southern California clean technologies companies to gain the most venture capital in this region in recent years: Cool Planet, ZPower, and Transonic Combustion--and called him too good to be true. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/expose_takes_aim_at_cool_planet_s_mike_cheiky/s-0054543.html Maker Studios Disney Deal Approved Los Angeles-based Maker Studios said Monday that its deal to be acquired by Disney has been approved by Maker's board of directors and majority of shareholders, and is expected to close next week. The announcement came on reports that Beverly Hills-based Relativity Media was seeking to buy Maker Studios for nearly $1.1 billion, split between $525M in cash and stock, plus up to $500M in performance bonuses and another $75M in retention. Disney is paying up to $950M in a combination of cash and earn out for Maker Studios. Boingo Wins Utah Jazz Venue Los Angeles-based wireless provider Boingo Wireless reported a win Monday with EnergySolutions Arena, the home of the Utah Jazz, saying it will provide its wireless and distributed antenna system (DAS) services at the location. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Boingo said it will upgrade and manage a neutral host network at the 20,000 seat location, which hosts more than 100 sports and entertainment events each year. --- MARKETPLACE Reach 1+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, April 16, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, April 16, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --textPlus: Turn Your Amazon Kindle Fire Into A Phone, Today --Novatel Wireless Links With European Distributor --Broadcom Gets Design Win In India --Pixels.com Launches Image Licensing Marketplace --Factual Extends Hotel Information --TigerText Expands Board --USC, USA Today Partners On New Online Sports Site MARKETPLACE --ECJ Assists International Client with Facebook Agreement --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --PwC Emerging Company Zone --TechCXO - New Los Angeles Office To Serve Technology Companies RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Program a Tweeting bike! Twilio programmer needed, Los Angeles, PUSH PR --Sr. Director of Finance HR, Culver City, Sole Society --Software Engineer, Los Angeles, Talus Labs --Front-End Web (.NET) Developer in LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Entry/Mid Level UI Designer - Immediate Need - LA, Los Angeles, AssetAvenue, Inc. --Professional Services Manager, Aliso Viejo, CONEXiS RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- textPlus: Turn Your Amazon Kindle Fire Into A Phone, Today Tired of waiting for Amazon.com to actually release a phone version of the Amazon Kindle Fire? Marina Del Rey-based mobile app developer textPlus said Tuesday that its software can turn existing, Kindle Fire into a phone, using textPlus over WiFi today. textPlus--which is venture backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Matrix Partners, Upfront Ventures and The Raine Group--offers (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/textplus_amazon_kindle_fire_into_a_phone/s-0054571.html Novatel Wireless Links With European Distributor San Diego-based wireless, M2M products developer Novatel Wireless said Tuesday that it has linked up with a European distributor, to help establish a Technical Competence Center for the company's products in EMEA. According to Novatel Wireless, it has linked up with Simple Solutions (Electronics) Ltd., a technical supplier of M2M cellular products for the fleet, asset, and industrial markets in the United Kingdom. Financial details of the link were not announced. The two said they have been working together for 10 years. Novatel Wireless makes wireless modules for connecting equipment to cellular networks, in addition to its popular mobile hotspot products. Broadcom Gets Design Win In India Irvine-based chipmaker Broadcom reported a design win in India this morning, saying that its quad-core HSPA+ platform wil be used by Indian mobile device provider Lava International Limited. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Broadcom said that Lava will use its quad-core HSPA+ turnkey platform for a new tablet, which incorporates Broadcom's 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, RF transceiver, power management IC, connectivity combo chip and multi-constellation GNSS location chip. Broadcom's chipsets are widely used to implement both phone and tablet hardware designs. Pixels.com Launches Image Licensing Marketplace Santa Monica-based Pixels.com has launched an image licensing marketplace for photographers (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/pixels_com_launches_image_licensing_marketplace/s-0054566.html Factual Extends Hotel Information Los Angeles-based Factual said Tuesday that it has extended outs its information about hotels, expanding its dataset from 98,000 hotels to a total of 145,000 hotels. According to Factual, the move also is perfectly synchronized with the company's US Places data, the company's giant database of geolocation and business information. TigerText Expands Board Santa Monica-based secure messaging service provider TigerText said Tuesday that it has named three new board members at the company. The company said it has added Shasta Ventures' Sean Flynn, Orbimed's Steve Yecies, and New Leaf Ventures' Vijay Lathi to its board of directors. TigerText, which is led by Brad Brooks, said the new board members will bring a wealth of startup experience to the company. Flynn also sits on the board of ZEFR, and led Shasta's investment in DollarShaveClub. Yecies was the founder of Chronic Health Capital, and Lathi also sits on the boards
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, April 17, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, April 17, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Qualcomm Backs Wireless Software Firm M87 --CitizenGlobal Powers Crowdsourced Video Platform For Law Enforcement --Novatel Wireless Gets Certifications In North America, EMEA --Peregrine Semiconductor Names VP --Stocktwits Partners With DraftKings --The Young Turks Scores $4M In Funding --My Damn Channel Becomes Omnivision Entertainment --Outspoken Ties With Apple Passbook MARKETPLACE --Stradling -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Manager Search Engine Marketing, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior iOS Engineer, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior iOS Engineer, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior Director of Marketing, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Manager Customer Service, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Program a Tweeting bike! Twilio programmer needed, Los Angeles, PUSH PR RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Qualcomm Backs Wireless Software Firm M87 San Diego-based Qualcomm has invested in wireless network software developer M87, M87 announced this week, as part of a $3M, Series A funding round. M87 is a developer of wireless network infrastructure software aimed specifically at improving the coverage and capacity of current wireless networks. The company said the round also included Chinese hosting provide 21Vianet and angels. Qualcomm's investment came via Qualcomm Ventures. M87 is based in Austin. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=56716 CitizenGlobal Powers Crowdsourced Video Platform For Law Enforcement Los Angeles-based crowdsourced video startup CitizenGlobal has launched a new platform for law enforcement, allowing users to submit photos and videos to different police departments. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/citizenglobal_crowdsourced_video_platform_for_law_enforcement/s-0054591.html Novatel Wireless Gets Certifications In North America, EMEA San Diego-based wireless hotspot and M2M module developer Novatel Wireless reported yesterday that it has certified its new SA 2100 MiFi M2M device on both Verizon Wireless as well as the Conformite European (CE), Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PTCRB standards in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company said the certification expands its offering both in the US and abroad. Novatel's SA 2100 is aimed at the machine-to-machine (M2M) market, for the telematics and telemetry markets. Peregrine Semiconductor Names VP San Diego-based Peregrine Semiconductor said Wednesday that it has named Duncan Pilgrim as its new Vice President of Marketing. According to the company, Pilgrim will head up product marketing and marketing communication initiatives for the company. Peregrine has been at the company since 2010, and previously served at Sequoia Communications, RFMD, GEC Plessey Semiconductor, and Marconi. Stocktwits Partners With DraftKings San Diego-based Stocktwits, the stock-focused micro messaging service led by Howard Lindzon, said Wednesday that it has linked with fantasy sports site DraftKings.com. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to the companies, they will partner through the summer with games, including one focused on fantasy golf. The Young Turks Scores $4M In Funding Los Angeles-based The Young Turks, the online MCN led by Cenk Uygur, said today that it has raised $4M in new funding, from private equity firm Roemer, Robinson, Melville Co., LLC. TYT offers up politics and news commentary both online as well as through cable television shows. TYT was founded by Uygur after a stint hosting his own show on Sirius Satellite Radio, and later on Current TV. http://www.socaltech.com/the_young_turks_scores_funding/s-0054580.html My Damn Channel Becomes Omnivision Entertainment Web video content provider My Damn Channel--led by Rob Barnett and Warren Chao--has relaunched the company, and changed its name to Omnivision Entertainment, the company recently announced. The company--which has operations in both New York and Long Beach--said the move comes as it is expanding its
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, April 22, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Allergan Gets Hostile Bid From Valeant --Recargo: EV Journey Crosses Finish Line --Jacobs Buys Federal Network Systems --Airwolf 3D Adds Nylon 3D Printing Support --Report: LA Should Emulate San Francisco, NYC For Startup, Tech Efforts --Taxi Magic Looks To LA Market With Free Rides --Beats Music Struggles With Low Subscriber Counts, Says Report --Oversee.net Sells DomainSponsor --LaunchpadLA Grad Preact Raises $4.6M --Nervana Raises $600K For Artificial Intelligence Hardware --Enplug Gets $2.5M MARKETPLACE --ECJ Assists International Client with Facebook Agreement --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Expands Santa Monica Office --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Find Help To Power Your Firm To The Next Level RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Manager Search Engine Marketing, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior iOS Engineer, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior iOS Engineer, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Senior Director of Marketing, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Manager Customer Service, Sherman Oaks, CA, ClubLocal --Program a Tweeting bike! Twilio programmer needed, Los Angeles, PUSH PR RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Allergan Gets Hostile Bid From Valeant Irvine-based healthcare firm Allergan has received a hostile bid from Valeant Pharmaceuticals, in a deal worth around $152.89 per share. Valeant offered to pay $48.30 in cash plus 0.83 percent in Valeant stock for each share of Allergan's stock, in a proposal released via an SEC filing. According to Allergan, it has had no discussions with either Valeant or backer Pershing Square on the proposal, and only became aware of its via those public filings; Allergan said it will consider the offer and proposal, once it is received by the company. Recargo: EV Journey Crosses Finish Line Venice-based electric vehicle app developer Recargo said Tuesday that Norman Hajjar, its Managing Director of its PlugInsights research division, has completed a record-setting, electric vehicle road trip around the country, driving more than 12,000 miles in under 3.5 weeks. The software company said it has submitted information on the trip to the Guiness World Records organization, and is seeking to have its trip verified for the longest vehicle journey ever taken using 100% electric power. Recargo--which makes an app to help EV drivers find the nearest charging station--took a stock, Tesla Model S cross country across 27 states. Hajjar said he had to stop 91 times to charge the Tesla, using Tesla's network of nationwide charging stations 86 times. Jacobs Buys Federal Network Systems Pasadena-based Jacobs Engineering Group said this morning that it has entered into a deal to acquire Federal Network Systems (FNS), a provider of system integration and communications, information technology, and data security, which is a subsidiary of Verizon Communications. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. FNS is based in Ashburn, Virginia. Jacobs said the deal will help it enhance its presence in the intelligence community market. FNS helps integrate, secure, and operate voice, data, and video networks for the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and other agencies. Airwolf 3D Adds Nylon 3D Printing Support Costa Mesa-based Airwolf 3D, a developer of 3D printers, said today that it has begun shipping a product that allows its 3D printers to print using materials like polycarbonate, Bridge nylon, and Nylon 645. According to the company, the support make it possible to print engineering-grade parts, allowing its prosumer grade 3D printers to print parts which previously would require expensive, high end industrial 3D printers. The company said the support requires a $195 add-on to its 3D printers, and also allows users to continue printing the more common, lower temperature PLA and ABS parts. Airwolf 3D is led by Erick Wolf. Report: LA Should Emulate San Francisco, NYC For Startup, Tech Efforts A new report, released over the weekend, says that Los Angeles should look towards New York and San Francisco and what they have done to help strengthen
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, May 6, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --PEAR Sports Raises $5M More --D-Link Launches Into The Connected Home Market --HashAtIt.com Takes On Hashtag Search --VIZIO, CyberFone Settle Patent Case --Campaigner Takes On A/B Testing --Tennenbaum Capital Partners Names Exec --Google Expands Same Day Shopping Service To Los Angeles --Tech Investor Pierce Makes Offer For Mt. Gox MARKETPLACE --ECJ Assists International Client with Facebook Agreement --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Contract Research Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP of Sales Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --Client Project Administrator, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP or Director of Business Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply For The Technology Fast 500 Deloitte 2014 Technology Fast 500 Fast growing? Apply now! Submit your application for Deloitte's 2014 Technology Fast 500, an annual ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in the United States and Canada based on percentage revenue growth. Being recognized as a Technology Fast 500 winner has its benefits. It provides increased visibility to investors, customers and employees regarding your company’s fast growth and brand recognition through local, national, global and social media exposure. Fast 500 award events provide valued networking opportunities with your industry peers as well as a reason to celebrate the team who made it possible. http://www.fast500.com --- PEAR Sports Raises $5M More Irvine-based PEAR Sports, a developer of personalized coaching apps for the iPhone and Android, has raised $5M in a funding round, to go towards its mobile apps and platform. The company--led by Bob Allison--said that the funding round came from Innovate Partners, Nordic Ventures, as well as VIZIO and other private and family office investors. PEAR Sports said the funding will go towards sales and marketing of its mobile app and hardware. PEAR Sports combines both monitoring a user's activity level with personalized coaching plans, which the company say act like a personal trainer, to help users with their fitness. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=57314 D-Link Launches Into The Connected Home Market Fountain Valley-based D-Link, best known for its networking products for the home, small business, and enterprise markets, is expanding into the connected home market today, with the launch of a new, Wi-Fi smart plug--which allows users to control any home electronic device from their Wi-Fi network. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/d_link_launches_into_the_connected_home_market/s-0054889.html HashAtIt.com Takes On Hashtag Search A new, Los Angeles startup, HashAtIt.com has launched this morning, offering up a search engine specifically for searching for hashtag content. According to HashAtIt.com, which calls itself The Social Search Engine, it is offering up an online search engine which lets users search content from Facebook, Twitter,Instagram, and Pinterest all in a single search, all keyed off (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/hashatit_com_takes_on_hashtag_search/s-0054888.html VIZIO, CyberFone Settle Patent Case Irvine-based flat panel HDTV and electronics provider VIZIO has settled a patent infringement suit with CyberFone Systems LLC, the two said this morning, with a charitable donation. According to the two, CyberFone has dismissed its patent infringement claims against VIZIO, and will not assert those patents against VIZIO. In exchange, VIZIO is donating $15,000 to the Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA. The two did not say why they decided to settle the patent case. Campaigner Takes On A/B Testing Los Angeles-based Campaigner, the email marketing services brand owned by J2 Global, said today that it has launched a new, A/B split testing tools. (More
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, May 8, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, May 8, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --Maker Studios Signs Big Advertising Deal With Omnicom --Science Inc. To Buy Social Bookmarking Site Delicious --Local Corporation Names New CEO --OneRoof Energy Expands In New York --Beauty Noted, Founded By USC Student, Gets $2.2M In Funding --More Free Rides In LA From Taxi Magic --Metacloud Gets $15M More MARKETPLACE --TO LLC OR NOT TO LLC --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Expands Santa Monica Office --Safire Partners Executive Search --Find Help To Power Your Firm To The Next Level RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Contract Research Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP of Sales Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --Client Project Administrator, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP or Director of Business Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply For The Technology Fast 500 Deloitte 2014 Technology Fast 500 Fast growing? Apply now! Submit your application for Deloitte's 2014 Technology Fast 500, an annual ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in the United States and Canada based on percentage revenue growth. Being recognized as a Technology Fast 500 winner has its benefits. It provides increased visibility to investors, customers and employees regarding your company’s fast growth and brand recognition through local, national, global and social media exposure. Fast 500 award events provide valued networking opportunities with your industry peers as well as a reason to celebrate the team who made it possible. http://www.fast500.com --- Maker Studios Signs Big Advertising Deal With Omnicom Los Angeles-based Maker Studios, the YouTube network which is in the midst of being acquired by Disney, has just signed a large, eight-figure online advertising deal with Omnicom Media Group, according to AdAge. The deal is apparently the first, upfront advertising deal signed by Maker Studios. OmniCom apparently has a similar, $100M deal with Instagram. Disney announced it would buy Maker in a deal worth up to $950M back in March. http://www.socaltech.com/maker_studios_signs_big_advertising/s-0054942.html Science Inc. To Buy Social Bookmarking Site Delicious Santa Monica-based Science, Inc., the startup studio and incubator run by former MySpace CEO Michael Jones, has acquired longtime social bookmarking site Delicious, the company disclosed this morning. http://www.socaltech.com/science_inc_to_buy_social_bookmarking/s-0054941.html Local Corporation Names New CEO Irvine-based Local Corporation said late Wednesday that it has named Fred Thiel as its new Chief Executive Officer. Thiel had been Chairman of Local's board of directors. In addition, Local said that its current President and Chief Operations Officer, Michael Sawtell, will be leaving the company. http://www.socaltech.com/local_corporation_names_new_ceo/s-0054940.html OneRoof Energy Expands In New York San Diego-based solar financing company OneRoof Energy said this morning that it is expanding in the Northeast, and has entered into the New York market. According to the company, it has expanded its residential solar leasing operations to cover New York State. The expansion follows an earlier expansion to Massachusetts. OneRoof Energy said the expansion in New York comes due to growing demand in the Northeast; the firm said that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) found that demand for residential solar in New York doubled between the third and fourth quarters of 2013, due to an initiative from New York Governor Cuomo. Beauty Noted, Founded By USC Student, Gets $2.2M In Funding Beauty Noted, an online beauty and cosmetics social discovery site founded by USC student Sarah Kortschak, said Tuesday that it has raised $2.2M (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/beauty_noted_founded_by_usc_studen/s-0054932.html http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=55291 More Free Rides In LA From
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, May 9, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, May 9, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --How AssetAvenue Is Looking To Make Crowdfunding Profitable --Report: Apple Eyes Beats Electronics In $3.2 Billion Deal --ImaginAb Raises $21M --Snapchat Settles With FTC --Talenthouse Raises $10M --Lettuce Acquired By Intuit --TVC Capital Backs LiquidPlanner MARKETPLACE --TO LLC OR NOT TO LLC --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Contract Research Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP of Sales Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate --Client Project Administrator, Santa Monica, RampRate --VP or Director of Business Alliances, Santa Monica, RampRate --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q1 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report! NEW Q1 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q1 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q1%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- How AssetAvenue Is Looking To Make Crowdfunding Profitable There's been a lot of hype recently about crowdfunding, particularly of a myriad of consumer-focused products on such sites as Indiegogo and Kickstarter. It seems like you can't go anywhere without bumping into a dozen people all with their own projects on one of those crowdfunding sites, hoping to get enough investors in their projects to take them to the next level. However, to date, even though there have been many, successful fundraising campaigns on those crowdfunding sites--it's been unclear what the return on that crowdfunding has been overall for backers. Recently, Los Angeles-based real estate crowdfunding site AssetAvenue (www.assetavenue.com) has launched its own flavor of crowdsourcing, focused on commercial real estate projects, and hired the first employee out of Indiegogo, Adam Chapnick, to help it with those efforts. We caught up with Adam to hear why he thinks commercial real estate makes more sense to invest in with crowdfunding that other areas. First, for those not familiar with AssetAvenue, can you talk about what the company does? Adam Chapnick: AssetAvenue is a brand new company, in what I think is the most exciting space in crowdfunding. It's a new way to connect investors with opportunities they have (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/how_assetavenue_is_looking_to_make_crowdfunding_profitable/s-0054964.html --- Report: Apple Eyes Beats Electronics In $3.2 Billion Deal Consumer electronics and computer giant Apple is in talks to acquire Los Angeles-based Beats Electronics, according to multiple reports Thursday evening, which would value Beats at around $3.2 billion. Citing multiple sources, the reports said the deal would include both Beats Electronics' headphone business as well as its newly launched streaming music services, Beats Music. http://www.socaltech.com/report_apple_eyes_beats_electronicsl/s-0054962.html ImaginAb Raises $21M Los Angeles-based ImagineAb, a developer of biotechnology used for molecular imaging, said Thursday that it has raised $21M in a Series B financing round. The funding was led by Merieux Developpement, and also included Novartis Venture Funds, Cycad Group and Nextech Invest. ImaginAb, which is led by Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, is developing antibody technology being used for treatment of cancer and immunology. The company said the funding will go towards accelerating its lead program, which is aimed at helping in the treatment of prostate cancer. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, June 18, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, June 18, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Cross Campus Plans Expansion Into Pasadena --Metacloud Hires Two OpenStack Evangelists, Opens Texas Office --RealD Drops Patent Lawsuit Against Volfoni, But Threatens More --Zadara Hires EMC, Amazon Web Services Vets --Teledyne Technologies Swaps VP --Silicon Beach Fest Kicks Off Wednesday --ParkMe Launches LA Affiliate Program --Revee Raises $1M For Analytics Tools --Earbits Shuts Down MARKETPLACE --Los Angeles Venture Association 30th Anniversary - July 15th --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Apply For The Technology Fast 500 RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Trade Investment Officer: Technology, Los Angeles, British Embassy --Technical Management Consultant, Los Angeles, Pariveda Solutions --Sales Engineer, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors --Practice Leader - Telecom/DataCenter, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Silicon Beach Fest - Santa Monica - June 18-21 Silicon Beach Fest Santa Monica June 18-21 Silicon Beach Fest celebrates LA’s unique startup entertainment tech community with panels, pitches, and parties. Join us at the event! http://siliconbeachfest.com/ --- Cross Campus Plans Expansion Into Pasadena Los Angeles-based coworking space operator Cross Campus said Tuesday that it is planning an expansion, and will be opening up a new location in Pasadena. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/cross_campus_plans_expansion/s-0055575.html Metacloud Hires Two OpenStack Evangelists, Opens Texas Office Pasadena-bsed Metacloud, which runs and operates OpenStack based clouds for companies, said it has hired on two well known OpenStack evangelists as executives. The startup--which is backed by AME Cloud Ventures, Canaan Partners, Pelion Venture Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, Storm Ventures, and UMC Capital--said it hired Scott Sanchez as Vice President of Strategy, and named Niki Acosta as Director of Evangelism. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/metacloud_hires_two_openstack/s-0055579.html RealD Drops Patent Lawsuit Against Volfoni, But Threatens More Los Angeles-based 3D movie projection technology developer RealD has dropped a patent infringement lawsuit it had filed against competitor Volfoni, however, is threatening to sue Volfoni if it ever tries to sell its products in the United States. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/reald_drops_patent_lawsuit_against_volfoni_but_threatens/s-0055577.html Zadara Hires EMC, Amazon Web Services Vets Irvine-based storage products maker Zadara Storage said this morning that it has hired two storage industry veterans as VPs. According to Zadara, it has named Dani Naor as Vice President of International Sales, and appointed Craic Carl as Vice President of PRoduct Management. Naor was previously at XtremeIO, which had recently been acquired by EMC, and also has served at StoreAge. Naor will be based in Israel. Carl was previously at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and also had served at Gluster, 4Base Technology, Kovarus and McAfee.com. Zadara said Carl will be based in Seattle. Zadara is led by Nelson Nahum. Teledyne Technologies Swaps VP Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies said Tuesday that it has named Anna Segobia Masters as its new Vice President of Human Resources, and Deputy General Counsel. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/teledyne_technologies_swaps_vp/s-0055576.html Silicon Beach Fest Kicks Off Wednesday Silicon Beach Fest, the technology festival which celebrates everything about Silicon Beach, is kicking off Wednesday night at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, and runs through Saturday the 21st. The festival--which is in its third year--features a long list of keynotes, panels, showcases, and parties, as well as beach games on Saturday. The event--which is run by Kevin Winston of Digital LA, and also includes a long list of Southern California's technology and media movers and shakers--includes events this year spread across Cross Campus, the Shore Hotel, The Viceroy, General Assembly, and other
