socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Benjamin F. Kuo Wed, 22 Jan 2014 06:17:14 -0800

socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo
ISSN: 1524-6736
http://www.socaltech.com/News
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--How Tillster Is Unifying Your Restaurant Experience
--Lynda.com Bolsters Executive Team
--Snapchat Ramps Up Security With Captcha Features
--Kareo Gets $29.5M For Cloud Medical Office Software
--BuyAutoParts.com Gets $18.6M In Private Equity Acquisition
--Petnet Finds $1.125M For Smartphone Connected Pet Feeders
--CheckAlt: More Than $4 Billion Processed In 2013
--Intuit Dangles Up to $200 For TurboTax Referrals
--Broadcom Powers Haier Smart Appliances
--Sonos Ties Into Beats Music

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How Tillster Is Unifying Your Restaurant Experience
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The world today is going increasingly digital, to such a degree that
even quick serve and fast casual restaurant chains are eager to
connect with consumers online, via smartphone, and even in their
stores--so that they can better get to know you, market to you, and
encourage you to visit. To help them with that, Los Angeles- and San
Diego-based Tillster, which until recently was known as EMN8, has been
developing a wide range of technology in the area. The company's
President and CEO, Perse Faily, told us how digital ordering now means
not just restaurant kiosks (which the company has been developing even
before the dawn of the smartphone), but also the Internet, mobile
phones, and other devices, and how that has changed the company's
business and strategy.

First of all, let's talk about Tillster, for those who haven't heard
of what you're doing. What is Tillster?

Perse Faily: The genesis of the company, is it was (More...)

http://www.socaltech.com/how_tillster_is_unifying_your_restaurant_experience/s-0053179.html

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Lynda.com Bolsters Executive Team
----
Carpinteria-based online education company lynda.com announced this
morning that it has bolstered its executive team with four new hires.
According to the site--which offers up online, video-based training
courses on a wide range of software and other subjects--it has hired
Alex Zivoder as VP and Managing Director, EMA, Shveta Mujumdar as VP
of Corporate Development, Ken Sandy as VP of Product, and Michael
Lydon as VP of Technology Operations. Zivoder was previously at
Viagogo, and also served at Expedia and Tele2 Group. Mujumdar was most
recently at QuinStreet, and also had been at Live Nation/Ticketmaster
and Goldman Sachs. Lydon was previously at ValueClick serving as VP of
Technology Operations, and also served at Microsoft.

Snapchat Ramps Up Security With Captcha Features
----
Venice, California-based Snapchat seems to have learned its lesson
from its recent security breach, and has proactively added a new
CAPTCHA feature -- asking new users to select images containing its
trademark ghost to prove they are human, and not a machine when
creating an account. The new feature rolled out Tuesday. The move
comes after the company was embarassed by a major exposure of its
users using software which would randomly input phone numbers into its
"Find Friends" feature to link usernames with phone numbers.

Kareo Gets $29.5M For Cloud Medical Office Software
----
The surge in Southern California, cloud-based software investments
continues today, as Irvine-based Kareo said Tuesdaymorning that it has
raised $29.5M (More...)
http://www.socaltech.com/kareo_medical_office_software/s-0053162.html
http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=54493

BuyAutoParts.com Gets $18.6M In Private Equity Acquisition
----
San Diego-based online auto parts retailer BuyAutoParts.com has raised
$18.6M in funding, the company said Tuesday. The funding round came
from Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Capital
Corporation. According to the online retailer, the funding included
$13.0M from Gladstone Investment, with the remainder from Gladstone
Capital, giving it an ownership of a portion of BuyAutoParts.com.
Specific ownership percentages were not announced. BuyAutoParts.com
offers up new, aftermarket new, and remanufactured auto parts.
BuyAutoParts.com had previously revealed it had around $34M in
revenues in 2012, and had expected to have revenues of around $42M in
2013.
http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=54527

Petnet Finds $1.125M For Smartphone Connected Pet Feeders
----
Los Angeles-based Petnet--a developer of automated,
smartphone-connected devices to feed your pets when you are away--said
this morning that it has raised $1.125M in a seed funding round. The
funding came from Grishin Robotics, Kima Ventures, SparkLabs Global
Ventures, and Launch Capital. According to Petnet, the funding goes
towards commercializing its "intelligent pet feeder", which it expects
to ship in mid-2014. Petnet's feeder is a automated device which lets
you feed your pet on a schedule, and track your pet's calories, to
help users who don't have time to feed their pets or properly manage
their pet's diet.
http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=54494

