*socaltech.com <http://socaltech.com> TechNews - Tuesday, April 23, 2024* Edited by Benjamin F. Kuo ISSN: 1524-6736 http://www.socaltech.com/News <https://www.socaltech.com/News> ------------------------------
*Sponsored By * Bank of California (http://www.bancofcal.com) KPMG (http://home.kpmg/us/en/home/about/offices/los-angeles-1.html) Level up with KPMG ------------------------------ *Headlines * - Former Snap Employees Launch Generative AI Firm Easel <#0083929> - Elf Labs Combines AI, Branded Characters <#0083928> - High Temperature Superconductors Gets $5M From DOE <#0083927> - Headspace Aims Health Coaching At Consumer Market <#0083926> - MSBAI Reports Delivery Of AI Tools To Air Force <#0083925> - Grindr Sued For Allegedly Revealing HIV Status To Advertisers <#0083924> - DermTech Seeks Buyer, Chops More Than Half Of Workforce <#0083923> - Triller In Merger With AGBA <#0083922> *Marketplace* - From Idea to IPO - KPMG’s Emerging Growth Practice <#ad760> - Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services <#ad796> - IP Protection for Technology and Business - SoCal IP Law Group LLP <#ad750> *Tuesday, April 23, 2024* *Banc of California, Venture Banking Group <https://www.bancofcal.com>* Banc of California is one of the nation’s premier relationship-based business banks focused on providing banking and treasury management services to small-, middle-market, and venture-backed businesses. Banc of California offers a broad range of loan and deposit products and services through more than 70 full-service branches throughout California and in Denver, Colorado, and Durham, North Carolina, as well as full-stack payment processing solutions through its subsidiary, Deepstack Technologies. The bank is committed to its local communities by supporting organizations that provide financial literacy and job training, small business support, affordable housing, and more. For more information, visit us at www.bancofcal.com. *Former Snap Employees Launch Generative AI Firm Easel* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083929.html> A new startup, Easel, alucnhed today, saying that it has developed a generative AI app which lets you create images of yourself and friends "doing cool things", from Apple's iMessage. The company's founders are CEO Rajan Vaish and Sven Kratz, both former employees at Los Angeles-based Snap. Both apparently were at Snap until 2022, when they were laid off from the company after working in Snap's research division. (More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083929.html>) *Elf Labs Combines AI, Branded Characters* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083928.html> Los Angeles-based Elf Labs said this morning that it has launched a new company, which is combining hundreds of trademarked, iconic fairytale characters with "AI-powered production and distribution technology". ( More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083928.html>) *High Temperature Superconductors Gets $5M From DOE* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083927.html> Santa Barbara-based *High Temperature Superconductors* (HTS), which is developing high-temperature superconducting tape says it has received $5M from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), via the DOE's Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). According to the company, the $5M award will go towards the development of "transformational energy technology applications for fusion power reactors, power transmission cables, and electric aircraft." HTSI is led by CEO Ray Karam.(More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083927.html>) *Headspace Aims Health Coaching At Consumer Market* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083926.html> Santa Monica-based Headspace is aiming at the consumer market with a new mental health coaching service, the company said this morning. According to the company, it will start allowing U.S. consumers to access one-to-one support from a Headspace mental health coach. The company said those coaches are aimed at helping consumer "tackle a wide range of life challenges that may not require a therapist." The company said the service will cost $99. (More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083926.html>) *MSBAI Reports Delivery Of AI Tools To Air Force* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083925.html> Los Angeles-based *MSBAI <https://msb.ai>*, which develops artificial intelligence software, said it has successfull completed an AFWERX Phase 2 SBIR contract for the US Air Force. The company said it provided an AI-driven tool, GURU, which autonomously sets up and runs high speed airplane design simulations for the Air Force. The company did not say how much that Phase 2 SBIR contract was worth. MSBAI was part of the Air Force Techstars 2020 class, according to the company.