Tue.Jul 26, 2016

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How to Build a Startup & Understanding Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

Many first-time founders seek advice when thinking about what ideas would be great for a startup company and receive the wrong advice that you need to focus on a billion-dollar idea. There are very few ideas that are obviously a billion-dollar idea from the start. So what should you do? I advise founders to focus on what I call “basecamp,” which is the first level of success or validation at a startup.

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Scopely Raises $55M For Mobile Games Empire

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile game developer Scopely has raised a big, $55M funding round, the company said today, to help grow the company's catalog of mobile games. According to Scopely, the new financing round was led by Greycroft Growth Fund and Elephant Partners, and also included Evolution Media Capital, the joint fund of CAA and TPG Growth, along with Highland Capital, Sands Capital Ventures and Take-Two Interactive.

Mobile 154
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Neil Clark Warren Steps Down as eHarmony’s CEO

L.A. Business Journal

Neil Clark Warren is retiring from his position as chief executive of eHarmony. He will retain his position as chairman of the dating website.

eHarmony 130
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Green Commuter Hopes To Use A Tesla Model X Fleet To Get You To Work In Style

socalTECH

Tired of commuting to work in that generic looking white van pool? A new, Los Angeles startup, Green Commuter , says it plans to roll out a fleet of all-electric, seven-seat Tesla Model X as part of a new vanpool and car sharing service. According to the startup--based in the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)--it plans to launch on August 1st with an Indiegogo campaign, to find commuters interested in its yet-to-be-launched service.

Incubator 148
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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.

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The HQ Presents: Collaborative Communication

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, July 27, 2016 -- The HQ Presents: Collaborative Communication. Bring Authenticity to Networking and Interviews Join the HQ on Wednesday, July 27th for an interactive, improvisational workshop to improve your interpersonal communication skills at networking events and job interviews. Facilitator Gillian Bellinger will lead us in a series of exercises aimed to help interviewees bring authenticity to their interviewing skills and help hiring managers bring efficacy to their interview tec

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BandLab Updates Social Music App

socalTECH

Los Angeles- and Singapore-based BandLab says it has launched a new, updated app, which lets its users create, collaborate, and share music. BandLab's software lets users collaborate together on music, combining musical tools like guitar effects with the ability to record video, add special effects and filters, add emojis and drawings, and more to music.

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Vizio Acquired By Chinese TV Maker LeEco For $2 Billion

socalTECH

Irvine-based Vizio , which makes HDTV and other electronics products, is in a deal to be acquired by Chinese television maker LeEco , the two said late Monday, in a deal worth $2 billion. According to the two companies, LeEco will pay $2 billion in cash for Vizio, which is privately held. Vizio is the last TV manufacturer to be based in the United States.

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Expressive Robotics - UCI Summer Academies in the Arts

SoCal Tech Calendar

Monday, August 1, 2016 -- Expressive Robotics - UCI Summer Academies in the Arts. Program and design in an artistic setting! Collaborate to create robotic projects by stimulating innovation through imaginative thinking. No programming skills required.

UCI 100
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Wpromote Buys Standing Dog For Digital Marketing Efforts

socalTECH

El Segundo-based digital marketing company Wpromote said on Tuesday that it has acquired online marketing agency Standing Dog , which provides search engine marketing, SEO, social media and paid media services. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Wpromote says it has hired on senior management and more than 70 employees from Standing Dog, which will help boost the company's annual run rate to $35M this year.

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Silicon Beach Report July 26: Neil Clark Warren Steps Down as eHarmony’s CEO

L.A. Business Journal

Neil Clark Warren steps down as eHarmony’s chief executive, SteelHouse Countersues rival, Scopely raises $55 million, and more.

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Dropoff Brings Same Day, On-Demand Delivery Services To LA

socalTECH

Dropoff , an on-demand, same day delivery startup, said today that it has launched its services in Los Angeles, as the first expansion of the startup into California. The startup, based in Austin, Texas, says it is targeting its on-demand delivery service at businesses, particularly those in the film and television, health care, professional services, food and grocery, and retail area.

Demand 116
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Clinton Versus Trump: Who’s Stronger on Innovation?

Xconomy

With the Republican National Convention behind us and the Democratic convention in full swing, it seems like a good moment to ask how a Donald Trump presidency or a Hillary Clinton presidency might affect the prospects for high-tech entrepreneurship and business growth in the United States. At this stage, both candidates have given major economic addresses, and both parties have published their platforms.