CheckAlt: More Than $4 Billion Processed In 2013
----
Los Angeles-based CheckAlt, the check and payments technology company
headed by Shai Stern, said late last night that it processed over $4
billion dollars in transactions in 2013. The company did not say how
that translates into revenues for the company. CheckAlt offers up
Check 21 processing, mobile payments, services for financial
institutions and financial services firms, and other related
offerings. The company offers up its payments services to banks,
credit unions, and businesses, allowing their customers to make
deposits or payments from their mobile device or mobile wallet using
an electronic check--which is cheaper and faster than ACH payments or
credit card payments.

Intuit Dangles Up to $200 For TurboTax Referrals
----
Intuit said this morning that it is offering up to $200 in Amazon gift
cards for referrals to its TurboTax online tax preparation service.
Intuit--which runs its TurboTax unit out of San Diego--said it will
give customers $10 for every friend they refer to TurboTax for online
tax preparation, up to $200. Intuit says it already has 26 million
customers for the online tax preparation service.

Broadcom Powers Haier Smart Appliances
----
Irvine-based Broadcom said today that its wireless Internet chips are
being used as part of a new line of smart appliances from Haier.
According to Broadcom, Haier is using its Wireless Internet
Connectivity for Embedded (WICED) platform for a number of smart
appliances, including Internet-connected an air conditioner, wine
cooler, refrigerator, water heater and washing machine. All of those
appliance connect via WiFi and Bluetooth into systems for home
appliance control. Financial imapct of the win and anticipated
shipment volumes were not announced.

Sonos Ties Into Beats Music
----
Santa Barbara-based wireless sound system manufacturer Sonos said
today that it has tied its products into the new Beats Music streaming
music service, which was launched today. According to Sonos, Beats
Music can now be streamed directly to its wireless music systems, as
long as users have a subscription to Beats Music. Sonos also said that
as part of the move, MOG -- which was acquired by Beats Music in 2012
as part of the runup to the launch, and already was connected into the
Sonos system -- will be discontinued. Sonos has been connected to MOG
since 2011.

Beats Music Launches Streaming Music Service
----
Beats Music, the streaming music service which is being developed by
Santa Monica-based Beats Electronics, officially launched this morning
on the web and via an iPhone application. The service, which costs
$9.99 a month, is being launched along with partners AT&T and Target.
Beats Electronics is being run by Ian Rogers, the former head of
Topspin Media and GM of Yahoo! Music.

Qualcomm Leads $14M Investment In Fon
----
San Diego-based wireless technology developer Qualcomm is the lead
investor in a $14M round for Spanish Wi-fi sharing network operator
Fon, the companies have announced. According to Fon, it raised $14M in
a new financing round, led by Qualcomm Ventures, and also including
Index Ventures, Google, Coral, Atomico and Deutsche Telekom (DT). Fon
operates a Wi-fi hotspot sharing network, which lets users share
bandwidth on their home Wi-Fi network in exchange for getting free
access to other, Fon hotspots.
http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=54492

Broadcom Wins Home Gateway Product Design
----
Irvine-based chipmaker Broadcom reported a design win today, in a new
home gateway from Swisscom. According to Broadcom, its 5G WiFi
solutions are powering a new dual-band xDSL/fiber gateway from
Swisscom. Financial impact and shipping volumes of the design win were
not nanounced.

Olloclip Signs Up Distributor
----
Huntington Beach-based Olloclip, the developer of the popular
combination lenses for the iPhone, announced this morning that it has
signed on an exclusive distributor of its product to the action sports
industry. Olloclip said that Dwindle Distribution--a distributor of
skateboard products and apparel--is the exclusive action sports
distributor for its products. Olloclip's photo lenses include
combination fish eye and wide angle lenses, which snap onto the iPhone
and iPod touch.

QLogic Ties With Brocade
----
Aliso Viejo-based storage area networking hardware developer QLogic
and storage networking switch maker Brocade Communications said Friday
that the two are in a new, strategic alliance. The two companies said
they have entered into a broad technology alliance agreement, where
they will jointly develop capabilities to enhance Fibre Channel
technology, align their product plans and testing, and jointly market
SAN solutions for data centers. Financial details of the link were not
announced.

