Both Sides of the Table
OCTOBER 4, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. Many entrepreneurs who start technology companies are product people, technologists or savvy business people who worked previously for a larger company. Most start-up entrepreneurs have little or no sales experience. I know I didn’t. But through nearly a decade of startups I learned that sales comes down to three essential elements: 1.
SoCal CTO
OCTOBER 6, 2009
Great post by John Shiple. He talks about a bunch of the different networking events that occur in Los Angeles and other parts of Southern California. In his post, he mentions the following events / event organizers, and you should visit his post for a bit more on each of them. LA CTO Forum Dealmaker Media Digital Family Reunion Startups Uncensored Social Media Club, LA Twiistup Mindshare LA LA Hadoop Meetup Dorkbot Geek Dinners LA Cloud Computing LA Web Application Developers LA PHP Developers
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socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
Los Angeles-based PC-postage provider Stamps.com is looking to edge into the market for electronic postage on eBay, saying that it will waive service fees to eBay sellers signing up for its services between now and December 31st. Stamps.com said that it now supports retrieving orders, printing shipping labels, and posting back tracking numbers and other information back to eBay stores for sellers, a new feature of its latest version of software. eBay's own Internet postage service is powered by
SoCal Tech Calendar
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 -- MOTM Orange County. Paul Mobley leads the first Meeting of the Minds in Orange County. Our speaker will be Kurt Daradics, co-founder of MOTM, who will be sharing about his experience winning third place at TechCrunch50 in Sept 2009. His innovative company, FreedomSpeaks.com, unveiled their new iPhone app called CitySourced that made a very big splash at this internationally recognized event.
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Daradiction
OCTOBER 3, 2009
Peter is a legendary figure. I’ve had the pleasure to meet Peter recently, he was on our EXCELLENT PANEL (worth the 40 mins!) at the Digital Family Summit #DFS09. I am totally inspired by who he’s being and what he’s up to, and I’m delighted that he’s taken an interest in the mobile 311 app we produced called CitySourced (powered by FreedomSpeaks ).
SoCal CTO
OCTOBER 8, 2009
A post by Fred Wilson pointed me to Dave McClure's Startup Metrics presentation. This is a great presentation and one that I'm going to point out to startup / early stage company CEOs. Normally, when I am talking to the founder of any startup trying to figure out what they need to do, one of the things I always try to do is understand their business at its core.
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SoCal Tech Calendar
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 -- Process of an Acquisition: Successfully Navigating from LOI to Closing. SDSIC. People who are going through or anticipate going through an MandA event. With the likely exit for most technology companies being through a sale, if you own or are a C-level executive of a potential acquisition target, you'll want to understand how the process works, what's important, what's not, and what will be around the next corner.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
Los Angeles-based video streaming firm Hulu told its users today that it has launched two new, experimental projects in its Hulu Labs section. According to Hulu, it has launched a new publishing tool-- Hulu Publisher Tool --which helps reporters, bloggers, website editors, and others to find and embed premium video content from the site and elsewhere.