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, June 23, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, June 23, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Insights: 2030 May Be The Year They'll Take Your Driver's License Away --TakeLessons Launches Scholarship Program --Rant Media Network Raises $4M --Central Desktop Launches Collaboration Ranking Tool For Companies --Ixia Files Annual Report, Restatements --AmplifyLA's Bricault Get Exit At SnappyTV --Kite Pharma Surges In IPO MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Get the latest Q1 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report! --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior IT/Telecom Sourcing Analyst and Negotiator, Santa Monica, RampRate --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors --Head of Corporate Finance and Office Administration, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Insights: 2030 May Be The Year They'll Take Your Driver's License Away For today's Insights and Opinions section, we are featuring a post from Jonathan Handel, a Los Angeles entertainment/technology attorney, who imagines one day when driver's licenses will be obsolete (thanks to Google and Uber). (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/articles/-the-year-they-ll-take-your-driver-s-license/a-00251.html TakeLessons Launches Scholarship Program San Diego-based TakeLessona, the online marketplace for finding tutors, music teachers, language lessons, and more, has launched a new scholarship program specifically aimed at college and university students. According to TakeLessons, it will offer up scholarships to three students, worth $1,000, $2,000, and $5,000, driven by online, public voting. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/takelessons_launches_scholarship_program/s-0055638.html Rant Media Network Raises $4M Irvine-based Rant Media Network, an online media publisher which publishes a sports, men's, and fashion publications under the Rant name, has raised $4M in a funding round. The company said the funding was led by Barry Honig, Craig Dubow (Gannett), and Southpaw Asset Management, as well as Hudson Bay Capital and Roth Capital. The company said the new funding brings its total raised to $7.3M. Rant Media Network is led by Brett Rosin. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=58302 Central Desktop Launches Collaboration Ranking Tool For Companies Pasadena-based cloud-based project management and collaboration software developer Central Desktop has launched a new tool to help companies figure out how well they are collaborating, compared to other users in Central Desktop's system. According to Central Desktop, its new Collaboration Index is an automated scoring system, which calculates users in relation to others in the system on their collaboration. The company said it measures audience, listening, socialization, and how users facilitate others to create its C-Index, which can help companies make better decisions and help discover users in their company with influence. Ixia Files Annual Report, Restatements Calabasas-based network testing software and hardware developer Ixia this morning reported its financial reports for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, its quarterly 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, as well as a batch of other amendments to its quarterly reports--which the company says is substantial progress to becoming current with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ixia has been digging itself out of a hole, all related to the surprise resignation of its former CEO back in October of 2013 due to a fabricated resume. That triggered a massive round of audits and delays to the company's earnings reports, and has had the company fending off a delisting on the NASDAQ. AmplifyLA's Bricault Get Exit At SnappyTV Paul Bricault of the AmplifyLA startup accelerator in Venice, has scored an exit with one of his companies. Twitter said Thursday that it has acquired SnappyTV, a San Francisco developer of software which helps people capture live event video, edit that video, and post it directly to Twitter
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 24, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, June 24, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Uber Drivers In LA Try To Organize --Procore Launches New App --QAD Gets Win In China --Lytx Aims At Mid Sized Fleets With New Product --Zadara Gets Big Deployment At Property Data Company --SpaceX Delays Next Launch To July --Ebyline Offers Up Free Trial --Earbits Is Dead, Long Live Earbits MARKETPLACE --Los Angeles Venture Association 30th Anniversary - July 15th --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Expands Santa Monica Office --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior IT/Telecom Sourcing Analyst and Negotiator, Santa Monica, RampRate --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply For The Technology Fast 500 - DEADLINE June 27th! Deloitte 2014 Technology Fast 500 Fast growing? Apply now! Submit your application for Deloitte's 2014 Technology Fast 500, an annual ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and clean technology companies in the United States and Canada based on percentage revenue growth. Being recognized as a Technology Fast 500 winner has its benefits. It provides increased visibility to investors, customers and employees regarding your company’s fast growth and brand recognition through local, national, global and social media exposure. Fast 500 award events provide valued networking opportunities with your industry peers as well as a reason to celebrate the team who made it possible. http://www.fast500.com --- Uber Drivers In LA Try To Organize Los Angeles-based drivers for on-demand ride service Uber--with the help of the Teamsters--are looking to organize, according to a report from KPCC. According to the report, around 500 drivers for Uber are holding a demonstration this morning in Santa Monica, in front of Uber's offices here, to protest Uber's treatment of drivers. A spokesperson for those drivers told KPCC that Uber is not a very good partner and often gives drivers the short end of the stick. http://www.socaltech.com/uber_drivers_in_la_try_to_organize/s-0055663.html Procore Launches New App Carpinteria-based Procore Technologies, which develops cloud-based construction management software, said today that it has launched a new set of free applications for iOS and Android. According to Procore, its new CurrentSet app allows construction teams to collaborate on project drawings, letting teams pull the latest drawings for a job site from their iPads, iPhones, Android devices, and laptop or desktop computers. Procore recently raised $15M in a funding round from Bessemer Venture Partners. QAD Gets Win In China Santa Barbara-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software maker QAD said today that it has scored a win in china, with automotive supplier Chengdu Huachuan Electric Parts Company (CHCD). Financial details of the win were not disclosed. QAD said that CHCD deployed its software with implementation by service provider TSnT. CHCD manufactures generators, motors, driver assistance systems, and other products for the hybrid vehicle market. Lytx Aims At Mid Sized Fleets With New Product San Diego-based video-based, driver safety products developer Lytx says it is rolling out a new product specifically aimed at mid-sized, commercial fleets. According to Lytx, the company's new DC Protect program is aimed at fleets with less than 350 vehicles and limited safety resources. Lytx said the new product is based on its existing DriveCam product and its experience with hundreds of large fleets worldwide. Pricing on the new product was not announced. Zadara Gets Big Deployment At Property Data Company Irvine-based, cloud storage software developer Zadara Storage has scored a big win with a provider of property information for the mortgage and insurance industry, the company said today. According to Zadara, it has teamed up with managed services
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, July 1, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, July 1, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --How Vadio Is Putting The Video Into Music, With Bryce Clemmer --Tinder Co-founder Sued For Sexual Harassment, Suspended --Metacloud Partners with Trace3 --Newegg Starts Accepting Bitcoin --ViaSat Links With Eutelsat On Ka-Band Satellites --Spreeify Launches New Mobile, Display Ad Product --Qualcomm Backs MapR's Hadoop Technology MARKETPLACE --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Senior IT/Telecom Sourcing Analyst and Negotiator, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate--Director of Sales - Data Center, Telecom, Cloud, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- How To Find Growth Capital – ACG 101 Panel July 9th - Westlake Village If your company is on the fast track, you need money – capital – to fuel its growth. Find out the different kinds of capital available to you, and how you can access them, at the July 9th meeting of ACG 101. Information and registration is at http://www.ACG101.org Use the promo code socaltech for a $20 discount from the non-member rate. Speakers include Chris Lewis, co-founder of the private equity firm Riordan, Lewis Haden Equity Partners; Hunter Stropp, co-president of THL Credit; Bob Louk, senior vice president of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Charles Best, CFO of business software provider Blackline Systems. The moderator is David Bonrouhi, managing director of Calabasas Capital. Location: Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, CA. Contact: i...@acg101.org or 805-285-0756. http://www.acg101.org --- How Vadio Is Putting The Video Into Music, With Bryce Clemmer In today's online world, there are audio streaming sites (Spotify et al), and there are video streaming sites (Youtube, Vevo, etc.); however, those two worlds are mostly separate. However, one local startup--Vadio (www.vadio.com)--is hoping to bring those worlds together, by using technology to automatically add and synchronize video streaming to existing, audio streaming sites. We caught up with Bryce Clemmer, the co-founder and CEO of the company, to learn more. Vadio came out of LA's Amplify startup accelerator, and now has operations both in Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. What is Vadio all about? Bryce Clemmer: We take any audio stream, and evolve it into a synchronized video stream. Say you are listening to a music stream. We determine that the music (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/how_vadio_is_putting_the_video_into_music/s-0055773.html --- Tinder Co-founder Sued For Sexual Harassment, Suspended One of the co-founders of Los Angeles-based dating app developer Tinder, Justin Mateen, has been sued by a former executive for sexual harassment, and has been suspended. In a lawsuit filed Monday in the Superior Court of the State of California, Los Angeles, former Tinder Vice President of Marketing Whitney Wolfe accused Mateen of a series of incidents and harassing emails, after a romantic relationship between the two went south. Among other accusations, the lawsuit claims Mateen repeatedly called Wolfe a whore in front of CEO Sean Rad. The lawsuit includes a lengthy number of texts and emails of what appear to be highly inappropriate comments and threats send to Wolfe by Mateen. http://www.socaltech.com/tinder_co_founder_sued_for_sexual_harassment_suspended/s-0055772.html Metacloud Partners with Trace3 Pasadena-based MetaCloud, the provier of OpenStack cloud deployment and management, said today that it has partnered with Trace3, a provider of IT and other services to businesses. According to the companies, MetaCloud has been selected as the open source cloud solution of choice by Trace3, which will help implement and recommend Metacloud's
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, July 8, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, July 8, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --LegalZoom Names Marketing Chief --Ceres Licenses Software To Bayer CropScience --Qualcomm Deploys VoLTE In Japan --Saban Brands Sets VP Digital --Western Digital Bolsters Board --OpenGate Capital Buys Latin American System Integrators --Adtile Technologies Raises $4.5M --Qualcomm, Greylock Return To Back 3D, Room Scanning Startup --Disney Accelerator Names First Class --Oculus Buys Raknet MARKETPLACE --Marketing Bootcamp for Startups with Peter Mansfield - July 10th --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Los Angeles Venture Association 30th Anniversary - July 15th --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Head of Corporate Finance and Office Administration, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- How To Find Growth Capital – ACG 101 Panel July 9th - Westlake Village If your company is on the fast track, you need money – capital – to fuel its growth. Find out the different kinds of capital available to you, and how you can access them, at the July 9th meeting of ACG 101. Information and registration is at http://www.ACG101.org Use the promo code socaltech for a $20 discount from the non-member rate. Speakers include Chris Lewis, co-founder of the private equity firm Riordan, Lewis Haden Equity Partners; Hunter Stropp, co-president of THL Credit; Bob Louk, senior vice president of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Charles Best, CFO of business software provider Blackline Systems. The moderator is David Bonrouhi, managing director of Calabasas Capital. Location: Westlake Village Inn, 31943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, CA. Contact: i...@acg101.org or 805-285-0756. http://www.acg101.org --- LegalZoom Names Marketing Chief Glendale-based LegalZoom has appointed a new head of marketing, the company said this morning. LegalZoom said it has appointed Laura Goldberg as Chief Marketing Officer, to lead overall strategy and direction of the company, and lead the company's marketing and product teams. Goldberg was most recently COO of GOOD Worldwide, and also has served at ScoreBig, NFL Online, and Napster/pressplay. LegalZoom is backed by private equity investor Permira Funds. Ceres Licenses Software To Bayer CropScience Thousand Oaks-based agricultural biotechnology developer Ceres said today that it has licensed its Persephone genome visualization application to Bayer CropScience. Financial impact of the deal were not announced. Ceres said the deal includes a multi-year, software license and collaboration agreement and professional services and support. The Ceres software tool is used for sifting through genetic data, to help search for data and make cross references. Ceres apparently developed the tool originally for its own, internal use, but has since licensed the tool out to other companies to deal with the massive data being generated by DNA sequencing and genetic testing. Qualcomm Deploys VoLTE In Japan San Diego-based Qualcomm reported this morning that it has launched its first, large scale commercial VoLTE deployment, in Japan. Qualcomm said it launched a VoLTE solution for NTT DOCOMO based on its Snapdragon 800 processor. Qualcomm says the VoLTE launch supports higher quality voice calls, faster voice connections, and simultaneous voice and data rates of up to 150 Mbps. Saban Brands Sets VP Digital Los Angeles-based Saban Brands, which manages such brands as Power Rangers, Paul Frank, Macbeth, Julius Jr., Popples and Emojiville, said today that it has named Kendall Doty as its new Vice President of Digital. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/saban_brands_sets_vp_digital/s-0055853.html Western Digital Bolsters Board Irvine-based storage device maker Western Digital said Monday that it has named Paula A. Price to its board of directors. Price is senior lecturer at Harvard Business School in the Accounting and Management, and was most recently EVP and CFO of Ahold USA. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 10, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 10, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). --Goodie Goodie Looks To Motivate Kids, Help Parents --MabVax Raises $3M, Completes Merger With Telik --Vitesse Aims New Product At Gigabit Wi-Fi --VoiceVault Takes On Voice Biometrics With SDK --Cornerstone OnDemand Names Etsy CFO To Board MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Los Angeles Venture Association 30th Anniversary - July 15th --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Inside Sales: IT Services (Colo, Telcom, CDN), Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Goodie Goodie Looks To Motivate Kids, Help Parents Wishing you could get your kids to do their chores and finish their homework? A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Goodie Goodie, said this morning that it has rolled out a brand new app aimed at motivating kids, tweens, and teens to accomplish goals, tasks, and chores. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/goodie_goodie_looks_to_motivate/s-0055895.html MabVax Raises $3M, Completes Merger With Telik San Diego-based MabVax Therpauetics, a privately held firm which is developing vaccine and antibody therapies for treating cancer, said it has raised $3M in a financing round, and also completed a merger with oncology drug developer Telik. MabVax said the investment came from accredited investors, and was managed by H.C. Wainwright Co., LLC, Palladium Capital Advisors LLC and Dawson James Securities. MabVax said that it has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Telik in an all-stock transaction. Vitesse Aims New Product At Gigabit Wi-Fi Camarillo-based semiconductor maker Vitesse has taken aim at the Gigabit Wi-Fi, 802.11ac market this week, with a new Ethernet switch product. Vitesse said its latest family of chips--the SparX-IV family, are a set of Ethernet switches specifically aimed at supporting 802.11ac WLAN Enterprise deployments. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/vitesse_aims_new_product_at_gigabit_wi_fi/s-0055891.html VoiceVault Takes On Voice Biometrics With SDK El Segundo-based VoiceVault, a developer of biometrics technology, said this week that it has released a new software development kit to help developers add voice biometrics on their mobile apps. The company said its ViGo platform offers up such features as phrase or digit voice registration, and support for both Android and iOS. Pricing on the product was not announced. The 15-person company is led by Andrew Lawson. Cornerstone OnDemand Names Etsy CFO To Board Santa Monica-based talent management software developer Cornerstone OnDemand said Wednesday that it has added Kristana Salen, the Chief Financial Officer of Etsy, to its board of directors. Salen has been CFO of Etsy since January of 2013; she previously also served at Fidelity Investments. Cornerstone OnDemand cited Salen's financial and operational experience, as well as (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/cornerstone_ondemand_names_etsy_cfo_to_board/s-0055889.html --- MARKETPLACE Reach 1+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html --ADVERTISEMENT--- Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies For more than ten years, dozens of Southern California's industry-leading tech firms have turned to Binary Pulse for their demand-generating strategies and programs. Our services include: -- Demand Generation Planning and Execution -- Channel Program Development -- Lead Capture and Management -- Web Site Development Search Engine Marketing -- Corporate and Product Branding -- Online Integration Strategies -- Reseller Recruitment -- Multimedia Presentations -- Social Media Marketing Please visit us at http://www.binarypulse.com to learn more or give us a call at 949-336-7400
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, July 11, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, July 11, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Slickdeals: How An LA Team Is Polishing Up A Diamond In The Rough --FreedomPop In International Expansion --INSTEON Expands In Latin America --Sonos Ties Into SoundCloud --DoubleBeam Powers Mobile Shopping App MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Stradling --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Senior IT/Telecom Sourcing Analyst and Negotiator, Santa Monica, RampRate--Director of Sales - Data Center, Telecom, Cloud, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies TechCXO is a professional services firm that provides experienced, C-Suite professionals to deliver strategic and functional consulting services for technology companies. We answer your critical issues around obtaining capital, increasing revenue, entering new markets and improving margins. TechCXO partners combine practical experience, comprehensive resources and best practices to deliver objective, high-value results. For TechCXO Los Angeles, please contact: Paul Meyer, Managing Partner – Finance Operations paul.me...@techcxo.com (805) 535-5245 Daniel Nannenga, Partner, Finance – Operations and Technology daniel.nanne...@techcxo.com (424)903-6030 --- Slickdeals: How An LA Team Is Polishing Up A Diamond In The Rough Los Angeles-based deal site Slickdeals (www.slickdeals.com), an online deal site, has nine million, highly loyal users and a daily updated list of great, user-generated, deal listings. Now, a new, Los Angeles team--led by Josh Meyers--is tapping a team of experience LA technology vets to take what is a diamond in the rough, and polish it up, to bring the deal site to the next level. We caught up with Josh to learn more about the history of Slickdeals, and how he and his team got involved. Talk about Slickdeals and what it is all about? Josh Meyers: Slickdeals is the web's largest deal sharing community. We have around nine million unique users every month. The really amazing this, is those deals are all user generated content, from (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/slickdeals_diamond_in_the_rough/s-0055914.html --- FreedomPop In International Expansion Los Angeles-based free mobile phone service provider FreedomPop, the startup backed by Mangrove Capital, DCM, and Atomico, has made its first international expansion, saying Thursday that it has linked with Dutch carrier KPN. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/freedompop_in_international_expansion/s-0055921.html INSTEON Expands In Latin America Irvine-based INSTEON, a developer of home automation and control products, said today that it has expanded in Latin America. INSTEON said it has opened up new offices in Ecuador and Guatemala, which will feature its technology in a home and office showroom, and stock inventory in those local markets. INSTEON develops a range of home automation products, including smartphone controlled lighting, sensors, energy monitoring products, and much more. Sonos Ties Into SoundCloud Santa Barbara-based music system maker Sonos continues to extend out the number of online music streaming services it supports, saying Thursday that it has added a beta connection to Soundcloud. Sonos said its partnership with SoundCloud will give its users access to SoundCloud's original music service, which allows both new and established artists to distribute their music to users. Sonos said the connection to SoundCloud is free in beta, and is available as part of its menu of music services in the Sonos app. DoubleBeam Powers Mobile Shopping App Pasadena-based DoubleBeam, the payment startup led by Ted Tekippe said today that it is powering the developer of a mobile, beacon-enabled shopping app called Slyde. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. DoubleBeam
