Both Sides of the Table

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

This is part of my ongoing series, “ Pitching a VC.&# Getting a meeting with a prominent angel or VC is difficult enough. Some advice on how to do that was covered in this link – Getting Access to a VC. This post covers the day after. I spoke about the topic on Fox Business News yesterday in a great session with TechCrunch50 winner RedBeacon and will post it along with my other VC Videos when Fox puts it on their website.

Venture Capital 277

Venture Capital Startup Email News 277

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Fountain Valley-based D-Link , a provider of networking products, announced this morning that it has hired Kevin Lahm as an Associate Vice President of North American Field System Engineers. Lahm comes to the firm from 3Com Corporation, where he was Western Region Sales Engineering Manager. D-Link said that Lahm will be in charge of D-Link's network of field systems engineers in the U.S. and Canada.

Networking 164

Networking Sales Product Marketing 164

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

This is a reposting of a ‘classic’ popular post. When viewed from The Fringe, the world is like a cash booth from a bad 1950’s TV game show. Just like in the game show booth, in the real world, you can count on various exogenous factors to generate some proverbial wind that will swirl the cash around and force you to work a bit for the money.

Ideas 153

Ideas Startup Pricing Entrepreneur 153

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

Just a quick note that I'm going to the Digital Family Summit on Wed around online communities. Hope to run into some people there.

150

150

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

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Thursday, October 1, 2009 -- MOTM Vision Casting. We'd like folks to come out that want to share in the vision, contribute to the future, and get involved. With the intention of catalyzing leadership, this meeting will set the tone for MOTM for years to come. See [link] (more).

100

100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Los Angeles-based Ace Metrix , which is venture backed by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Palomar Ventures, said today that it has rolled out a number of enhancements to the firm's service for the advertising market. The firm, which provides testing of advertising creative, said it has launched Ace PreTest, which provides custom ad pre-testing for clients, Ace Macroscope, which breaks down ad analytics based on demographics, along with other updates like better graphing and filtering.

Advertising 154

Advertising Services Palomar Content 154

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

For our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Scott Edward Walker, an attorney at Walker Corporate Law Group, who gives his list of five common mistake that entrepeneurs make in raising capital. This post discusses the five most common mistakes entrepreneurs make in raising capital: (i) playing securities lawyer; (ii) selling securities to non-accredited investors; (iii) advertising or soliciting investors; (iv) using an unregistered finder to sell securities; and (v) se

Entrepreneur 150

Entrepreneur Southern California High Tech Advertising 150

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Los Angeles-based Projecturf , a developer of software-as-a-service for project and collaboration management for small and medium businesses, is announcing an upgrade to the firm's namesake offering today. According to the firm, the version 2.0 of the firm's product includes over 60 new features and enhancements, including a better user interface, new sections for ticketing and bug tracking, better customization options, and more.

Software 150

Software SaaS Los Angeles Customer 150

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Santa Ana-based Ingram Micro said today that it has inked a distribution agreement with Aliso Viejo-based QLogic Corp. , a developer of storage networking products. Ingram, which distribution IT hardware and software, said it would distribute QLogic's 8Gb Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel over Internet (FCoE), Infiniband, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10Gbe) and other technology throughout the Americas.

Networking 147

Networking Software Product Services 147

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

An Orange County firm, SpeedTrack , has targeted Amazon.com, Best Buy, Dell, Costco, The Home Depot, and a slew of other firms over a patent the firm said is being infringed upon by the companies. According to SpeedTrack, the patent--U.S. Patent No. 5,544,360--covers how those retailers return searches for products on their web sites, so that users don't see "cannot be found" in the results.

Patents 145

Patents Orange County Guide Web 145

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Los Angeles-based Rotohog , a developer of online fantasy sports games, has raised $2.0M in a new round of funding, according to a regulatory filing from the firm today. According to the filing, the round target is $2.62M. No details on the funding have been released by the firm. RotoHog has previously raised funding from Allen & Company, DFJ DragonFund, Mission Ventures, and SCP Worldwide.

Mission Ventures 145

Mission Ventures Venture Capital Los Angeles Funding 145

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Amazon.com said today that it has awarded a Los Angeles resident, Angela Kohler, as winner of its customer-created television commercial contest, Your Amazon Ad Contest. The online retailer said that Kohler was voted the winner by both its own jury as wel as by Amazon.com customers, and wins $20,000 in Amazon gift cards and a trip to a film festival in new York City.

Los Angeles 145

Los Angeles Angel SoCal Southern California 145

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

The mysterious private equity firms in a bidding war for Santa Ana-based MSC Software are Vector Capital and Golden Gate Capital, according to a report from TheDeal, citing sources close to the negotiation efforts. A group of unnamed, private equity firm have been bidding against Symphony Technology Group to gain control of MSC, which makes simulation software used to develop and test product designs.

