socaltech.com TechNews - Tuesday, July 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. 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. 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 and Opinions: Experience Is The Best Teacher --Los Angeles Accelerator Report Card: Too Early To Tell --Sonos Links With Dar.fm --Mobile Roadie Powers Dutch Olympic Team App --Cie Games In Asian Expansion --Esri Partners With Microsoft --THQ Regains NASDAQ Minimum Bid Compliance --Quest Software Acquisition By Dell Passes Antitrust Review --DTS Completes SRS Labs Buy --Nirvanix Taps NBCUniversal Vet For Chief Strategy Officer --StartEngine Launches New Class of 14 Startups --Siminoff's POP Charger Project Blows Past Goal On Kickstarter --CALIENT Technologies Raises $14.8M MARKETPLACE --Siemer & Associates --Safire Partners Executive Search --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator RECENT JOB POSTINGS --System Administrator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks --Manufacturing System Test Technician, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks --Oracle Sr Functional Analyst - Financials, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks RECENT FUNDING EVENTS ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Trinet: Supporting startup growth with the new recruiting ecosystem The recruiting ecosystem is changing, led by professional social networks like LinkedIn and Viadeo and social media apps like Jobvite and BranchOut. This report examines how the new ecosystem creates a streamlined, scientific and democratic approach to the recruiting process, and in turn, changes the way startups and growing businesses find and retain their employees. Download this report to learn about success stories and recommendations on how to take full advantage of innovative technology to help your efforts to attract and retain top talent. http://www.socaltech.com/trinet/wp.php?id=10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Insights and Opinions: Experience Is The Best Teacher ---- For our Insights and Opinions section today, Howard Marks, the founder of startup accelerator StartEngine, and co-founder of Activision argues: universities ought to be focusing themselves on creating entrepreneurs. The old University of Bologne (founded 1088) created the first academic charter ensuring academic freedom within its boundaries. Since then, the university as we know it has come to mean any institution of higher education generally focused upon the rigorous learning of complex areas of study, like syntactic structures of Creole languages or the intersection of metaphysics and particle physics. All of this is well and good, and above all necessary (for where would our society be without poetry), but perhaps the university has been steering too many students towards the books and away from the real world. When it comes right down to it, a university is better off creating entrepreneurs than anything else. To successfully run a university of any size (Continued...) http://www.socaltech.com/articles/experience-is-the-best-teacher/a-00200.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Los Angeles Accelerator Report Card: Too Early To Tell ---- There's been a surge in startup accelerator activity in Los Angeles in the last year, as interest in starting a company in the region has grown, and a wide range of experienced entrepreneurs and investors have pitched in to help companies get to the next level. But, how are those accelerators doing so far in terms of attracting capital and attention to Southern California startups? Anecdotally, the effect has been positive -- coverage on this publication, as well as others has ramped significantly due to new startups in the region, both funded and unfunded, and there's been a number of successful venture and angel investments in companies associated with those efforts. However, what do the numbers say, even though it's but the first inning in the game? socalTECH has analyzed its database of venture capital deals, exits, and other local deal activity, and started to come up with some tracking of the activity due to local accelerators, with some interesting results. (More...) http://bit.ly/Oo42ch --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sonos Links With Dar.fm ---- Santa Barbara-based audio system maker Sonos said Monday that it has tied its whole home, connected audio systems to San Diego-based Dar.fm, the radio station recording service started by Michael Robertson. According to Sonos, you can now add Dar.fm to its service, allowing users to access a "DVR for radio". Dar.fm allows users to record a long list of radio shows, for future playback on their PC. Sonos provides very user friendly audio systems which can stream music and other audio from your PC, the Internet, and a number of commercial Internet streaming and radio services; those systems also can be controlled by an iPad, iPhone, or Android smartphone. Mobile Roadie Powers Dutch Olympic Team App ---- Los Angeles-based mobile apps software firm Mobile Roadie is powering a new, Olympics-focused app, just a few days before the launch of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Mobile Roadie reports that at Olympic Team Netherlands has used the company's software to create their own, mobile apps, which will feature profiles of members of the Dutch Olympic Team, see a schedule of events, watch videos, and more. Mobile Roadie develops software which makes it easy for companies, brands, and