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, July 14, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, July 14, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Otonomy Files For IPO --Hulu Snags Exclusive Deal For South Park --The Omega Group Acquired By Trimble --Central Desktop Certifies With NetSuite --Beats Rolls Out Gold Headphones For Winning German Team --AECOM Buys URS Corporation --ServiceNow Buys Neebula Systems In $100M Deal MARKETPLACE --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Get the latest Q1 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report! --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Head of Corporate Finance and Office Administration, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Los Angeles Venture Association 30th Anniversary - July 15th Come celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Venture Association! 30 years; 500+ events; 1000s of speakers/panelists; dozens of presentations from industry and technology leaders including: 3 presidential candidates, future mayors of LA and San Francisco, a future CA governor, a NFL Rookie of the year, a future athletic director, regulators, press and community leaders; and, of course, attended by 10,000s of entrepreneurs, financiers, service providers and thought leaders who are the core of our entrepreneurial community. July 15th, 7:00 AM at the Skirball Center Register today at http://www.lava.org --- Otonomy Files For IPO San Diego-based Otonomy, the biopharmaceuticals firm which is developing treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, has filed for an IPO, saying in a filing that it is looking to raised $86.25M in an offering on the NASDAQ Global Market. Otonomy said it intends to list under the symbol OTIC. Otonomy's IPO is being underwritten by J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Piper Jaffray, and Sanford C. Bernstein. Otonomy is venture backed by Avalon Ventures, OrbiMed, Novo A/S, TPG Biotechnology Partners, Domain Associates, Rivervest Venture Partners, and others. Hulu Snags Exclusive Deal For South Park Los Angeles-based Hulu said over the weekend that it has inked a deal to become the exclusive home for South Park, the irreverent animated TV show. Hulu said that it will provide every episode of the series on the service, and will also be the exclusive streaming destination for South Park's season 18 later this fall. Hulu showed off its lineup of new content this weekend at the The Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour. The Omega Group Acquired By Trimble San Diego-based The Omega Group, a developer of software used for mapping and analytics in the public safety areas, has been acquired by Trimble. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. The Omega Group's software--which runs either in the cloud or on-premise--provides mapping for public safety agencies, such as mapping fires, crime, or other information. The company serves law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical service, emergency management and criminal justice agencies. Trimble is a developer of GPS- and mapping-related products and services, and is based in Sunnyvale. Central Desktop Certifies With NetSuite Pasadena-based project management and collaboration software developer Central Desktop said today that its SocialBridge SuiteApp software has been given Built for NetSuite verification. The certification means that the software meets NetSuite's development standards and other requirements for working with NetSuite's systesm. Central Desktop said that the move will help customers link their creative work to billing and revenue information, help provide better visibility into status of client projects, and more. Beats Rolls Out Gold Headphones For Winning German Team In a unique, World Cup related effort, Santa Monica-based Beats Electronics said Friday that it has created a set of 24, 24 carat gold dipped Beat Pro headphones for the winning German team. The headphones will be given to the German team. Beats Electronics also released a video
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, July 23, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Microsemi Buys Mingoa --Lionsgate Invests In Finnish Game Developer --BlackLine Systems Names New CTO --Fandango Launches New Amazon Fire Phone App --Levine Leichtman Buys FASTSIGNS --CARD.com Names CFO --Teledyne Bolsters Board --Factual Ties With StrikeAd --PK4 Media Buys Prosperio MARKETPLACE --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director Of Business Development, Pasadena, Stanton Chase International --Systems Administrator, Downtown Los Angeles, DreamHost --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Microsemi Buys Mingoa Aliso Viejo-based semiconductor maker Microsemi has acquired Cork, Ireland-based Mingoa, a developer of semiconductor IP focused on accelerated, real-time Ethernet. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to Microsemi, it will use the buy to enhance its capabilities in the Carrier Ethernet area. Mingoa was founded in 2009, and had been targeting such areas as enterprise carrier Ethernet, mobile/small cell backhaul, and data centers with its technology. Lionsgate Invests In Finnish Game Developer Santa Monica-based entertainment company Lionsgate has made an investment in a Finnish game developer, Next Games, as part of a strategic partnership, the studio said this morning. According to Lionsgate, the investment comes as part of an extended Series A financing round for Next Games. Size of the investment was not disclosed. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/lionsgate_invests_in_finnish_game_developer/s-0056084.html BlackLine Systems Names New CTO Los Angeles-based financial software developer BlackLine Systems said today that it has hired a new, Chief Technology Officer. According to the enterprise software company, it has named Alain Avakian as its CTO. Avakian joins the company from Rent.com, where he had been for thirteen years (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/blackline_systems_names_new_cto/s-0056086.html Fandango Launches New Amazon Fire Phone App Los Angeles-based movie ticketing site and service Fandango said late Tuesday that it has launched a new app, this time on Amazon's new Fire Phone. http://www.socaltech.com/fandango_launches_new_amazon_fire_phone_app/s-0056090.html Levine Leichtman Buys FASTSIGNS Los Angeles-based private equity investor Levine Leichtman Capital Partners announced Tuesday that it has acquired FASTSIGNS International, a franchisor in the custom sign and graphics industry. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/levine_leichtman_buys_fastsigns/s-0056088.html CARD.com Names CFO Santa Monica-based CARD.com, the custom-branded, reloadable debit card provider, said today that it has named Josh Flowers as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Flowers joins the company after 14 years working at investment banking firms Rothschild and Goldman Sachs. According to CARD.com, the company now has over forty employees, up significantly from the two founders less than three years ago. CARD.com is led by Ben Katz. The company offers up a significant number of co-branded debit cards with major brands like Sesame Street, the Walking Dead, Star Trek The Next Generation, James Dean, Garfield, Elvis Presley, and many others. Teledyne Bolsters Board Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies, the diversified electronics, software, aerospace, defense, and other products company, said today that it has named Jane C. Sherburne to the company's board of directors. Sherburne is the former Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Sherburne also has served at Wachovia, Citigroup, law firm Wilmer, Cutler Pickering, and also served as Special Counsel to the President in the Clinton White House. Teledyne said
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 24, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 24, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Pipeliner CRM's Nikolaus Kimla On Moving to LA, Sales Entrepreneurship --Simulations Plus Acquires Cognigen --Qualcomm Launches $150M Venture Fund In China --Underground Solutions Raises $45M, Acquires Company --DTS Wins Trio Of Brands For Play-Fi --RealD Names General Counsel --Invested.in Launches New Site For Alternative Investment --Qualcomm Backs Korean Delivery Service Naldo --Edgewave Raises $6M For Cybersecurity Efforts MARKETPLACE --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Director Of Business Development, Pasadena, Stanton Chase International --Systems Administrator, Downtown Los Angeles, DreamHost --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC --Sourcing Analyst, Santa Monica, RampRate Sourcing Advisors RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies TechCXO is a professional services firm that provides experienced, C-Suite professionals to deliver strategic and functional consulting services for technology companies. We answer your critical issues around obtaining capital, increasing revenue, entering new markets and improving margins. TechCXO partners combine practical experience, comprehensive resources and best practices to deliver objective, high-value results. For TechCXO Los Angeles, please contact: Paul Meyer, Managing Partner – Finance Operations paul.me...@techcxo.com (805) 535-5245 Daniel Nannenga, Partner, Finance – Operations and Technology daniel.nanne...@techcxo.com (424)903-6030 --- Pipeliner CRM's Nikolaus Kimla On Moving to LA, Sales Entrepreneurship Pipeliner CRM (www.pipelinersales.com). The company--which originally started in Austria--set up shop here two years ago to further expand its footprint in the US, and most recently hired away the entire Los Angeles marketing team of crosstown CRM software developer Nimble. We spoke with Nikolaus Kimla, the CEO of Pipeliner CRM, to learn more about the company, its move here, and its software. Tell us about Pipeliner CRM? Nikolaus Kimla: I moved here two years ago, from Austria-Vienna. I'm living now in Los Angeles. We had (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/pipeliner_crm_sales_entrepreneurship/s-0056113.html --- Simulations Plus Acquires Cognigen Lancaster-based Simulations Plus, which develops simulation and modeling software for the pharmaceuticals industry, said late Wednesday night that it has acquired Cognigen Corporation, a provider of clinical trial data analysis software. Simulations Plus said it will pay $7M for Cognigen, split between $2.8M in cash and $4.2M in stock. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/simulations_plus_acquires_cognigen/s-0056112.html Qualcomm Launches $150M Venture Fund In China San Diego-based Qualcomm said late Wednesday that it has launched a new, $150M strategic venture fund in China, which will invest in Chinese companies working on mobile technology. Qualcomm said the new fund--being managed by Qualcomm Ventures, its venture capital arm--will invest in companies in the area of the Internet, e-commerce, semiconductors,and education and health. Qualcomm says it has been investing in China for more than 10 years. Underground Solutions Raises $45M, Acquires Company Poway-based Underground Solutions, Inc. (UGSI), a developer of water and wastewater infrastructure and technology, has raised $45M in a financing round, and acquired another company in the water industry. According to UGSI, it raised $30M in a Series C funding, with an option for an additional $15M in funding from Riverwood Capital. The company said it will use a portion of that funding to acquire water treatment technology developer Process Solutions, Inc., which is based in Campbell, California. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=58859 DTS Wins Trio Of Brands For Play-Fi Calabasas-based audio enhancement technology developer DTS said this morning that a trio of audio
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 31, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, July 31, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Report: Apple Cutting Beats Staff --Insights: Amidst Change is a Constant: Life is Still Two-Way --Invoca Trumpets Sales Figures --BlackLine Reports 60 Percent Rise In Revenues --Portfolium Raises $900,000 In Seed Funding --Cie Games Acquired By Glu Mobile For $100M --3D Robotics Buys Sifteo --Report: Snapchat In Funding Talks With Alibaba --SoCal BitCoin Angel Brock Pierce Leads Investment In ZipZap --Karlin, A-Grade Get Exit At Gyft --Beyond Meat Gets Series D --AmazonFresh Expands To San Diego --XIFIN Acquired By GTCR MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Expands Santa Monica Office --Find Help To Power Your Firm To The Next Level RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic --Business Development Executive, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. --Inside Sales Rep, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. --Director Of Business Development, Pasadena, Stanton Chase International --Systems Administrator, Downtown Los Angeles, DreamHost --Product Lead, Aliso Viejo, GridMeNow, LLC RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Safire Partners Executive Search Safire Partners has completed 300+ retained executive searches since 2006 working with emerging businesses in Southern California. Please visit our website to see an updated list of our clients and searches completed at http://www.safirepartners.com/. We are always interested in meeting new candidates and potential clients, so feel free to email our Managing Partner, Todd Gitlin at t...@safire.la. --- Report: Apple Cutting Beats Staff It looks like Apple Computer is in the midst of pruning away staff over at Santa Monica-based Beats, two months after it acquired both Beats Electronics and Beats Music for $3 billion. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/report_apple_cutting_beats_staff/s-0056231.html Insights: Amidst Change is a Constant: Life is Still Two-Way For today's Insights and Opinions section, we share an essay from Sally Falkow, founder and president of Meritus Media, a digital public relations and social media agency based in the Los Angeles-area: Social media. Wherever you go, you see and hear about it. But it was not that way 20 years ago. In fact, 20 years ago, it did not even exist. If you were transported back two decades to 1994 and described today’s world to a group of people, they would have said that you were crazy. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/insights_amidst_change_is_a_constant/s-0056232.html --- Invoca Trumpets Sales Figures Santa Barbara-based call marketing automation software developer Invoca, which is led by Jason Spievak, said yesterday that its systems have converted $2.5 billion in sales for its customers since the company was founded. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/invoca_trumpets_sales_figures/s-0056230.html BlackLine Reports 60 Percent Rise In Revenues Los Angeles-based financial software developer BlackLine Systems, which develops financial close automation software, reported yesterday that its revenues were up nearly 60 percent in the second quarter of 2014, compared to the prior year. The company--whose software is used by companies to speed up preparation of their quarterly reports--did not report any actual revenue numbers. BlackLine said it signed up such new clients as the Boston Globe, JetBlue, Keurig Green Mountain, Thales Australia, and many others. BlackLine says it now has more than 880 clients around the world. The company is led by Therese Tucker. Portfolium Raises $900,000 In Seed Funding San Diego-based Portfolium, a startup developing an online platform to share a students' academic portfolio, has raised $900,000 in a seed funding, according to startup incubator EvoNexus. The funding came from the Tech Coast Angels, Taner Halicioglu of Keshif Ventures, and others
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 6, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Qualcomm, Timex Team On New Smartphone Watch --Rapt Media Sets Up Shop In LA, After $3.1M Round --j2 Global Buys MXSweep --Equal Earth Adds Samit To Board --Zingle Ties With Hotel Software Provider --CALIENT Expands In Europe --FreedomPop Launches Tablets --Cynvenio, CollabRx Team On Cancer Therapy Tool --SpaceX Plants Long Term Roots In LA --Warner Media Camp Graduates Second Class --San Diego's Mapp Bio Behind Experimental Ebola Drug MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic --Business Development Executive, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. --Inside Sales Rep, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company SAM announced that it represented client, The Bouqs Company (TheBouqs.com), a premier cut-to-order online flower delivery service, in a $6 million Series A financing. Led by Azure Capital Partners and joined by KEC Ventures, funding will be used to accelerate growth initiatives including expanding the team, offering delivery outside the US, and scaling the company’s technology and infrastructure to keep pace with growing demand. SAM attorneys Ryan Azlein and Gaurav Krishan served as counsel for The Bouqs Company for this transaction. http://www.stubbsalderton.com --- Qualcomm, Timex Team On New Smartphone Watch Tired of clunky, half-functional smart watches? San Diego-based Qualcomm and watch company Timex have just rolled out a new, smart-watch which features direct connectivity to wireless networks--without requiring another smartphone. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/qualcomm_timex_smartphone_watch/s-0056326.html Rapt Media Sets Up Shop In LA, After $3.1M Round Rapt Media, a startup developing technology to help create interactive videos, said today that it is setting up an office in Los Angeles, in order to be closer to where brands, agencies, and production companies thrive. The startup said it raised $3.1M in a venture funding specifically for the move (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/rapt_media_sets_up_shop_in_la/s-0056323.html http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=58881 j2 Global Buys MXSweep Los Angeles-based j2 Global said very late Tuesday that its FuseMail business has acquried the assets of MXSweep, an Irish provider of email security services. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. MXSweep provides email security, archiving, and encryption for SMBs, large corporations, and government agencies. j2 Global said that the buy will help expand FuseMail's footprint across Europe. Equal Earth Adds Samit To Board San Diego-based Equal Earth, which says it is a clean energy solutions provider serving the commercial and residential market, said it has tapped technology veteran Jay Samit for its board of directors. Samit was most recently CEO of SocialVibe, and also has served at Universal Studios, EMI, and Sony. Samit is very active in Southern California's startup and technology industry. Equal Earth provides solar power installation services and financing. The company is led by Andrew Duggan, the former COO of OneRoof Energy. Zingle Ties With Hotel Software Provider San Diego-based business texting tools provider Zingle, which is led by Ford Blakely, said this morning that it has partnered up with Newmarket, a provider of software used by the hospitality industry. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/calient_expands_in_europe/s-0056321.html CALIENT Expands In Europe Santa Barbara-based optical switching technology provider CALIENT Technologies is expanding its
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, August 8, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, August 8, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Sky Dayton Steps Away From Boingo Wireless To Focus On Startups --Demand Media Sees Steep Drop In Content Revenues --Strike Social Bolsters Board, Advisors --Ice Energy Names President --Zadara Rolls Out On-Premise, Cloud Storage --socalTECH Jobs: Job Highlights for August 7th, 2014 --Retention Science Snags $7M MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud RECENT JOB POSTINGS --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic --Business Development Executive, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. --Inside Sales Rep, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Sky Dayton Steps Away From Boingo Wireless To Focus On Startups Sky Dayton, the founder and chairman of Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, is stepping down from the company's board of directors and his position as Chairman, the company said late yesterday as part of its earnings release. The company--which reported strong earnings, revenue, and profitability--said that CEO David Hagan has been appointed to the board to replace Dayton. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/sky_dayton_steps_away_from_boingo/s-0056367.html Demand Media Sees Steep Drop In Content Revenues Santa Monica-based Demand Media reported a steep drop in revenues for the last quarter, saying that it had $89.8M in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2014, down from the $101.1M in revenues for the similar quarter in 2013. According to Demand Media, the drops were the result of a 24 percent decline in content and media revenue, which came despite a slight increase in traffic. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/demand_media_revenues/s-0056366.html Strike Social Bolsters Board, Advisors Los Angeles-based advertising technology developer Strike Social is bolstering its board and advisory team, saying that it has named Lawrence Chu to its board of directors, and signed up Dr. Arif Ansari, a big data systems researcher at the University of Southern California, as an advisor. Chu is an investor, and also an attorney at Goodwin Procter. Ansari develops big data technology, and is also the CEO of Intuition Intelligence, in addition to teaching at USC Marshall. Strike Social is applying its advertising technology to optimize advertising on YouTube. Ice Energy Names President Los Angeles-based energy storage technology developer Ice Energy has named a new president, saying that it has appointed Mike Hopkins to the role. The company--which develops a product which uses the creation of ice to cut power consumption and usage during peak electricity usage times--said Hopkins has been at Ice Energy since 2009. He previously spent eighteen years at Canadian law firm Bennett Jones LLP. Ice Energy develops a product which connects to 5-ton, commercial air conditioning units, and creates ice at night when power demand is low; that ice is then used during the day to provide cooling, reducing the need for power intensive AC compressors. Zadara Rolls Out On-Premise, Cloud Storage In an interesting twist to the cloud storage market, Irvine-based Zadara Storage has rolled out a new product which gives companies cloud storage--but on their own premises. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/zadara_rolls_out_on_premise_cloud_storage/s-0056370.html socalTECH Jobs: Job Highlights for August 7th, 2014 Has it been a really, really, really long week at your current company? Does Friday seem like it's still a week away? Maybe it's time for a change! Check out our online Job Board for something new and exciting! Some recent jobs: http://www.socaltech.com/socaltech_jobs_job_highlights/s-0056365.html Retention Science Snags $7M Santa Monica-based Retention Science, the marketing software technology maker led by Jerry Jao, has snagged $7M in a Series A funding, according to the company. The new funding was led by Upfront Ventures, and also included
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, August 11, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, August 11, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Report: YouTube Stars More Popular With Teens Than Hollywood Celebs --Stocktwits Adds Ross Levinsohn, Rob Peck to Board --ViaCyte Raises $5.4M --Qualcomm Donates $325,000 To Chinese Earthquake Relief --Nami Media Adds Managed Services Division --PCM Sells Santa Monica Property For $20.2M --Report: Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura Among Top Spots For CEOs MARKETPLACE --Safire Partners Executive Search --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --PwC Emerging Company Zone RECENT JOB POSTINGS --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic --Business Development Executive, Los Angeles, CA, Team(You), Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Report: YouTube Stars More Popular With Teens Than Hollywood Celebrities Watch out, Hollywood--a report from Variety says that YouTube stars are more popular than mainstream celebrities with American teenagers aged 13 to 18. Variety said it commissioned a survey in July with 1,500 respondents, which assessed their familiarity with a wide range of celebrities, and asked them to rank them by such things as influence, approachability, authenticity, and more (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/report_youtube_stars_teens_hollywood/s-0056385.html Stocktwits Adds Ross Levinsohn, Rob Peck to Board San Diego-based Stocktwits, the instant messaging service focused on trading stock news and tips, said last week that it has added Ross Levinsohn and Rob Peck to its board of directors. Levinsohn was most recently Interim CEO of Yahoo; Peck is head of Internet Research at Suntrust. According to Stocktwits CEO Howard Lindzon, Levinsohn and Peck replace venture capitalists Tony Conrad of True Ventures and Seth Levine of Foundry Group on its board of directors. ViaCyte Raises $5.4M San Diego-based ViaCyte, a biopharmaceuticals startup developing stem-cell based treatments for diabetes, said late Friday that it has raised $5.4M in a Series C-1 funding round. The company said the funding came from an un-named, nonprofit corporation and several individuals. The funding comes on top of an existing, Series C-1 financing which occurred in July of 2013, bringing that total round to $16.5M. ViaCyte said it will use the new funds for clinical development efforts. ViaCYte is led by Paul Laikind. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=59142 Qualcomm Donates $325,000 To Chinese Earthquake Relief San Diego-based wireless technology developer Qualcomm said this morning that it has donated $325,000 to a charity to help support earthquake relief in Yunnan, China. According to Qualcomm, the donation goes to the Charities Aid Foundation of America (CAF America), which will fund the rural education charity the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), to help aid youth and families affected by the earthquake. Nami Media Adds Managed Services Division Los Angeles-based Nami Media, which provides pay-per-click advertising technology, said it has added a new, managed services division, which will provide clients with managed services for managing their PPC and XML campaigns. According to Nami Media, its new media buying division will help provide expertise to help drive campaigns, and came as a result of clients who wanted to simply purchase media from the company handle those advertising efforts. Pricing on the new managed services was not announced. PCM Sells Santa Monica Property For $20.2M El Segundo-based technology catalog retailer PCM said late last week that it has sold the land to its retail store in Santa Monica to the Regents of the University of California, for $20.2M. According to PCM, the deal includes two parcels of land, including a 32,5000 square foot portion of land