Equity 140

Equity Acquisition Design Report 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Los Angeles-based Total Immersion and trading card firm Topps has unveiled the first augmented reality cards from a deal the firms struck in March. According to the firms, "Topps 3D Live" football trading cards are now available, which link physical cards from Topps with a virtual online sports community, toppstown , run by Topps. The two firms have taken Total Immersion's technology--which allows for projecting "augmented reality" images onto a live video stream--and applied it to the trading c

Web 140

Web Los Angeles Sites Technology 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

A Bay Area solar installer is helping electric car owners thinking of taking a trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco, saying today that it has created a network of charging stations for Tesla electric cars across the Central Coast. Foster City-based SolarCity reported today that it is in a deal with Rabobank, supported by Tesla Motors, to install solar powered, electric car charging stations in Salinas, Atascadero, Santa Maria and Goleta to get electric car owners between LA and SFO.

Los Angeles 140

Los Angeles Report Networking Help 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Irvine-based TravelTrac has launched today, one of several Southern California startups showing their companies off at DEMOfall. The service--split across sites TrekTrac, MotoTrac, and SailTrac depending on types of trip--allows users to share videos, photos, and text, correlated with a Google Map showing the location of that content. READ MORE>>. Tags: traveltrac travel content startup demofall demo.

Southern California 140

Southern California Content Google Sites 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Los Angeles-based social networking site MySpace announced today that the firm has rolled out a beta of a feature which allows MySpace users to sync their status updates with Twitter. The firm said the new feature allows for two-way updates between the sites, with MySpace automatically posting status updates to Twitter feeds, and also updating status from Twitter feed updates.

Social Network 140

Social Network Sites Mobile Networking 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Lake Forest-based Internet Connectivity Group , which is developing wireless equipment for connecting digital signage to the Internet, has now raised $8.2M in funding, according to a regulatory filing by the firm today. According to the filing, the funding includes equity, debt, and warrants received since July of 2006. No details on the funding have been announced by the company.

Funding 133

Funding Venture Capital Equity Networking 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

For today's Insights and Opinions section, Frank Peters, of the Frank Peters Show, interviews John Dilts of angel group, the Maverick Angels. Maverick is based in Westlake Village, to be more specific, which once hosted a Keiretsu Forum chapter. Is Maverick Keiretsu reincarnated? Just how are they unique? I do ask that question. Southern California already has mature, well established angel groups like the Pasadena Angels and the Tech Coast Angels; is there room for one more?

Westlake Village 133

Westlake Village Keiretsu Tech Coast Angels Southern California 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Hawthorne-based SpaceX , the firm which is developing commercial space launch rockets, said Friday that it has successfully demonstrated a component on the NASA STS-127 shuttle mission. The firm said that it has demonstrated a proximity sensor that ithopes to use on its SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which is being designed to help resupply the International Space Station.

SpaceX 133

SpaceX Draper Outsource Development Hawthorne 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

Encino-based United Sample , a provider of online sampling services for the market research industry, has staffed up with a number of executive hires. According to the firm, it has named Robyn Tas as Senior Vice President of Business Development, Daniel Ross as Vice President of Information Technology, Edward J. Russo as Vice President of Marketing, Brad White as Director of Business Development, Lisa Wilding-Brown as Director of Online Panels, and Dennis Uhlir as Senior Director Survey Solution

Sample 133

Sample Encino Research Marketing 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Los Angeles-based online comparison shopping site PriceGrabber.com is in a deal with online privacy certification firm TRUSTe , TRUSTe said Thursday. According to TRUSTe, PriceGrabber.com will allow merchants using PriceGrabber to display their TRUSTe seal in their shopping listings. TRUSTe runs a program which allows ecommerce sites and others to show they protect and keep private user information.

Sites 133

Sites Los Angeles Angel 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Irvine-based Netlist , a developer of memory subsystems for cthe computing and communication market, said Wednesday afternoon that it has sued Westlake Village-based Inphi Corporation , claiming that Inphi has infringed on one of the firm's patents. Netlist claims that Inphi's iMB line of isolation memory buffer integrated circuits infringes on its patent, and is seeking both monetary damages and a permanent action barring Inphi from making and selling those devices.

Westlake Village 133

Westlake Village Patents Marketing Develop 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009

Beverly Hills-based Hydra , a pay-for-performance advertising network, said yesterday that it has named Josh Eldrige as the firm's Director of Display Media. Eldrige joins the firm from LowerMyBills.com, where he was Marketing Director. Eldrige has also served at CarParts Technologies, L. Norman Howe & Associates and American Home Foods. Hydra operates an advertising network where advertisers only pay if the firm generates leads or customers.

