socalTECH
MARCH 28, 2016
Los Angeles-based Evercar , a company which is developing an electric vehicle sharing network--starting with Los Angeles--says it plans a major expansion in this market, and plans to add as many as 1,000 vehicles in the Greater Los Angeles area. According to Evercar, it currently has 43 vehicles in the Los Angeles area, including Downtown, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Inglewood, and Marina del Rey.
Berkonomics
MARCH 31, 2016
There are many roads to Rio, so they say. But there is one overwhelming method of appraising the effectiveness of a business leader. Outcomes. We can invent lots of metrics to measure progress for a leader, including revenue, profit, employee satisfaction, cost containment, percentage of available market, and more. But these are all individual roads to Rio – which is the stated goal for the organization.
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Both Sides of the Table
MARCH 30, 2016
$30 million. That’s how much Invoca raised and we’re announcing it today.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 27, 2016
Even though the color of their money is always green, all startup investors are not the same. Struggling entrepreneurs are often so happy to get a funding offer that they neglect the recommended reverse due diligence on the investors. Taking on equity investors to fund your company is much like getting married – it is a long-term relationship that has to work at all levels.
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.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
The LA Dodgers Sports and Entertainment Accelerator has opened up applications for a new class of startups, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and R/GA Venture said they plan to run another startup accelerator class. According to the LA Dodgers and R/GA, it will select five to seven startups in this new class, giving them access to both the executive leadership team of the Dodgers and its business units, plus access to marketing, branding, design, and technology services.
Tech Zulu Event
APRIL 1, 2016
140,000 new startup companies are reportedly launched every day. While the epicenter of tech innovation is undeniably Silicon Valley, a tide of new hubs emerging across the globe are gaining recognition. The “ real gold ” of Silicon Valley reportedly lies in its mentors. But new startup communities who benefit from governmental subsidies and an ecosystem that promotes growth and sharing, are now viable alternatives.
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
MARCH 26, 2016
We are now solidly in the era of big data , where computers are capturing and processing the details of everything we do with all our interconnected devices in real time. Businesses see this as the Holy Grail for finally being able to predict who, where, and when customers will buy their existing solutions, and what their future solutions must look like to be attractive.
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
Irvine-based Broadcom has sued Hawthorne-based SpaceX , saying that SpaceX has been raiding the company for key engineers, and stealing its proprietary technology. In a lawsuit filed last week , Broadcom named both SpaceX and five engineers, who it says violated confidentialy agreements they had signed, saying that they took knowledge gained through a project that Broadcom helped SpaceX with last year.
Tech Zulu Event
MARCH 30, 2016
When people express concern about how smartphones are damaging our young people, I laugh. This anxiety that the internet is going to ruin real human interactions is reminiscent of parents in the 50s who were worried that Elvis shaking his hips was the devil. Let’s be very clear here. Being concerned about cultural progression “damaging us as a society” always repeats itself with the current trend and will continue to play itself out again and again and again.
socalTECH
MARCH 28, 2016
Not sure if you're getting the best price on your new solar power system? A new, Los Angeles startup, Pingo Solar --backed by technology veterans Jerry Slavonia, Kang Ahn, and others--said it is about to launch a new service to provide more transparency to the solar industry. The startup said it will "do what CarsDirect and TrueCar have done for the car industry" to the solar power industry, by letting users calculate their solar savings, create a customized solar setup, and get the "best possib
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2016
NASA has announced the next date for a resupply mission from Hawthorne-based SpaceX , and is targeting an April 8th launch of the SpaceX Dragon from Cape Canaveral. NASA said the launch, targeted for 4:43 p.m. EDT on April 8th, will carry science research, crew supplies and hardware to the orbiting laboratory in support of the Expedition 47 and 48 crews.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Los Angeles-based Fullscreen is getting set to launch its own video streaming service, starting next month, and will charge $4.99 a month for streaming access to both original and licensed content. Fullscreen, which detailed its plans today for the service, had announced plans for the streaming service in September. The new service is expected to debut on April 26th.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
San Diego-based Zavante Therapeutics , a biopharmaceuticals firm developing injectable antibiotics, has raised $45M in a Series A financing round. Zavante said the investment was led by Frazier Healthcare Partners and Longitude Capital, and also included Aisling Capital. The new funding included $35M in new investment, and $10M in conversion of existing convertible notes.