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 12, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. --Why Warner Bros. Is Tapping Into The World Of Technology Startups --BeachMint Merges With Conde Nast's Lucky --Newegg Expands In Asia, Europe --Cornerstone OnDemand Wins Hyatt --ViaSat Claims Win In Contract, Patent Case --Surf Air Raises $73M, Orders 15 New Planes --Agent Ace Finds $6M For Real Estate Referrals --Boingo Wireless Wins World Trade Center --Demand Media Buys Saatchi Art, Appoints Sean Moriarty As CEO MARKETPLACE --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Stradling -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Why Warner Bros. Is Tapping Into The World Of Technology Startups If you're a large, Hollywood studio, how do you tap into the energy and ideas of the startup community? Warner Bros. has figured out one way -- which is to run a startup accelerator, Warner Media Camp (www.mediacamp.com)--which pulls a class of startups into the company for an intense, twelve week program every year, and helps those companies tap into the resources of the studio. We caught up with Debra Baker, Senior Vice President, Global Business Development at Warner Bros to learn more (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/why_warner_bros_technology_startups/s-0056403.html --- BeachMint Merges With Conde Nast's Lucky Los Angeles-based e-commerce website operator Beachmint is merging with Lucky, the shopping and fashion publication title owned by Conde Nast, creating a new company called The Lucky Group, the companies said Monday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new company will be headed by Beachmint's Josh Berman. As part of the deal--which makes Conde Nast the majority owner of the company--Lucky will launch a new e-commerce store featuring merchandise from brand featured in every issue of the fashion magazine. BeachMint had been venture backed by Accel Partners, Anthem Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Lightbank, Millennium Technology Value Partners, New Enterprise Associates, New World Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Stanford University, and Trinity Ventures. Newegg Expands In Asia, Europe Los Angeles-based e-commerce retailer Newegg said this morning that it is in a major expansion in both Asia and Europe, and has launched new, multilingual websites in India, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland and Singapore. According to NewEgg, the new websites are its first foray beyond the U.S., Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The e-commerce retailer said that it will initially have a smaller selection of products on the site, gradually ramping up products available on those sites. As part of the international expansion, Newegg also has added new, multilingual customer service and support services. Cornerstone OnDemand Wins Hyatt Santa Monica-based software developer Cornerstone OnDemand said today that it has scored a win with hotel and hospitality brand Hyatt. Cornerstone said that Hyatt will use its cloud-based talent management software for performance management, compensation, performance reviews, and other employee management efforts. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. ViaSat Claims Win In Contract, Patent Case Carlsbad-based satellite communications technology developer ViaSat claimed a win in court today, saying that a federal court judge has upheld a jury verdict against Space Systems/Loral. That earlier verdict found Space Systems/Loral had breached a contract with ViaSat, and infringed on its patents, and ordered Space Systems/Loral to pay $283M in damages to ViaSat. ViaSat said that its now has a hearing on August 26th on its request
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 13, 201
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Cirrus Insight Launches New App For Salesforce --Novatel Gets MiFi Win In Canada --Everbridge Enhances Emergency Notifications --RadPad Gets $2M --Ixia Targets 100GbE Development --Technocel Expands In SoCal, Plans Hiring MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Safire Partners Executive Search --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles | San Pedro, CA The only maritime-oriented clean tech conference and exhibition on the West Coast! EXPLORE opportunities to bring innovative solutions to environmental challenges CONNECT with decision makers in the maritime business and public sectors DISCOVER new technologies through live demonstrations and displays UNDERSTAND the challenges of continued sustainable growth MEET the leaders who influence technology deployment Early Registration now open! 35% off if purchased by August 19. http://www.PortTechLA.org/EXPO | #PortTechEXPO --- Cirrus Insight Launches New App For Salesforce Irvine-based Cirrus Insight, which develops apps which connect Salesforce with Gmail and other Google apps, has launched a new app, which it says helps companies monitor adoption of Salesforce, customer engagement, and email effectiveness. Cirris said its new app, called Cirrus Analytics, is aimed at helping such things as how many events with prospects a sales team had last week; what leads came from Gmail; how effective Salesforce email templates are; and more. Novatel Gets MiFi Win In Canada San Diego-based wireless data hardware provider Novatel Wireless reports a win today in Canada, saying that Manitoba-based telecommunications provider MTS is launching its MiFi 2, 4G LTE mobile hotspot on its network. Financial impact of the deal was not announced. Novatel Wireless said MTS serves 850,000 customers in Manitoba, Canada. Everbridge Enhances Emergency Notifications Glendale-based emergency notification provider Everbridge said Tuesday that it has added enhancements to its suite of products, adding a number of mobile and GIS features to its software. Everbridge said its product now includes new geofencing features; parcel level geo-coding; ability to send alerts via an iPad; and can support on-call scheduling of teams. The company said the updates come as part of its summer release. The company's software is used by companies, the government, university, and others for managing text messaging and phone alerts. RadPad Gets $2M Los Angeles-based mobile rental marketplace app developer Radpad said Tuesday that it has raised $2M in a funding round, which came from existing investors SG VC, L.P., Social Leverage L.P. and Michael Huffington, along with new investors Queensbridge Venture Partners (led by Nasir “Nas” Jones and Anthony Saleh) and Happy Walters (co-president of Relativity Media). The startup, which is led by Jonathan Eppers, develops a mobile rental marketplace which helps renters find a place to live; the app currently has the most listings in Los Angeles, and recently expanded to Chicago and Washington DC, although the company says the app can be used anywhere nationwide. The company claimed the round came after it turned down two lucrative acquisition offers. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=59150 Ixia Targets 100GbE Development Calabasas-based network testing equipment provider Ixia is targeting 100GbE technology development, saying Tuesday morning that it has added new support for the high speed networking protocol on a number
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, August 15, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, August 15, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --How Kixer Is Connecting Mobile Web Users To Apps --Conversion Logic Applies Data Science To Video Ad Attribution --Factual Launches New Tool WIth Dropbox, Tastemade --CheckAlt Scores Four New Credit Union Customers --ViaSat Expands In Arizona --IDrive Targets Enterprise Linux Backup --Conversant Hires Former Bing Shopping Executive --AuditFile, Started At UCLA, Raises $3M For Auditing Software --DogVacay's New VacayCam Helps Capture Dog Candids --Vadio Gets Backing From Mucker Capital, Amplify, Others In $2M Funding --CurbStand Ties With Fatburger On LA Valet Promotion --Geneva Healthcare Gets $1.8M --Amazon To Open New Fulfillment Center In Redlands, Hire 2500 --Second Sight Medical Files For IPO --NRG Energy Buys Goal Zero MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- How Kixer Is Connecting Mobile Web Users To Apps Many online business today have a big problem: users are increasingly coming to their websites as mobile users, not desktop users, which means lower ad revenues and conversions. How do you make those mobile users just as profitable as desktop users? Los Angeles-based Kixer (www.kixer.com) has figured out one way--which is to connect those mobile users with ads from app developers, who have the opposite problem of trying to boost their user base. We recently spoke with the CEO and co-founder of Kixer, Keith Bonnici--most recently SVP of Business Operations at Scopely--about the startup, which recently announced a seed financing round. What is Kixer? Keith Bonnici: We have created a platform that lets standard web publishers tap into the growing pool of money being spent by app developers to market their products. Right now, half of Facebook's revenues comes(More...) http://www.socaltech.com/how_kixer_is_connecting/s-0056481.html --- Conversion Logic Applies Data Science To Video Ad Attribution A new, Santa Monica company, Conversion Logic launched yesterday, in an attempt to help companies better understand how their video advertising is doing--using data science. The new startup, which was founded by Trevor Testwuide and Alison Lohse, says it is looking to make it easier for brands, ad agencies, media buyers, and digital marketers to gain insights into video, to better understand what video ads are providing conversions. Testwuide and Lohse were both formerly at Visual IQ, and Lohse also had been at Razorfish. The company's board of directors includes Brian Baumgart (founder of Gradient X), Clark Landry (founder of SHIFT), Kim Reed Perell (CEO of Adconion Direct), and Evan Rifkin (founder of Burstly). Factual Launches New Tool WIth Dropbox, Tastemade Los Angeles-based geodata provider Factual has tied up with Dropbox and Tastemade on the launch of a new product called Geopulse Geotag, the company said yesterday. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/factual_launches_new_tool_with_dropbox_tastemade/s-0056487.html CheckAlt Scores Four New Credit Union Customers Los Angeles-based CheckAlt, the developer of payment processing technology led by serial entrepreneur Shai Stern, said this week that it has signed on four new credit union customers for its mobile deposit technology. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/checkalt_scores_four_new_credit_union_customers/s-0056463.html ViaSat Expands In Arizona
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, August 18, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, August 18, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Insights: Do you really want to be the first to market? --Vantage Media Rolls Private Ad Marketplace Product --Iteris Staves Off Delisting --EnGenius Rolls New Outdoor Wireless Access Point MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles | San Pedro, CA The only maritime-oriented clean tech conference and exhibition on the West Coast! EXPLORE opportunities to bring innovative solutions to environmental challenges CONNECT with decision makers in the maritime business and public sectors DISCOVER new technologies through live demonstrations and displays UNDERSTAND the challenges of continued sustainable growth MEET the leaders who influence technology deployment Early Registration now open! 35% off if purchased by August 19. http://www.PortTechLA.org/EXPO | #PortTechEXPO --- Insights: Do you really want to be the first to market? In our Insights and Opinions section this morning, Dave Berkus, an angel investor and private equity investor, asks startup--do you really want to be first to market? Over the years, as I managed my several computer companies as CEO or executive chairman, I made the decision to go to market with a brand new product that had never before been exposed to my customer’s marketplace. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/articles/do-you-really-want-to-be-the-first-to-market-/a-00253.html --- Vantage Media Rolls Private Ad Marketplace Product Los Angeles-based Vantage Media, the advertising technology company led by Patrick Quigley, said last week that it has launched a new product, providing a private, self serve, real-time bidding marketplace for publishers. According to the company, its new Private Marketplace product is based on its existing real-time bidding technology, and helps publishers better monetize its mobile and online visitors. Pricing on the new product was not announced. According to Vantage Media, another, Southern California technology company--Campus Explorer--is among the very first companies to use the product. CampusExplorer is the online service which helps students connect up with schools, colleges, and universities. Iteris Staves Off Delisting Santa Ana-based traffic management technology developer Iteris has staved off delistings efforts by the NYSE, saying last week that the NYSE has accepted the company's plans to regain compliance with listing standards on the exchange. The company said on July 17th that it had received a noncompliance letter from the exchange, due to its inability to file a 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014. The company apparently has been having issues completing its fiscal 2014 audit. Iteris trades on the NYSE as ITI. EnGenius Rolls New Outdoor Wireless Access Point Costa Mesa-based EnGenius Technologies announced a new, outdoor wireless access point this morning, aimed at providing better wireless access over large outdoor areas. According to the hardware developer, its new product supports up to 1300 Mbps on 5Ghz and 450 Mbps on 2.4Ghz, and also can act as part of a mesh network. The new product, the ENH1750EXT 802.11ac 3x3 Dual Band Wireless Ruggedized Outdoor Access Point, costs $999. --- MARKETPLACE Reach 1+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html --ADVERTISEMENT--- Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 19, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 19, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Deloitte LLP (http://www.deloitte.com/us/technology). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Why Sidevision Is Tying Content, E-Commerce Together, with Justin Wu --Report: SpaceX Raising New Funding At Near $10 Billion Valuation --Lynda.com Names Chief Revenue Officer, Opens San Francisco Office --Teledyne Buys Atlas Hydrographic --ID Analytics Names Chief Revenue Officer --Cytori Sets CFO --Radical.FM Starts Accepting Bitcoin --Algorithmia, Co-Founded By USC Grad Student, Gets $2.4M --Allergan Swaps CFO --YouMail Updates iPhone App MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --Safire Partners Executive Search --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Stradling --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Why Sidevision Is Tying Content, E-Commerce Together, with Justin Wu How do you make online video more interactive--and profitable? Los Angeles-based Sidevision (www.sidevision.com) has developed a set of tools--aimed at content creators, multi-channel networks (MCNs), and others--to help connect online videos with e-commerce. We recently spoke with co-founder and CEO, Justin Wu to learn more about the company, which so far has received a small seed funding from Warner Bros. as part of that company's Warner Media Camp accelerator. What is Sidevision all about? Justin Wu: Sidevision is a video e-commerce platform which allows brands and content providers to better monetize their videos with interactive apps. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/why_sidevision_is_tying_content/s-0056522.html --- Report: SpaceX Raising New Funding At Near $10 Billion Valuation A new report this morning says that Hawthorne-based spaceship and rocket developer Space Exploration Technologies is in the midst of raising a new round of investment, which values the company at around $10 billion. Amount of funding, and the investors involved, have not been disclosed. The report came from TechCrunch. If true, the valuation of SpaceX near the $10 billion mark would about double its last known valuation of roughly $4.8 billion. http://www.socaltech.com/spacex_raising_new_funding/s-0056521.html Lynda.com Names Chief Revenue Officer, Opens San Francisco Office Carpinteria-based Lynda.com said this morning that it has named a new Chief Revenue Officer, Andrew Wait, and opened up a new office in the San Francisco area. According to the online learning site, Wait was previously President of EF Englishtown, an online English school, and prior to that was SVP and General Manager of Ancestry.com. Wait also has served at Blurb, Bank of America, Hilton Hotels and Kodak Gallery (Ofoto). The company said the new San Francisco office will allow the company to access the Bay Area's talent pool, and will allow it to hire for key positions in marketing, engineering, product management, and user interface and experience. Teledyne Buys Atlas Hydrographic Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies has acquired German company Atlas Hydrographic GmbH, a designer and manufacturer of marine sonar systems (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/teledyne_buys_atlas_hydrographic/s-0056517.html ID Analytics Names Chief Revenue Officer San Diego-based ID Analytics, the developer of risk management software and technology, said today that it has named Daniel Rawlings as the company's Chief Revenue Officer. Rawlings joins the company from Smith Micro Software, where he had been Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. Rawlings also has served at Oracle, LogicalApps, Perfect Commerce, KhiMetrics Software, and SourcingLink. ID Analytics is now owned by LifeLock. Cytori Sets CFO San Diego-based biopharmaecuticals developer Cytori Therapeutics has named a new Vice President
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 20, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Wallaby Rolls Out Massive Credit Card Database --IQMS Finds Private Equity Funding --Broadcom Scores Design Win With Netatmo --Snapchat Eyes News, Advertising --DataDirect Networks Expands In Paris, Claims Growth --Social Intelligence Wins Crime Bureau --3BLACKDOT Snags Machinima Vet For Game Development Effort --Intuit Chops 120 In Woodland Hills --Flywheel Targets LA Airport Rides With Advance Booking --Epicor Sale Off The Table --Uber, DogVacay Tie To Help Animal Shelters MARKETPLACE --PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Wallaby Rolls Out Massive Credit Card Database Looking for the best credit card for you? Pasadena-based Wallaby Financial, the developer of technology to help users optimize the use of their credit cards, says it has created the industry's largest database of credit cards, which it is making available to consumers. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/wallaby_credit_card_database/s-0056548.html IQMS Finds Private Equity Funding Paso Robles-based IQMS, a 25 year old developer of manufacturing ERP software, said Tuesday that it has raised a strategic growth equity investment from Technology Crossover Ventures and Banneker Partners. Size of the investment was not announced. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/iqms_finds_private_equity_funding/s-0056543.html http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=59199 Broadcom Scores Design Win With Netatmo Irvine-based semiconductor developer Broadcom reports this morning that it has scored a design win, with smart thermostat developer Netatmo. According to Broadcom, its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) Wi-Fi technology is being used as part of a smartphone-controlled thermostat designed by French designer Philippe Starck. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/broadcom_design_netatmo/s-0056547.html Snapchat Eyes News, Advertising Venice-based Snapchat has plans to add news articles, advertisements, TV, and movie clips to the service, according to reports this week, in a new service called Snapchat Discovery. The new service, which is expected to debut in November, would be the first attempt by Snapchat to convert the popularity of its disappearing photo messaging service into actual revenues. http://www.socaltech.com/snapchat_eyes_news_advertising/s-0056546.html DataDirect Networks Expands In Paris, Claims Growth DataDirect Networks, the data storage systems developer which has significant operations in Chatsworth, reports that it is opening up a new technology center in Paris. http://www.socaltech.com/datadirect_expands_growth/s-0056545.html Social Intelligence Wins Crime Bureau Santa Barbara-based Social Intelligence, a developer of software tools which use social media information to uncover compensation and insurance fraud, reported a win with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/social_intelligence_wins_crime_bureau/s-0056544.html 3BLACKDOT Snags Machinima Vet For Game Development Effort Los Angeles-based 3BLACKDOT--founded by Machina Vets Angelo Pullen, Luke Stepleton, Adam Montoya, and Tom Cassell--said Tuesday that it has snagged another Machinima vet, Marwan Abderrazzaq, to head up game development at the company. Abderrazzaq was previously Director of Franchise at Machinima. The company said that he worked with Warner Bros. and Microsoft on premium content efforts tied with Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, Mortal Kombat: Legacy II and Street Fighter: Assassins Fist. He also has previously worked at Electronic Arts, Collective Studios, Activision, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Intuit Chops 120 In Woodland Hills Financial software developer Intuit is cutting 120 employees in Woodland Hills, according to a state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 26, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --ZipRecruiter Gets $63M Series A --Swagbucks Taps Shopzilla's Weinrot As COO --Transphorm In Deal With India's Tata Power Solar --Evolve Media Partners With Viewability Audit Firm --SOA Software Gets Win In Australia --NewEgg Launches Same Day Delivery In LA --Lastline Gets $10M For Malware Protection --MRV Names New CFO MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles | San Pedro, CA The only maritime-oriented clean tech conference and exhibition on the West Coast! EXPLORE opportunities to bring innovative solutions to environmental challenges CONNECT with decision makers in the maritime business and public sectors DISCOVER new technologies through live demonstrations and displays UNDERSTAND the challenges of continued sustainable growth MEET the leaders who influence technology deployment Early Registration now open! 35% off if purchased by August 19. http://www.PortTechLA.org/EXPO | #PortTechEXPO --- ZipRecruiter Gets $63M Series A In what looks like one of the largest Series A funding rounds in awhile in Southern California, Santa Monica-based ZipRecruiter announced this morning that it has raised $63M in a funding round, for its job posting service for small and medium sized businesses. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/ziprecruiter_gets_63m_series_a/s-0056628.html http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=59278 Swagbucks Taps Shopzilla's Weinrot As COO El Segundo-based Prodege, the parent company of Swagbucks, has named a new COO, naming former ShopZilla executive David Weinrot to the new position. Weinrot was previously Chief Marketing Officer and Divisional President for Shopzilla/Bizrate, where he had been for over 14 years. Weinrot also previously has served at such companies as CarsDirect, DIsney Online, and BonusMail (MyPoints). Weinrot had been heading up operations and business management for Shopzilla, heading up its marketing, product management, sales and operations functions. Transphorm In Deal With India's Tata Power Solar Goleta-based Transphorm, which develops highly efficient, power conversion technology, said today that it is in a partnership with Tata Power Solar, a solar power products manufacturer in India. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/transphorm_in_deal_tata_power_solar/s-0056629.html Evolve Media Partners With Viewability Audit Firm Los Angeles-based Evolve Media, the parent company of CraveOnline and TotallyHer, said late last night that it is in a partnership with Moat, where Moat will help to audit the viewability of all of its properties. Moat will provide Evolve Media with information on brand metrics for display and video ads, as well as information on viewability, to Evolve. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Evolve says its family of sites now reach 95 million people each month. SOA Software Gets Win In Australia Los Angeles-based SOA Software, which develops software used for managing internal corporate APIs and software interfaces, reported a win today in Australia. SOA Software said Healthdirect Australia is using its API management products to bridge REST APIs and existing SOAP services. Financial details of the deal were not announced. SOA Software's software allows developers to access a range of information from Healthdirect Australia, using the common REST API, rather than the more difficult to use SOAP