Beverly Hills 133

Beverly Hills Advertising Media Networking 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

El Segundo-based Ripple has been acquired by TargetCast Networks, a San Ramon-based operator of a out-of-home digital advertising network. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to TargetCast Networks, the buy gives it 1400 locations and 3425 screens delivering local and national advertisements. TargetCast said it will rebrand Ripple's existing TV in its fast casual locations, integrate content and advertising delviery into a single format, and use its own hardware and software

El Segundo 133

El Segundo Claremont Draper Advertising 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

San Diego-based TelCentris , the parent firm of consumer voicemail and unified communications service VoxOx, is eyeing the channel with a new channel program focused on its VoIP services. According to the firm, it is launching an effort to attract channel partners to the firm's PBX platform, which provides contact center, unified messaging, auto-attendant, and virtual telephone numbers to businesses.

San Diego 133

San Diego Sales Platform Services 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

San Diego-based Overland Storage , a manufacturer of tape libraries, network attached storage, and related data storage products, is taking a cue from the recent "Cash for Clunkers" program, with its own version of a trade-in program. According to Overland today, it is rolling out its own "Cash for Junkers" promotion where it will take trade in of outdated, legacy products in exchange for up to $7,000 off MSRP on its tape libraries.

San Diego 133

San Diego Networking Customer Custom 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

It's another big week for startup launches, this time in San Diego at DEMOfall. One of the firms launching this week there is Los Angeles-based NativeTung (www.nativetung.com), which is developing tools to help web sites translate and create multilingual versions of their sites. We spoke with Idris Manley , founder of NativeTung, last week, to hear more about the company.

Startup 133

Startup Technical Review Social Network Content 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Los Angeles-based ExpenseBay reported today that its iPhone application, ExpenseBay Mobile, is now available on Apple App store. The free application allows customers to enter digital receipts and other expense information into the ExpenseBay service, which automatically categorizes and fills out expense reports for business travelers. ExpenseBay's new app supports entering cash transactions, conversion of foreign currency, and editing of transactions.

Twiistup 133

Twiistup SaaS Report Los Angeles 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Westlake Village-based Zumbox , which provides an online system for sending electronic messages to U.S. street addresses, said today that it has launched in San Francisco and Newark, New Jersey. Zumbox said that it will provide those cities with delivery of information for their municipal governments. Zumbox said that residents of those cities can go to the company's site, and enter their home or business street address to read correspondence.

Zumbox 133

Zumbox Westlake Village Email Sites 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Los Angeles-based NativeTung , a startup developing software for managing translation of web sites into multiple languages, is unveiling itself at the DEMOfall conference today in San Diego. According to NativeTung, it has developed a product which helps companies translate websites into other languages, and helps them to manage the entire translation process.

Oracle 133

Oracle Yahoo San Diego Conference 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Alhambra-based Gogrok Technology is lauching a new, online collaboration product at DEMOfall today. The firm said that it has created a collaboration product which allows people to share applications and desktops, and also is integrated with Skype and Windows Live. Gogrok's engineering team and support operations are in Taiwan and Singapore. Tags: gogrok online collaboration demo demofall skype voip screen sharing.

Alhambra 133

Alhambra Services Screening Product 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

San Diego-based ESET , a developer of antivirus software, disclosed this morning that it has inked a deal with Intel to distribute its security products with Intel-branded desktop motherboards. ESET said the deal will start in Q1 of 2010, with Intel Desktop Boards either offering 45-day or one-year product licenses to ESET's Smart Security product. Financial impact of the design win was not disclosed.

San Diego 133

San Diego Design Software Product 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Costa Mesa-based Semicoa is looking to staff up, after the firm's revival last month, the firm said today. The firm--which was spun out of Microsemi on August 24th after gaining an investment from private equity firm Vance Street Capital--announced today that it has hired on 30 new employees since last month and is now looking to expand further. The firm did not say how many people it was looking to hire, but said it increasing its production capacity to re-enter the high reliability component m

Equity 133

Equity Acquisition Invest Marketing 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Santa Ana-based SCM Microsystems , a provider of identity management and access control electronics, reported Monday morning that it is merging with Bluehill ID AG , a European firm developing RFID and smart cards. The firms said that SCM will pay 0.52 shares of its common stock for every share of Bluehill ID. Bluehill was founded in 2007, and has 97 employees.

Acquisition 133

Acquisition Report Develop Development 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

Santa Barbara-based Make It Work , the in-home computer and technology assistance firm known for its bright red Mini-Coopers, is targeting a national expansion, as part of a deal to carry the firm's radio show in twenty three new markets. According to Eric David Greenspan, the firm's founder and CEO, the firm has just signed an LOI to launch its radio show in 23 new markets with Citadel (ABC), and will also be expanding it services beyond the Southern California market as part of that show expan

Santa Barbara 133

Santa Barbara Southern California News Los Angeles 133