Both Sides of the Table
MARCH 29, 2014
'One of the hardest things for most entrepreneurs to know is how hard to push in situations where people tell you “no.” But then again most entrepreneurs fail. There is that rare breed that doesn’t accept “no” for an answer. It is impossible advice to give because there is such a fine line between being persistent and being annoying and it’s something you probably can’t teach.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'In today''s electronic world, there is an immense number of data sources creating millions of data points that companies are hoping to make sense of. That data--if you could just find the right piece--could be useful in a number of areas, particularly in the financial markets. Bitvore (www.bitvore.com) has created a system which takes thousands of sources of data, and extracts intelligence out of it to create actionable information out of that vast stream of real time data.
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InfoChachkie
MARCH 31, 2014
'A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. Note: This is Part III of a series exploring the power of mentorships. Access Part I HERE and Part II HERE. My relationship with my friend and mentor, Bob Wood, has matured over time. When we first connected, I was in listening mode most of the time, much like a dutiful student. However, as we established mutual trust, the balance of our exchanges shifted to the point that I am now a respectful but outspoken contributor to our friendshi
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 31, 2014
'These days, your online Internet reputation is your reputation. Of course, having no reputation is usually better than a bad one, but don’t wait for someone else to establish a good one for you. It’s time for every business and business person to proactively create a positive presence, before someone else puts you in a defensive mode that is hard to win.
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Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 3, 2014
'Most technology startups seem to be funded by product people or business people. Specifically what is often not in the DNA of founders are sales skills. Nor do they exist in the investors of early-stage companies. The result is a lack of knowledge of the process and of sales people themselves. My first startup was no different. I had never had any sales training so everything we did for the first couple of years was instinctual.
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Asset Avenue has launched a new, crowdfunding site focused on commercial, real estate investments, the company said this week. According to the startup, its online marketplace lets potential real estate investors access to pre-vetted investment opportunities across the country. The company said it has already completed its first deal, a $485,000 investment round to acquired a commercial real estate loan backed by office space in New York''s Trump Palace.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 4, 2014
'You will be pivoting your business in your lifetime, whether you are a new startup, or a mature company like Motorola or IBM. You can count on it and plan for it, or you wait for the next survival crisis brought your way by this rapidly changing world. You can even give it a more elegant name, like “market-focused reinvention,” but it won’t be graceful if you don’t take the lead.
Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 1, 2014
'If you’ve watched any industry in the last 20 years where technology has begun to transform how the industry works the results are always predictable driven by what Clay Christensen appropriately called “ The Innovator’s Dilemma ” (one of the most influential books that changed my thinking about markets). Young startups claim they are going to change the world, large companies that dominate that sector scoff at how low quality these new entrants are, until l ike frogs bo
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'Los Angeles-based MarketShare , the developer of marketing analytics software led by Wes Nichols, has bolstered its advisory team, saying today that it has added Ross Levinsohn, Tom Davenport, and Pat LaPointe to its advisory board. Levinsohn is the best known of the three, having most recently been interim CEO at Yahoo!, in addition to serving at Fuse Capital and Fox Interactive Media.
Tech Zulu Event
MARCH 31, 2014
'It isn’t the biggest secret that the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins aren’t the best of friends, especially on the football field. On Sunday, March 2 nd at USC, these rivals took their battle to a new platform: startups. With the help of co-hosts and partners, including Bruin Entrepreneurs , Start-up UCLA , USC E-Club , Incubatrix, and more, Wowfand was able to put together the first startup rivalry to decide the dominan
Berkonomics
APRIL 3, 2014
'We’ve spoken of financing a young company through friends and family, known as “inside angels.” There are three classes of equity investors for early stage businesses that we have not yet considered. Often grouped into formal organizations, these investors are sophisticated, helpful, and connected. First, angel investment groups come in all sizes from a few organized angels to large groups of three hundred or more.
Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 2, 2014
'There’s an old joke in software development, “How much time does it take to design software?” Answer: As long as you have scheduled for the design phase. I know. Not funny, “ha, ha” but pretty apropos. If you’ve been involved with a number of software projects you already have an intuitive sense for this. We’ve all been involved with projects that seem to drift and drift and make progress.
socalTECH
APRIL 4, 2014
'Valencia, California-based Solid Concepts , a provider of 3D printing and prototyping services, has been acquired by Stratasys Ltd. in a deal worth $295M. According to the companies, Stratasys will pay $172M in cash on closing, plus deferred payments of $60M and up to $63M in retention-related payments for Solid Concepts. Solid Concepts operates six, U.S. facilities and employes a total of 450 employees, which uses 3D printing technology for prototyping parts for the medical, aerospace, industr
Tech Zulu Event
APRIL 1, 2014
'The very mention of the word fundraising can illicit some powerful emotions among entrepreneurs. It’s frustrating, taxing; a full time job in itself. And those who have gone through the process, know. Fundraising is a complex dance with a distinct, dichotomous tone. On one end, entrepreneurs who have (at minimum) built something customers love and are willing to pay for, and the other hand, investors who are looking for the very companies who fit that profile.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 30, 2014
'More and more entrepreneurs are hearing about the successful graduates and investors queued behind a few well-known startup incubators, including Y Combinator, TechStars, and the Founder Institute. They dream of appearing at the door, with their idea on the back of a napkin, and popping out a few months later with investor money to burn. The reality is far different.
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'How can marketers make better decisions and get better results from their online marketing? Pasadena-based Smartify (www.getsmartify.com)''s CEO, Carla Bourque , recently talked to us about the company''s online marketing platform, and how it differentiates itself from a lot of other competitors in the market. What is Smartify? Carla Bourque: Smartify has been based in Pasadena for the past three and a half years.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2014
'A dating site for puppets? An app to help exorcise possessed kids? For veterans of many a technology startup pitch event in Silicon Beach, it might not be all that far fetched, given some of the wild, wacky, and improbable startups making the rounds today looking for investors. A new technology "pitch competition", Techgladiatr , said it is giving away "beer, BBQ, and cupcakes" as part of a pitch event tonight which will give startups 30 minutes to pitch "a business inspired by a random idea".
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Santa Monica-based The Rubicon Project , the online advertising technology and exchange operator founded by Frank Addante, surged in its IPO on Wednesday morning, trading up roughly 34% in morning trading. Rubicon--which priced at $15.00 per share last night--was trading as high as $20.44 per share on its first morning as RUBI. The IPO is a huge win for backers Clearstone Ventures, News Corp., and Mayfield.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'La Jolla-based Tao Venture Capital Partners , the investment firm led by venture veteran Tom Clancy, has put its dollars into a maker of 3D random access memory (RAM). According to Crossbar , it raised $25M in a Series C funding, adding new investors Tao Venture Capital Partners, SAIF Partners, Korea Investment Partners, and CBC-Capital. The funding also included existing investors Artiman Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Northern Light Venture Capital and the University of Michi
socalTECH
APRIL 4, 2014
'It hasn''t been a great few months for San Diego''s software and technology industry, as the city has seen three, big software companies move their operations, and thousands of jobs, to Texas. However, in a bid to rejuvenate and re-energize the industry, a new effort-- Swarm --has just launched to bring together local software entrepreneurs, venture capital, and angel investors, in an attempt to bring new life to the region.
socalTECH
APRIL 3, 2014
'Smartphone-driven, ride app provider Uber said Thursday that it is officially launching Uber in Palm Springs , and will be offering up the full selection of Uber services -- uberX, UberBLACK, UberSUV, and UberSTRETCH--to the Coachella Valley. According to Uber, the company''s launch in Palm Springs comes as a part of "festival season" in the area--which is timed to the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, which runs two weekends in April, on April 11-13th and April 18th-20th.
socalTECH
APRIL 4, 2014
'Los Angeles-based streaming television service Hulu said Thursday that the company has officially launched on Amazon''s new, living room video player--the Amazon Fire TV. Hulu said that subscribers to its Hulu Plus premium video service are able to streaming the site''s shows, movies, clips, trailers, and more directly to their television through the new Amazon device.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'In an effort to prove that the company''s mobile apps can help get electric vehicle owners all the way across the country, Venice, California-based startup Recargo said it has launched an effort to make an 18-day, 12,000 mile, battery powered trip entirely using an electric vehicle. Recargo said that it is planning to drive a stock, Tesla Model S sedan on a 27-state route, which touches all four corners of the lower 48, hitting Washington, Maine, Florida, and ending in Venice, California at its
socalTECH
APRIL 4, 2014
'Hawthorne-based SpaceX , the commercial rocket company headed by tech mogul Elon Musk, is set to get a chance to bid on launch contracts for the Department of Defense, according to Gen. William Shelton, commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command. Shelton said in a congressional hearing this week that SpaceX is expected to gain a chance to launch smaller military payloads sometime next year, according to the WSJ.