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 27, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --How ConsumerTrack Has Created A Growing, Profitable--and Mostly Unknown Business --Report: Snapchat Valued At $10 Billion In New Funding --eHarmony: More than 600,000 Marriages, New Job Matching Service --Ozobot Opens Preorders For Educational Robot --Yardi Ties With The Home Depot --Vitesse Names New Board Member --Factual Extends Restaurant Data Overseas --The Honest Company Gets $70M --Western Digital Names New CFO --NSF To Create Innovation Center In LA MARKETPLACE --PortTechEXPO | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report NEW Q2 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q2 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q2%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- How ConsumerTrack Has Created A Growing, Profitable--and Mostly Unknown Business In the Los Angeles startup world, there are lots of high profile, buzzy companies which have lots of attention and funding--but which haven't earned a dime of revenue. However, this town is also full of very profitable, growing, and revenue generating companies-- which have for the most part been below the radar. We spoke with one of those companies-- El Segundo-based ConsumerTrack (www.consumertrack.com)--which is a $30M, bootstrapped an online marketing company which is driving millions of customers to big name, financial customers. We caught up with CEO and co-founder Brett Rossman to learn more about the company and how it's been able to grow, profitably, all without raising a dime of outside capital. What is ConsumerTrack all about? Brett Rossman: ConsumerTrack is a performance-based, online marketing company. We generate thousands of new customers everyday for clients such as Ally Bank, GE Capital, Transunion, and (More..) http://www.socaltech.com/consumertrack_growing_profitable/s-0056651.html --- Report: Snapchat Valued At $10 Billion In New Funding Venice-based Snapchat is in the midst of raising a new round of funding, led by storied venture capital investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, which valued the company at close to $10 billion, according to a report. Citing people with knowledge of the matter, the WSJ said that the deal comes despite Snapchat having no revenues, but makes it among one of the most valuable startups on the market. The report also said that Snapchat has around 100 million monthly active users now using its messaging service. http://www.socaltech.com/report_snapchat_valued_at_billion/s-0056656.html eHarmony: More than 600,000 Marriages, New Job Matching Service Santa Monica-based online matchmaking site eHarmony said Tuesday that it now has more than 600,000 marriages to its credit, with approximately one in seven people in America having subscribed to the service at one point or another. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/eharmony_more_marriages/s-0056655.html Ozobot Opens Preorders For Educational Robot Redondo Beach-based Ozobot, a developer of minature, educational robots, said this morning that it has begun pre-orders of its product. Ozobot
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, September 2, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Kofax Buys Softpro GmbH --Legend3D Raises $10M --Novatel Wireless Names New CFO --Omnitracs Acquires XRS Corporation --Cytori Consolidates European Offices --JustFab Raises $85M At $1 Billion Valuation MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Stradling --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report NEW Q2 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q2 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q2%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Kofax Buys Softpro GmbH Irvine-based Kofax announced this morning that it has acquired Softpro GmbH, a developer of signature verification, fraud prevention, and electronic signature software. Kofax said it has paid $34.7M in cash for SoftPro. Kofax said that Softpro has approximately 80 employees, and had 2013 revenues of $13.3M. Kofax was advised by B. Riley Co., LLC in the deal, according to the company. Softpro was based in Boeblingen, Germany. Kofax is a developer of document capture systems and software. Legend3D Raises $10M Carlsbad-based Legend3D, a provider of 3D visual effects and technology, said today that it has raised $10M in a Series C funding round. The funding came from Northwater Capital Management and Augustus Ventures Limited. Legend3D said the new funds go towards rapid expansion and setting up a third facility in a cost advantaged jurisdiction. Legend3D says its technology and services have been used on such titles as Maleficent, Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=59352 Novatel Wireless Names New CFO San Diego-based Novatel Wireless announced this morning that it has appointed Michael Newman as the company's new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Newman was most recently at Websense, most recently serving as CFO, but has spent over eleven years at the company. Newman also has served at Gateway Inc. Newman replaces interim CFO Tom Allen, who the company said will continue to provide consulting services to the company. Novatel has been looking for a new CFO since June. Novatel Wireless is a developer of wireless, M2M modules and Wi-Fi hotspot equipment. Omnitracs Acquires XRS Corporation San Diego-based Omnitracs, the developer of fleet management products and services for the transportation and logistics market, said this morning that it has agreed to acquire XRS Corporation, a fellow developer of fleet optimization software. The deal was worth $178M. According to Omnitracs, it paid $5.60 per share for XRS, which is majority owned by Trident Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures. Omnitracs was advised by Jeffries and Kirkland Ellis on the deal, with financing from Royal Bank of Canada, Credit Suisse, and Guggenheim. XRS was advised by William Blair and Faegre Baker Daniels. Omnitracs is currently in the midst of moving to Texas. Cytori Consolidates European Offices San Diego-based Cyroti announced this morning that it is consolidating its operations in the EU, and has moved its European offices from Switzerland to Wales, where the company recently build a new manufacturing facility. Cytori said the new office will house its EU-based customer service. The new manufacturing facility is in Deeside, Wales, UK. Cytori said the move
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 11, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 11, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Rowl Launches Social Discovery App --Gem Takes On Bitcoin APIs --Vision Internet Gets Private Equity Investment --Boingo Wireless Launches Wi-Fi At Phoenix Sky Harbor --Ixia Gets Extension On Filings --Avelas Biosciences Finds $7.4M --Tinder Raising Big Round, Says Report --Telogis Finds New Funding --Activision Racks Up $500M In Sales Of Destiny MARKETPLACE --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report NEW Q2 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q2 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q2%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Rowl Launches Social Discovery App Santa Monica-based Rowl said this week that it has launched a new, mobile app which helps users find new music, sports, comedy, and other events, in a social way. Rowl, led by Fred E. Tannous, said the app will focus on helping users follow their friends, and favorite artists and celebrities, to see what they are up to. The startup has linked up with country music star Hunter Hayes to promote the free iOS app. The app notifies users when a favorite band, DJ, or comedian will be performing nearby, recommends events to users, and more. Gem Takes On Bitcoin APIs Venice, California-based Gem said this week that it has launched a new, Bitcoin platform specifically aimed at developers. According to Gem, it offers up a platform which can be used to secure Bitcoin and other digital currencies, using such techniques as multi-factor device authentication, fraud and identification monitoring, offline key backup, and more. The startup--led by Micah Winkelspecht--said it is hoping to let developers use Bitcoin, but not require them to be expects in security or cryptography. Vision Internet Gets Private Equity Investment Santa Monica-based Visio Internet, which develops Internet sites for governments, has raised a round of growth capital, according to the company. The funding came from Caltius Equity Partners. Size of the investment was not disclosed. As part of the funding, Vision Internet said it has named David M. Nachman as its CEO. Nachman is the former Chief Business Officer of Velocify, and also served at Marlin Equity Partners, Phoenix Energy Technologies, McKinsey and Company, and Kidder, Peabody Company. Vision Internet provides government website development, and says it has nearly 600 government, non-profit and education clients. Boingo Wireless Launches Wi-Fi At Phoenix Sky Harbor Los Angeles-based wireless networking operator Boingo Wireless is continuing to grow its footprint at airports, saying Wednesday that it is behind an upgraded, Wi-Fi network at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/boingo_wireless_phx/s-0056869.html Ixia Gets Extension On Filings Calabasas-based Ixia has received a slight reprieve from delisting and requirements to meet NASDAQ stock market requirements for filings. The company said late Wednesday that the NASDAQ Stock Market has granted an extension from September 12th to November 13th for the company to become current in its filings. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/ixia_gets_extension_on_filings/s-0056868.html Avelas Biosciences Finds $7.4M San Diego-based
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 25, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, September 25, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --SCE Plans Giant Energy Storage Battery In Tehachapi --Nimble Launches New Android App --AssetAvenue Bolsters Executive Team --Microsemi Loses Mazzo From Board --Walmart Launches GoBank With Green Dot --UCLA To Tap Outside Board For Startup Deals --Former eHarmony Chief Waldorf Surfaces At Invoice2go --InstaMed Finds $15M For Healthcare Payments --ServiceNow Sued By BMC MARKETPLACE --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Stradling --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Members: Post your jobs for free in our job section! The number one request from our readers is for more job listings! http://www.socaltech.com/Jobs --- SCE Plans Giant Energy Storage Battery In Tehachapi Southern California Edison said Wednesday that it is planning to build what it says is the largest, battery energy storage project in North America in Tehachapi. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/sce_plans_giant_battery/s-0057093.html Nimble Launches New Android App Santa Monica-based Nimble, the business contact management software developer led by Jon Ferrara, said today that it has launched a new app for Android. Nimble said its new Nimble Smart Contacts app helps gather contact details, insights, email, social conversations, and other data into a single, mobile app, pulling data from Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, AngelList, Instagram, Foursquare and more about business contacts. http://www.socaltech.com/nimble_launches_new_android_app/s-0057092.html AssetAvenue Bolsters Executive Team Los Angeles-based online, commercial real estate peer to peer lending site AssetAvenue has named a new executive, saying that Eddie Prosser has joined the company as its Senior Vice President of Real Estate Investments. Prosser was most recently at Legacy Partners, and also had served at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). AssetAvenue, which is led by David Manshoory, is venture backed by Matrix Partners, NetEase, Vectr Ventures, Russ Meyer (Grandpoint Capital); Bam Ventures; and LaunchpadLA. Microsemi Loses Mazzo From Board Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi said late Wednesday that James V. Mazzo--the former CEO of Advanced Medical Optics--has resigned from the company's board. Microsemi did not say why Mazzo decided to leave the board, but said the resignation did not arise as a result of any disagreement on any matter relating to Microsemi's operations, policies or practices. Mazzo is an operating partner at venture capital investment firm Versant Ventures, and also sits on the boards of AcuFocus, Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, and a number of other firms. Walmart Launches GoBank With Green Dot In a move which will not surprise anyone familiar with Monrovia, California-based Green Dot, the company's mobile banking service, GoBank, has been launched by Walmart. According to Walmart and Green Dot, GoBank, the FDIC-insured checking account driven by mobile apps and low fees, the checking account product will be available nationwide exclusively through Walmart by the end of October. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/walmart_launches_gobank_with_green_dot/s-0057091.html UCLA To Tap Outside Board For Startup Deals The University of California, Los Angeles is looking to an outside board to help it negotiate technology transfer and research deals with companies, according to reports. The group will tap a yet un-named group of outside experts to help technology startups coming out of UCLA to better navigate their way through commercialization efforts. The moves come as the University of California system approved a move to allocate $250M in a venture capital fund to invest
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 1, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --JibJab Takes On Instant Messages --Advanstar Acquired For $972M By UBM --CoreLogic Sells Two Business Units --Component Search Targets Electronic, Mechanical Part Searches --Aerie Pharmaceuticals Completes $125M Financing --Conversant Names New Executive --It's Official: Metacloud Now Part Of Cisco --AeroVironment Wins $27.2M Army Contract --Move Acquired By News Corp. MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Chief of Staff Controller, Santa Monica, RampRate --Business Development Director, Los Angeles, Colony Logic RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- JibJab Takes On Instant Messages Los Angeles-based humorous, electronic greeting card provider JibJab is looking to gain a footprint in the instant messaging and texting market, with a new product it is calling JibJab Messages. The new product allows iOS users to send custom, JibJab style dancing and singing characters--personalized with your own head--to friends. The free app lets users take a selfie of themselves, trim out their face, and insert that into any one of a large library of animated GIFs, and send those via text, Facebook, or Twitter. http://www.socaltech.com/jibjab_takes_on_instant_messages/s-0057182.html Advanstar Acquired For $972M By UBM Santa Monica-based Advanstar Communications, a trade show and conference operator serving the fashion, licensing, life sciences, and power sports industries, has been acquired by UBM plc, in a deal worth $972M. According to Advanstar Communicaitons, the deal was funded by an investor group that includes Anchorage Capital Group LLC, Veronis Suhler Stevenson, as well as funds managed by the Tradable Credit Group at Ares Management L.P. Advanstar was advised by Goldman Sachs Co. and Moelis Company, along with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton Garrison LLP and Slaughter and May in the deal. UBM was advised by J.P. Morgan Cazenove, as well as Morgan, Lewis Bockius LLP. UBM runs the well known Game Developers Conference. CoreLogic Sells Two Business Units Irvine-based residential property information provider CoreLogic said Tuesday that it has sold two of its business units to Mortgage Contracting Services, LLC. According to CoreLogic, it sold its Collateral Solutions and Field Services business units to MCS in a deal worth $25M at closing, plus up to $20M in earnout contingent on performance thresholds. Component Search Targets Electronic, Mechanical Part Searches Los Angeles-based Component Search International, a new startup focused on the design engineering market, said today that it has launched its services, billing itself a Google for Components. The company, headed by Joe Bilotta, said the new site has over 800 suppliers, 15 million unique parts, and 350 million data sheets, and is hoping to solve the current issue of re-marked and counterfeit parts. The electronic and mechanical component industry is surprisingly fragmented, with no single source of the parts that go into many electronics products; finding parts--which change frequently and go out of production often--is a major challenge in manufacturing and operations. http://www.socaltech.com/component_search_targets_part_searches/s-0057183.html Aerie Pharmaceuticals Completes $125M Financing Newport Beach-based pharmaceuticals developer Aerie Pharmaceuticals said late Tuesday that it has completed its $125M, convertible note financing from Deerfield Management Company. The financing deal had been announced earlier in the month. Aerie Pharmaceuticals is focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for glaucoma. The company said the new funds are expected to fund its known clinical requirements for its lead compounds, and will also go towards general corporate purposes and strategic growth. Aerie is publicly listed on the NASDAQ as AERI. Conversant Names New Executive Westlake Village-based Conversant, the online advertising firm which is in the midst of being acquired by Alliance Data, said Tuesday that it has named Jim Rund as its new
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 8, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 8, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Colony Logic: Helping The Enterprise Overcome Legacy Systems --Avidity NanoMedicines Raises $6M --SolarReserve Names New General Counsel --CytRx Chairman Passes Away --UCSB Professor Wins Nobel Prize In Physics --Cornerstone OnDemand Buys Evolv --Breakout Gaming Antes Up To Cryptocurrency Game --DogVacay Tops 1 Million Nights, Snags New CFO --TenOneTen Backs Curbside For Mobile Ordering, Pickup --TigerText Wins Hospice Group MARKETPLACE --Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --TechCXO Los Angeles - Professional Services for Technology Companies --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Colony Logic: Helping The Enterprise Overcome Legacy Systems It's not often that startups come out of the gate, backed by a private equity investor. However, Los Angeles-based Colony Logic (www.colonylogic.com) is one of the few, having gotten its initial backing from private equity firm Blackstone. The company is focused on the enterprise software area. We spoke with Andy Vogel, COO of the company, to learn more about Colony Logic and its business (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/colony_logic_helping_the_enterprise/s-0057283.html --- Avidity NanoMedicines Raises $6M La Jolla-based Avidity NanoMedicines, which is developing nanoparticle technology aimed at the drug development area, has raised $6M in a convertible note financing. The company said the round was co-led by Fidelity Biosciences and TPG Biotech, and also included Brace Pharmaceuticals, Partner Fund Management LP and Alethea Capital Management. TPG's Ben Auspitz and Eran Nadav both join the company's board as observors. Avidity said the new funds go towards advancing new cancer therapies using its technology. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=60579 SolarReserve Names New General Counsel Santa Monica-based SolarReserve, the large scale solar power project developer, has named Pauline Doohan as its new Vice President and General Counsel, the company said Tuesday. Doohan was previously at Baker McKenzie, where the company said she was a partner negotiating infrastructure and renewable energy transactions. She also has served at MCN Energy. SolarReserve said that Doohan has a specialty in energy and infrastructure-related transactions. SolarReserve is a developer of large, utility scale power projects, and says it currently has $1.8 billion of projects in construction and operation worldwide; a significant amount of the company's projects are based on solar thermal power plants. CytRx Chairman Passes Away Los Angeles-based biopharmaceuticals research and development firm CytRx said late Tuesday that its Chairman of its Board of Directors, Dr. Max E. Link, has unexpectedly passed away. Link was 74. Link had been Chairman of the company's board since 2002, and had served on its board of directors since 1996. CytRx develops compounds being aimed at use in chemotherapy. UCSB Professor Wins Nobel Prize In Physics UC Santa Barbara professor Shuji Nakamura--the inventor of the blue LED--is one of the joint winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics, the Nobel Foundation Rights Association announced Tuesday evening. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/ucsb_professor_wins_nobel/s-0057291.html Cornerstone OnDemand Buys Evolv Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand said Tuesday afternoon that it has agreed to acquire Evolv, a machine learning and data science company based in San Francisco. Cornerstone will pay approximately $42.5M in cash, plus assume up to 2.0M in debt and issue Evolv's employees up to 200,000 shares of its common stock. According to Cornerstone OnDemand, it will use the buy to bolster its big data analytics and machine learning efforts. Evolv was venture backed by VantagePoint, GGV Capital, Khosla Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners, and developed software
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 9, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 9, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --President Obama To Visit Cross Campus Today --Raw Science Takes On Science, Tech Video --Myspace Ties With Vevo, Enhances Mobile Support --Donuts Names New Marketing Chief --Evolve Media Buys AfterEllen.com --AeroVironment Wins New $19M DARPA Contract --HireRight Aims At Uber, Airbnb, Others With New Product --Crowdfunder Raises $3.5M --AutoGenomics Files For IPO MARKETPLACE --Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Represents The Bouqs Company -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- President Obama To Visit Cross Campus Today In a sign of how far and wide the growth of Southern California's high tech industry has traveled, it appears that President Barack Obama will be speaking at Santa Monica's Cross Campus on Thursday--in the heart of Silicon Beach. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/president_obama_to_visit_cross_campus_today/s-0057318.html Raw Science Takes On Science, Tech Video Los Angeles-based Raw Science, a new startup in the content area, said that it has launched a new online network aimed at content in the areas of science and technology. The startup said it is offering up on-demand videos, pay-per-view films, news, and original programming specifically focused on scientific discoveries and technological achievements. The startup was founded by Keri Kukral and Raj Singh. Myspace Ties With Vevo, Enhances Mobile Support Irvine-based Myspace, now an online site focused on music and musicians, said Wednesday that it has linked up with Vevo in a new music distribution partnership, and also enhanced its mobile support. According to Myspace and Vevo, the deal brings Vevo's music videos, live concert events, and original shows to Myspace's website and apps. Financial details of that new partnership were not announced. In a related move, Myspace said it has enhanced its mobile support, to let users stream their music videos and other content to mobile platforms. Myspace says it now is seeing around 35.1 million monthly uniques on its site, which it says is a 170 percent growth since its mid-2013 relaunch. Donuts Names New Marketing Chief Donuts Inc., the generic, top-level domain registrar which has offices and operations in Los Angeles, said this week that it has named Jeffrey Davidoff--the former CMO of Orbitz Worldwide--as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Davidoff was most recently CMO at ONE, the group which campaigns against extreme poverty and preventable disease. He also served at Whirpool Corporation and marketing firm UPSHOT. Donuts offers up registrar services for the new, generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Evolve Media Buys AfterEllen.com Los Angeles-based online publisher Evolve Media said yesterday that it has acquired AfterEllen.com (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/evolve_media_buys_afterellen_com/s-0057314.html AeroVironment Wins New $19M DARPA Contract Monrovia, California-based unmanned aircraft maker AeroVironment reported today that it has scored another contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The company said the new contract is worth $19M, and covers the development of a maritime, unmanned aircraft system called the Tern (short for Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node). The company had earlier worked on a Phase I concept design for the effort; the new contract covers Phase II design efforts, to reach subscale flight demonstrations for its project. The Tern is being aimed at creating medium altitude, long endurance unmanned aircraft which can be launched from smaller ships. HireRight Aims At Uber, Airbnb, Others With New Product Are you a new startup looking to tap into the sharing economy, ala Uber or Airbnb? Irvine-based background check services provider HireRight is hoping to smooth the way for peer-to-peer