SoCal CTO
OCTOBER 7, 2009
I've helped organize the Los Angeles CTO Forum for almost 10 years. As part of doing that, I've had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of different chief technical officers from different kinds of companies over those years. This is a private group of CTOs who are responsible for software development within their companies. They are generally the senior most person responsible for custom software development, database design, database administration, web development, etc.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
Los Angeles-based The Rubicon Project , which operates a service to optimize the selection of ads on web sites, said today that it has debuted a new technology platform is it calling REVV for Publishers. The new software expands Rubicon's product from optimizing remnant ad network impressions, and into the domain of managing direct and in-house advertising.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
For this morning's interview, we sat down and talked with Nick Desai , CEO of Global Fitness Media , which runs FitOrbit (www.fitorbit.com), an online site looking to help users put together a fitness and connect with fitness trainers. The firm is co-founded by Jake Steinfeld, of Body by Jake, and ExerciseTV, and has received investment from prolific angel investor Ron Conway and Polar Capital, the investment firm of former Google President Tim Armstrong.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
The last chapter for Internet homepage Geocities has been written, with Yahoo telling its last remaining users of the service that it will shut down on October 26th. According to Yahoo, as of October 26th, GeoCities sites will no longer appear on the web. In addition, the company warned users that they will lose all access to their account and files, with all of the files being deleted from Yahoo's servers with no hope of recovery.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Jason Calacanis , CEO of Santa Monica-based Mahalo.com and co-producer of the TechCrunch50 conference--not known for pulling his punches--publicly targeted angel group The Keiretsu Forum today for their presentation fees. According to Calacanis, he's on a campaign to "destroy" the angel group, saying that the group has been taking advantage of startup companies by charging them $4,000 to $6,000 to present to angel investors.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
We're featuring advice, opinions, and other useful information from our community of readers on our Insights and Opinions section. For today's Insights and Opinions piece, Scott Edward Walker , a corporate attorney, gives his opinion on the five basic mistakes he sees entrepreneurs making: I've been doing deals as a corporate attorney for over 15 years, including nearly eight years in the trenches at two major law firms in New York City; and during that period, I have seen certain mistakes made
socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
Pasadena-based Central Desktop , which offers a software-as-a-service, team project management application, is being forced to swap out its spreadsheet support, telling its users today that it is switching from using EditGrid to Zoho's Sheet product. The firm said the move comes due to a forced "sunset" in its partnership with EditGrid. A notice to EditGrid customers indicates that EditGrid is terminating licenses to all of its licensees, making its product available for free to web users, to wo
socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
Westlake Village-based Row 44 , a developer of satellite-based, wireless Internet connectivity for commercial aircraft, said today that it has created a "walled-garden" portal for airlines. The firm--which is powering wireless Internet for airlines such as Southwest and Alaska Airlines--said that its "Skytown Center" will offer shopping from SkyMall, video programming form HSN, and other services from JiWire, BeDynamic, and Pinger.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Los Angeles-based AEG , which is a producer of music, sports, reality and special event programming, said Monday that it has acquired Incited Media , a provider of webcast management, production and media services. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Incited Media has produced online events such as The Democratic National Convention, Live Earth, Live 8 and YouTube Live.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Jason Calacanis, the CEO of Santa Monica-based Mahalo , is continuing his crusade against angel groups and others who charge startups to pitch their groups, saying that he's now calling on groups to stop charging fees, and post what fees they were charging to entrepreneurs on their web sites. Calacanis--who launched his campaign earlier this week, targeting angel group the Keiretsu Forum --has now expanded his list of target angel groups to not only Keiretsu, but also Westlake Village-based Mave
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Pasadena-based eSolar , a developer of solar thermal power technology being used for power plants, said this morning that the firm has inked a deal with a South African firm to expand sales through Sub-Saharan Africa. The firm, whose technology is used for utility-scale, solar thermal power plants, said that Johannesburg-based Clean Energy Solutions will represent the firm in the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. eSolar is backed by Idealab, Google, Oak Investment Partners, and ot
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Redondo Beach-based iCONECT Development , a developer of litigation support software, said this morning that it has hired on former X1 Technologies Vice President Howard G. Silver as its Chief Technology Officer. According to iCONECT, Silver will spearhead new product development for the firm, which is used by corporations, law firms, and others for electronic discovery.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
San Diego-based Internet radio service Slacker has integrated its service with micro-blogging service Twitter, the firm said this morning. According to Slacker, it has added the ability for users with Twitter accounts to automatically tweet their favorite music they are listening to on the service to Twitter, including automatically tweeting song changes or station changes.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