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Sandler Partners Buys X4 Solutions

socalTECH

Hermosa Beach-based Sandler Partners , a distributor and provider of communications, telecom, and cloud IT services, has acquired X4 Solutions , a MIdwestern "master agency" in the telecom and cloud services area. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Sandler Partners said the combined company will genearate $65M in revenues this year.

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Ostendo Raising Funds to Advance Virtual Reality Display Technology

Xconomy

Ostendo Technologies, a Carlsbad, CA-based company founded in 2005 to advance curved screens and other innovative display technologies, has raised $41.8 million of a new financing round intended to bring in $62.8 million, according to a recent regulatory filing. The financing includes both new investment funding and a conversion of debt to equity, according to a notation in the filing.

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Demand Media Names Marketing VP

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Demand Media said today that it has named Matt Gehring as the company's new Vice President of Marketing. Gehring was most recently VP of Marketing for Touch of Modern, and previously served at Provide Commerce, Marchex, Classmates.com and Musicmatch. Demand Media said Gehring will be responsible for marketing at its properties Saatchi Art and Society6.

Demand 109
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Profitability Helps San Diego Lender Step Out from Industry Cloud

Xconomy

With a cloud lingering over the peer-to-peer lending industry, privately held National Funding is disclosing new details today about its operations, in a bid to step into the light and differentiate itself as a fintech company and alternative lender. In contrast to some alternative lenders, the San Diego firm said it is growing fast and is consistently profitable.

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SteelHouse Countersues Criteo Over Click Fraud

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based advertising software developer SteelHouse said this morning that it has sued French retargeting firm Criteo , claiming false advertising, intentional interference with contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and unfair competition. The lawsuit was file in the Central District of California. SteelHouse said the countersuit comes as it alleges over 50 percent of Criteo's revenue is coming from fraudulent sources.

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Fintech Lender Uses Profitability to Step Out from Industry Cloud

Xconomy

With a cloud lingering over the peer-to-peer lending industry, privately held National Funding is disclosing new details today about its operations, in a bid to step into the light and differentiate itself as a fintech company and alternative lender. In contrast to some alternative lenders, the San Diego firm said it is growing fast and is consistently profitable.

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Atom Tickets In Big Expansion

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile movie ticketing provider Atom Tickets , which is led by Ameesh Paleja, said on Monday that it has expanded its mobile movie ticketing platform to Dallas, Houston, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Kansas City, Charlotte and Raleigh. The new markets are in addition to Los Angeles/Southern California, Atlanta and Nashville. According to Atom Tickets, the new markets are the first in a national expansion for the company, which expects to be available nationwide by the end of summer.

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Keep Calm and Change Often

Frank Addante

In life and in business, change is a constant. Some changes happen unexpectedly, others we can anticipate, and still others we enact ourselves. No matter what kind of change you’re facing, if you have the right mindset, I believe you can leverage change to innovate and grow. Here are some thoughts I have on how to not only embrace change, but to use it to propel your team and your company forward: Let Go of Expectations: The writer William Faulkner once said about the writing process, “You have

Ideas 40
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Dryve Takes On Car Washes, Gas Fillups, So You Don't Have To

socalTECH

Are you one of those folks who just doesn't want to deal with filling up the car, getting your oil changed, or washing your car--but still need to have your own car? A new startup, Dryve , based in Los Angeles, said it has launched a proof of concept here to handle refueling, oil changes, and washes for users. The startup says it is looking to serve consumers who are too busy or uninterested in managing their car maintenance, with a "concierge" to handle all of those car needs.

Demand 109
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Keep Calm and Change Often

Frank Addante

In life and in business, change is a constant. Some changes happen unexpectedly, others we can anticipate, and still others we enact ourselves. No matter what kind of change you’re facing, if you have the right mindset, I believe you can leverage change to innovate and grow. Here are some thoughts I have on how to not only embrace change, but to use it to propel your team and your company forward: Let Go of Expectations: The writer William Faulkner once said about the writing process, “You have

Ideas 40
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Kite & Lightning Gets $2.5M For VR Studio

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Kite & Lightning , a new virtual reality studio, has raised $2.5M in a seed funding round, the company announced this morning. The round was led by Raine Ventures, and also included Courtside Ventures, Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund, Social Capital, Outpost Capital, Boost VC, & Jason Rosenthal, CEO of Lytro. According to Kit & Lightning, the funding goes to expand its title Bebylon Battle Royale, a virtual reality title which focuses on "competitive spectator gaming