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 10, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 10, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --BeLinked: How Professional Networking Can Improve Your Dating Life --Insights: Attracting Tech Talent to SoCal: It's Not as Hard as You Think --President Obama Stresses Jobs, Education In First Silicon Beach Visit --Slacker Launches Ringtone Service For Verizon Wireless --Chick Launcher Names Finalists --Teledyne Wins $9.9M Contract --Citrix Online's Brett Caine Named CEO At Urban Airship --Snapchat Planning First Ads --Mandalay Digital Group Buys App Discovery Engine Developer Xyo --Channel Technologies Group Buys Materials Systems Inc. --socalTECH: Nominations Close For The socalTECH 50 Today! MARKETPLACE --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Safire Partners Executive Search -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- BeLinked: How Professional Networking Can Improve Your Dating Life What do you get when you cross Tinder with LinkedIn? You get something like BeLinked (www.belinkedapp.com), a dating app which uses--you guessed it--the business centric profiles of LinkedIn to match you with potential dates. We spoke with Max Fischer, CEO of the company, to learn more about how he came up with crossing the business worlds of LinkedIn with the popular world of swipe right, swipe left dating apps (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/belinked_improve_your_dating_life/s-0057338.html Insights: Attracting Tech Talent to SoCal: It's Not as Hard as You Think Think it's tough to attract talent from the Bay Area to Southern California? For our Insights and Opinions section, executive recruiter Eric Larsen gives some hints on tips on how he attracts candidates to relocate here to Southern California. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/articles/attracting-bay-area-tech-talent-to-southern-california--it-s-not-as-hard-as-you-think/a-00257.html President Obama Stresses Jobs, Education In First Silicon Beach Visit In the first time that President Barack Obama has paid a special visit to the epicenter of Southern California's high tech industry, the President spoke for over an hour to an audience of entrepreneurs at Cross Campus, the Santa Monica coworking space, touching on topics around providing an infrastructure for the next generation of entrepreneurs. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/president_obama_first_silicon_beach_visit/s-0057337.html Slacker Launches Ringtone Service For Verizon Wireless San Diego-based music streaming service Slacker said Thursday that it has rolled out a new ringtone service for customers of Verizon Wireless, with a service called Slacker Radio Tones. According to Slacker, the new service lets users customize their phone with music from an immense library of songs and its radio stations, at a cost of $2.00 per month. The different songs and music available to Verizon's customers can be used both as ringtones or as ringback tones, both of which can be assigned to specific callers. Slacker said that specific music--for example, Pharrell's 'Happy'--can be used as ringtones when your mother calls. Chick Launcher Names Finalists Chick Launcher, the local effort to help bolster women led startups, has named the five finalists for its Fast Pitch Competition, the group said this week. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/chick_launcher_names_finalists/s-0057339.html Teledyne Wins $9.9M Contract Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies, which develops electronics instrumentation, digital imaging products, aerospace, defense, systems, and a wide range of other products and services, reported Thursday that it has scored a $9.9M contract from the U.S. Navy. According to the company, the contract comes from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) for measurement devices used to monitor temperature and salinity at different depths of the ocean. The company says the contract covers those sensors, its Autonomous Profiling Explorer (APEX) profiling floats, which are already widely
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 13, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, October 13, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Tesla Unveils Upgraded Model S In Los Angeles --Vyu Raises $825K --Velocify Wins eHarmony --Vitesse Expands Distribution --eSurface Names New President, CFO --Snapchat Sees Massive Image Leak, Blames Third Party Apps MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Stradling --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report NEW Q2 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q2 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q2%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Tesla Unveils Upgraded Model S In Los Angeles Tesla Motors, the electric car company led by Elon Musk, rolled out its latest automobile in Los Angeles last week, showing off a new version of the Model S that includes dual motors, and new autopilot functionality which can help drivers change lanes, keep within the speed limit, and avoid collisions. The new Model S uses a forward radar and 12 ultrasonic sensors to allow the car to automatically change lanes for a user, and steer away from danger. However, Tesla said the goal of the new hardware and software is not to enable driverless cars, but instead to increase driver comfort and safety. The car was rolled out at the Hawthorne Airport, just a few blocks away from rocket company SpaceX, which is also led by Musk. Vyu Raises $825K Los Angeles-based Vyu, which is developing a personalized, mobile entertainment guide service, said this morning that it has raised $825,000 in a seed funding round. The funding came from Jabbar Internet Group and other investors. The startup, led by Ahmed Nassef. The company says its service helps viewers follow, share and discover TV and video via their mobile devices. Nassef was previously Vice President and Managing Director of Yahoo! Middle East Africa, and also was head of Maktoob.com. As part of the funding, the company said that it has added former Yahoo! exec Keith Nilsson to its board, and opened up an office in Dubai. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdealid=60589 Velocify Wins eHarmony Los Angeles-based Velocify, which develops cloud-based, sales automation software, has scored a win over at eHarmony. Financial impact of the deal was not announced. Velocify said that eHarmony is using the company's lead management tools for eH+, eHarmony's new premium matchmaking service. Velocify's cloud-based software helps ensure that clients receive quick responses to inquiries, and also helps marketers better prioritize clients and opportunities. Velocify is led by Nick Hedges; the company was previously known as Leads360. Vitesse Expands Distribution Camarillo-based networking IC developer Vitesse Semiconductor said today that it is expanding its North American sales presence, and has added a new distributor, Phoenics Electronics. The company said Phoenics will handle its full portfolio of products. Vitesse is a provider of Ethernet and other high speed networking ICs. eSurface Names New President, CFO Carlsbad-based eSurface Technologies, which develops technology for applying conductive materials to surfaces, said this morning that it has named Michael G. Corrigan as the company's President and CFO. Corrigan replaces Dave Benson in the President role. Benson remains Chairman, and now becomes CEO of the company. Corrigan previously was interim co-CEO of SOnar Entertainment, and also served on the board
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 14, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --DNAtrix Gets $20M For Cancer Killing Viruses --Sony Pictures Entertainment Gets Massive EV Charging Install --CardBlanc Offers Up Mobile, Social Shoppping --Evolve Media Debuts In-Video Ads --Emulex Gets Design Win With HP --Donuts Hits One Million Domain Registrations --Cosmederm Gets $50M MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate --QA Automation Manager, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP of Business Development, Santa Monica, RampRate --Executive Assistant to the CEO, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency We are a commercial insurance broker working with startup and early stage technology and E-Commerce companies to implement cost effective strategies for their insurance and risk management programs. We provide guidance and strategic planning during various phases and also advise regarding employee benefit structures to assist in employee recruiting and retention. Coverage placements include DO, Property, Liability, Workers Comp, EO, Cyber/Network Security and Employee Benefit Programs. Contact: John Huttinger, CIC, CRM Vice President Ph#310-370-5000 Ext 3025 w Fx 310-370-5454 johnhuttin...@pacificunified.com --- DNAtrix Gets $20M For Cancer Killing Viruses San Diego-based DNAtrix, which is developing modified viruses intended to treat aggressive cancers, has raised $20M in a Series B financing. The funding was led by Morningside Ventures, and also included Mercury Fund, Targeted Technology Fund and others. DNAtrix say sit is modifying a common cold virus so that it specifically targets and kills cancer cells. The company's lead product, DNX-2401, is in late stage clinical trials. As part of the funding, Reenie McCarthy of Morningside joins the company's board. Sony Pictures Entertainment Gets Massive EV Charging Install Have an electric vehicle, but always fighting for a charging station at work? It might be time to get a job over at Sony Pictures Entertainment, which apparently has installed the largest, corporate deployment of charging stations in Southern California. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/sony_pictures_entertainment_gets_massive_ev_charging_install/s-0057375.html CardBlanc Offers Up Mobile, Social Shoppping Los Angeles-based CardBlanc, a new mobile app startup, said today that it has rolled out a new service which lets user shop for brands and share their purchases with their friends. The company says it has created a virtual personalized card which allows users to shop for products, earn rewards, and share purchase details with friends. The new card is allows for purchases at such companies at Forever 21, Saks Fifth Avenue, NastyGal, Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Nike, TopShop, Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, Abercrombie, Victoria’s Secret, Bluefly. The company is led by Tina Hay, and was part of the Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP Preccelerator Program; the company is backed by Tom Dolby and other investors. Evolve Media Debuts In-Video Ads Los Angeles-based Evolve Media--the parent company of CraveOnline and TotallyHer--has rolled out a brand new video ad product, the company said today. The company said its new INglibe offering will provide premium, in-view video ads, which rolls out a video player when people roll past an article. The company said its new advertising offering will reach over 100 million monthly impressions across its enthusiast sites. Emulex Gets Design Win With HP Costa Mesa-based Emulex reported a win with HP, saying that it has rolled out a new set of I/O connectivity products for the HP ProLiant Gen9 rack and blade servers. The new products include 10/20 Gigabit Ethernet networking adapters, LAN on Motherboard modules, and Fibre Channel HBAs specifically designed for those servers. Financial impact of the deal were not announced. Donuts Hits
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 15, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 15, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --Qualcomm Launches Robotics Accelerator --Ilumina Invests In Three Startups As Part Of Accelerator --H3 Financial Services Raises Funding --Disney Accelerator Shows Off First Class Of Startups --OneRoof Energy Gets $2M In Debt Funding --Qualcomm Buys CSR For $2.5 Billion --Sonos Rolls Out Boost For Wireless Sound Network --Speakr Finds $2.9M For Social Marketing MARKETPLACE --SAM Congratulates Beats Music and Beats Electronics -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- Qualcomm Launches Robotics Accelerator San Diego-based Qualcomm said this morning that it has launched a new, San Diego startup accelerator, which is being powered by Techstars. Qualcomm said its Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator will focus on helping to accelerate the development of a next generation of robotics and intelligence machines. Qualcomm said it will invest a total of $1M in funding to support program participants, and will initially select 10 companies to participate in the program. The accelerator will be based on Qualcomm's corporate campus in San Diego. Qualcom said that the deadline for applications is February 22nd, and the class will start in May of 2015 and end in September of 2015. http://www.socaltech.com/qualcomm_launches_robotics_accelerator/s-0057400.html Ilumina Invests In Three Startups As Part Of Accelerator In at least the third piece of accelerator-related news today, San Diego-based life sciences equipment maker Illumina said it has made an investment in three startups, as part of its first, startup accelerator class. Illumina--which has its own startup accelerator called the Illumina Accelerator--said it has selected Encoded Genomics, EpiBiome, and Xcell Biosciences to participate in its startup accelerator, who will gain a seed investment, business guidance, and access to its equipment as part of the effort. The accelerator will include lab sapce in the San Francisco Bay Area. Size of the investments in those companies were not announced by Illumina. H3 Financial Services Raises Funding Aliso Viejo-based H3 Financial Services, a developer of web-based software for managing consumer finance and billing for the dental and veterinary market, has scored a Series A investment. Size of the investment was not announced. The funding came from Newport Beach-based Connexus Equity Management Partners. H3's software-as-a-service provides credit, billing, and payment options for customers of dental or veterinary practices, who typically do not have insurance coverage for those services. Connexus says it gains a seat on H3's board with the funding. H3 Financial Services is led by Joe Simrell. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=60681 Disney Accelerator Shows Off First Class Of Startups The Disney Accelerator, the startup accelerator sponsored by Walt Disney and being run by TechStars, had its demo day Tuesday, showing off the nine companies to emerge out of the accelerator. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/disney_accelerator_shows_off_first_class_of_startups/s-0057398.html OneRoof Energy Gets $2M In Debt Funding San Diego-based OneRof Energy, the provider of solar lease financing and solar installation services for the residential market, has raised $2M in a debt financing. The company said the funding came from New Resource Bank. OneRoof said the financing will go to lower its cost of funds on a pool of existing projects, and will free up additional working capital for the company. Terms of the debt funding were not announced. Qualcomm Buys CSR For $2.5 Billion San Diego-based Qualcomm said late Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to acquire CSR plc, in a deal worth approximately $2.5 billion. CSR is a developer of Bluetooth and audio processing technologies. According to Qualcomm, CSR
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 29, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --P.S. XO, Seedling Merge, Raise $7M For Children's Crafts, Toys --weeSPIN Finds Funding For Social Networking App --Taco Bell Launches Mobile Ordering, Payment App --TYLT Rolls Out Wireless Car Charging Mount --iRise Offers Up Software To Local Universities --Edmunds.com Buys Hackathon Winner CarCodeSMS --Tinder Gets Investment From Benchmark --ScoreBig Finds $18M MARKETPLACE --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Stradling --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --2D Game Artist, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Game / Interaction Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Database / Game System Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost --CDN Expert Consultant, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Ecommerce: Latest Trends and Dynamics, November 19th, Beverly Hills Join ACGLA for a complimentary evening event for corporate executives! Wednesday, November 19, 5:00PM Montage Beverly Hills This world class panel, consisting of the leaders in eCommerce, will discuss the latest trends, valuation parameters, and developments in eCommerce. Topics will include: - Middlemarket opportunities - Trends - Industry landscape - Opportunities in Los Angeles - Valuation trends and key paramters - MA Outlook - Capital sources and uses Panel includes: David Weissman, Dermastore; John Suh, LegalZoom; Rick Smith, Crosscut Ventures; Brad Meadow, Yandy; Mark Douglas, Steelhouse. Moderated by Ivan Nikhoo, Siemre Associates. Register today! http://www.acgla.org/events/event.aspx?F_d=11%2f19%2f2014F_y=2014F_m=11EventId=8634; --- P.S. XO, Seedling Merge, Raise $7M For Children's Crafts, Toys Los Angeles-based P.S. XO, the e-commerce and crafts startup founded by Soleil Moon Frye and Kara Nortman, said this morning that it has merged with craft and toy brand Seedling, and raised $7M in a funding round. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/p_s_xo_seedling_merge_raise_7m_for_children_s_crafts_toys/s-0057603.html weeSPIN Finds Funding For Social Networking App Los Angeles-based weeSPIN announced late Tuesday that it has raised a seed investment round for its music-focused, social networking app. weeSPIN is led by Darius Fong, and offers up an app with a collaborative playlist and connects to streaming music services like Soundcloud and Spotify. Source and size of the seed funding were not announced by he company, however, the company said its advisors and investors include Kevin Fong (formerly of Mayfield Fund), Kelli Richards (formerly of Apple), and Andy Ann (NDN Group, Hotmob). weeSPIN's app currenly only runs on iOS. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=58060 Taco Bell Launches Mobile Ordering, Payment App Irvine-based quick serve restaurant chain Taco Bell said Tuesday that it has launched mobile ordering and payment -- thanks to technology from Los Angeles-based Tillster. Taco Bell said it will let users order and pay for food at the restaurant using either a new iOS or Android mobile ordering app. Taco Bell said its new app lets users custom order ingredients and pay for orders, which can be picked up through drive through or a separate line within the store. Much of the functionality of the new app come thanks to the efforts of Tillster--led by Perse Faily--which develops mobile, kiosk, and other ordering systems and software for quick serve restaurants. TYLT Rolls Out Wireless Car Charging Mount Los Angeles-based electronics accessory maker TYLT has rolled out a pair of new wireless charging product Tuesday. Those products include a wireless car charging mount, which combines wireless charging with a place to put your smartphone or tablet while driving, and a standalone wireless charging pad called the VU SOLO. TYLT's VU Wireless Charging Car Mount is a car mount which supports up to 5.7
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 30, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, October 30, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --Hovelstay.com: Connecting The Adventurous Traveler With Cheap, --Global Eagle Entertainment Links With Satellite Operator SES --Kurion Names VP --Sientra Up In IPO Trading --Amgen Plans To Cut 1100 More --SpaceX Thrust Into Critical Role After Competitor's Catastrophic Explosion MARKETPLACE --Get the latest Q2 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud RECENT JOB POSTINGS --2D Game Artist, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Game / Interaction Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business IP Litigation . IP Transactions . Patent Trademark Prosecution . IP Strategy . Westlake Village . Santa Barbara . Irvine. i...@socalip.com 805-230-1350 www.socalip.com --- Hovelstay.com: Connecting The Adventurous Traveler With Cheap, Unique Rooms Are you tired of booking that luxury room on your favorite vacation rental site, and finding it's really a dump? The founders of hotelstay.com (www.hovelstay.com) got tired of helping to list lots of luxury properties on vacation rental sites--which were anything but luxury--and decided to create their own marketplace which calls a spade a spade. The company has created a marketplace which focuses on anti-luxury vacation rentals--many of which can be called rather unique. We caught up with co-founder Michael Womack to learn more about the service. What's hovelstay.com, and how is it different than all the other vacation rental sites out there? Michael Womack: We are creating a site that has the adventurous and budget traveler in mind. We (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/hovelstay_com_connecting_the_adventurous_traveler_with_cheap_/s-0057623.html --- Global Eagle Entertainment Links With Satellite Operator SES Los Angeles-based Global Eagle Entertainment, the developer of in-flight wireless and entertainment systems for airlines, said today that it has linked up with satellite operator SES, to bring Ku-band satellite bandwith to the company's systems. Financial details of the link were not announced by the companies. The two said they will offer up globall, KU-band satellite connectivity using SES's worlwide satellite network. SES has more than 50 satellites in its constellation, with five more in the construction stage, according to the companies. Globa Eagle Entertainment said it currently serves over 150 airlines worldwide with its Wi-Fi, movie, television, interactive software, and other products. Kurion Names VP Irvine-based nuclear and hazardous waste management technology developer Kurion said today that it has promoted its current Country Director for Japan, Yohei Iwasaki, to the role of Vice President. According to Kurion, Iwasaki has been overseeing projects for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), as part of Kurion's extensive role in the cleanup of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Iwasaki previously was co-founder of mOasis, and also served at Nishimura Asahi and the Uchida Samejima Law Firm. Kurion is venture backed by Lux Capital, Firelake Capital Management and Acadia Woods Partners. Sientra Up In IPO Trading Santa Barbara-based Sientra, a developer of aethetic medicine implants, rose in its IPO on Wednesday, trading as high as $17.90 during trading, closing at $16.75 for the day. The company priced last night at $15 per share, selling 5 million shares of its common stock on the NASDAQ as SIEN. The company had priced at the midpoint of its initial estimated IPO range of $14.00 to $16.00 Tuesday night. Sientra is venture backed by OrbiMed, Clarus Ventures, Abingworth MAanagement, Goldman Sachs, and TIAA-CREF, among others. Amgen Plans To Cut 1100 More The news for employees over at Thousand Oaks-based
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 31, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, October 31, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). --Seedling: Creating A Brand Which Is Not Online, Or Offline, But Everywhere --Soteria Intelligence Takes On Social Media Threat Identification --HashAtIt Launches Hashtag Search Engine --MakerBot Rolls Out Hello Kitty In 3D In LA --uBeam Gets $10M For Wireless Charging --Topera, Started in San Diego, Acquired By Abbott For $250M Plus --TigerText Poaches Oracle VP As Sales Chief MARKETPLACE --Apply Today For NewCo's Inside-Out Conference --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Stradling --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --2D Game Artist, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP is one of the leading start-up law firms in Southern California. We pioneered a fixed fee start-up package making the formation and organization of your start-up as seamless as possible. Our Preccelerator Program is a new platform offered to select start-up companies out of our Santa Monica office that provides interim office space and sophisticated legal services, with the objective of helping you grow your idea from business concept to funded startup. The Preccelerator Program provides free co-working space and other perks for 5-6 promising young startups. We are now opening up applications for five new startups to join the program. Apply now! http://www.stubbsalderton.com/preccelerator --- Seedling: Creating A Brand Which Is Not Online, Or Offline, But Everywhere Earlier this week, P.S. XO (formerly Moonfrye), the e-commerce company founded by Soleil Moon Frye and Kara Nortman, announced a merger with toy and crafting brand Seedling (www.seedling.com), which was founded by Phoebe Hayman. The two renamed themselves Seedling, and announced a new funding round from Upfront Venturess. We spoke with Kara Norton and Phoebe Hayman about the newly merged company, and how Pinterest and mobile are a key to the company's business – and how the company doesn't think of it as an e-commerce or retail brand, but a little bit of both. Can you tell us a bit about the company and the merger? Phoebe Hayman: We are bringing two companies together with a great heritage. Seedling has been around for seven years now, and we have some great strengths around international distribution and through retail Here in the U.S., we are in Nordstrom's, Macy's, Barnes and Noble, and thousands of other stores around the country. We have (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/seedling_creating_a_brand_which_is_not_online_or_offline_but_everywhere/s-0057646.html --- Soteria Intelligence Takes On Social Media Threat Identification Los Angeles-based Soteria Intelligence said yesterday that it has launched a new, social media threat assessment service, to help find threats voice on social networks in real time. According to Soteria Intelligence, its service is aimed at identifying things like terrorist activity, celebrity death threats, threats of school shootings, and more by filtering through social media posting. The new company is led by Aaron Schoenberger. The company says its client include high net worth individuals, corporations, and law enforcement agencies. http://www.socaltech.com/soteria_intelligence_takes_on_social_media_threat_identification/s-0057645.html HashAtIt Launches Hashtag Search Engine Need to figure out who is using what hashtag where? Los Angeles-based HashAtIt said Thursday that it has launched a brand new search engine, which aggregates and allows users to find hashtags across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. The search engine works both on the web as well as through mobile apps, initially on iOS. The search engine revolves around hashtag boards which can be embedded into other sites or social networking pages. http