others to create mobile apps, without requiring the cost and complexity of developing mobile apps from scratch. Cie Games In Asian Expansion ---- Long Beach-based Cie Games, the developer of the social Facebook game Car Town, said this morning that it has partnered with Japanese automotive information company PROTO CORPORATION. According to Cie Games, the deal with Nagoya-based PROTO will allow PROTO to publish its Car Town game across Asia. Terms of the strategic partnership were not disclosed. PROTO operates an online marketplace for vehicles in Asia. Cie Games said that PROTO will be creating a localized version of Car Town on Facebook for Asia, covering thirteen countries, including Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Esri Partners With Microsoft ---- Redlands-based GIS and mapping software provider Esri has tied in strategic alliance with Microsoft, to help supply Esri's public information maps during disasters. Esri said it has integrated its popular ArcGIS tool within a number of Microsoft's disaster response management solutions for governments and aid organizations. Financial details of the link were not disclosed. The announcement came in conjunction with the release of a new software tool from Esri, called Esri Maps for Office, which allows users to share interactive maps within the Microsoft Office suite. THQ Regains NASDAQ Minimum Bid Compliance ---- Agoura Hills-based videogame maker THQ reported this morning that it has regained compliance with the minimum bid price rule for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. THQ had been hovering below the $1.00 per share mark, the point which puts the company at risk for a downgraded listing or delisting of its stock by the NASDAQ, before it implemented a 1-for-10 reverse stock split on July 9th, which solved that issue for the embattled company. Prior to the split, the firm's stock had been trading around the $0.50 mark. The company's split adjusted price is now trading around $5.16. Quest Software Acquisition By Dell Passes Antitrust Review ---- The acquisition of Aliso Viejo-based Quest Software by Dell has gained approval from the Federal Trade Commission, according to the FTC, Dell is buying Quest for $2.4 billion, as it looks to bolster its software business. The deal is worth $28.00 per share in cash, and came after an extended bidding war between a private equity group led by Insight Venture Partners and a stealthy buyer--Dell--which only acknowledged the deal after winning the bid for Quest. DTS Completes SRS Labs Buy ---- Calabasas-based DTS, the developer of surround sound and audio processing technology, announced today that it has closed its acquisition of Irvine's SRS Labs. The deal was worth approximately $148M, and had been announced in April. DTS was advised by Centerview Partners, DLA Piper LLP, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in the transaction. SRS Labs was advised by Covert & Co. and Paul Hastings LLP. Nirvanix Taps NBCUniversal Vet For Chief Strategy Officer ---- San Diego-based cloud storage firm Nirvanix has snagged the former, Chief Software Architect of NBCUniversal as its new, Chief Strategy Officer, the company said this morning, Nirvanix said it has hired Dru Borden as its Chief Strategy Officer, to help spearhead its strategic business direction, the company announced today. Borden previously was at CBS and NBCUniversal, managing software architecture for those firm's enterprise applications and media platforms. e also has served at Andersen Consulting, Dell and Xuma. Nirvanix is a provider of cloud-based, data storage services aimed at the enterprise. StartEngine Launches New Class of 14 Startups ---- Los Angeles startup accelerator StartEngine has launched its third class, a new batch of fourteen startups which have set up shop in the incubator's Westwood Village space under the watchful eyes of Activision co-founder Howard Marks and investor Paul Kessler. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/startengine_launches_new_class_of_4_startups/s-0043980.html Siminoff's POP Charger Project Blows Past Goal On Kickstarter ---- The POP Charger, the Kickstarter project run by former Unsubscribe.com CEO Jamie Siminoff, has blown past its fundraising efforts on Kickstarter, and as of Monday morning has racked up over $66,000 in donations out of an original target of $50,000. Siminoff, a repeat entrepeneur better known for his angel and VC-backed startups, turned to Kickstarter last week to fund his latest project, a consumer electronics product which the project calls the "the largest portable device charger available" for such devices as iPhones and iPads. Siminoff only just posted the project last week, and reached his goal of $50,000 within three days of posting. CALIENT Technologies Raises $14.8M ---- Goleta-based Calient, a developer of 3D MEM-based, optical switching equiment, has raised $14.8M in a funding round, according to a recent regulatory filing by the firm. Details and source of the new funding was not announced. Calient's equipment is used for switching in high speed, optical networks. Calient's board includes representatives from Telesoft, Matrix Partners, and Wall Street Technology Partners. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43531 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKETPLACE Reach 10000+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Siemer & Associates Siemer & Associates LLC is the global merchant bank serving the digital media, software and technology industry. http://www.siemer.com/ ------------------------------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 [email protected]. We can also always be a friendly source for investor introductions and general market / compensation intelligence. ------------------------------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------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT JOB POSTINGS More jobs at http://www.socaltech.com/Jobs Members post jobs for free System Administrator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5386 SalesForce.com Administrator, Sunnyvale, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5385 Manufacturing System Test Technician, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5384 Oracle Sr Functional Analyst - Financials, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5383 RMA Manager, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5382 Production Test Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5381 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT FUNDING SUMMARY 07/19/12 MOVIECLIPS, INC. $0.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44139 07/18/12 Retention Science $1.3M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44060 07/16/12 Tealium Inc. $10.5M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44042 07/12/12 POPTENT INC $5.5M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43964 07/11/12 SteelHouse $8.3M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43670 07/11/12 ValCare $8.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43669 07/11/12 MiCardia $4.4M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43098 07/11/12 StackSocial $0.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43674 07/10/12 Zumbox $10.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43641 07/09/12 BIOSURPLUS, INC. $2.4M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43614 06/29/12 Sonendo, Inc. $9.2M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43467 06/28/12 DogVacay $0.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43459 06/28/12 Kuapay $4.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43466 06/27/12 Chill FKA Namesake $8.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43455 06/26/12 Big Frame $3.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43450 06/26/12 Rally.org $7.9M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43449 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Events This Month http://www.socaltech.com/Calendar socaltech.com Calendar of Southern California High Tech Events Submit your events at least two weeks in advance to: http://www.socaltech.com/submitevent.html July 24, Irvine -- TechBiz Connection Presents Networking. July is our Networking month. Please join TechBiz Connection (TBC) and Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) for drinks, appetizers and some great networking. Come and meet some movers and shakers in Orange CountyNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22638 July 24, San Diego -- The Tech Coast Angels presents MEET THE ANGELS. Are you thinking about starting your own company or in the early stages? The Tech Coast Angels invites San Diego's up and coming entrepreneurs to "Meet the Angels" that can help you make your dream come true. Hosted by Sheppard Mullin, this evening is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with local angel investors before starting on this journey. This exclusive evening will also serve as the official location to announce the details of the annual San Diego Tech Coast Angels Quick Pitch Competition; one of the nation's best Angel investment events. See https://www.cvent.com/events/meet-the-angels/registration-d31686c4fff849f4a6b8af7c4049568a.aspx. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22587 July 25, Santa Monica Los Angeles -- LA Ad Tech Happy Hour. Come hang out with the Ad Tech community in Los Angeles for a no-host happy hour. If you geek out over the Ad Tech, OMMA & Digiday conferences, this is for you. If you print LUMA Partners' lumascapes to hang on your wall, this is for you. If you hang on Mary Meeker's every word, this is for you. If you quote eMarketer's estimates in your sleep, this is for you. If you just want to grab a drink with casual peeps in the middle of Summer, this is for you. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22619 July 25, Santa Clarita -- Rock Star Marketing. You have this epic product (or idea). It's like totally going to totally disrupt the universe. But the only people that know about it are you and your mom in your basement. Marketing is at the core of everything. You market to investors. You market to vendors. You market to your employees and you market to recruit the best employees. And of course you market to customers. If it's so important, why do we suck at it? I've asked a marketing expert...a ROCK STAR on marketing...to come and spend some time with us and teach us how to become Rock Star marketers in our space. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22602 July 26, Los Angeles -- Growth Capital Conference. Network with capital sources, advisors, dealmakers and 100 entrepreneurs seeking capital & counsel. DEAL DISPLAYtm showcases attractive firms needing growth capital. View products, videos, on-line demos. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22630 July 26, Los Angeles Westside -- Growth Capital Conference. Network with capital sources,advisors,dealmakers and 100 entrepreneurs seeking capital & counsel. DEAL DISPLAYtm showcases attractive firms needing growth capital. View products, videos, online demos. Hot Networking Breakfast at 7:00 AM sharp. