Sat.Dec 10, 2016 - Fri.Dec 16, 2016

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How to think like a growth CEO

Berkonomics

Growth CEO’s differ from those who merely station–keep their way into the status quo, protecting the enterprise by reducing risk and cost – without creating a vision and action plan for growth. Here is a way to test yourself with a tool useful for any leader seeking to create positive change. Authors Jeanne Liedtka and Tim Oglivie have created a framework for creation of a new product or service – one worth spending at least a cycle of time for review.

Design 226
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Virtual Reality Developer Survios Raises $50 Million

L.A. Business Journal

Virtual reality video game producer Survios announced on Tuesday that it has raised $50 million in capital over two rounds this year from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lux Capital, and other investors.

Develop 164
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Welcoming the Newest Partner to Upfront Ventures

Both Sides of the Table

Today is amongst the proudest days I’ve had at Upfront Ventures — getting the chance to announce that Kevin Zhang has been promoted to Partner. Watching him develop over the past 4.5 years at Upfront has been both a pleasure and also has taught me a lot about venture capital. Kevin joined Upfront in 2012 as an Associate. We generally look for associates who are deeply quantitative, have great research & analytical skills and often have the tool kit for framing and making complex decisions.

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TeleSign Names New Chief Product Officer

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based TeleSign announced this morning that it has it named Tom Powledge as the company's new Chief Product Officer. Powledge was previously Vice President and General Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), where he managed the company's ArcSign business. Prior to HPE, Powledge was Vice President of Managed Security Services at Cisco Systems, and also spent 20 years at Symantec.

Symantec 155
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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

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.

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Good Things Happen When Two Transformative VC Trends Collide

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. There are two macro trends occuring within venture capital (VC) which are combining to have a […]. The post Good Things Happen When Two Transformative VC Trends Collide appeared first on John Greathouse.

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Fortress Investment Group Sells Revolution Studios

L.A. Business Journal

Fortress Investment Group of Century City is selling Santa Monica-based Revolution Studios Distribution Co. two years after it acquired the production studio for a reported $250 million.

More Trending

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UC, Caltech Key To Bill Gates' New $1 Billion Cleantech Investment Effort

socalTECH

Both the University of California , and Caltech both appear to be key to the new clean technology investment fund, Breakthrough Energy , which is being led by former Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Breakthrough Energy said this morning that the new, $1 billion clean technology fund will go towards technology which will have a "significant" impact on greenhouse gas.

CalTech 133
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Digital Family Reunion '16

SoCal Tech Calendar

Monday, December 19, 2016 -- Digital Family Reunion '16. For the past eight years, the Digital Family Reunion has been the holiday event of the season for LA's vibrant technology and business communities. With our aim to connect Web 1.0 leaders with the next generation of technology professionals, DFR has always cultivated a unifying place to reconnect with colleagues and make new friends with those who share our common bond.

Web 100
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Silicon Beach Report Dec. 13: Virtual Reality Developer Survios Raises $50 Million

L.A. Business Journal

Virtual reality developer Survios raises $50 million, Snapchat introduces group chats, mental health app Stop, Breathe & Think raises $1.3 million, Tinder launches on Apple TV, and more.

Develop 129
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7 Startup Strategies For The Next Dot Com Billionaire

Startup Professionals Musings

Many aspiring entrepreneurs are looking to the Internet as an opportunity to get rich quick, instead of a place where you can start a business you love, for very little capital and minimal technical expertise. The reality is that if you build a business you love, you may in fact make big money, but if you start a business to get rich, you will probably fail.

Startup 107
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Teledyne Buys Machine Vision Developer e2v For $789M

socalTECH

Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies announced early this morning that it has acquired English machine vision and image sensor technology developer e2v technologies plc. The deal is worth approximately $789M. Teledyne said that e2v had asles of 236 million pounds for the year ended March 31, 2016. e2v develops image sensors and cameras for the machine vision market, imaging sensors and arrays for the space sciences and astronomy market, components and subsystems for radio frequency power ge

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Startups: The Year That Was and The Year That's Ahead

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 -- Startups: The Year That Was and The Year That's Ahead. Cal Lutheran University Center for Entrepreneurship. Keynote Speaker: Ben Kuo, socaltech.com. We invite back Benjamin Kuo, editor and founder of socalTECH.com, for another year in review. He will talk about: What's going on in Southern California's entrepreneurial environment, and what were the noteworthy things that happened this year -- and what might be expect in the future?

