socaltech.com TechNews - Wednesday, April 12, 2017 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 La Visual (http://Lavisual.com) A Branding, Product Strategy & Rapid Prototyping Accelerator Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Make next happen now. Safire Partners (http://www.safirepartners.com). Los Angeles-based executive search for emerging growth companies ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --Chris Hollod On Investing With Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, and Ron Burkle --Here's One Tech Company With No Gender Issue: LA's Evite --AEG Launches New Division, AEG Studios --TP-Link Launches Mesh Networking System --RippleNami Ties With BanQ --MFour Mobile Research Raises $5M --Soylent CEO Avoids Risk Of Jail In Zoning Case MARKETPLACE --RECURRING REVENUE CONFERENCE - April 26 - Marina Del Rey --Media 2.0 w/Peter Csathy & Preccelerator Program Demo Day - May 18 --Oracle --Safire Partners Executive Search --Early Stage Commercial Insurance - Pacific Unified Insurance Agency RECENT JOB POSTINGS RECENT FUNDING EVENTS ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Stradling Stradling, Attorneys At Law (http://www.sycr.com) Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth (“Stradling”) is a premier business law firm with over 125 attorneys and 10 offices in the western US. The offices are: Newport Beach, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, San Diego, San Francisco - SOMA, San Francisco - Financial District, Sacramento, Reno, Denver, Seattle. The Firm’s corporate, litigation and public law practices are well known for their expertise and depth. Stradling's clients include emerging and high growth public and private companies as well as private equity funds, venture capital groups and their respective portfolio companies. Widely recognized for its expertise, responsiveness and outstanding client service, the Firm's size, structure, and culture allow it to provide the highest quality representation while maintaining the responsiveness and relationships commonly associated with smaller firms. ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Chris Hollod On Investing With Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, and Ron Burkle ---- Many investors, and many startups have heard of A-Grade Investments—the investment firm created by Ashton Kutcher, Guy Oseary, and Ron Burkle—and the many investments it has made, in such huge, breakout companies as Uber, Skype, Airbnb, Spotify, Pinterest, Warby Parker, and many others—an investment that has now grown to be worth more than $250M. Chris Hollod who is Managing Partner of A-Grade Investments, and is now one of the partners in Burkle's newest venture fund, Inevitable Ventures (www.inevitablevc.com), sat down with us to tell the story of how he went from growing up in Atlanta to becoming the right hand man for billionaire Ron Burkle, how he instantly fell in love with LA, and how his approach to investing has helped to arguably make A-Grade the most successful startup investor in LA. Hollod is now joined up with Burkle and recording artist D.A. Wallach on investments out of a new fund, Inevitable Ventures. How did you end up here in Los Angeles doing investments? Chris Hollod: Growing up in Atlanta, I was completely oblivious to California and more specifically LA. My only relationship with LA was through the movies, so I naively synonymized LA with the glitz and glamour (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/chris_hollod_on_investing_with_ashton_kutcher_guy_oseary_and_ron_burkle/s-0069954.html Here's One Tech Company With No Gender Issue: LA's Evite ---- With all the hand wringing in the tech industry over gender balance and equity, here's one company that apparently has no issue: LA-based Evite, the online invitations service. According to Evite, women currently make up 59 percent of its total employees, and 52 percent of its senior leadership roles, which includes its technical positions. (More...) http://www.socaltech.com/here_s_one_tech_company_with_no_gender_issue_la_s_evite/s-0069955.html AEG Launches New Division, AEG Studios ---- Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment company AEG said Tuesday that it has launched a new, in-house branded content division, AEG Studios, which will provide creation, production and development of original content for the company and its brand partners. The new division will be led by Raymond Leon Roker. AEG said the unit will support its existing global partnerships across its sports, music, and facilities business units, including developing virtual reality and 360-degree video, documentary and episodic programming. TP-Link Launches Mesh Networking System ---- Brea, California-based networking products maker TP-Link has jumped into the consumer Wi-Fi mesh networking market, with the launch of a new product called the Deco M5. Mesh networking allows multiple home Wi-Fi routers to communicate with each other to extend Wi-Fi coverage throughout a house, overcoming issues with poor coverage. TP-Link says its Deco M5 Whole-Home Wi-Fi systems will sell as a three-unit multi-pack, both through retailers and also HSN. TP-Link said its Wi-Fi system is capable of speeds up to 400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 867Mbps on the 5GHz band with support for MU-MIMO data streaming. RippleNami Ties With BanQ ---- San Diego-based RippleNami, which develops cloud-based data visualization tools, said on Tuesday that it has entered into a strategic parnership with Blockchain technology developer BanQu. According to the two, they are integrating RippleNami's data visualization software for BanQu's blockchain identity technology. The companies said the technologies