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
Irvine-based Cargigi , a provider of online marketing and advertising services for automotive dealerships, has been acquired by eBay , the two said Tuesday afternoon. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Cargigi becomes part of eBay Motors, where eBay will use Cargigi's technology to help move dealers' inventory onto eBay. According to eBay, Cargigi will replace its existing Dealer Center, which helps dealers with the vehicle selling process.
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
Santa Monica-based Three Day Rule , the personal matchmaking startup led by Talia Goldstein, has raised $650,000 more in funding, the company disclosed on Tuesday. The funding came from the Dallas Angels Network, as well as other angels. Three Day Rule uses both human matchmakers, and software, to help match people with potential mates. Unlike LA's hookup/dating app Tinder, Three Day Rule says it is focused on helping its clients with "meaningful, committed relationships", but also has been appe
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
San Diego-based Figtree Financing , provider of clean energy project (PACE) financing, has raised $30M in a Series A funding round, according to the company. The funding came from an un-named institutional investor. Figtree Funding, which is led by Mahesh Shah, provides long term financing for solar panels, energy efficient lighting, cool roofing, and other energy saving projects, which are paid back through property tax payments.
socalTECH
MARCH 28, 2016
Santa Monica-based TrueCar said over the weekend that it has made a major overhaul to its user experience, adding a number of features which specifically reach out to dealers, in addition to helping out its consumers. According to TrueCar, the changes are part of a "dealer pledge", where it has promised to reach out to its dealers to help address concerns expressed over the past few years.
socalTECH
MARCH 28, 2016
Los Angeles-based pet sitting marketplace DogVacay says that it now has more than 25,000 pet sittesr on its platforms, who collectively have watched pets for "millions" of nights. DogVacay released the numbers as it just turned four. The online marketplace helps connect pet sitters and pet lovers willing to watch pets with other pet owners, and helps keep those pet owners informed of how their pets are doing with status updates and photos (1.2 million photos to date).
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
San Diego-based Extrameasures , which operates reward, rebate, and prepaid and gift card programs for brands, has been acquired by Blackhawk Network , the two said Thursday. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Extrameasures was founded in 1996, when it first rolled out a Vista gift card for the consumer market. Extrameasures was founded and is led by Jan Allan Steinert.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
Ontario, California-based Yuneec , the Inland Empire-based consumer drone manufacturer which recently unveiled a drone platform with 4K video at CES, has been sued by competitor DJI , claiming patent infringement on two of its patents. In the lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, DJI claimed that Yuneec violated its patent on an interchangable, gimbal-based mounting system for cameras on its drones.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
Irvine-based cybersecurity software developer Cylance said Thursday that has named two new executives. Cylance has named Brady Berg as General Counsel, and Vina Leite as Chief People Officer. Berg was previously co-chair of the Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice group of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., and also served at Wilson Sonsini; Berg was Cylance's outside counsel and also served as outside council for Foundstone, the last company founded by Cylance's C
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
Woodland Hills-based United Online has sold its StayFriends social networking site, to German company Stroer Content Group GmbH , the company said Thursday afternoon. United Online said it will receive 16.0 million euros ($18.3M US) for StayFriends. United Online said the sale is part of a strategy to exit the social media business, and is part of an ongoing evaluation of "strategic alternatives" by JMP Securities and work by ACXIT Capital Management.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
San Diego-based Qualcomm reported a win today with electric vehicle charging consultant Ricardo. Qualcomm said that Ricardo, which provides engineering, strategic, technical and environmental consulting, has licensed its Qualcomm Halo patent portfolio, in order to commercialize systems for wireless electric vehicle charging. Financial details of that patnet license were not disclosed.