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Scaling Heights

L.A. Business Journal

SpaceX hopes to tip the scales in the launch market with its Falcon Heavy rocket.

Tips 198
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Organovo Discloses First Preclinical Data on Human Liver “Patch”

Xconomy

After taking the first steps toward the development of living human liver tissue “patches” for therapeutic use, San Diego-based Organovo (NASDAQ: ONVO ) is laying out its pre-clinical data for the first time today. And the company says the results are promising enough to warrant further development of the technology. Organovo CEO Keith Murphy said in October that the company intends to use its 3D bio-printing technology to produce living human liver tissue for transplantation in patients with fa

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Report: Flipagram Looking For Buyer

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile app developer Flipagram is looking for a buyer, and may have found one, in Chinese news aggreagtor Toutiao , according to a report Thursday. Citing "multiple sources" close to the company, Recode said Flipagram is still discussing financial terms with Toutiao, but no deal has been signed. Flipagram is venture backed by Index Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and Sequoia Capital, and raised a bit $70M funding round in 2015.

Flipagram 125
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6 Steps To Success In Your Entrepreneurial Goals

Startup Professionals Musings

Too many aspiring entrepreneurs I mentor can talk at length about their innovative ideas and passions, and ask lots of good questions, but never make much progress in building a real business. In my experience, building a business is much more about getting things done than having great ideas. The challenge is to move from ideas to specific goals, to delivered solutions.

Writing 100
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Silicon Beach Report Dec. 15: Faraday Future's Troubles Mount Ahead of CES Unveiling

L.A. Business Journal

Faraday Future’s unpaid bills are piling up and spurring lawsuits, Chinese firm eyes acquisition of Flipagram, GumGum launches TV signage valuation tool, and more.

Flipagram 118
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San Diego Startup Raises $2.3M to Advance Enzymatic DNA Synthesis

Xconomy

Molecular Assemblies , a San Diego startup developing a new enzymatic method for synthesizing DNA, said today it has raised $2.3 million in a seed financing round. The funding will be used to hire more scientists and to advance the company’s development of enzymatic DNA synthesis technology, CEO Michael Kamdar said in an interview Friday. Molecular Assemblies says its enzymatic approach for making DNA was inspired by the way nature makes DNA.

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Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Signs Deal With Abu Dhabi

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based future transportation developer Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), one of two Los Angeles-based developer of Hyperloop systems, has inked a deal with the city of Abu Dhabi and its Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT), to pursue connecting the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Financial details of the deal were not announced.

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5 Business Warning Signs Signal Integrity Slippage

Startup Professionals Musings

Most entrepreneurs start their company with the highest of ideals, and wouldn’t dream of building one with a culture of indifference or downright unethical behavior. Yet all too many succumb to the pressures of survival, driven by demanding investors or a cutthroat competitive environment. How does a Founder recognize the warning signs, let alone know what to do about it?

Startup 96
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Silicon Beach Report Dec. 12: Mitú Launches Snapchat Discover Channel

L.A. Business Journal

Mitú launches Snapchat Discover channel, SpaceX delays first manned mission in Dragon capsule, and KidGaurd launches cellphone monitoring software for children.

Snapchat 118
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4 Reasons Why You Should Be Planning and Speaking at Industry Conferences

AllTopStartups

If you have a startup business that you are trying to grow, then chances are that you are looking for every opportunity to get the word out there. Your startup… The post 4 Reasons Why You Should Be Planning and Speaking at Industry Conferences appeared first on AllTopStartups.

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Marlin Equity Backs Elenion Technologies

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based private equity investor Marlin Equity Partners unveiled a new company, Elenion Technologies , focused on silicon photonics. According to Marlin Equity Partners, Elenion has been in existence since 2014, and has been operating in stealth mode. Marlin Equity said that it has named Larry Schwerin, former CEO of Silicon Lightwave Services and Capella Intelligent Subsystems, as CEO of the company.

Equity 125
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6 Key Attributes That Investors Look For In A CEO

Startup Professionals Musings

Every business needs that ultimate leader and decision maker at the top, commonly given the title of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Sometimes it’s the business founder, and in other cases the CEO is recruited by the founder or investors to complement the skills of the technical team. Everyone recognizes that even the best idea needs a great execution to assure success.

Startup 95
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Silicon Beach Report Dec. 16: Riot Signs $300M Internet Broadcasting Deal for ‘League of Legends’

L.A. Business Journal

Riot Signs $300 million internet broadcasting deal for ‘League of Legends,’ Soylent powder goes back on sale just in time for Christmas, and Activision’s Call of Duty tops sales charts.