San Diego-based Suddenly Darling announced today that it has launched a new site focused on online fashion for teen girls and young women. The firm--started by 17-year old Katelyn Rose--features fashion, style, and hair tips, as well as celebrity content from Disney's Katelyn Tarver, Power Ranger Jessica Rey, artist Cassi B, and singer Caitlin Crosby.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
British MP3 download site 7digital has launched its site in the U.S., with its North American VP based here in Los Angeles. The site--which allows users to download MP3 content from such studios as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music--said it has over 6 million tracks licensed for distribution. 7digital is backed by music retailer HMV Group, and venture firms Balderton Capital and Sutton Place. 7digital takes on firms such as Amazon, Rhapsody, and N
socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
San Diego-based Semtek , a developer of security technology for protecting magnetic stripe data on credit cards, has announced more details of the firm's Series B funding round. According to the firm, the round--which had been made public last week by investor VeriFone--gives VeriFone 19.9% of the fully diluted shares of Semtek. Other investors in the firm are Venrock and RRE Ventures, who were prior investors in the company.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
San Diego-based Achates Power , a firm developing clean diesel engine technology, has raised $12.1M in a $20M funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the firm today. Details on the funding haven't been released, however, the firm's backers include Sequoia Capital, Madrone Capital Partners, Rockport Capital Partners, and InterWest Partners.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Los Angeles-based social networking site MySpace said today that it has named Mark Rosenbaum as its Chief Financial Officer. Rosenbaum was most recently a consultant to MGM, and was previously SVP Corporate Finance at Gemstar-TV Guide. He has also served at SmartJog S.A., and at positions at Twentieth Century Fox and Walt Disney. Rosenbaum reports to Owen Van Natta.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Santa Monica-based Geodelic , the latest startup of The Platform founder Rahul Sonnad, said today that it has partnered up with Universal Studios Hollywood on a mobile application focused on Universal's "Halloween Horror Nights" event. According to the firms, the app will enable iPhone and Android users to get park attraction directions, minute-by-minute updates, and tips on shows.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
Thousand Oaks-based wireless network equipment provider Xirrus appears to be on a roll in signing up education customers, saying Wednesday that it has signed up Wasatch High School, located in Utah, as its latest customer. The firm did not disclose financial details of the win, but said that the high school is using its equipment to provide Wi-Fi access in a 320,000 square foot facility, over 60 classrooms, serving more than 1,000 students and faculty.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2009
Irvine-based Custom Silicon Solutions , a provider of ASIC development services, reported this week that it has been selected for a new military ASIC development program. The firm said it would provide design and production of a mixed-signal ASIC for Thales-Raytheon Systems (TRS), as part of a weapon locating radar system. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
San Diego-based Covario , a provider of paid search and search engine optimization software, reported this week that its analysis has found that major U.S. advertisers have upped their spending on paid search by almost 8 percent in Q3. The firm--which has been running a quarterly analysis of paid search spending--said it is expecting 10 to 15 percent growth in 2010.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
San Diego-based Gen-Probe said Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Prodesse, a provider of molecular testing for influenza and other infection diseases. The deal is worth $60M in cash, with provision to increase the price to $85M on meeting specific financial and regulatory milestones. Prodesse was based in Waukesha, WI, and was privately funded.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 7, 2009
Carlsbad-based Breach Security , a developer of IT security tools, announced this morning that it has raised $5M in additional funding, from existing investor Sid R. Bass Associates. The firm said the expansion financing would go towards product development and further market expansion. The funding brings the company's total raised to somewhere around $37.5M.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 6, 2009
San Diego-based Accumetrics said today that it has raised $16.5M in new capital. The funding round came from Arnerich Massena, BBT Fund/Apothecary Capital, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures and RiverVest Venture Partners. Accumetrics is developing a diagnostics system for measuring an individual's repsonse to multiple antiplatelet agents, which helps determine the risk of death, heart attack, or stroke for heart disease patients.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Los Angeles-based Passenger , a developer of software used by brands to run online communities for their customers, announced today that it has released a new version of its platform. According to the company, it has expanded its product to allow agencies to build and manage their own communities using its software. Previously, Passenger provided full-service development of those communities.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 5, 2009
Santa Monica-based Rubicon Project , the online ad network optimization firm headed by Frank Addante, is planning a major technology upgrade Wednesday. According to a note sent to its publishers, the firm is unveiling a technology it is calling REVV for Publishers Wednesday. The company said that the new technology--which the company described as "new technology from the ground up"--is engineered to "accelerate revenue" for the Web's largest publishers.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2009
Los Angeles-based Mzima Networks , a provider of network services, said earlier this week that content deliver network firm NetDNA --also based in Los Angeles--has selected the firm's low-latency, 10 Gigabit backbone. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Mzima operates a global optical backbone network. NetDNA provides content delivery network services for ad networks and application acceleration.
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