L.A. Business Journal
JULY 31, 2018
Glendale online legal technology company LegalZoom.com Inc. announced June 30 it completed a $500 million financing round from four total investors, its second since the firm’s founding in 2001. With this investment, LegalZoom’s estimated value totals roughly $2 billion.
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
Santa Barbara-based Sonos saw a successful initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday, closing its first day of trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market up nearly 33 percent. Sonos, which priced at $15.00 per share on Wednesday night, closed at $19.91 on Thursday, 32.73 percent above the IPO price. Sonos makes user friend, whole home audio systems.
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socalTECH
AUGUST 2, 2018
Westlake Village-based inVia Robotics , the developer of warehouse robots led by Lior Elazary, has raised $20M more in funding, in a Series B round. inVia said the new funding was led by Point72 Ventures and also included investments from Upfront Ventures and Embark Ventures. The funding brings the company's total raised to $29M. According to inVia, the new funds will support expansion of deployment of its robots. inVia's warehouse automation robots are specifically aimed at e-commerce retailers
Berkonomics
AUGUST 2, 2018
This week, we continue our series on marketing and positioning. There can be nothing more important in your business planning that selecting the proper pricing niche, making your story clear using that niche, and the defending your position against the competition. So, here comes the lesson and your challenge…. The five major niches. There are five major classes or niches a company should examine and make its own in calculating positioning in the marketplace.
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.
TechCrunch LA
AUGUST 3, 2018
Sometimes smart contracts can be pretty dumb. All of the benefits of a cryptographically secured, publicly verified, anonymized transaction system can be erased by errant code, malicious actors, or poorly defined parameters of an executable agreement. Hoping to beat back the tide of bad contracts, bad code and bad actors, Sagewise , a new Los Angeles-based startup has raised $1.25 million to bring to market a service that basically hits pause on the execution of a contract so it can be arbitrat
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 2, 2018
Santa Monica-headquartered Activision Blizzard Inc.’s Blizzard Entertainment announced Aug. 2 that it added two new teams to its global e-sports competition, the Overwatch League.
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Xconomy
AUGUST 3, 2018
By next Friday, the FDA could for the first time approve a medicine that uses a biological trick that was only discovered two decades ago: RNA interference , which silences a gene before it can make a harmful protein. That medicine is patisiran (Onpattro), from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ALNY ). An approval wouldn’t just be a scientific milestone.
Startup San Diego
AUGUST 2, 2018
Frendli is a mobile app that helps people meet new friends by connecting them with people who share their interests, activities, tastes, aspirations, location and lifestyle. We match people together in small groups of two to four and help them break the ice and start a conversation in the app. Next we incentivize them to go offline and build friendships face to face in the real world by offering deals and discounts on experiences they share an interest in.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 31, 2018
Newark and Switzerland-based computer accessory company Logitech Inc. purchased Westlake Village microphone manufacturer Blue Microphones Holdings Corp. for $117 million in a cash deal finalized July 30.
socalTECH
AUGUST 2, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers , along with Elysian Park Ventures , the private investment firm created by the ownership group behind the Los Angeles Dodgers specifically for investments in entrepreneurs in the areas of sports, technology, and entertainment, have launched and funded a new venture called E|L1. According to the Dodgers, E|L1 was founded by former Seattle Mariners Prospect, Aaron Trolia, and will focus on youth sports, and providing professional instruction and resources for existing yout
Xconomy
AUGUST 2, 2018
Austin —When Authenticated Reality launched last year , it seemed that the company had struck gold in terms of market demand and fit. The Austin-based startup had developed a Web browser that would require users to prove they are who they say they are. Users would have to sign up for an account—scanning their driver’s license and taking a photo—in order to download the browser, which would sit “on top” of the Internet, said Chris Ciabarra, Authenticated Reality’s co-founder, in
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 1, 2018
While spending years in a big company as an employee and an executive, I heard many people talking about jumping the corporate ship, dreaming of being an entrepreneur, and totally in charge of their own destiny. Fortunately for many of them it was all talk and no action, saving them from a world of grief, since some simply didn’t have the attributes and mindset to be an entrepreneur.
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 2, 2018
Dodgers kicks off youth sports program; new Overwatch teams from across the county and around the world; Boeing delays Starliner capsule launch
socalTECH
AUGUST 1, 2018
Goleta-based Apeel Sciences , a new startup which is developing technology to increase the shelf life of fresh produce--using substances derived from other plants--has raised a big, $70M funding round, the company announced late Wednesday. The company said the funding round came from Viking Global Investors, and also included Andreessen Horowitz, Upfront Ventures, and S2G Ventures.
Xconomy
JULY 31, 2018
Athena Club, a subscription program for feminine hygiene products, is the latest entrant into the direct-to-women e-commerce space and announced today that it has raised $3.6 million in funding. Co-founder Maria Markina says her New York-based startup gives women the convenience of a subscription service but at lower prices compared to other similar services.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 3, 2018
The most valuable assets of a new startup are the people on the team, and the most challenging task of the entrepreneur and team leaders is to spend their leadership time and energy productively. Cash isn’t always the scarcest resource startups have to invest – more often it’s the leadership capital of under-experienced and over-stretched entrepreneurs and co-founders.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 30, 2018
Two-Bit Circus comes to town to open Arts District game space; Pepperdine teams up with 2U; SRAXmd sold
socalTECH
AUGUST 1, 2018
Calabasas-based network testing equipment developer Ixia is in a technology partnership agreement with high speed network recording and playback provider Endace , the two said on Tuesday. According to the tw companies, the partnership focuses on delivering visibility into network traffic, even when that traffic is encrypted. Financial details of the partnership were not announced.