specifically are aimed at helping users in such areas as East Africa, Latin America and South America, and particularly, helping establish "economic identities" for refugees and the impoverished. Banqu is using blockchain as the basis of a digital identification and financial system aimed at the unbanked, but who have access to mobile phones. The two did not say how BanQ is using RippleNami's software. MFour Mobile Research Raises $5M ---- Irvine-based MFour Mobile Research, a developer of mobile survey and research software, announced today that it has raised $5M in a new funding round. The funding came from Kayne NewRoad Ventures Fund. According to the company, the funding will go towards scaling technology and research staff. MFour is led by CEO Chris St. Hilaire. MFour said it has more than 1 million people accessible via its panel, and will also use the funding to has launched new mobile ad measurement products. http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/index.php?action=showdeal&id=82600 Soylent CEO Avoids Risk Of Jail In Zoning Case ---- Robert Rhinehart, the CEO of Los Angeles-based alternative meal replacement startup Soylent, has avoided the risk of being sent to jail, as part of a plea agreement over code violations at his Montecito Heights home, according to a report today. Soylent develops meal replacement products, aimed at letting people completely skip the bother of eating a meal. The zoning case is just one a number of issues that Rhinehart is dealing with at the moment, including dealing with the recall of its powder product in October after reports of users getting "violently sick", and one of its suppliers cutting off supplies after Soylent blamed ingredients from that supplier for the issues. Soylent is named after the food replacement products in the dystopian film "Soylent Green", featuring Charlton Heston. http://www.socaltech.com/soylent_ceo_avoids_risk_of_jail_in_zoning_case/s-0069950.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKETPLACE Reach 10000+ readers for 5 days for $250 Post your marketplace ad at: http://www.socaltech.com/postad.html ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- RECURRING REVENUE CONFERENCE - April 26 - Marina Del Rey Today's analytical insights, coupled with disciplined tactics are enabling companies to deepen their customer relationships in unparalleled ways. Whether you are a SaaS or subscription business, or if customer retention is critical for your success, the RECURRING REVENUE CONFERENCE is the event to learn from the tech pioneers. Over 30 speakers from companies such as: ZipRecruiter, Zoom, Ring Central, Yapstone, Tinder, HopSkipDrive, Snack Nation, Wavemaker Ventures, and more. Panel discussions include: Scaling a Subscription Business; Lessons Learned from Two Unicorn Companies; Fuel for your Growing Business, and many more. April 26, 2017 . 9:30am-5:30pm. Cocktail reception: 5:30-7:30pm Marina Del Rey Marriott. http://www.recurringrevenueconference.com Register at: https://rrc2017.eventbrite.com and enter promo code: SoCalTECH100off for a $100 discount on the ticket price. Limited time only available until 4/17. This event will sell out. Questions? Contact: Nancy Hammerman at: [email protected] ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Media 2.0 w/Peter Csathy & Preccelerator Program Demo Day - May 18 Clear your calendar - It's going down! The Preccelerator Program Demo Day kicks off on May 18th @ 5:30pm, and you're invited to take part in the festivities. SAM Preccelerator Program is our meeting spot to showcase the Preccelerator's current class of all-star companies to investors and the start-up community. Followed by keynote speaker Peter Csathy, founder of Creatv Media and author of Media 2.0(17): An Insider's Guide to Today's World of Digital Media & Where It's Going. Register today! https://demodaypetercsathy.splashthat.com/?gz=a5c30705f72de01e21c60aeed63d2d15&pp=1 ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Oracle Oracle offers a comprehensive and fully integrated stack of cloud applications and platform services for small and mid-sized businesses. For more information about Oracle (NYSE:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com. In Los Angeles, contact Ryan Mondillo ([email protected]). ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- Safire Partners Executive Search Safire Partners is a 15-person Los Angeles-based executive search firm built for SoCal 's emerging companies working on ~100 searches per year. Clients cross over mobile, adtech, media, gaming, software, ecommerce, services, and consumer products. We always want to meet great companies, investors and executives, please reach out via http://www.safirepartners.com. ------------------------------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 D&O, Property, Liability, Workers Comp, E&O, 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 [email protected] ------------------------------ADVERTISEMENT------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT JOB POSTINGS More jobs at http://www.socaltech.com/Jobs Members post jobs for free Associate Recruiter, Los Angeles, Safire Partners http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5684 Senior Product Development Manager, Irvine, Belkin http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5680 Director of Communication Systems Engineering, Hawthorne, SpaceX http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5679 Marketing Manager, Los Angeles, Belkin http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5678 Software Engineer, Los Angeles, Factual http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5677 Interim Controller/CFO Consultants and other Accounting/Finance Consultants, Los Angeles, Agility Financial Partners, LLC http://www.socaltech.com/showjob.php?id=5676 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RECENT FUNDING SUMMARY 04/11/17 MFour Mobile Research Inc. $5.