socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, August 1, 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. TriNet (http://www.socaltech.com/trinet) The preferred strategic HR partner for emerging tech companies. Fetch Recruiting, Inc. (http://www.fetchrecruiting.com) Technical Recruiting for LA based Startups and High-Growth Companies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Brian Norgard On Chill's New Front Page --Latest Amazon Studios Project: Orange Curtain --Factual Releases C#/.NET Driver --MyLife Launches Social Dashboard --CapLinked, Startup America Tie On Startup Fundraising --Magic Ruby Takes On The Second Screen --Viddy Rolls Out API, Dangles 10K And Trip To LA --GoPro Plans IPO, Says Report --Avalon Ventures Backs Pingup --StockTwits: Twitter Hijacked Our Idea --NetDNA Snags UberTags --Boingo Scores Another Shopping Mall Deal --LegalZoom IPO Expected Friday --Hulu Plus Heads To Apple TV --Instacanvas Raises $1.7M MARKETPLACE --The latest trend in tech: Ordering Food Online with Seamless --Safire Partners Executive Search --Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services --Ventura Ventures Technology Center (V2TC) - Business Incubator --Trinet: Supporting startup growth with the new recruiting ecosystem RECENT JOB POSTINGS --Senior IT Operations Architect/Analyst, La Jolla, Fortis Advisors --JDE Business Analyst, Los Angeles, TenTek, Inc. --Project Manager, Los Angeles, TenTek, Inc. --BPC (MS) Architect, Glendale, TenTek --Failure Analysis Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks --System Administrator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Norgard On Chill's New Front Page ---- How do you crack the code and make online video easier to find and use? Last week, Los Angeles-based Chill (www.chill.com) made a stab at that, debuting a new front page meant to guide user to the most interesting videos on the web, through an easy-to-use interface. Brian Norgard, co-founder of Chill, sat down with us to talk about the new front page, and also how the company has made a name for itself with a highly product focused, agile development of its service. Chill is venture backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, William Morris Endeavor Group, Atlas Venture, Lowercase Capital, Troy Carter, 500 Startups, Science Media, CrunchFund, Mike Jones and Redpoint Ventures. What's the whole new front page all about? Brian Norgard: We've seen a ton of growth over the last two or three months, and now have somewhere hear 20 million registered users. What's interesting, however, is that we've found that we have two customers. One, is we have the passionate, zealous person, who is living on the edge (More...) http://bit.ly/Qp2VgK --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Latest Amazon Studios Project: Orange Curtain ---- Amazon Studios, the original content effort run by Amazon.com out of Los Angeles, said today that the latest project added to its development slate is "Orange Curtain", focused on gun runners who live in Orange County, set against the backdrop of the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Amazon said it the script comes with a $10,000 option extension payment. The new project was created by Robert Moreno and Jason Stentz. Amazon has been looking to tap into the creative talent in Los Angeles, by soliciting scripts that they can turn into original content for its streaming video service. The company has been using crowdsourcing, contents, and more to spur entries and submissions to the program. Factual Releases C#/.NET Driver ---- Los Angeles-based Factual, the startup headed by Gil Elbaz, which is developing a massive cloud-based database of location and other data used by mobile and web apps, has further expanded its software language support. The firm said Tuesday that it has release a driver for C# and .NET, Microsoft's libraries and object oriented software language. Factual said the driver can be installed into Visual Studio on Windows. The new API allows developers in C# and .NET to access the firm's API and large data set; that data includes the ability to query businesses and other info, based on location and other parameters. Factual's API and database is being used by app developers to find local businesses near a user, correlate that to third party services like Foursquare and Yelp, and more. MyLife Launches Social Dashboard ---- Los Angeles-based MyLife.com is further expanding its services this morning, saying that it has launched a new, "social dashboard" product which helps users centrally manage all of their social and email accounts. MyLife said its new service, available via Web, iOS, and Android, allows users to centrally manage social media updates in one place, in addition to sending and receiving email from a number of services. The new service comes as a result of the acquisition of Threadsy in March by MyLife. MyLife said the service is free. MyLife is headed by Jeff Tinsley. CapLinked, Startup America Tie On Startup Fundraising ---- Los Angeles-based CapLinked, which operates an online platform for managing fundraising by startups, has linked with the Startup America Partnership. According to CapLinked, it will make its premium capital raising and investor reporting tools available to the more than 8,500 startups enrolled with Startup America. Startup America is the effort launched last year to spur the creation of startups nationwide. CapLinked's site allows companies to manage due diligence documents, shareholder communications, finding investors, and more; the firm said it now has over 135,000 users using its site. CapLinked is headed by Eric M. Jackson, and backed by such investors as Peter Thiel, David Sacks (Yammer), Joe Lonsdale (Palantir Technologies), and Dave McClure (500 Startups), as well as Hercules Technology Growth Fund, 7th Rig, and Wasabi Ventures. Magic Ruby Takes On The Second Screen ---- Burbank-based Magic Ruby, a new service aimed at the social television segment, said today that it has launched to help provide