(More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083925.html>) *Grindr Sued For Allegedly Revealing HIV Status To Advertisers* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083924.html> Los Angeles-based LGBT dating app operator Grindr has been sued, alleging that the company had shared its users' HIV status with advertisers. According to a report from the BBC, the claims alleges that "covert tracking technology" was deployed and that information illegally shared with advertisers. In a statement to the BBC, the company said the claim "appears to be based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago". (More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083924.html> ) *DermTech Seeks Buyer, Chops More Than Half Of Workforce* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083923.html> San Diego-based dermatology technology developer DermTech said yesterday afternoon that it is seeking "strategic alternatives" for the company, and has hired an investment banker to advise it in its efforts. According to the company, a special committee of its board of directors has engaged investment bank TD Cowen to "conduct a process exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value. (More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083923.html>) *Triller In Merger With AGBA* <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083922.html> Los Angeles-based short form video app developer Triller--which competes against TikTok--is merging with a company called AGBA Group Holding Limited, the companies said this week. According to the two, the deal--worth $4 billion--will make AGBA 80 perecent owned by current Triller stockholders and restricted stock unit holders. (More... <https://www.socaltech.com/fullstory/0083922.html>) *From Idea to IPO - KPMG’s Emerging Growth Practice < [email protected]>* KPMG provides Bookkeeping, Audit, Tax, and Advisory services to assist you at any stage of your life cycle. Whether you are starting your business, strengthening your business, expanding into new markets, or pursuing an exit, we have a global network of experienced resources that can take you to the next level. For more information, please contact Ryan Youhan at [email protected]. *Pixelgate.net - Internet Access, Web Hosting, Network Services <http://www.pixelgate.net>* We put the "Service" back into Internet Service Provider. http://www.pixelgate.net *IP Protection for Technology and Business - SoCal IP Law Group LLP <http://www.socalip.com>* Patents. Trademarks. Copyrights. Trade Secrets. IP Filings. IP Strategy. IP Litigation. IP Transactions. US and Worldwide. Offices in Westlake Village and Santa Barbara. [email protected] www.socalip.com ------------------------------ *Recent Funding <#funding>* 4/13/23 Altruist <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=110844> Culver City $112.00 M 2/10/23 Fabric8Labs <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=110604> San Diego $50.00 M 1/31/23 Saviynt <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=110563> El Segundo $205.00 M 1/23/23 ADARx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=110494> San Diego $46.10 M 1/19/23 PLAI Labs <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103242> Culver City $32.00 M 1/19/23 Oro Inc. <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103241> Los Angeles $13.00 M 1/19/23 ContractSafe <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103240> Malibu $27.50 M 1/17/23 Sensible Weather <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103239> Santa Monica $0.00 M 1/10/23 CRISPR QC <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103238> San Diego $1.60 M 1/10/23 Cari Health <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103237> San Diego $3.20 M 1/09/23 PBS Biotech <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103236> Camarillo $22.00 M 12/07/22 Drata Inc. <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103235> San Marcos $200.00 M 10/21/22 Kudos Technologies <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103234> Woodland Hills $7.00 M 9/22/22 TheoryCraft Games <https://www.socaltech.com/intelligence/?action=showdeal&id=103233> Los Angeles $50.00 M ------------------------------ *Upcoming Events* Submit your events at least two weeks in advance to: http://www.socaltech.com/submitevent.html ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ *Sponsored By * KPMG (http://home.kpmg/us/en/home/about/offices/los-angeles-1.html) Level up with KPMG 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://listserv.socaltech.com/mailman/listinfo/socaltech 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) 2017 SOCALTECH LLC. All rights reserved. socalTECH.com - Dedicated to High Tech in Southern California http://www.socaltech.com/ SOCALTECH LLC 501 S. Reino Road, Suite #137, Newbury Park, CA 91320
_______________________________________________ Socaltech mailing list [email protected] http://listserv.socaltech.com/mailman/listinfo/socaltech