Xconomy
AUGUST 3, 2018
Millions of people might be on vacation as we hit the dog days, but drug makers and politicians aren’t taking a break from the gamesmanship over high drug prices. After two years of blowing smoke, the Trump administration is threatening action on a few fronts, including against the powerful middlemen known as PBMs that decide which drugs become favorites, and which get excluded, from insurance plans.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 29, 2018
In my years of working with entrepreneurs, I have heard many times the promise that their new idea will create the next Amazon or Apple, but I rarely hear the more important promise that the founder will practice all the good habits of winning entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs. You see, I’m convinced that the entrepreneur makes the company, not the other way around.
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 3, 2018
Warner Music buys Uproxx Media; SpaceX sets deadline for NASA launch; Hyperloop Technologies in consideration for Cupertino line
socalTECH
JULY 30, 2018
Los Angeles-based Two Bit Circus , the startup which combines entertainment with education and immersive technology, said it has received a strategic round of funding, which it will use it will open up its very first "micro-amusement park" this fall in downtown Los Angeles. The new strategic funding came from CJ CGV , a South Korean entertainment and theatrical company.
Xconomy
JULY 30, 2018
Orexigen Therapeutics went bankrupt trying to turn its weight loss pill, Contrave, into a commercial success. Now Pernix Therapeutics will try its luck. Pernix (NASDAQ: PTX ) said Monday that a business entity it helped create, Nalpropion Pharmaceuticals, has closed a deal for Contrave. Morristown, NJ-based Pernix formed Nalpropion to bid on Contrave, which Orexigen auctioned off in its bankruptcy case.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 28, 2018
Every entrepreneur believes in their heart that their startup is more innovative and creative than their competitors. Yet none knows exactly where creativity comes from within, or how to pick and motivate the most creative people for the team. Most believe and follow one or more of the popular myths on business creativity, even though none of them have much scientific evidence.
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 1, 2018
Snapchat’s new lenses will respond to spoken cues; Pluto TV links with Vizio; scooters moratorium proposed in L.A.
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
San Diego-based LeaseLabs , which provides oline marketing services to the multifamily housing and apartment industry, has been acquired for $103M by real estate software developer RealPage. According to RealPage, it will $103M in cash and stock, plus up to $14M in earnout upon achieving certain financial objective. RealPage is based in Richardson, Texas.
Startup San Diego
AUGUST 2, 2018
Frendli is a mobile app that helps people meet new friends by connecting them with people who share their interests, activities, tastes, aspirations, location and lifestyle. We match people together in small groups of two to four and help them break the ice and start a conversation in the app. Next we incentivize them to go offline and build friendships face to face in the real world by offering deals and discounts on experiences they share an interest in.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 30, 2018
Having satisfied customers is no longer enough to keep you ahead of competitors. The bar has been raised to having “delighted” customers. Customer delight is defined as surprising the customer by exceeding his or her expectations, thus creating a positive emotional reaction. This emotional reaction leads to word of mouth and social media, resulting in many new customers.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 31, 2018
UPS expands electric fleet with Thor; Cred launches cryptocurrency app; Logitech buys Blue Microphones
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
Venice, California-based WeeCare , a new startup which is creating a marketplace to help people start and manage their own home daycare, has raised $4.2M in a seed funding, the company disclosed on Friday. The funding came from Social Capital. The company says it is looking to help caregivers, educators and entrepreneurs build and operate their own home daycare business, helping them with licensing and certification, marketing tools, managing billing, and much more.
Startup San Diego
AUGUST 1, 2018
Meet the new Executive Director, Jarrod Russell! With San Diego Startup Week still in our rearview mirror, the organization has been working on fostering this celebration of local entrepreneurship all year. The post Meet the new Executive Director, Jarrod Russell! appeared first on Startup San Diego.
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
NASA says it will attempt to launch astronauts into space on a crewed SpaceX Dragon capsule by April 2019, as part of two different efforts to return the U.S. to space using its own spacecraft. According to NASA, its Commercial Crew Program is targeting a "demo" uncrewed flight by November of 2018 -- only 3 months away -- and a crewed mission by April of 2019.
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
Los Angeles-based e-commerce electronics retailer Newegg announced Friday morning that it has linked up with Microsoft , to deploy a new tool for laptop recommendations. According to Newegg, it has rolled out a new Windows 10 Advisor on its website which will help cosumers find "the perfect" Windows 10 laptop or 2-in-1 device. Newegg and Microsoft did not discuss the details behind the collaboration.
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
Culver City-based Uproxx Media Group , which operates the Uproxx entertainment and pop culture news site, has been acquired by Warner Music Group , the two said on Thursday. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. Uproxx Media Group also provides branded content and video services to marketers. Uproxx Media Group originally was known as Woven Digital, and was venture backed by WPP Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners, Advancit Capital, and also had received funding in the past
socalTECH
AUGUST 3, 2018
The Overwatch League , the e-sports league owned by Irvine's Blizzard Entertainment, is adding two more teams--one in Atlanta, and another in Guangzhou, China--to its list of teams, the league said on Thursday. According to the Overwatch League, the Atlanta team is owned by media giant Cox Enterprises, and will be operated by Atlanta Esports Ventures, a partnership between Cox and Province, Inc.
socalTECH
AUGUST 2, 2018
Santa Barbara-based Sonos surged more than 25 percent in early trading on its first day as a public company on Thursday, after pricing its IPO on Wednesday evening at $15.00 a share. Sonos was trading. up around 25%, as much as $18.90, during trading on Thursday morning. The maker of whole home, connected audio systems is the latest IPO success out of the Central Coast, which has seen a string of successful IPOs and acquisitions over the last few years.
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