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 3, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 3, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Tinder Approaching 50M Active Users, Says Report --Social Reality Raises $25M, Acquires Steel Media --Kurion Wins $10M Grant --MaxLinear Hits Shipment Milestone --Omnitracs Completes XRS Corporation Buy --Virgin Galactic Spacecraft Crashes, Kills One --Fandango Dangles Chance At A Real Flight To Space MARKETPLACE --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Stradling RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Database / Game System Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business IP Litigation . IP Transactions . Patent Trademark Prosecution . IP Strategy . Westlake Village . Santa Barbara . Irvine. i...@socalip.com 805-230-1350 www.socalip.com --- Tinder Approaching 50M Active Users, Says Report Los Angeles-based mobile dating app developer Tinder is rapidly approaching 50 million active users, who are spending an average of 90 minutes a day on the service, according to a report. The NYTimes report cited a person with knowledge of the situation in the numbers. Apparently, users are logging into the app 11 times a day, with women spending around 8.5 minutes per session, and men spending 7.2 minutes per session swiping left and right. http://www.socaltech.com/tinder_active_users_says_report/s-0057664.html Social Reality Raises $25M, Acquires Steel Media Los Angeles-based digital advertising technology developer Social Reality said this morning that it has raised $25M, and acquired display and mobile ad company Steel Media. Social Reality--which is traded OTCBB--said the $25M came in the form of a $20M credit facility from victory Park Capital, and $5M in equity from Siskey Capital LLC. Terms of the Steel Media acquisition were not disclosed, however, the company said Steel Media expected $10M in 2014 revenues. http://www.socaltech.com/social_reality_raises___m_acquires_steel_media/s-0057660.html Kurion Wins $10M Grant Irvine-based hazardous waste removal technology developer Kurion said this morning that it has won a $10 million grant from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), as part of a demonstration of technology for removal of tritium from Fukushima. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/kurion_wins___m_grant/s-0057659.html MaxLinear Hits Shipment Milestone Carslbad-based MaxLinear reported this morning that it has hit a shipment milestone, and has shipped more than 10 million of its DVB-2 tuners to the market so far. The company's chip is used in the design of set-top boxes. MaxLinear is a developer of radio frequency (RF) and mixed signal integrated circuits. MaxLinear said the shipments came due to strong demand in markets using the DVB-T2 standard, including in western and eastern Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia) and Africa. Omnitracs Completes XRS Corporation Buy San Diego-based Omnitracs, which develops fleet management products for transportation and logistics companies, said today that it has completed its acquisition of XRS Corporation. The deal was worth approximately $178M. Omnitracs said the buy will help strengthen its core technology portfolio. Virgin Galactic Spacecraft Crashes, Kills One In a major blow to Southern California's nascent space tourism industry, Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo crashed in testing over the Mojave desert Friday afternoon, killing one person. Virgin Galactic said the crash came after a serious anomaly during testing. Virgin Galactic said that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would be arriving in Mojave on Saturday morning to investigate the crash. George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, released a statement saying that Space is hard and today was a tough day, explaining that the company was doing all it could for the crew and family. The crash comes only two days after a major
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 4, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Tinder's Rad Out As CEO, Says Report --Tealium Ties With Optimizely --LogicMonitor Ties Into Amazon Web Services --Insteon Rolls Out At Walmart --Unitas Global Names CFO --Rover.com Challenges DogVacay In Home Territory --Proximal Data Acquired By Samsung --Beats Music Lands On Southwest Airlines MARKETPLACE --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --Ecommerce: Latest Trends and Dynamics, November 19th, Beverly Hills --Safire Partners Executive Search -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --2D Game Artist, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate --Senior Systems Engineer, Los Angeles, DreamHost RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- NewCo Festivals - Launches November 19th! Join me in welcoming NewCo Festivals to the neighborhood! On November 19th NewCo, the FREE “unconference” comes to Los Angeles after a successful run in eight other cities across the globe. NewCo is part studio-tour, part conference and turns the standard business conference format on its head by taking it out of the hotel ballroom and INSIDE the headquarters of LA’s most innovative companies. NewCo Los Angeles is an opportunity to get in the doors of companies such as EpoxyTV, ZEFR, Participant Media, Steelhouse, Science Inc, NOVICA, GumGum and others. This free business festival provides a unique experience and an intimate look at what these companies are up to, a peek at their innovative creations and insight into how they are positioned for success. If you participate, you'll meet and network with other like-minded individuals and be exposed to the new and different ways of thinking. Registration is free. Check out the full list of participating companies and register to attend here: http://la.newco.co/schedule-2014/ --- Tinder's Rad Out As CEO, Says Report The CEO of Los Angeles-based mobile dating phenomenon Tinder, Sean Rad, has been forced out as CEO of Tinder by majority owner IAC, according to a lengthy report by Forbes. Apparently, the move by IAC was made last month, but only came to light last night. The report says that Rad will remain CEO until a replacement is found, and extensively details the decisions behind the move. http://www.socaltech.com/tinder_s_rad_out_as_ceo_says_report/s-0057684.html Tealium Ties With Optimizely San Diego-based enterprise tag management software developer Tealium and web and mobile app optimization company Optimizely announced today that they are in an integration deal, where they will link data from the two different products together for joint customers. Tealium develops software used to manage tags, those snippets of code used for tracking marketing and data on websites. Optimizely develops A/B testing, multivariate testing, and related marketing tools. The two said the integration should make it easier for marketers to design and test their marketing campaigns. Tealium counts such customers as Ancestry.com, A+E Networks, Cathay Pacific Airways, Domino's Pizza, Kimberly-Clark, and Petco. LogicMonitor Ties Into Amazon Web Services Santa Barbara-based LogicMonitor, which develops IT infrastructure monitoring software, said today that it has connected its tools to Amazon Web Services. The company said its platform now has the ability to monitor Amazon Web Services instances and services. The company said the new monitoring capabilities include monitoring of SQS, DynamoDB, S3, and monitoring Amazon billing data. LogicMonitor was founded by Steve Francis, who previously ran network and data center operations for the University of California system, the National Geographic Society, Fastclick (now part of ValueClick), and ExpertCity (now Citrix Online). Insteon Rolls Out At Walmart Irvine-based home automation systems provider Insteon reported this morning that it is rolling out its products at Walmart. The company said its connected home products will be available at more than 1,500 Walmart stores nationwide just ahead
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 5, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 5, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --textPlus Unveils New App, Nextplus --Aggregage Gets $1M --Viddy To Shut Down On December 15th --Activision Blizzard Results Better Than Expected Due To Destiny --MaxLinear Completes Physpeed Buy --Arecont Vision Deploys In SpaceX Dragon --Biolase Gets $35M In Private Placement --iSideWith: 13 Million Voters Using Voter Guide --Audyssey Gets Funding From Intel Capital --StyleHaul Acquired By RTL Group For Up To $205M MARKETPLACE --NewCo Festivals - Launches November 19th! --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP, Technology, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --2D Game Artist, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Game / Interaction Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Database / Game System Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- --ADVERTISEMENT--- Ecommerce: Latest Trends and Dynamics, November 19th, Beverly Hills Join ACGLA for a complimentary evening event for corporate executives! Wednesday, November 19, 5:00PM Montage Beverly Hills This world class panel, consisting of the leaders in eCommerce, will discuss the latest trends, valuation parameters, and developments in eCommerce. Topics will include: - Middlemarket opportunities - Trends - Industry landscape - Opportunities in Los Angeles - Valuation trends and key paramters - MA Outlook - Capital sources and uses Panel includes: David Weissman, Dermastore; John Suh, LegalZoom; Rick Smith, Crosscut Ventures; Brad Meadow, Yandy; Mark Douglas, Steelhouse. Moderated by Ivan Nikhoo, Siemre Associates. Register today! http://www.acgla.org/events/event.aspx?F_d=11%2f19%2f2014F_y=2014F_m=11EventId=8634; --ADVERTISEMENT--- --- textPlus Unveils New App, Nextplus Marina Del Rey-based textPlus, the message app developer led by Scott Lahman, has unveiled a new app called Nextplus, aimed at ramping up adoption of the company's messaging tools. textPlus disclosed that the new app will offer up cloud phone features, a virtual phone number, text messaging features, GIF sharing, stickers, and more, as well as voice service, and better scalability than the existing textPlus application. The new app runs on iPhone and Android. The company's iOS app emphasizes the free, unlimited texting as well as animated text and GIF stickers that users can send to friends. http://www.socaltech.com/textplus_unveils_new_app_nextplus/s-0057710.html Aggregage Gets $1M El Segundo-based Aggregage, which develops software driven B2B websites and newsletters which aggregate blog and news postings for specific industries, has raised $1M in a convertible note, the company said today. Aggregage said the funding came from Andrew Goodenough, Accordance Ventures LP, AWV Partners LLC (Chris and Ted Ackerley), the Tech Coast Angels, John Suhler and other investors. The startup, which is led by Robert Flynn, said it will use the funding to launch new sites and grow its advertising sales. As part of the funding, Andrew Goodenough--formerly of Summit Business Media and Thomson Media's Banking Publishing/Conferences Group--will join the company's board of directors. Aggregage's B2B websites are published in conjunction with trade and professional associations. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=61011 Viddy To Shut Down On December 15th Viddy, once the hottest company in Los Angeles, and which had been for awhile calling itself the next Instagram--is shutting down its namesake app, as of December 15th. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/viddy_to_shut_down/s-0057709.html Activision Blizzard
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 7, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 7, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). SoCal-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --Announcing the 2014 socalTECH 50: Southern California's Ones To Watch --Orange County Investor Commits $1M To Early Stage Startups --Ice Enegy Wins Contracts From SCE --Boingo Reports Major Military Deployment --Guidance Software Replaces CEO --LivingSocial Shuts Torrance Facility, Cuts 400 --3BLACKDOT Launches New MCN, JETPAK --Fisker Automotive Planning Relaunch --FloQast Gets $1.3M For Financial Software MARKETPLACE --NewCo Festivals - Launches November 19th! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Reliam- Leaders of Internet Application Management RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP, Technology, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --Game / Interaction Programmer, Los Angeles, FutureBound --Solutions Architect, Santa Monica, RampRate RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP is one of the leading start-up law firms in Southern California. We pioneered a fixed fee start-up package making the formation and organization of your start-up as seamless as possible. Our Preccelerator Program is a new platform offered to select start-up companies out of our Santa Monica office that provides interim office space and sophisticated legal services, with the objective of helping you grow your idea from business concept to funded startup. The Preccelerator Program provides free co-working space and other perks for 5-6 promising young startups. We are now opening up applications for five new startups to join the program. Apply now! http://www.stubbsalderton.com/preccelerator --- Announcing the 2014 socalTECH 50: Southern California's Ones To Watch This is our second year of creating our list of the top 50 people to watch in Southern California's technology industry, and it was NOT an easy task. As we found last year, it's a tough, unforgiving task to narrow down a list of the folks in Southern California's technology industry to just fifty to watch. There were many, many people who are not on the list who indeed deserve to be on this list -- in fact, we had so many names from readers and our nominating committee, we were forced into the difficult task of trimming back many deserving names. This year was particularly difficult, due to an explosion of startup activity in the region, which is now drawing entrepreneurs from around the world attracted by the rich environment for technology and media startups here. The socalTECH 50 is aimed at identifying and highlighting the top 50 people in the technology industry, who are most (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/announcing_the_socaltech50/s-0057749.html --- Orange County Investor Commits $1M To Early Stage Startups Jason Thanh La, the co-founder and CEO of payment processing company Merchant Services Group, said this week that he has committed to personally fund $1M to early stage companies in Southern California. La said he is specifically seeking early stage companies who are developing better payment processing technology. La said he is looking at payment processing, data analytics, and mobile payments companies. In addition to founding Merchant Service Group, La said he is Limited Partner at Crosscut Ventures, a Venture Partner at K5 Ventures, and also an active investor in early stage tech companies. http://www.socaltech.com/orange_county_investor_early_stage_startups/s-0057753.html Ice Enegy Wins Contracts From SCE Santa Barbara-based energy storage developer Ice Energy said late Thursday that it has been awarded sixteen contracts from Southern California Edison, providing 25.6 megawatts of energy storage. Size of those contracts were not announced by the company. Ice Energy said its systems are being used to reduce power consumption during peak periods. Ice Energy's equipment works in conjunction with air conditioning units
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 11, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --Elon Musk Confirms SpaceX Micro Satellite Plans --Machinima In Rebranding Effort --RF Industries Buys Comnet Telecom Supply --CurbStand Launches New App --Demand Media Loses CFO As Revenues Decline --D-Link Offers Wi-Fi Cameras To Military Families --DogVacay Gets $25M More --Fullscreen Buys Rooster Teeth MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --New Q3 Money Tree Results! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --VP, Technology, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP is one of the leading start-up law firms in Southern California. We pioneered a fixed fee start-up package making the formation and organization of your start-up as seamless as possible. Our Preccelerator Program is a new platform offered to select start-up companies out of our Santa Monica office that provides interim office space and sophisticated legal services, with the objective of helping you grow your idea from business concept to funded startup. The Preccelerator Program provides free co-working space and other perks for 5-6 promising young startups. We are now opening up applications for five new startups to join the program. Apply now! http://www.stubbsalderton.com/preccelerator --ADVERTISEMENT--- ***Editor's note: we'll be publishing on an abbreviated schedule today due to the Veteran's Day holiday. Elon Musk Confirms SpaceX Micro Satellite Plans Hawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket company run by Elon Musk, is indeed working on developing a constellation of micro-satellites to deliver Internet access across the world. According to Elon Musk, in a tweet, SpaceX is still in the early stages of developing advanced micro-satellites operating in large formations. Musk said there will be an announcement about the effort in 2 to 3 months. There has been a recent trend in the space market to launching microsatellites--such as those using the CubeSat and NanoSat standards--to reduce delivery costs to space and to standardize payload handling. http://www.socaltech.com/elon_musk_confirms_spacex_micro_satellite_plans/s-0057789.html Machinima In Rebranding Effort Los Angeles-based Machinima said Monday that it has rolled out a new brand identity and tagline, as part of an effort to appeal to the passion and aspiration of its audience. According to Machinima, the effort includes and all-new brand identity, including a new tagline, logo, and network ID; a new program aimed at creators joining it network; new technology to help its talent manage their social video businesses; and a new web site. The company said it spent the past seven months on the rebranding, with the aim of establishing Machinima as the place to reach Millennials thru the prism of fandom and gamer culture. The company says it now has over 400 million subscribers to its channels. RF Industries Buys Comnet Telecom Supply San Diego-based RF Industries, which designs and manufactures interconnect and cable assemblies for the wireless, medical, and industrial market, said today that it has acquired Comnet Telecom Supply. Financial terms of the cash and stock deal were not disclosed. Comnet is a distributor of telecommunications and data products, including fiber optic cables, patch cord assemblies, data center consoles, and other products. RF industries says that Comnet had revenues of approximately $8M in fiscal 2013. Comnet was based in East Brunswick, New Jersey. CurbStand Launches New App Los Angeles-based CurbStand, which develops mobile apps to help user find and pay for valet parking, said today that it has
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, November 13, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Thursday, November 13, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Fuhu Tops Deloitte Fast 500 List --FiveStars Expands In Los Angeles --Pathway Genomics Lands Investment From Google --Three Day Rule Expands To Boston --Beats Debuts New Wireless Headphones MARKETPLACE --New Q3 Money Tree Results! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --NewCo Festivals - Launches November 19th! --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! Join us on December 10th to help honor this year's socalTECH 50--and also join the technology and digital industry's best holiday party of the year, the Digital Family Reunion! The SoCal tech scene continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. This year, LA-based start-ups focused on branded content, apps, and big data, and together raised more capital than any other city in the world after Silicon Valley. The demand for human capital continues to grow with more educational, job force development and industry events supporting the expansion. There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the SoCal region. Please join us at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, December 10! Tickets are now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-family-reunion-and-socaltech-50-tickets-13192911353 --- Fuhu Tops Deloitte Fast 500 List El Segundo-based Fuhu, the manufacturer of the popular children's Nabi tablet PC, ranked number 2 nationally in the annual Deloitte Fast 500 list, one of fifty four companies--or over 10 percent--from Southern California. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/fuhu_tops_deloitte_fast___list/s-0057824.html FiveStars Expands In Los Angeles Customer loyalty and marketing automation software developer a FiveStars said this week that it is aggressively expanding in the Los Angeles market, after recently receiving a $26M funding round from Menlo Ventures, Lightspeed, DCM, Rogers and Y-Combinator. According (more...) http://www.socaltech.com/fivestars_expands_in_los_angeles/s-0057823.html Pathway Genomics Lands Investment From Google San Diego-based Pathway Genomics has scored an investment from Google, the two said Wednesday, as part of an investment out of IBM's Watson Group. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. According to the companies, the investment brings the total invested in Pathway Genomics to more than $80M in the last six years. Pathway Genomics provides commercial genetic testing and healthcare services. IBM said the investment comes out of its $100 million fund for Watson-related startups. Three Day Rule Expands To Boston Los Angeles-based matchmaking service Three Day Rule has expanded its services to the city of Boston, as part of a national expansion for the company. According to Three Day Rule, it now offers its services in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. The company--which is backed by Match.com--said the expansion to Boston provides single Bostonians with a white-glove approach to dating. The company, let by Talia Goldstein, provides vetted and curated matches for clients, hand screening matches--including vetting matches in person before an introduction. The company also offers up date coaching, styling, and professional photography to help clients present the best versions of themselves to prospective dates. Beats Debuts New Wireless Headphones Culver City-based Beats Electronics has rolled out new, wireless on-ear headphones, the first product to roll out since the company's acquisition by Apple in July. According to Beats, its new Solo2 Wireless headphones take the same audio quality as its existing Solo2 headphones, but adds Blueooth connectivity. Beats said the new headphones have a battery life of up to 12 hours, and can be used up to 30 feet from your audio device. The new headphones are available in red, back
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 14, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 14, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --CheapAir.com: WSJ Article On Best Days To Buy Tickets Wrong --Samsung Looks To Hollywood For Mobile Revenues, Says Report --Universal Electronics Settles Patent Suit With Peel Technologies --Qualcomm Backs Ineda Systems' Chips For Wearables --Scopely Secures $35M --Report: Funny Or Die Seeking Buyer MARKETPLACE --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Stradling --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --- CheapAir.com: WSJ Article On Best Days To Buy Tickets Wrong Calabasas-based online travel site CheapAir.com is taking issue with a study and article published by the Wall Street Journal yesterday, looking to pinpoint the best days to purchase an airline ticket. CheapAir.com said it analyzed its data on 415 million airline fares, and found no single day of the week that is statistically better for booking cheap airline tickets. The WSJ had determined that Sundays were the best days for purchasing tickets. CheapAir.com says it believes the WSJ got it wrong, because corporate travelers tend to book last minute, higher fares during the workweek, skewing the data used in the study. CheapAir said it instead examined actual fares available, instead of those purchased. http://www.socaltech.com/cheapair_com_wsj_article_on_best_days_to_buy_tickets_wrong/s-0057845.html Samsung Looks To Hollywood For Mobile Revenues, Says Report Samsung Electronics is kicking off an effort to make short form, mobile video the center of a new revenue model, according to report, in a new effort headed by John Pleasants. Pleasants--who has served at Walt Disney managing its mobile and gaming services, and also had been CEO of Ticketmaster--apparently joined Samsung in June as Executive Vice President of Media Solutions. Samsung has not yet announced details of the new, mobile video effort, but has apparently devoted tens of millions of dollars to the new video effort, codenamed Volt. http://www.socaltech.com/samsung_looks_to_hollywood_for_mobile_revenues_says_report/s-0057843.html Universal Electronics Settles Patent Suit With Peel Technologies Santa Ana-based wireless control technology developer Universal Electronics said this morning that it has settled a patent infringement lawsuit with Peel Technologies. Financial details of the settlement were not disclosed. According to Universal Electronics, Peel has agreed to modify and update its products to avoid its allegations of infringement. The two have now agreed to dismiss their respective patent infringement claims against each other. Qualcomm Backs Ineda Systems' Chips For Wearables San Diego-based Qualcomm has made an investment into a company developing systems-on-a-chips and processors specifically for the wearables market, Ineda Systems. Ineda said that Qualcomm participated in a Series B funding, worth $19M, which was led by Cisco Investments, and also included Samsung Catalyst Fund and Imagination Technologies. Qualcomm apparently had also invested in the company's Series A funding. Ineda is based in Santa Clara. The company's flagship product is a Wearable Processing Unit which incorporates ultra low power processing functions for wearables--such as sensor connectivity, power management, and more. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=59558 Scopely Secures $35M Los Angeles-based Scopely, which is led by Walter Driver, has raised a big, $35M funding round, the company said Thursday morning. The funding was led by Evolution Media Partners, the joint venture created by TPG Growth, Participant Media, and Evolution Media Capital and Highland Capital Partners, and also included Knoll Ventures, Greycroft, The Chernin Group, Sands Capital Ventures and Double M Capital. Scopely