socalTECH
APRIL 3, 2014
'Los Angeles-based flower delivery site BloomNation --which helps connect consumers with local floral designers--has only been offering up payment via Bitcoin for a few months, but it''s already finding that Bitcoin sales are 50 percent larger than traditional credit card sales--plus it allows the company to tap into a niche market it normally wouldn''t have been able to tap into.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'Fountain Valley-based wireless hardware provider D-Link said today that it has begun shipping a new, wireless baby monitor camera, which lets parents watch their babies on their smartphone or tablet. D-Link said its new D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera includes HD video, motion and sound detection hardware, temperature sensors, night vision, ability to play lullabies, and video recording.
socalTECH
APRIL 4, 2014
'Santa Monica-based TrueCar has filed for an IPO, saying Friday that it is looking to raise up to $125M on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as TRUE. The IPO is being underwritten by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan. TrueCar--which is led by Scott Painter--is backed by USAA, Capricorn Investment Group, Upfront Ventures, Anthem Ventures, Vulcan Capital Growth Equity, and Peppy Capital Partners.
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Binge television watchers will be happy with the latest, distribution deal from Los Angeles-based Hulu , which said today that it has signed a multi-year, subscription video-on-demand deal with NBCUniversal , covering such titles as "The Real Housewives", "Top Chef", "Keeping Up With The Kardashians", and "The Mindy Project". Financial details of the deal were not announced.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2014
'Handybook , one of a crop of new companies which provides on-demand, mobile access to local service providers--in this case, handyman services and house cleaners--said yesterday that it has launched its services in Los Angeles, and also hired a local general manager. Handybook says it has hired former Wheelz GM Travis Tharp to set up an office for the company in Los Angeles, as the company looks to expand throughout Southern California.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Pluto.TV , a new company led by startup veteran Nick Grouf, said Monday that it has launched a brand new, video platform which will curate streams of video content around music, sports, news, entertainment, and many other areas. According to the startup, it will offe rnearly 100 channels centered around specific channels, and is backed by Terry Semel (Window Media), Jeremy Zimmer (UTA), Avram Miller (Intel Capital), Mich Mathews (Microsoft), Chris Silbermann (ICM), Greg Steine
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Los Angeles-based online advertising technology provider Rubicon Project priced its IPO last night, saying that it is selling 6,770,995 shares of its common stock at $15.00 per share. Rubicon Project will begin trading this morning, on the New York Stock Exchange as RUBI. Rubicon Project priced at the lower end of its initial estimated IPO range, which was $15.00 to $17.00 per share.
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Internet video service Frequency , which is led by Blair Harrison, said Wednesday that it has launched on Amazon.com''s new streaming video device, FireTV. According to Frequency, it is available immediately on Amazon''s new FireTV, which lets users stream HD video from the internet. Frequency helps aggregate online videos from across the Internet in a single application, letting users find channels based on topic and interests, personalized video recommendations, and more.
socalTECH
APRIL 3, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Cloud Takes , an online project collaboration site focused on feature films, post production, and other content work, has been acquired by Technicolor. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Cloud Takes founder Daryll Strauss has been hired by Technicolor as Vice President of Software Development. Cloud Takes'' software was used to manage digital assets, track project progress, and more, and ran on Amazon Web Services.
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'Santa Monica-based The Rubicon Project , which develops ad optimization technology and operates a related online advertising exchange, closed up 33.60% at $20.04 in its first day on the markets, after its debut as RUBI on the New York Stock Exchange. Rubicon was venture backed by Clearstone Ventures, News Corp., and Mayfield. It''s been a big few weeks for Southern California''s technology startup world, with three, major exits in the last couple of weeks, including the up to $950M acquisition
socalTECH
APRIL 2, 2014
'San Diego-based Ciphrex , a new software startup in the Bitcoin space, said this morning that it has launched a new software product for the Bitcoin market, called Bitcoin Vault. Ciphrex said its software provides a secure, software wallet for Bitcoin transactions and account management. Ciphrex said its beta software is free. Ciphrex said its Bitcoin wallet software includes a feature called "multisignature security", which is not supported by software from any other company.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2014
'Los Angeles-based streaming television site Hulu has named a new Head of Content, the company said Monday, to lead the firm''s content and programming strategy. Hulu said it has added Craig Erwich as Senior Vice President, Head of Content, as the company increases its content offerings, continues to invest in original programming, and more. Erwich was previously at Warner Horizon Television (WHTV), and also had served for twelve years at FOX Broadcasting.
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