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22492 July 26, Redondo Beach -- Social Media School - Beginners. It's time to learn about social media and how it can assist you in your personal and professional life. Email [email protected]. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22610 July 26, Santa Monica -- Silicon Beach Tech Crawl. Take a tour of some of the hottest Silicon Beach tech companies. Sponsored by TZ, ParkMe, GumGum, and others. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22624 July 26, Altadena -- Co-Founders Wanted of Los Angeles. The purpose of this inperson Meetup is to help you find a co-founder for your business or help you find a business to join as a co-founder. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22571 August 1, Santa Monica -- Santa Monica Media Leaders Networking Event. Mingle and chat about all things tech, marketing and advertisin. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22633 August 1, San Diego -- MIT Enterprise Forum, Wine Social. The MIT Enterprise Forum San Diego signature wine social, held annually, is widely recognized as the premier networking event for San Diego's technology and biotechnology community. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22597 August 1, Santa Monica -- Next MediaLeaders Networking Event. Hey there MediaLeaders. Summer is officially here and we’re hosting a Santa Monica networking event at the Sonoma Wine Garden to celebrate this great weather. This spacious venue has tons of outdoor seating and lots of areas to mingle and chat about all things tech, marketing and advertising. If you look close…you can see the Santa Monica beach from the balcony. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22590 August 2, Santa Monica -- LA CEOs presents: Scrum for CEOs - How to Manage Teams in a 2.0 World. Does your development team need “just two more weeks” to deliver their work? Was that the same answer they gave two months ago? How does the Scrum process change team collaboration and accelerate development? Learn from one of our very own LA CEOs, Bill Sewell, about his team’s experience with Scrum, which began with training from with Master Scrum Trainer Scott Downey. This event is restricted to CEOs only of product companies with a minimum of $2million in funding or revenue.. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22631 August 2, Calabasas -- 9th Annual Summer Social for the electronics industry at the World Famous Sagebrush Cantina. This event typically draws 150+ and is always a lot of fun reuniting old friends and making new ones~! All distributors, mfrs. reps, OEM's and anyone related to the electronics industry here in So. California. Email [email protected]. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22620 August 7, Westlake Village -- Los Angeles Clean Technology Council Conference. Our keynote speaker is Tom McGrath, Founder of LABS Renewable Energy. Tom will present "A Disruptive Technology-Converting Waste Into Energy With Fuel Cells.. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22629 August 9, Santa Monica -- Startups Uncensored #29 - Eventbrite Co-Founders Kevin and Julia Hartz. Eventbrite is an online service that people everywhere use to create, share, and join any event imaginable. Eventbrite enable's event creation, promotion and ticket sales. They help people discover events that match their passions. And they let everyone share the events they're creating or joining, bringing more people together around the worldNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22639 August 14, Santa Monica -- LAVA's Annual Venture Capital Panel. Meet the top VCs who are investing in Southern California. Find out what they are looking to invest in. Find out what does it take to secure Venture Capital for your company. Learn about the hottest trends and the mistakes NOT to make. Moderator: Jon Funk, Founder, Ocean Road Partners. Confirmed Panelists: Jim Andelman, Managing Partner, Rincon Venture Partners; David Casares, Principal, Vicente Capital Partners; Dana Settle, Partner, Greycroft Partners. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22627 August 18, Los Angeles -- TECHBREW Multi-Dimensional MEGA MIXER. The TECHBREW Multi-Dimensional MEGA MIXER will include a workshop, presentations by international speakers, Lielle Arad and Alan Tratner, and a celebratory and fun mini-concert entertainment by the unique pop innovators, B4Neptune. Alan and Lielle will be speaking about responsibility in a special presentation entitled, ‘The Sustainable Planet & the Total Vantage Point’NEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22637 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by: Rustic Canyon Partners (www.rusticcanyon.com). Funding great entrepreneurs. 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). Siemer & Associates (http://www.siemer.com) Global Technology Merchant Bankers. TriNet (http://www.socaltech.com/trinet) The HR outsourcing partner for emerging tech companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies Email [email protected] for more information about sponsoring this newsletter. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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) 2012 SOCALTECH LLC. 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