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 17, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, November 17, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --Soci Gets $1.5M For Social Media Marketing --Snapchat Now Alerting Users On Third Party Apps --WiGo Seeded By Rad, Mateen --Lettuce Blocks New Users Accounts After Intuit Buy --DermTech Withdraws IPO MARKETPLACE --New Q3 Money Tree Results! --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Reliam- Leaders of Internet Application Management RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! Join us on December 10th to help honor this year's socalTECH 50--and also join the technology and digital industry's best holiday party of the year, the Digital Family Reunion! The SoCal tech scene continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. This year, LA-based start-ups focused on branded content, apps, and big data, and together raised more capital than any other city in the world after Silicon Valley. The demand for human capital continues to grow with more educational, job force development and industry events supporting the expansion. There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the SoCal region. Please join us at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, December 10! Tickets are now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-family-reunion-and-socaltech-50-tickets-13192911353 --- Soci Gets $1.5M For Social Media Marketing San Diego-based Soci, a developer of a social content discovery engine and social media marketing software product, has raised $1.5M in a Series A funding. The company said the round was led by angel Peter Fischer (Shepherd Ventures) and Silicon Valley Growth Syndicate. Soci, led by Afif Khoury, develops a social content discovery and marketing engine. The company said it will use the funding to expand its product, which is aimed at national digital service providers, media outlets, marketing agencies, national franchises and enterprise clients. Snapchat Now Alerting Users On Third Party Apps After a massive leak of compromising photos due to a third party app using Snapchat's unofficial API, Venice-based Snapchat has been on the defense, trying to dissuade users from using unauthorized, third party apps. Snapchat said last week that it will start notifying Snap users when it detects they may be using third party apps, and ask those users to change the password and stop using those unauthorized apps. The move is the first move to improve the company's security and reliability after the massive image leak. That leak was attributed to poor security practices by a third party, Snapchat application, which was taken advantage of by hackers. Snapchat is not--so far--shutting off access to the application by third party app developers. WiGo Seeded By Rad, Mateen Boston-based WiGo (Who Is going Out), a developer of mobile apps to help college students coordinate their social lives, has scored seed funding from Sean Rad and Justin Mateen, the two local entrepreneurs behind hit app Tinder. According to reports, the two were among a number of angels in a $700,000 seed funding for WiGo. The round also apparently included Paul English of Kaya and Ben Fischmann (Rue La La) and Kevin Colleran (Facebook). Lettuce Blocks New Users Accounts After Intuit Buy Los Angeles-based Lettuce, the startup headed by Raad Mobrem which was acquired by Intuit in May, is shutting of new accounts to the company's inventory and order management software. According to the company, it decided to shut access to new accounts in order to accelerate our progress with QuickBooks Online. The company said existing customers will continue to have access to the software. Lettuce said its team is working on enhancing the order and inventory experience within QuickBooks Online
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 18, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Enrou: Combining Causes and Commerce To Help Improve The World --Edgecast Blocked By Chinese Censors --Renova Therapeutics Raises $7.52M --Disney Inks Digital Video Deal With Walmart's Vudu --Allylix Acquired By Evolva --Snapchat Launches Payment Service With Square --Break's Prank It Fwd Kicks Off Series Of Positive Pranks MARKETPLACE --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Reliam- Leaders of Internet Application Management --Safire Partners Executive Search --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- New Q3 Money Tree Results! Get the latest Q3 2014 PwC SoCal MoneyTree Report NEW Q3 2014 Results! Are you interested in understanding the latest trends in venture capital investments in Southern California? Want to know how the region did in terms of venture capital? PwC has just posted the results of the Q3 2014 Southern California venture deals, in its Shaking The MoneyTree presentation and update from HJ Paik, Director, Emerging Company Services Download it today for free! http://www.socaltech.com/pwc/PwC%20Shaking%20the%20MoneyTree%20Q3%202014.pdf http://www.socaltech.com/pwc --- Enrou: Combining Causes and Commerce To Help Improve The World How can you make your shopping during the holidays more than just a gift--but something that might actually improve lives around the world? Los Angeles-based Enrou (www.enrou.co) thinks it has a way--by connecting people with products that also help support international development and causes, via its own online marketplace. We spoke with Ann Wang, co-founder of Enrou, to learn more about how the company wants to help tie together the world of e-commerce and worthy causes to help improve the world. What is Enrou? Ann Wang: Enrou is an online, content driven marketplace for products in developing communities around the world. It's (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/enrou_combining_causes_and_commerce_to_help_improve_the_world/s-0057872.html --- Edgecast Blocked By Chinese Censors In a move which affects thousands of websites, EdgeCast, the Los Angeles content delivery network operator which is now a part of Verizon, has been blocked by the great firewall of China -- the Chinese government's Internet censorship effort. Edgecast said the yesterday that China has escalated its filtering of a number of popular web properties using its services. Greatfire, an organization that monitors the Great Firewall of China, said China has blocked the entire *edgecastcdn.net domain. Edgecast said it is working with its global ISP partners to address the issue. Edgecast was acquired by Verizon for $390M last year. http://www.socaltech.com/edgecast_blocked_by_chinese_censors/s-0057876.html Renova Therapeutics Raises $7.52M San Diego-based Renova Therapeutics, a biopharmaceuticals company developing treatments for congestive heart failure and other diseases, has raised $7.52M in a Series C funding round. The company said the funding primarily came from high net worth individuals. As part of the funding, Daniel M. Bradbury has joined the company's board. Bradbury is a member of life sciences consulting and investment firm BioBrit LLC; he also served as President and CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showcoid=42419 Disney Inks Digital Video Deal With Walmart's Vudu Walt Disney Studios said Monday that it has inked a deal to distribute
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 19, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, November 19, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas --Honk Launches On Demand Roadside Help Service, Raises $1.8M --ventureLab Takes On Startup Incubation --Carbonics Raises $5.5M For RF Materials --Tagg Rolls Out New Pet Wearable --Blossom Aims To Conquer Drought With Smart Irrigation Gadget --Seriously Adds $5M For Mobile Games Effort --Hush Scores $100K On Kickstarter For Smart Earplugs MARKETPLACE --Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --La Visual - A Branding, Product Strategy Rapid Prototyping Accelerator --Ecommerce: Latest Trends and Dynamics, November 19th, Beverly Hills RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- NewCo Festivals - Launches November 19th! Join me in welcoming NewCo Festivals to the neighborhood! On November 19th NewCo, the FREE “unconference” comes to Los Angeles after a successful run in eight other cities across the globe. NewCo is part studio-tour, part conference and turns the standard business conference format on its head by taking it out of the hotel ballroom and INSIDE the headquarters of LA’s most innovative companies. NewCo Los Angeles is an opportunity to get in the doors of companies such as EpoxyTV, ZEFR, Participant Media, Steelhouse, Science Inc, NOVICA, GumGum and others. This free business festival provides a unique experience and an intimate look at what these companies are up to, a peek at their innovative creations and insight into how they are positioned for success. If you participate, you'll meet and network with other like-minded individuals and be exposed to the new and different ways of thinking. Registration is free. Check out the full list of participating companies and register to attend here: http://la.newco.co/schedule-2014/ --- Honk Launches On Demand Roadside Help Service, Raises $1.8M Have a flat tire, locked yourself out of your car, or need a tow--but not a member of a roadside assistance service? Santa Monica-based Honk has launched a service for you, specifically to let you summon roadside help using your smartphone--without a membership. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/honk_launches_on_demand_roadside_help_service_raises___8m/s-0057893.html ventureLab Takes On Startup Incubation Los Angeles-based ventureLab Growth Partners said Tuesday afternoon that it has launched a new startup studio to invest in and build early stage startups. The new startup studio is led by Mike Prasad. According to ventureLab, it will provide seed funding, along with product, marketing, and operational support to its companies. The company did not say how much funding it intends to provide to startups. ventureLab is currently targeting companies in the area of advertising technology, social/gaming media, content and community. The studio also said it will be expanding in the future to include digital health and app-driven commerce. Prasad is part of new media company the Collaborative, and is known for catapulting Kogi BBQ into the limelight via his Twitter social media campaign. http://www.socaltech.com/venturelab_takes_on_startup_incubation/s-0057895.html Carbonics Raises $5.5M For RF Materials Marina Del Rey-based Carbonics, a developer of carbon nanomaterials aimed at improving the power consumption and performance of wireless semiconductors, has raised $5.5M in a funding round. The funding came from TAQNIA international. Carbonics says its technology is based on research conducted at UCLA and USC. Carbonics says it is working on incorporating its carbon nanomaterials into semiconductor radio frequency (RF) components. The company is led by Kos Galatsis. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=61037 Tagg Rolls Out New Pet Wearable San Diego-based Tagg, a developer of wearables for pets, said Tuesday that it has
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 21, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Friday, November 21, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. --How A Pivot Turned Vantage Media Into A $100M Plus Business --Pluto.TV Raises $13M --DTS Powers New App From Deepak Chopra --Kwikset Upgrades Kevo Smart Door Lock --Slacker Radio Links Into Toyota, Lexus --eHarmony Completes IT Infrastructure Refresh --Milk Takes Grocery Coupons Mobile --Flywheel Picks Up $12M, And A New CEO --FastPay Finds $15M --Burner Rolls Out MMS Support, New App MARKETPLACE --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --New Q3 Money Tree Results! --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! Join us on December 10th to help honor this year's socalTECH 50--and also join the technology and digital industry's best holiday party of the year, the Digital Family Reunion! The SoCal tech scene continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. This year, LA-based start-ups focused on branded content, apps, and big data, and together raised more capital than any other city in the world after Silicon Valley. The demand for human capital continues to grow with more educational, job force development and industry events supporting the expansion. There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the SoCal region. Please join us at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, December 10! Tickets are now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-family-reunion-and-socaltech-50-tickets-13192911353 --- How A Pivot Turned Vantage Media Into A $100M Plus Business How do you take what has been a healthy business--but which has stalled out in growth--and put it back onto the growth curve? Patrick Quigley, the CEO of Los Angeles-based Vantage Media (www.vantagemedia.com), tells the story of how he pivoted the company from what had been an online advertising agency, into an online advertising technology provider--and in the process, helped move the company past the $100M in revenues mark (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/how_a_pivot_turned_vantage_media_into_am_plus_business/s-0057940.html --- Pluto.TV Raises $13M Los Angeles-based Pluto TV, an online video streaming and channel guide, said Thursday that it has raised $13M in a Series A funding round. The funding came from U.S. Venture Partners, United Talent Agency, Sky plc, Chicago Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Luminari Capital, along with Ross Levinsohn, Ken Parks (Spotify), and Stephane Kurgan (King Digital). Pluto TV offers up access to a curated set of online video channels. Rick Lewis of USVP joins the company's board as part of the funding. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdealid=61126 DTS Powers New App From Deepak Chopra Calabasas-based audio and sound processing technology developer DTS said this morning that it has helped roll out a new iOS app from Deepak Chopra http://www.socaltech.com/dts_powers_new_app_from_deepak_chopra/s-0057938.html Kwikset Upgrades Kevo Smart Door Lock Lake Forest-based lock maker Kwikset has upgraded the company's smartphone-enabled Kevo door lock, saying this week that it has improved the user experience with the device, started offering up the product internationally, and also launched a new private beta on Android. Among the enhancements are the ability to create Guest Keys to allow others access to a home for 24 hours at a time, key scheduling which have day and time constraints, new calibration features to adjust the distance from a lock
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 25, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, November 25, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies --Newegg Dangles Black Friday Deals At LA Location --Kofax Wins $775,000 Contract --OneRoof Energy Backer Pulls Funding --codeSpark Launches Game That Teaches Coding To Kids --Sony Pictures Corporate Network Shut Down By Hacker --ZIRX Expands To LA --Rincon Backs Rentlyics In $4M Round --Hush Nears $200K In Crowdfunding Campaign MARKETPLACE --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! Join us on December 10th to help honor this year's socalTECH 50--and also join the technology and digital industry's best holiday party of the year, the Digital Family Reunion! The SoCal tech scene continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. This year, LA-based start-ups focused on branded content, apps, and big data, and together raised more capital than any other city in the world after Silicon Valley. The demand for human capital continues to grow with more educational, job force development and industry events supporting the expansion. There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the SoCal region. Please join us at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, December 10! Tickets are now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-family-reunion-and-socaltech-50-tickets-13192911353 --- Newegg Dangles Black Friday Deals At LA Location Los Angeles-based online electronics retailer Newegg has kicked off its holiday promotions, saying that it will be offering up a number of Black Friday deals--including special set of deals available only in person at its City of Industry-based Hybrid Center. Newegg said it is inviting Los Angeles area customers to visit its center between 10a and 4pm for coffee, cake, and special deals that are available only in person. Newegg said it would reveal the special deals at Friday's event, saying the deals are so outstanding that they will not be revealed until customers are on site, although the company said a popular next generation video game console will be available for $299.99 and a 2TB USB 3.0 external hard drive for $49.99. Kofax Wins $775,000 Contract Irvine-based document management software provider Kofax reports this morning that it has scored a big, $775,000 contract win, to automate the accounts payable operations for a U.S.-based, multinational conglomerate. Name of the customer was not disclosed. Kofax said the contract covers multiple ERP systems. Kofax said the sale is split between $330,000 in software licenses and $445,000 in professional services and maintenance. OneRoof Energy Backer Pulls Funding San Diego-based OneRoof Energy reported Monday that one of the backers of the company, Hanwha Holdings (USA) Inc., said it will not provide additional debt funding to the company. Reason for the pullback was not announced. OneRoof said that Hanwha Holdings will not provide its additional portion of a $16.7M working capital line of credit, which had been announced October 3rd. However, the company said one of its other backers--Black Coral Capital--remains committed to the working capital line, and will also provide OneRoof Energy with $15M in capital via a secured, convertible promissory note. OneRoof energy provides traditional and lease financing, PPAs, solar system design and installation project management for the solar power market. codeSpark Launches Game That Teaches Coding To Kids Looking for a way to help kids better learn how to code software? Pasadena-based codeSpark has rolled out a new game which it says is aimed at helping kids learn about coding. The startup rolled out a new game called The Foos, which it says is aimed at helping kids to learn about coding
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, December 1, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Monday, December 1, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies Binary Pulse Technology Marketing (http://www.binarypulse.com). We Create Demand for California's Technology Companies. Key info (http://www.keyinfo.com) infrastructure ~ connectivity ~ co-location ~ cloud --Sony Movies Leaked After Massive Hack --Ingram Micro Buys ANOVO --Newegg Dangles Chance At Trip To China --Boingo Wireless Gets $50M In Credit Facility --SOA Software's Medrano Gets Award --Aura Pitches Smartphone Connected, Wirelessly Powered Holiday Lights --Interoute Opens Cloud Hosting In LA MARKETPLACE --Apply for the Stubbs Alderton Markiles Precellerator! --Fetch Recruiting, Inc. --SoCal IP Law Group LLP - Serving the IP Needs of Business --Stradling RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior User Experience (UX) Designer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Mid + Sr. Software Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Scrum Master - Mobile, Los Angeles, Fetch Recruiting, Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! Join us on December 10th to help honor this year's socalTECH 50--and also join the technology and digital industry's best holiday party of the year, the Digital Family Reunion! The SoCal tech scene continues to expand at an unprecedented rate. This year, LA-based start-ups focused on branded content, apps, and big data, and together raised more capital than any other city in the world after Silicon Valley. The demand for human capital continues to grow with more educational, job force development and industry events supporting the expansion. There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate the SoCal region. Please join us at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, December 10! Don't miss out, get tickets today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/digital-family-reunion-and-socaltech-50-tickets-13192911353 --- Sony Movies Leaked After Massive Hack At least five of Sony Pictures's newest movies--including Fury and the upcoming Annie, have been leaked to file sharing sites, after the massive hack of Sony's corporate network. According to Variety, Fury has been downloaded millions of times from torrent and other file sharing sites since being leaked on November 27th. The leaks are believed to be directly related to the massive hack which shut down Sony's corporate system on November 24th. http://www.socaltech.com/sony_movies_leaked_after_massive_hack/s-0058006.html Ingram Micro Buys ANOVO Santa Ana-based computer and electronics distributor Ingram Micro said over the holiday weekend that it has made a binding ofer to acquire Paris, France-based ANOVO, a provider of reverse logistics and repair services for high tech products. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Ingram Micro said that ANOVO is anticipated to contribute an excess of $300M in annual revenue to the company, after the deal completes early 2015. Ingram Micro said ANOVO will continue to operate as a separate entity. Newegg Dangles Chance At Trip To China Los Angeles-based online electronics retailer Newegg.com is tangling several trips to China for two, as part of its Cyber Monday promotions, the company said this morning. The retailer said that it is launching the Great China TECHspedition Sweepstakes, which will award five grand prizes and their guests a six day, five night trip to China--which will feature VIP activities, guided tours, and more, and which will be shared via social media as Newegg Changhong Ambassadors. The tour is being sponsored by NewEgg partner Changhong. Changhong Electric is a major Chinese consumer electronics company which manufactures smart television sets. http://www.socaltech.com/newegg_dangles_chance_at_trip_to_china/s-0058008.html Boingo Wireless Gets $50M In Credit Facility Los Angeles-based Wi-Fi and small cell network provider Boingo Wireless said late last week that it has raised $50M in a new credit agreement. According to Boingo, the new credit facility came from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Silicon Valley Bank. Boingo Wireless said the new line of credit would strengthen its liquidity position, and would be used for working capital. The line was split between $46.5M in revolving credit and a $3.5M term loan. Rates on the new line of credit were not announced. SOA Software's Medrano Gets Award
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, December 2, 2014
socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments and acquisitions of growing software companies. Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Helping entrepreneurs succeed. PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies --Avanir Pharmaceuticals Acquired For $3.5 Billion --SpaceX's Newest High Tech Job: Farmer? --Ingram Micro Buys Company In Turkey --Western Digital Adds Board Member --Procore Names Chief Marketing Officer --lynda.com Gets Award For Electric Vehicle Efforts --Scripted.com, Backed By LA Investors, Finds $9M More --JustEnough Wins 99 Cents Only Stores --Sony Hires Cybersecurity Firm, Gets FBI Help MARKETPLACE --Stradling --Honor the socalTECH 50 On December 10th! --UK Trade Investment (UKTI) -- Key Information Systems Announces Key Cloud --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency --Binary Pulse Technology Marketing. We Create Demand. --Safire Partners Executive Search RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Head of Product (VF iQ), Venice, Vision Fleet --User Experience (UX) Design Manager - Mobile, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. --Senior Front End Engineer, San Luis Obispo,, MINDBODY Inc. RECENT FUNDING EVENTS --ADVERTISEMENT--- USC MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Info Session Master of Science, Entrepreneurship Innovation Information Session @ USC Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (PST) USC, University Park campus, Los Angeles, CA http://www.marshall.usc.edu/msei?adref=SoCalTech14 Learn more about the USC Marshall MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MSEI) at an info session on Thursday, December 4, 6:30-7:30 pm. The MSEI prepares you for opportunities in corporate venturing, technology commercialization and more. With full- and part-time options, the program gives you the flexibility you need. Register now. More information: http://www.marshall.usc.edu/msei/information --- Avanir Pharmaceuticals Acquired For $3.5 Billion Aliso Viejo-based Avanir Pharmaceuticals said today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Japanese company Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., in a deal worth approximately $3.5 billion. Avanir--which is publicly held--said that Otsuka has agreed to pay $17.00 per share in cash for the company. The deal is subject to the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Avanir Pharmaceuticals said it was advised by Centerview Partners LLC and Latham Watkins, LLP in the deal. SpaceX's Newest High Tech Job: Farmer? In what might be the strangest position available at Elon Musk's pioneering space rocket firm, SpaceX has posted a job for a farmer on its job page--a strange mix of the high tech world of space travel and farming. According to the position, SpaceX is seeking a farmer with a minimum of 10 years of row crop farming experience in central Texas, where it currently has operations in McGregor. Agriculture.com speculates the position has to do with tax exempt status for agriculture in that state, as much as it does for space exploration. SpaceX is based in Hawthorne, California. http://www.socaltech.com/spacex_s_newest_high_tech_job_farmer_/s-0058037.html Ingram Micro Buys Company In Turkey Santa Ana-based computer products distributor Ingram Micro is extending its footprint in Turkey, saying that it has acquired Armada, which it says is the largest value-add technology distributor in that country. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Ingram Micro said Armada has 2013 sales of over $280M. Ingram Micro said the buy will enhance its access and reach into Turkey's fast growing technology industry. Western Digital Adds Board Member Irvine-based Western Digital Corp. (WDC) said Monday that it has named a new member to its board of directors, adding Martin Cole to the body. Cole had previously been at Accenture, where he had served for 34 years. Cole was most recently CEO of Accenture's Technology Group. He also sits on the board of Cloudera. WD said it now has nine people on its board of directors. Western Digital is a manufacturer of hard disk drives and other storage products. Procore Names Chief Marketing Officer Carpinteria-based Procore Technologies, which develops cloud-based software for the construction industry, has named Matthew Reid as its new Chief