revenue for advertisers, content creators, distributors, and app developers. The firm said it will offer up its own advertising network aimed at second screen applications, plus tools and application development specifically around the second screen. The service said it is a business unit of Second Screen Solutions, and is backed by Technicolor. Viddy Rolls Out API, Dangles 10K And Trip To LA ---- Los Angeles-based Viddy, the developer of mobile apps which allow users to share snippets of video with one another, said this week that it has rolled out its public API, and is offering $10,000 in cash and a trip to Silicon Beach for the best app built using the product. Viddy--which has been compared to Instagram, except for video--opened up an application programming interface which allows developers to access videos out of its public stream, organized by tag, on Monday evening. The firm said that, to promote the API, it will award $10,000 in cash for the best entry in its Rule the Beach: Hack Your Way into Viddy competition, for the top app developed by a developer, with a trip to Venice Beach for a team of up to four people to interview for a position at the company. GoPro Plans IPO, Says Report ---- GoPro, the maker of the popular, wearable, waterproof, sports action cameras for consumers, is planning an IPO, says a report Tuesday afternoon from Reuters. The report--citing sources near to the company--said that GoPro has hired JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Barclays Plc to manage the offering. GoPro--although based in the Bay Area--has a number of Southern California ties, including staff in San Diego, an investment from Burbank-based Steamboat Ventures, plus a group in San Diego it acquired when it bought Cineform. Plus, the firm was founded by UC San Diego grad Nicholas Woodman, who came up with the idea from his surfing days there. If true, the IPO will be a big win for former Steamboat VC Beau Laskey, who managed the Steamboat Ventures investment from Los Angeles until recently. Avalon Ventures Backs Pingup ---- Avalon Ventures, the La Jolla- and Cambridge-based venture capital firm, has backed a new startup, Pingup, which lets consumers text nightclubs for reservations and information. According to Pingup Tuesday, it raised $1M in a seed funding round from Avalon Ventures, led by Brady Bohrmann. Pingup is based in Boston, and currently lets users in Boston and Miami's South Beach area text restaurants and nighclubs for reservations and questions. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=44395 StockTwits: Twitter Hijacked Our Idea ---- San Diego-based Stocktwits, the online, finance focused micro-messaging site run by Howard Lindzon, has a problem: Twitter just made stock tickers on the site clickable, replicating a major feature of Stocktwits. Stocktwits, which allows users to trade short messages around finance topics, has made its business to build a rich set of data and integrations around those stock symbols ($TICKER, ie $AAPL). According to Lindzon in a blog post, Twitter has "hijacked our creation of $TICKER", despite telling him a few months ago that that was "not a hole they wanted to fill." Stocktwits developed the idea of click-able stock tickers, allowing users to search for conversations about certain stocks on the micro-messaging site, as well as through partners like CNN Money, Yahoo Finance, and others. Twitter announced the feature this morning on its stream. NetDNA Snags UberTags ---- Los Angeles-based content delivery network (CDN) provider NetDNA reported Tuesday that it has been selected by online tag management company Ubertags. NetDNA said the customer deployment and co-marketing agreement will allow UberTags to distribute its site content via its network to reduce page load times. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. The firms also said that NetDNA will use UberTags' on its own website. UberTags' cloud-based service is used to manage third party "tags"--those snippets of code used on websites to manage advertising, web analytics, retargeting, and many other services. Boingo Scores Another Shopping Mall Deal ---- os Angeles-based Wi-Fi network operator Boingo Wireless has inked another deal to provide Wi-Fi for a shopping mall operator, the firm reported Tuesday morning. Boingo said it has reached an agreement with Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), a developer of "open-air lifestyle centers" in the New York metropolitan area, to provide Wi-Fi at Westchester's Ridge Hill. Westchetsr's Ridge Hill is a 1.3 million square foot mixed use center, which includes Whole Foods, REI, Dick's Sport Goods, and other retailers. Financial impact of the deal were not disclosed. Boingo has recently been expanding its business of operating Wi-Fi networks in mall locations, and has deal swith such shopping companies as Westfield, Caruso Affiliated, Glimcher Realty Trust, and others. The Westchester's Ridge Hill Wi-Fi network will be free to consumers. LegalZoom IPO Expected Friday ---- One of the most anticipated IPOs of a Southern California technology firm, LegalZoom is expected to hit the markets Friday, with pricing expected Thursday evening. The firm--which recently set its expected IPO pricing range of $10 to $12 per share--is one of two IPOs expected this week by technology companies. The company is aiming at the New York Stock Exchange, hoping to trade under the symbol LGZ. It's been a long road for the firm, which was founded in 1999, and has raised funding from such backers as Polaris Venture Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Hulu Plus Heads To Apple TV ---- Los Angeles-based Hulu said Tuesday that its Hulu Plus service just debuted on the Apple TV. Hulu said that users of the Apple TV can now start watching Hulu Plus shows via the device. The service requires users to be a current member, or sign up for, the premium Hulu Plus service. Hulu Plus gives users streaming access to Hulu's shows on a variety of devices, in addition to access to episodes and content which are not available on Hulu's free service, including archive and back season episodes of TV shows. As part of the integration, Hulu also said users can sign up for Hulu Plus directly via Apple iTunes. Instacanvas Raises $1.7M ---- Los Angeles-based Instacanvas, the MuckerLab startup which allows any Instagram user to print photos from their stream to a real, canvas print, revealed yesterday that it has raised $1.7M in a funding round. The round came from Founders Fund, First Round Capital, Bullpen Capital, as well as angels. The startup, headed by Matt Munson, allows anyone on Instagram to set up their own photo gallery, and sell their prints to other users on the web, in the form of canvas prints and desktop art. Instacanvas first debuted in April as part of the MuckerLab Demo Day. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44391 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKETPLACE Reach 10000+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- The latest trend in tech: Ordering Food Online with Seamless >From individual meals and late-night group orders, to catered meetings and blowout parties, Seamless is the easiest way to feed the office. We link companies and their employees to hundreds of local food options, offer fast and convenient online ordering and provide just one invoice for all food orders. Join us for lunch and learn how we can make your hungry office happy. August 14th @ 12 pm – Lucques August 15th & 12 pm – Wilshire Space is Limited - RSVP today https://seamlessoffice.wufoo.com/forms/los-angeles-lunch-learn/ ------------------------------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------------------------------- Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services We put the "Service" back into Internet Service Provider. http://www.pixelgate.net ------------------------------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------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT JOB POSTINGS More jobs at http://www.socaltech.com/Jobs Members post jobs for free Senior IT Operations Architect/Analyst, La Jolla, Fortis Advisors http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5391 JDE Business Analyst, Los Angeles, TenTek, Inc. http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5390 Project Manager, Los Angeles, TenTek, Inc. http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5389 BPC (MS) Architect, Glendale, TenTek http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5388 Failure Analysis Engineer, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5387 System Administrator, Chatsworth, DataDirect Networks http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5386 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT FUNDING SUMMARY 07/31/12 InstaCanvas $1.7M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44391 07/26/12 Just Fabulous $76.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44308 07/26/12 Apptopia.com $1.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44305 07/26/12 Pop-up Pantry $1.7M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44307 07/25/12 CoDa Therapeutics $20.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44241 07/25/12 NantPharma $125.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=44240 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 MiCardia $4.4M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43098 07/11/12 ValCare $8.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43669 07/11/12 SteelHouse $8.3M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=43670 07/11/12 StackSocial $0.8M 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 2, Los Angeles -- Future of Film in the Digital Age. In the world of filmmaking, Financing, Promotion and Distribution are the three most common challenges that prevent filmmakers from achieving their creative and professional goals. With the rise of crowdfunding and online marketplaces, new doors are opening that allow a new generation of creatives - those who are both talented filmmakers and savvy marketers - to exploit their talents and realize their full potentialNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22647 August 2, Santa Monica -- LA CEOs presents: Scrum for CEOs. LA CEOs, an education and support group for 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. Scrum is not just for developers, it’s common sense project management framework for teams that manage increasing amounts of tasks and priorities.NEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22644 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 world. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22639 August 10, Santa Barbara -- Clean Business Investment Summit. The Clean Business Investment Summit aligns the power of capital to bring together cutting-edge entrepreneurs and investors looking for dynamic opportunities in green, sustainable business with powerful entrepreneur presentations and an outstanding lineup of speakers exploring critical facets in sustainability, business growth strategies, investment opportunities, and more. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22640 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’. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22637 August 22, Santa Monica -- SM New Tech Meetup. 10 min presentation by Winston J. Perez on Concept Modeling for technology entrepreneurs. 5 amazing new tech companies will presentNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22648 August 23, Santa Monica -- TEDxSantaMonica Salon Event. Join TEDxSantaMonica for a salon-style event as we explore how local Santa Monica people are transforming the community and inspiring othersNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/22645 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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). 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. 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 [email protected] http://listserv.socaltech.com/mailman/listinfo/socaltech
