socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

How do you make travel a more rewarding experience--particularly if you're traveling with kids? Go Trexx (www.gotrexx.com), which is based in Mission Viejo, think it's by engaging kids with mobile applications which provide background information, helps to build excitement, and gets kids involved in traveling to different destinations. We spoke with founder and CEO Samantha Lurey on how her startup is trying to make travel with kids--and eventually, adults--more fun, by providing location-based

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Guide Framework Mobile Startup 232

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Dictators are not great leaders in the long run. People follow such leaders by fear, rarely by devotion. Employees want to have a stake in their own destiny, and above all want to understand why actions are taken which affect them, even if the outcome is not in the employee’s favor. The best leaders are those who share problems and alternative solutions with their direct reports, then seek consensus in decisions as a result.

Organization 179

Organization Education Course Email 179

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

San Diego's TVC Capital has made another investment in a growing software firm, this time in Washington State. Limeade , a developer of software-as-a-service tools to manage employee wellness programs, said today that it has raised $5M in a funding round from TVC, which it will use for innovation and servicing its customers. Steven Hammerslag of TVC has joined Limeade's board of directors.

Software 232

Software Capital San Diego Tool 232

SoCal Tech Calendar

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 -- Private Equity Buyouts Making a Comeback! OCTANe. Who is doing deals? How are they getting done? And what are the advantages of partnering with the right firms? Please join us as we discuss current MandA activity, hot sectors, deal valuations, the availability of deal financing and the advantages of partnering with a private equity fund.

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Equity OCTANE Activity Funding 113

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

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Laguna Hills-based Vessix Vascular , a deveveloper of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) balloon catheter technology being targeted at treating hypertension, has been acquired by Boston Scientific Corporation , the two said this morning. The deal is worth an aggregate value of $425M, and includes $125M in an upfront playment plus up to $300M tied to clinical and sales-based milestones.

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Sales Invest Funding Technology 211

Tech Zulu Event

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Being an entrepreneur is about, “The journey through the ‘NO’ to get to the YES’ ” said by Ryan Caldbeck, CEO of CircleUp , on a panel at the Connections Conference in Indianapolis. CircleUp is an online social marketplace that supports direct equity investments from individual investors to small private consumer and retail companies.

Startup 104

Startup Technical Review Search Engine Optimization Los Angeles 104

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Most entrepreneurs who start a company alone soon come to the conclusion that two heads are better than one – someone to share the workload, the hard decisions, and the costs. In a moment of crisis, you may be tempted to take on the first person expressing interest as a co-founder. This would be a mistake, and could easily cost you your startup. If you think about it, you should realize that not everyone is ‘ideal partner material.

Startup 97

Startup Satisfaction Entrepreneur Writing 97

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

The second Silicon Beach Fest , the celebration of all things Silicon Beach, kicks off tomorrow, for a full day of speakers and startup itches. The event--the brainchild of DigitalLA's Kevin Winston--is being held this time at accelerator io/LA, and features sessions on startup accelerators, venture capital, advertising, student startups, and much more.

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Venture Capital Advertising Startup Technology 191

SoCal Delicious

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Follow PandoDaily: Search. Main menu. Skip to primary content. Skip to secondary content. Deals. People. Products. Culture. PandoList. Events. Back Page. Books. New York. Fireside Chat with Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify. Get Tickets. November 8, 2012 6:00 PM Only $20! Veteran LA law firm opens a Silicon Beach office and launches a pro-bono “Precelerator”.

Sherman Oaks 44

Sherman Oaks Riot Games Tips Redpoint 44

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

In the last year, Los Angeles has become a favorite location for conducting "hackathons"--those challenges which encourage developers to create new applications and products around different themes. The latest? A hackathon focused on pets. The Petcentric Hackathon , which is being held on the Amplify campus in Venice, said Thursday that it will offer up a top prize of $3,000 to the top team which comes up with the top ideas and products that help people engage with their pets.

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Venice Los Angeles Ideas Product 190

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Los Angeles-based Row 44 , the developer of in-flight wireless access and entertainment systems, has been acquired in a deal worth approximately $430M, according to Global Eagle Acquisition Corp., Global Eagle said that it will acquired Row 44, along with Advanced Inflight Alliance AG , a German developer of entertainment and connectivity products for the airline industry.

Entertainment 183

Entertainment Los Angeles Acquisition Invest 183

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Hulu , the online television and video streaming service based here in Los Angeles, has just rolled out a new section entirely devoted to children's shows, the company announced this morning. Hulu said its new Hulu Kids section showcases the kids shows available on the site, including such titles as Thomas & Friends, SpongeBob SquarePants, Caillou, Arthur, Dinosaur Train, and more.