socalTECH
APRIL 1, 2016
Tesla Motors rolled out its latest vehicle, the Model 3 in Hawthorne last night, at its offices next to SpaceX. The Model 3 is Tesla's first reach down into the truly mass market, with a price of only $35,000 before incentives. Tesla said the new vehicle has a range of 215 miles per charge, goes from zero to 60 in under 6 seonds, and will be delivered in late 2017.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2016
Is there a way to fix both shopping cart abandonment--and also boost your online store's social reach? A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Gatsby , thinks so, with the launch of a new tool to both improve conversions--and get some social exposure, at the same time. Gatsby said it has launched a new partnership and customer in Helix Sleep , an online personalized mattress company, to launch its product.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2016
Los Angeles-based Burner has rolled out a big update to the company's app, which lets users create and use temporary phone numbers on the fly. According to the company, the software now supports auto archiving of text messages and contacts into Google Sheets; VoIP calling support; connection to Slack; and new support for developers, to support connecting the app to platforms like Zapier and IFTTT.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2016
Santa Barbara-based real estate management software developer Yardi Software said late Wednesday that it has scored a win in Singapore, with real estate investor ZACD Group. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. ZACD Group manages 32 development projects in Singapore. READ MORE>>.
socalTECH
MARCH 31, 2016
Los Angeles-based expense management and invoice processing software developer Chrome River is expanding its footprint in the EMEA, with a new alliance with a London-based consulting firm, Meridian Global Services. Chrome River said the alliance will help its in growth across the EMEA. Meridian Global Services provides international VAT and travel and expense compliance and consulting services, and serves over 15,000 clients, according to Chrome River.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Weestlake Village-based data storage and high efficiency power supply maker Qualstar said Wednesday that it is looking at "strategic alternatives", including "mergers, acquisitions and divestures", and also will make "personnel adjustments" to help it reduce operating expenses. Qualstar also said it will be consolidating its administrative and data storage team into its Simi Valley facility, and sublease its Westlake Village office, in order to reduce rent expenses.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Online shopping giant Amazon.com is opening up a new fulfillment center in San Bernardino, the company said on Wednesday, which will be the e-commerce giant's seventh facility in California. Amazon said the new, 1.1 million square foot center will pick, pack, and ship smaller customer items, such as books, electronics and toys, and will create more than 1,000 full time positions.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Younity , the personal media server and sharing software which is the flagship software of Encinitas-based Entangled Media, is now available on Android, according to Entangled Media. The software, which is free, let users access media files--such as music, photos, and other information--from their own computers and devices, without uploading them to the cloud.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Culver City-based Sony Pictures Home Entertainment says it is planning to roll out a new, 4K Ultra HD moving streaming service on April 4th. According to Sony, the new movie streaming service, ULTRA , will debut on the Sony 4K Ultra HD TV with Android TV. The company said a "variety" of movies will be available for purchase and playback in 4K Ultra HD.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Los Angeles-based medical device developer Neural Analytics says this morning that it has added former Motorola CEO Ed Zander as a corporate strategy advisor for the company. Zander also served as President of Sun Microsystems, and is an active investor in early stage technology companies. Neural Analytics said Zander will help the company as it prepares to launch its products.
socalTECH
MARCH 30, 2016
Santa Barbara-based Invoca , the developer of call tracking software used by marketers, has raised $30M more in a Series D funding, the company said this morning. The funding was led by Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, along with Accel Partners, Upfront Ventures, Rincon Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures and Stepstone. Incova said it has now raised a total of $60M in funding.
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
Santa Monica-based Three Day Rule , the personal matchmaking startup led by Talia Goldstein, has raised $1.2M more in funding, the company disclosed on Tuesday. The $650,000 of thefunding came from the Dallas Angels Network, with the rest coming from other angels. Three Day Rule uses both human matchmakers, and software, to help match people with potential mates.
socalTECH
MARCH 29, 2016
Santa Monica-based Comparably , the new pay and compensation comparison startup let by startup veteran Jason Nazar, has run the numbers over gender satisfaction at work, and finds that about as many women as men are happy about their pay--except in certain, specific work areas--but sharply differ in their satisfaction with their percentage of equity in the companies they work for.
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