socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

Forbes Magazine has released a list of the top technology billionaires in the world , with six Southern California technology moguls listed. Topping the list at #15 was Elon Musk , who splits his time between Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, with a net worth of $13.9 billion; David Sun and John Tu , the co-founders of Fountain Valley-based Kingston Technology, shared the spot at #41, with a net worth of $4.5 billion each.

Southern California 157

Southern California .Net Snapchat Los Angeles 157

Eric Greenspan

AUGUST 6, 2015

Fiesta or Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara has been an annual festival in Santa Barbara and has been equally present for all of the 28 years I’ve been here. I’ve often avoided it. Traffic, people, drunks, confetti, fattening food, and other debauchery. This week however, I took my three kids and a wonderful woman and magically, it all made sense.

Santa Barbara 125

Santa Barbara 125

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

Los Angeles-based Clutter , the on-demand storage startup which is aiming to make it almost effortless to store your extra stuff, has raised $1.3M in a funding round. Source of the new funding was not disclosed. Clutter also said it has expanded its services into the Bay Area. Clutter has previously raised funding from Resolute Ventures, AmplifyLA, plus angels such as Matt Coffin, David Sacks, and Joanne Wilson.

Demand 148

Demand Los Angeles Funding Services 148

Tech Zulu Event

AUGUST 6, 2015

The considerable hype that Jet.com received prior to its launch created high hopes for the subscription shopping program. In the months and days leading up to its debut, Jet CEO and founder Marc Lore tried again and again to downplay the notion that his company would compete head-to-head with Amazon. Those efforts failed, but now that it’s live , consumers and analysts can and will decide on their own whether it fulfills their expectations — not to mention Lore’s recurring promises.

Pricing 58

Pricing Commerce Startup Study 58

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

AUGUST 6, 2015

It's been a bad week for drivers for ride service provider Uber this week, as they were not only shut out of LAX by pressure on the LA City Council from the taxi industry--but also because one of their drivers was shot in Venice, in gang crossfire. In the Venice shooting incident, an Uber driver was shot and wounded, after suspected gang members took a shot at the driver's passengers--who themselves were arrested, after police found they were armed and also suspected of being gang members.

Venice 144

Venice Services 144

Berkonomics

AUGUST 6, 2015

This piece of wisdom came from Jeff Bezos, founder & CEO of Amazon, during a board meeting for one of the companies where he sits as board member. Jeff asked the question “Is there anything big or small, which is working better than you expected? Is there anywhere we could double down?”. Bezos’ point was that we spend a lot of time focusing on what’s not working in Board meetings (especially during difficult times) and not enough time focusing on what is surpassing expectations and how we c

Resource 211

Resource Statistics Email Sales 211

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

Fountain Valley-based D-Link is making a further move into the home automation space, saying this morning that it has launched a new, Wi-Fi enabled water sensor product. D-Link says its sensor plugs into any open power outlet, and alerts users with a siren--and push notifications--if the sensor comes into contact with water. The new device is designed to detect water leaks from washing machines, water heaters, sinks, dishwashers, or other locations.

Design 132

Design Product 132

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

San Diego-based GovX , which operates an online, e-commerce site specifically serving active, reserve and veteran U.S. Military, law enforcement, fire, emergency rescue, and government employees, has raised $11.5M in combined Series A and B funding. The funding was led by Alestra Ltd. annd Arbor Group, along with Star Avenue Capital, Seth Hamot (SPY Optic and Roark, Rearden & Hamot Capital Management), and Philip McConkey.

Commerce 131

Commerce San Diego Activity Pricing 131

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

Los Angeles-based Pluto TV , the Internet television service startup backed by USVP, Sky, United Talent Agency, Terry Semel, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Chicago Ventures, Luminari Capital, said Wednesday that it has named Ken Parks as Executive Chairman. Parks was the Chief Content Officer at Spotify. According to Pluto TV, Parks will also take on full time duties leading its content, distribution and monetization efforts.

Venture Capital 125

Venture Capital Content Los Angeles Capital 125

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

San Diego-based Qualcomm announced this morning that it is buying xDSL networking technology provider Ikanos , in a deal worth approximately $47.0M. Qualcomm said it would pay $2.75 per share in cash for Ikanos, which trades on the NASDAQ as IKAN. Ikanos had closed yesterday at $1.75 per share. Qualcomm made the acquisition via its subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros.

San Diego 125

San Diego Acquisition Networking Technology 125

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

San Diego-based Metacrine , a biotechnology company which is targeting the treatment of metabolic disease, says it has raised $36M in a Series A funding. The funding came from Arch Venture Partners, EcoR1 Capital, Polaris Partners and venBio. Metacrine has licensed technology from Evans and the howard Hughes Medical Insitute. As part of the funding, Metacrine said it has named Neil McDonnell as its CEO; McDonnell was previously Senior Vice President and therapeutic area leader for cardiovascular

San Diego 125

San Diego Funding Capital Technology 125

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2015

Rinse , a San Francisco-based on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service, said Thursday that it is expanding it service to Los Angeles, after raising a $3.5M funding round. Rinse said this week that it will let users of its iOS and Android apps request dry cleaning, laundering, leather care, clothing repairs, and more in Los Angeles, serving the Palms, Culver City, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Culver West, Venice, Santa Monica, Baldwin Hills, Pico-Roberts/Beverlywood, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Mir

Marina Del Rey 122

Marina Del Rey Baldwin Hills Demand Beverly Hills 122