Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 28, 2010
Today we had another episode of TWiVC – you can watch the episode here. This was the first episode where Jason wasn’t on the show, which gave me the chance to have another VC on the show to discuss deals. This week’s guest was David Travers from Rustic Canyon Partners. Rustic Canyon is an LA-based, but geography-agnostic VC that is currently investing from a $200 million fund.
socalTECH
APRIL 30, 2010
Los Angeles has lured BYD , a Chinese alternative-energy auto maker, to the city, as Southern California seems to have become a magnet for electric and other alternative automotive firms. According to an announcement Friday by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, BYD--which is backed by Warren Buffet--will establish its North American headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Berkonomics
APRIL 28, 2010
Second to visionary leadership, this is your most important job. . Many of us go through the motions of hiring to fill a position, trying to use our intuition and skills to find the best candidate for the job. Sometimes we use consultants or recruiters; many times we use internal talent to fill most positions. . And over the years, we students of business success have learned that there is a science to the hiring process that continues through the life of an emplo
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 30, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010 -- Competing on Analytics: Why the "Intelligence on Demand" market is so hot. TCOSC. This session will explore Business Analytics, Data Mining, Predictive Analytics. Why this technology segment is heating up? And who are some of the key players? What is in it for you? See [link] (more).
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.
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 26, 2010
If I had a dollar for every time someone has said to me, “One of these days, I’m going to start my own company,” I’d be rich. If this day ever comes for all these people, we will be overrun by startups. Yet I don’t lose any sleep over either of these possibilities. Most people procrastinate from time to time, but I suspect that the challenge here is somewhat deeper than that.
socalTECH
APRIL 29, 2010
In the newest bid for revenue at the Los Angeles Times, the paper said this week that it will begin adding green, affiliate revenue links within its news stories. The paper said it will put in-text links to sites such as Amazon and TicketNetwork as part of the editorial in its Health, Image, Food, Travel, Books, Entertainment and Sports articles and photo galleries.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 30, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010 -- Business Growth Conference. Co-hosted by Harvard Business School Association of Orange County and the USC Marshall Alumni Association. You will learn: How to achieve sizable growth * How to gain access to capital * Information on funding strategies * Cuttingedge business practices that helped other businesses succeed. See [link] (more).
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 29, 2010
As an entrepreneur, one of your most important tasks is to keep your team motivated, despite the many challenges that are part of every startup. Motivational efforts need to cover a wide-ranging gamut from effective communication meetings, leadership role model actions, inspirational talks, to team building activities, and a lot more. There are many books written on this topic, starting with Motivating Employees for Dummies , so I thought I would try to approach the subject from the other end.
socalTECH
APRIL 28, 2010
Dave Waldman , CEO and Founder of Los Angeles-based Bccthis (www.Bccthis.com), a startup looking to add additional functionality and private messaging into both corporate emails and Twitter messages. Bccthis just announced a version of their product which plugs into Gmail. Dave told us about how and why he and his co-founders--both previously executives at Twistbox--decided to start their own startup, specifically outside of the mobile industry, and a bit about the product.
Jason Nazar
APRIL 30, 2010
We’re proud to announce that Docstoc is now home to some of the best eBooks from our digital media distributor Overdrive.com. We have added a collection of 100,000 books from a variety of well known publishers as well as 150,000 new professional documents, which include research reports, legal forms, business plans and other contents. Among the publishers that are included on our DocStore are McGraw-Hill, Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 30, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010 -- Business Growth Conference 2010. Join over 1,000 of Southern Californias elite business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs at the 26th Annual Southern California Business Growth Conference. Obtain practical advice, insider information as well as business tools and techniques that can help grow your business. See [link] (more).