Hulu 174

Hulu Training Los Angeles Sites 174

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Looking for some funding for your new Menlo Park venture capital fund? Apparently, according to Variety, that source is increasingly Hollywood , and its stars and executives. In an article talking about where Hollywood's elite is putting its money, variety said that business managers who handle the financial affairs of Hollywood's stars and execs are eagerly looking to place a "significant portion" of their portfolios in the tech sector, often through buying into venture capital funds on Sand Hi

Hollywood 171

Hollywood Venture Capital Equity Capital 171

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Boingo , the Wi-Fi network operator, said today that it has inked a deal with a Brazilian Wi-Fi provider to extend its network in that country. The Los Angeles company said that it has tied with Linktel, the operator of a network of Wi-Fi hotspots in Brazil, to add more than 1,400 hotspots throughout Brazil. Financial details of the link were not announced.

Networking 168

Networking Los Angeles Custom Customer 168

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

NuORDER , a developer of e-commerce software for fashion brands and retailers, has scored a round of funding led by GRP Partners, the company said this morning. The Los Angeles software provider said the $3M, Series A financing round was led by GRP Partners, and also included Greycroft Partners, Aileen Lee, David Tisch, Creative Artists Agency, Brian Spaly, Mortimer Singer and Rachel Zoe Inc.

Commerce 164

Commerce GRP Partners Los Angeles Software 164

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Camarillo-based Transonic Combustion , which is developing high efficiency, fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, said today that it has raised $32M in a Series D funding round. The firm said the round will go towards expanding development of its product and meeting customer commitments. Transonic Combusion is venture backed by Venrock, Khosla Ventures, Rustic Canyon and Saints Capital.

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Rustic Canyon Technology Capital Funding 157

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Santa Monica-based VIRURL , which is headed by Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, said today that it has launched a new widget aimed at web publishers. The firm said its new "Slideout" widget helps provide unobtrusive advertising to help publishers monetize site visitors. VIRURL said its widget lets users click on a "recommended content" link which links users to extra, sponsored content that might be relevant to the content on a page.

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Santa Monica Content Web Advertising 153

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

San Diego-based Auspex Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that it has raised $25M in a funding round, a Series D financing for the company. The round was led by Panorama Capital, and also included Thomas, McNerney & Partners, CMEA Capital, and Sloan Biotech Fund. The firm said the funding will go towards a Phase 3 clinical trail of its lead compound.

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San Diego Capital Funding Company 149

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

The new, mobile hotspot product from Novatel Wireless, the MiFi Liberate , is shipping on November 16th, according to AT&T. AT&T said it will begin offering up its new AT&T Mobile Hotspot MiFi Liberate for $49.99 with a two year agreement. The new hotspot, developed by San Diego's Novatel Wireless , allows users to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi devices to AT&T's LTE, 4G network.

San Diego 147

San Diego Mobile Networking Product 147

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Qualcomm Labs , the incubator subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies , has announced the first set of companies funded through its new QualcommLabs@EvoNexus program today, saying that it has funded three companies with a round of seed funding. Qualcomm Labs said that Arynga , FatSkunk , and Breadcrumbs all have joined the EvoNexus incubator, and with Arynga and FatSkunk receiving $250,000 each from Qualcomm, and Breadcrumbs receiving $50,000.

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Incubator Company Companies Seed Funding 140

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

San Diego-based biotechnology company Genoa Pharma announced this morning that it has raised $1.2M in a finacing round, to help advance its treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Source of the seed funding was not announced. IPF is a fatal lung disease which the company says affects approximately 200,000 Americans and 135,000 Europeans.

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Seed Funding San Diego Help Funding 138

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Players of the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops II title being released next week by Activision Blizzard will be able to stream their games directly to YouTube , according to Activision. Activision Publishing said Thursday that Xbox 360 and PlayStatoin 3 game players will be able to stream their live gameplay on YouTube, in parallel with webcam and audio commentary from users.

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Activision Content 133

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Causecast , the corporate philanthropy firm headed by Ryan Scott, said this week that it has partnered with the White House campaign to inspire girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Causecast said that it is one of a number of private sector organizations working in the Equal Futures Partnership, organized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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Causecast Organization Los Angeles Help 133

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

One of the major tech focused, legal firms in Los Angeles, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP , announced today that it has launched a new co-working and "pre-accelerator" program, which will offer up access to legal services, reviews of business plans, office space, and more to companies looking to enter one of the local accelerators. The firm--which also just officially opened an office on the Third Street promenade in Santa Monica--said the new "Precellerator" will offer 5-6 entrepeneur grou

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Santa Monica Technical Review Startup Venture Capital 113