Sales 109
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The Coming Shift in Enterprise Software

Both Sides of the Table

Today it has been announced that I’m leading a $15 million funding round in Tact , a new generation of Enterprise Software company along with other investors including Microsoft Ventures and previous investors Accel and Redpoint Rather than just waxing lyrically about how great the company is I thought I’d provide some context about why I invested and also about a fundamental change I see in the coming years in the way enterprise software is used.

Software 227
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Santa Barbara Investors Back Solvvy

socalTECH

The Investment Group of Santa Barbara (IGSB) is one of the backers this week in machine learning and artificial intelligence software developer Solvvy. Solvvy says it has raised $4.5M in a seed funding round, which was led by True Ventures, and also included Pear Ventures (formerly Pejman Mar Ventures), Carnegie Mellon University, Signatures Capital, Investment Group of Santa Barbara (IGSB) and angels, including Dan Rose and Hamid Barkhordar.

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7 Keys To Teaming With The Right Mentor For Success

Startup Professionals Musings

Why is it that only the most successful entrepreneurs , including Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson, admit to having a mentor and actually use them? Starting a new business is tough, and the last thing you need is to suffer the same mistakes that have killed businesses like yours before you. Yet many entrepreneurs I know are too proud or too shy to even ask for advice.

Mentor 95
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Teledyne Acquires e2v for $790 Million

L.A. Business Journal

Teledyne Technologies Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire systems manufacturer e2v technologies plc.

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Bio Roundup: NY Rises, Prez Inks Cures, Ophthotech Crashes & More

Xconomy

The 21st Century Cures Act is now law. New York wants to play in the biotech big leagues. The FDA under Trump will have license to approve drugs faster and could have a former top official back on board as commissioner. An eye drug failed, an Alzheimer’s drug got scrutinized, and a new antibiotic passed two key tests. Let’s get to the roundup… TOP STORIES —In what is likely the last major legislative action of his eight-year presidency, President Barack Obama signed into

Funding 50
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Intuit Courts Third Party Access To TurboTax With Open API

socalTECH

Intuit announced this morning that it is opening up access to third party developers to the consumers using TurboTax Online, which is developed out of San Diego. According to Intuit, it has created an open platform which will allow third party companies to access data from its TurboTax customers. The first partnership out of the open platform effort is Earnest, a company which uses data science to help consumers refinance loans.

San Diego 125
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Let Me Point out to you How Ridiculous the Trump Tech Meeting Was

Both Sides of the Table

A room full of some of the top tech leaders in our country: Apple, Facebook, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Amazon, Tesla and so forth. It’s a breath of fresh air to see that Marc Benioff, who has become a beacon for protecting the rights of our most vulnerable citizens, is not in attendance. But I actually fall on the side of the issue that it’s good that our tech leaders are meeting with Trump for 2 reason: Whether I like it or not (I most certainly do not like it), Donald Trump will be

Oracle 321
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Elon Musk to Advise President-Elect Donald Trump

L.A. Business Journal

Elon Musk has entered President-Elect Donald Trump’s orbit. The billionaire founder of rocket manufacturer Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc. has accepted an advisory role in Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum, a non-partisan policy council.

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Lyft: $130M Generated For Los Angeles Economy In 2016

socalTECH

Ridesharing service Lyft said this morning that it has calculated that it has created $130M to the Los Angeles economy, as a result of its ride service. According to Lyft, a study conducted by the company by Land Econ Group finds that there was an increase in economic activity in Los Angeles due to its service, as a result of its rides. Lyft said the study also showed that passengers next year will save $88M in travel time value and over 7.5 million travel hours this year because of Lyft.

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EDF Renewable Energy Partners On 186 Megawatt Solar Project

socalTECH

San Diego-based solar and clean energy project developer EDF Renewable Energy said Thursday that it has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to tap into a 186 megawatt power project being build in Riverside County. According to the company, the agreement is with non-profit public electricity provider MCE. EDF Renwable Energy said the Desert Harvest Solar Project, being build on approximately 1,200 acres of land managed by the US Bureau of Land Management in Riverside County, is expect

Riverside 119
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TurboTax Aims New Product At The Self Employed

socalTECH

Intuit , which develops its popular TurboTax tax filing software in San Diego, said this week that it has launched a new product called TurboTax Self-Employed , a new tax filing product specificaly aimed at what the company says are 55 million self-employed individuals in the U.S. The new product is bundled with QuickBooks Self-Employed, the company's accounting software for the self-employed market.

Product 119