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 28, 2010
Every startup faces a myriad of challenges that are well beyond the scope of any founder, so you need a few guiding lights to illuminate the road ahead. These should be carefully selected, with a proven track record, willing and available to help, and be completely trustworthy. Make sure they are willing to check their egos at the door. Let’s talk specifics.
socalTECH
APRIL 27, 2010
Los Angeles-based Bccthis , a developer of messaging software which helps users add more information to their group emails, said Monday that it has added support from Gmail to its product. According to the firm, it has added Gmail support via a Firefox add-on, which allows users to use the product using Google's popular email service. Bccthis attaches "notes" to individuals cc'd on group messages, which allows individual recipients to get additional information or private messages along with tho
CEO Flow
APRIL 30, 2010
I’m a big fan of Yanik Silver and Maverick Business Adventures, and was delighted to get an opportunity to share the CEOFlow concepts with a group of his CEO customers. Here is the full audio interview: And the transcript: Yanik Silver And CEOFlow Call Transcript.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 -- ACG 101 May Breakfast Meeting. Jessica Iclisoy, Founder and CEO of California Baby, will speak about how she turned her search for safe, natural products for her own newborn baby into a multi-million dollar business serving customers from Hollywood to Hong Kong. See [link] (more).
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 27, 2010
When someone says Intellectual Property (IP), most people think only of patents. In reality, patents are only one of at least seven items that should be in your IP portfolio. Some of the other items may cost a lot less, and may be worth far more in the long run. Here are some specifics: Company name. The company name becomes your intellectual property at the moment you incorporate your startup as an LLC or a Corporation.
socalTECH
APRIL 26, 2010
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its March 2010 employment numbers today, showing that the information sector was one of the only employment sectors to buck a further decline in employment in the region in March. The monthly report, which tracks the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), said that overall employment declined by 150,800 people, or 2.9 percent, compared with March of last year in the region.
Jason Nazar
APRIL 28, 2010
Docstoc’s new Facebook Login allow you to share professionally drafted legal agreements, eBooks, research reports, marketing presentations, and other written works with your friends and your Docstoc community. Starting today, you’ll stay updated on what your Facebook friends and similar Facebook users are recommending , commenting on , and sharing all without leaving Docstoc.com.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 -- Strategies for Success in a Weak Economy. LA BTC. The weak economy has made it difficult for many businesses. For some, its a matter of trying to maintain the bottom line. For others, particularly start-ups and emerging businesses, its a matter of survival. The manner in which a business reacts to the pressures of the challenging economy can have long-term implications cut too many corners and the business could suffer irreparable harm.
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 25, 2010
Online dating sites usually fail because online dating usually fails. The simple reason is that everyone expects quick results, no one can make that happen, and users get very unhappy very quickly. So please don’t send me any more business plans along these lines, looking for investor funding, with no marketing budget, and promising huge returns. I certainly understand why everyone wants to take a shot at it – the “need” is huge.
socalTECH
APRIL 29, 2010
High flying electric car vehicle firm Tesla Motors has submitted plans to the Department of Energy for a plant in Downey, at the site of the current Downey Studios, according to documents obtained by the Downey Patriot. According to the documents, Tesla is set to lease the land for 11 years, with two 5-year options to extend the lease. The report says Tesla is intending to build its Model S at the location.
Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 25, 2010
On Thursday of last week I cranked out a post on job hoppers. To say that it was controversial is an understatement. I intended for it to be provocative but not inflammatory. So let me start with an apology. Not for my point-of-view (which I stand by and accept that not everybody feels the same way) but rather for making some of the language more inflammatory than it needed to be.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 -- BritWeek UKTI Business Innovation Awards. The contest will highlight and recognize outstanding achievements in innovation by local companies in design, technology and service provision. The winning applications will be selected by a panel of renowned innovators, including entrepreneur engineer Sir James Dyson and internationally recognized creativity guru, Sir Ken Robinson.
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 30, 2010
The Internet and social media have totally destroyed the meaning of the word “friend.” On MySpace, teenagers bond with hundreds of friends before they are sixteen, and on Facebook, other people claim thousands, all without having ever met most of them. Top Facebook users proudly proclaim their “whale” status, with 5,000 friends or more. On the other hand, we shouldn’t confuse online friends with real friendships.
socalTECH
APRIL 26, 2010
Los Angeles-based RealD , a developer of 3D projection technology for the 3D movie business, announced today that the firm has rolled out an application for the Apple iPhone, iTouch, and iPad. According to RealD, its new RealD Professional Stereo3D Calculator app allows filmmakers to calculate and plan stereo 3D depth, optimal camera rig locations, lens configuration, and more.
Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 27, 2010
Oh, boy. Here we go again. Another post on job hopping. This will be my final word on the topic. I promise. My goal here is to move the debate forward, add my POV but not inflame things any further. Inflaming was never my goal. Let’s see if I can achieve that. My WORD of the day is “loyalty.&# It’s one of the angles that people who were angered by my original post the most found so offensive.
SoCal Tech Calendar
APRIL 28, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 -- "The Web of Me: Opportunities and Implications of Participatory Culture" SDSIC. Dont miss this panel! We are on the verge of an Internet that provides access to any-time (real time) and any-place (ubiquitous) information across devices, blurring the line between the virtual and the real. Whats happening on the front lines in the evolving experience with respect to devices, online services, social media, and personal privacy?
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 24, 2010
Cloud computing is all the rage in the startup world these days. Yet I find that most business people still don’t understand it, and I defy even the technologists to define it in ten words or less for business people. Many say it’s just marketing hype applied to old principles that have been around for a long time. A typical definition (from Wikipedia) is that “cloud computing, is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other dev
socalTECH
APRIL 28, 2010
Los Angeles-based Internet Brands is continuing its strategy of buying up vertical web properties, saying today that it has acquired ExpertHub , which operates a network of websites which connect consumers with attorneys. as well as two shopping web sites. Financial terms of the buys were not disclosed. The firm also said, in a separate acquisition, that it has acquired DoDTracker.com (Deal of the Day Tracker), and PursePage.com, a site that reviews designer handbags.
socalTECH
APRIL 27, 2010
Los Angeles-based ShoeDazzle.com , and online site focused on women's fashion and celebrity stylist Kim Kardashian, said today that it has raised $13M in a growth financing round. The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, and also included prior investor Polaris Venture Partners. According to ShoeDazzle, the funding will go towards the launch of related products.
socalTECH
APRIL 29, 2010
A new report this morning from Dow Jones VentureSource find that global venture capital investing is up 13 percent in the first quarter of 2010, as the market for investment rebounded. According to Dow Jones, there was $7 billion invested in 919 deals for companies in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Israel, Mainland China and India. The U.S. continued to lead the worldwide venture numbers, with 65 percent of the deals, and 67 percent of the dollars for Q1.
socalTECH
APRIL 26, 2010
Los Angeles-based Bardon Advisors , a cost-per-click (CPC) search and affiliate marketing firm, has been acquired by New York-based MediaTrust. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to MediaTrust, Bardon Advisors owns more than 1200 web properties, which get a total of 20 million monthly unique visits, and 5 million paid searches per month.
socalTECH
APRIL 30, 2010
EdenIQ , the biofuels yield enhancement technology firm that is a spinout of Los Angeles-based Altra Biofuels , has scored a $12.4M venture funding round. According to EdenIQ, the Series B funding round was led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and also included The Westly Group, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Cyrus Capital, Angeleno Group, Element Partners, Morgan Stanley & Company, Advanced equities, OmniNet, Nimes Capital, and others.
socalTECH
APRIL 28, 2010
Irvine-based Broadcom , a developer of a wide range of semiconductors for the electronics market, announced a new reference design today for Bluetooth headsets and car kits. According to the firm, its new Bluetooth reference design platform uses its BCM20741 systems-on-a-chip to help designers create hands-free car devices, including car kits and headsets.
socalTECH
APRIL 28, 2010
Aliso Viejo-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals , a developer of pharmaceuticals for the neurology and dermatology markets, announced today that it has agreed to acquire Vital Science Corp.,/b>, a manufacturer of over-the-counter dermatology products based in Toronto, Canada. The firm said the deal was worth approximately C$10.5M, and that Vital Science Corp. has annual sales of approximately C$11M.
socalTECH
APRIL 26, 2010
The University of California, Santa Barbara and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation of Tokyo have just announced that Mitsubishi Chemical will invest $6M in the school, as part of an extension of a materials research and education alliance. The funding will go towards the Mitsubishi Chemical Center for Advanced Materials (MC-CAM) at UCSB, which was established in 2001.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
270 
Let's personalize your content