Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Every year at Upfront we try to analyze the venture markets. We try to look at the sources of capital, the valuations, exits and trends. We use this try to draw some context that informs our funding decisions. Of course we fund companies in good markets and bad. In venture our goal is to fund companies over a 10-year+ time horizon, which is the time it takes to build truly transformational companies.

Funding 235

Funding Venture Capital Marketing Writing 235

Berkonomics

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Wouldn’t it be magic if we could find one (unique to us) question to ask people passing the booth or table as they pass in the aisle of the trade show? I asked a number of exhibitors that question recently, and received some surprising responses, along with tips for “reeling them in…”. “Is your mom OK?” was offered by one who said it always worked for him.

Tips 156

Tips Sales Help Email 156

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

The head of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center , the Los Angeles area hospital which has been grappling with a ransomware attack on its systems which nearly shut down the hospital, said in a notice posted to its website that it has paid $17,000 in Bitcoin, in order to access its computer systems and data. According to the hospital, it paid 40 Bitcoins, or approximately $17,000, in order to access the encrypted files and restore access to the hospital's files.

Hollywood 133

Hollywood Demand Email Los Angeles 133

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Streaming services are designed to be easy – open an app, hit play, and you’re pretty much just where you want to be. But the latest range of streaming services also offer a lot of customization options…even if they are hidden from view. Here are the top tips for getting the most out of your streamer of choice. Netflix. Netflix has both quantity and quality.but isn’t very timely.

Tips 54

Tips Netflix Hulu Services 54

Advertiser: Aggregage

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.

Company

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Google disclosed on Wednesday that it is expanding its Google Express service to include fresh groceries in Los Angeles and San Francisco, at least in parts of those cities, as part of an expansion of the same day delivery service. Google already offers up delivery of nonperishable goods from such local supermarkets as Whole Foods, Costco, and Smart and Final, but the new expansion also adds produce, meat, and eggs to the mix.

Los Angeles 122

Los Angeles Google Angel Services 122

Tech Zulu Event

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Much effort and study has been expended to determine how a web site can better convert its visitors to paying customers. While there have been some rather profound successes in the marketplace, there still exists enough uncertainty for many business owners and web developers to hesitate before making a decision on how best to optimize their sites. The good news is there are more than a few ways to improve the chances a visitor will become a customer. .

Sites 40

Sites Search Engine Optimization Technical Review Web Development 40

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. By contrast, predictive analytics uses data patterns to make forward-looking predictions that guide you to where you should go next. This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges.

Social Media 62

Social Media Study Guide Examples 62

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

San Diego-based automotive telematics provider Lytx has been acquired by private equity investor GTCR , in a deal worth more than $500M in cash, the two said this morning. Lytx was founded in 1998, and offers up a video-based, driver safety and telematics system used for tracking driving fleets, encouraging safer driving, and capturing accidents and other events on cameras for fleet managers.

Equity 116

Equity Carson Acquisition San Diego 116

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Camarillo-based Zindagi Games , a mobile games developer known for its title Crazy Kitchen, has quietly been acquired by San Francisco-based Zynga. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The acquisition had been announced as part of Zynga's earnings last week. Zindagi was founded by Umrao Mayer and George Simmons. Zynga said it plans to release a new game, Zindagi's Crazy Cake Swap sometime in the first half of this year.

Acquisition 109

Acquisition Mobile Develop Development 109

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Irvine-based computer products distributor Ingram Micro has agreed to be acquired by Chinese electronics company Tianjin Tianhai , in a deal worth approximately $6.0 billion, the company said late Wednesday evening. According to Ingram Micro, Tianjin Tianhai will pay $38.90 per share for the entire company, a premium of 39 percent over the average closing share price of Ingram Micro for the 30 trading days ended February 16, 2016.

Pricing 109

Pricing Product Company Companies 109

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

IBM and XPRIZE , the Culver City organization which runs major challenges to advance technology and help apply innovation to solving some of the world's biggest challenges, have announced a new IBM Watson AI PRIZE. The new prize offers up a $5M competition, which challenges teams to develop and demonstrate how humans can collaborate positively with artificial intelligence software.

IBM 100

IBM IBM Culver City Artificial Inteligence 100