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82600 04/10/17 Neural Analytics, Inc. $10.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82595 04/06/17 Sommetrics, Inc. $12.3M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82592 04/06/17 SOCi $8.5M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82589 04/04/17 Virtualitics $4.5M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82461 03/31/17 Echo Laboratories, Inc. $7.5M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=82381 03/22/17 Purple Squirrel $2.7M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=81880 03/22/17 Edlio $40.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=81879 03/21/17 Rocket Labs $75.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=81874 03/15/17 ProducePay $7.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=81711 03/14/17 Oben, Inc. $0.0M http://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=81710 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 April 12, Corona -- Funding your Innovation. Santa Ana District SBDC. This course is about selling your innovation to investors, grant proposal reviewers, potential strategic partners, and to your intended customers. They are each distinguishable in terms of how to be approached, but all share very similar buyer behavior characteristics, especially in the face of change and disruption. While a fast moving world can be exciting, when you tell someone that your product is “innovative”, “revolutionary”, “discontinuous”, “disruptive”, or “turning the way things are done on its head”, you may see a lot of doors closed and protective barriers thrown up against you. There are specific criteria that investors, partner prospects, and grant proposal reviewers are basing their personal decisions upon. We all need to understand buyer behavior and how people adopt innovations through a market development life cycle if we want succeed in getting them to open up to us. The following questions that plague entrepreneurs will be answered: 1. Do you need to build better market traction? 2. Do investors say that you are too early for them? 3. Are your target customers not buying-in? 4. Do you wonder why less qualified products are more successful in the market than yours? 5. Are you struggling to transition from early market visionary customers to mainstream market success?. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25647 April 12, Thousand Oaks -- Mobile Device Battery Breakthrough. Clean Technology Council. Leland Smith shows how his new Millibatt can power the new breed of devices and small wearables that were not feasible with existing coin-cell or thin-film batteries. His batteries provide up to times higher energy density. The impact of this technology is enormous. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25669 April 13, Los Angeles -- Virtual and Augmented Reality Tech Salon. Join us (FREE) to discover what is happening in the world of Virtual and Augmented Reality. How will healthcare be transformed? Will I attend my college lecture course virtually? How will the way we experience cinema change? What will the definition of social situations evolve to mean? How small will the world really get? How much can our imaginations actually handle. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25671 April 18, Irvine -- Becoming Investor Ready - Art of the Fast Pitch. A short Fast Pitch presentation (60 to 90 second) is a must have tool that every entrepreneur should know how to eloquently deliver. When you have an opportunity to give a quick snap shot of your venture you want to leave the person with asking for more information. Watch other entrepreneurs master the art of the 60-second investor presentations followed by investors’ questions. You will see what it takes to hone a succinct “elevator pitch” for situations you need to quickly communicate your value proposition, and gain the interest of potential partners and contributors. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25639 April 19, Irvine -- TCVN Workshop: How to Avoid Common Entrepreneur Mistakes. Starting a business is hard! If only it was as simple as building your prototype and executing on your business plan! At the same time, you need to make sure you don’t get whacked on the back of the head because you ignored (or were not aware of) certain legal requirements, which can render your company unfundable in the eyes of an investorNEW . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25681 April 19, Los Angeles -- Silicon Beach Networking Mixer At Wurstkuche in Venice. Join Us For A Night Of Networking With Startup Professionals In Silicon Beach! Support women entrepreneurs and Join the fastest growing tech community in Los Angeles! Meet new people and participate in lively discussions with outstanding names in the Silicon Beach community. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25675 April 22, Pasadena -- Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - The Future of Startups. What is the future of Entrepreneurship? The event will begin with a Keynote Presentation from Preston McAfee, Chief Economist & CVP of Microsoft. He will examine the future of Entrepreneurship in new markets, new organizations, new business metrics and entirely new classes of jobs within future Startups. Dr McAfee and a panel of speakers will share their views on these opportunities and the challenges entrepreneurs will face with future Startups. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25628 April 22, Pasadena -- Caltech Entrepreneurs Forum - The Future of Startups. Startups in 2027 and Beyond: Opportunities and Challenges for Entrepreneurs in the Next Decade. The event will begin with a Keynote Presentation from Preston McAfee, Chief Economist & CVP of Microsoft. He will examine the future of Entrepreneurship in new markets, new organizations, new business metrics and entirely new classes of jobs within future Startups. Dr McAfee and a panel of speakers will share their views on these opportunities and the challenges entrepreneurs will face with future Startups. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25637 April 24, Irvine -- SBIR/STTR Workshop. TriTech SBDC and UCI's "The Cove" are working together to bring you a complimentary workshop that provides a detailed overview of the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Small technology based organizations are eligible to apply for the funds available under these programs. This workshop provides an overview of the eligibility considerations, information about the programs, and hints for success in obtaining SBIR or STTR funds. This workshop will focus on the SBIR and STTR programs sponsored by federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25645 April 26, Los Angeles -- Purpose-driven manufacturing: backing up your brand with ethical and sustainable practices (MAKE IT Monthly event). Today’s consumer increasingly seeks products that they feel good about. Whether you are a purpose-driven brand or just a company with a conscience, live up to your brand promise. At this month's MAKE IT talk hosted at Califia Farms HQ, sustainability consultant and Principle Engineer Carolyn Casavan shares guidelines to implement ethical and sustainable practices in your factory or supply chain–and to educate your customers so they care. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25678 April 26, Los Angeles -- Recurring Revenue Conference. Join local entrepreneurs, SaaS innovators, leading VCs, private equity/angel investors April 26, 2017 at the Recurring Revenue Conference (www.recurringrevenueconference.com) presented by Sutton Capital Partners. Whether you are a SaaS or subscription business, or if customer retention is critical to your success, this is the venue to attend. Use PROMO CODE: SocalTECH for 20% discount. Questions? contact: [email protected] or See https://rrc2017.eventbrite.com . See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25604 April 27, Los Angeles -- Growth Capital Conference. Network with capital sources, advisors, deal makers and 100 entrepreneurs seeking capital & counsel. DEAL DISPLAYtm showcases growing firms needing capital. View products, online demos. Hot Networking Breakfast at 7:00 AM sharp. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25591 April 27, Los Angeles -- Radix Collective Independent PR Summit. The Radix Collective Independent PR Summit is a one-day business conference created by independents for independents who want to grow their business and network with peers. Whether you call yourself freelance PR, a consultant, or have a solo-agency, the PR Summit features business topics at the core of importance to any Independent PR Pro. Programming includes business development, personal branding, legal and finance, subcontracting with agencies, and more. This event will inspire and help supercharge your business in 2017 and beyond.. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25630 May 4, Santa Monica -- LA CEOs presents: Drones – Today, Tomorrow, The Future. This CEO & CFO only breakfast will focus on Drones and led by Dan Burton Founder and CEO of DroneBase, the world's leading drone services company with 15,000+ commercial drone flights in over 40 countries. Dan was an early user of military and commercial drone systems, serving as a Marine Infantry Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan and building / piloting commercial drones starting in 2012. Dan also worked at Goldman Sachs and the US Senate, and went to HBS for an MBA. This event restricted to CEOs & CFOs only, a confirmed RSVP required. No service providers admitted.. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25676 May 6, Santa Monica -- ZipRecruiter Hackathon 2017. Can you help someone find their dream, future, or next job? Got a concept HR would love? Have an awesome idea you can’t wait to share? ZipRecruiter is hosting its first-ever Hackathon, and we want to see what great minds can build when they come together to compete for some amazing prizes. Calling all programmers, designers, project managers, and more...sign up t today. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25677 May 10, Santa Monica -- Designing UX with Willy Lai, recent Apple UX Design Director. Lai’s hands-on workshop teaches designers, product managers, marketing managers, and engineers how to design successful user experiences for software products and services across devices. Email [email protected]. See http://www.socaltech.com/calendar/eventid/25646 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsored by: TVC Capital LLC (www.tvccapital.com) Investments in and Acquisitions of Growing Software Companies Silicon Valley Bank (http://www.svb.com). Make next happen now. Stubbs Alderton Markiles, LLP (http://www.stubbsalderton.com). Business. Technology. Law. Vision. 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 PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.socaltech.com/pwc). Shimokaji IP (http://www.shimokaji.com) Bettering Life Through Creative Ideas La Visual (http://Lavisual.com) A Branding, Product Strategy & Rapid Prototyping Accelerator 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. 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