Cornerstone OnDemand Wins New Belgium Brewing
----
Santa Monica-based software developer Cornerstone OnDemand reported
today that it has scored a win at New Belgium Brewing as a customer.
Financial details of the win were not announced. Cornerstone OnDemand
said that the major brewing company--the third largest brewer of craft
beer in the nation--will use its software for recruiting, learning
management, and other employee management for its 500 employees. New
Belgium is the company behind the Fat Tire Amber Ale brand.

MaxLinear In Design Win With Satellite Equipment Maker
----
Carlsbad-based radio frequency (RF) chip maker MaxLinear is in a
design win with satellite equipment operator Pro Brand International,
according to the company. Financial impact of the customer win was not
announced. MaxLinear said that Pro Brand INternational is using its
systems-on-a-chip for a direct braodcast, satellite digital antenna.
Shipping volumes were not announced.

Wallaby Gets PCI Certification
----
Pasadena-based financial startup Wallaby, the developer of apps to
help consumers pick the best credit card for a specific purchase, said
it has been certified by the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security
Standards Council, the group which oversees credit card industry
security standards. Wallaby--which is also working on a physical
credit card to virtually steer specific purchases to other credit
cards--said the move is a "Significant benchmark" for the company.
Wallaby is led by Matthew Goldman, and is venture backed by Founders
Fund Angel, WI Harper Group, SLP Ventures, and others.

ValueClick Completes Sale Of Business Unit
----
Westlake Village-based ValueClick said late Thursday that it has
completed its sale of its Owned & Operated Websites segment, which
included Investopedia, Pricerunner, as well as other websites.
Financial details of the sale have not been announced. ValueClick
announced the sale of the units to IAC in December.

FutureLogic Shuffles Executive Team
----
Glendale-based FutureLogic, the manufacturer of thermal ticket
printing and other products, reported it has shuffled its senior
leadership team Thursday. The company said that Eric Meyerhofer has
replaced Miles Arone, who remains on the company's board, and that the
company has named Peter Murphy as CEO and Nick Ortyle as Chief
Operating Officer. Murphy was previously the company's COO, and
previously served at Astrodyne, Parlex, and IPC. Ortyl joins the
company from L-3 Communicaitons, where he was VP and GM. Ortyl also
served at John Deere and Dresser Industries.

Kite Pharma Names Regulatory VP
----
Los Angeles-based Kite Pharma announced this morning that it has named
a new VP. The biotechnology company--which is developing treatments
for cancer--said it has named Rizwana F. Sproule, Ph.D. as Vice
President, Regulatory Affairs. Sproule was previously at Amgen,
including serving as Executive Director, Therapeutic Area Head for
Oncology Global Regulatory Affairs. She also served at SmithKline
Beecham Pharmaceuticals.

Southern California Startups Raise More Than $598.4M In VC In Q4
----
Southern California's venture capital investments totaled a little
more than $598. (More...)

Maker Studios Taps AOL Vet As New International President
----
Los Angeles- based Maker Studios said Thursday that it has hired Rene
Rechtman, a former AOL executive, as its new President of
international operations. As part of the appointment, Maker also said
that Rechtman has made an investment in the company. Size of that
investment was not announced. The company said that Rechtman will head
up partnership efforts abroad for the content network. Rechtman was
most recently CEO of AOL's branded content division.

AqueSys Raises $43.6M For Glaucoma Treatments
----
Aliso Viejo-based AqueSys, a medical device firm developing
stent-based treatments for glaucoma, said this morning that it has
raised $43.6M in a Series D funding. ACcording to the company, the
round came from Accuitive Medical Ventures, The Carlyle Group,
Longitude Capital, Rho Ventures, and SV Life Sciences, along with new,
undisclosed investors. The round was led by that new, undisclosed
investor. AqueSys develops stents which are used for treating
glaucoma, which the company says safely and significantly lowers
intraocular pressure by subconjunctival drainage. The company is led
by Ron Bache.
http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=54442

Fullscreen Buys Viddy
----
Culver City-based YouTube network Fullscreen said late Wednesday that
it has acquired Supernova, the company which was formerly known as
Viddy. Financial terms of the buy were not announced, however, several
publications have placed the deal at around $15.0M. According to
Fullscreen, the buy will help it add products, infrastructure, and a
team to its efforts. Viddy had relaunched itself as Supernova in
September, as it looked to recast itself as a developer of range of
social apps. Supernova had originally raised more than $37M in
funding, however, gave back $18.0M of that funding in a recap in May
of last year.

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