Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 17, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series “Start-up Lessons.&# If you want to subscribe to my RSS feed please click here or to get my blog by email click here. In the Beginning … This is a very important post to me because I find myself giving this advice all the time and if you don’t follow [.]. Tags: Start-up Advice startup.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
Santa Monica-based Edmunds.com , which offers an online site for automotive information and analysis, has taken a close look at GM's new online eBay store for its autos, and concludes that buyers will be better off making an offer than accepting the "Buy It Now" price on the site. Edmunds.com estimates that "Buy It Now" prices are, on average, two percent higher than the average market price on vehicles purchase on the market.
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SoCal Tech Calendar
AUGUST 21, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009 -- ExecTec on the Privacy Issue. Are you and your company looking to your privacy issues and what is needed to assure you maximize opportunities and limit exposure/risk? Join us as we delve in to the not so private side of privacy. See [link] (more).
CEO Flow
AUGUST 17, 2009
Know any women CEOs juggling life, business and the world? I have a great opportunity for both you and the person that refers them to me…keep reading… CEOFlow is my coaching program for CEOs. I saw, from being a CEO, working with them and knowing many of them, that it’s easy to create a business that traps you rather than works for you.
Advertiser: Aggregage
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Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 18, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series, “Startup Lessons.&#. Yesterday I wrote a blog post (here) in which I urged people to not have too many founders. Best case scenario in my mind is just 1, but at most I recommend 2. I knew this topic would be controversial because when I tell people this [.]. Tags: Start-up Advice.
socalTECH
AUGUST 17, 2009
San Diego-based The Active Network , which operates a network of web sites and related products for community service and sports organizations, said today that it has launched a new program focused on "eco-friendly" practices in endurance racing. The company said the effort, which looks to encourage environmentally friendly practices with race organizations, is being launched in conjunction with Athletes for a Fit Planet.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 15, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series on Start-up Lessons that I learned from founding two companies. I HATE LOSING. I hate it. I really, really, really hate it. It chaps my hide. It rips at my core. I don’t get over it easily. I lose sleep. I fucking hate losing. It’s not so much the [.]. Tags: Start-up Advice.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 17, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series “Pitching a VC“ There’s a great meme developing this morning on the need to simplify funding terms and documents. The meme was kicked off by Chris Dixon with this post saying that term sheets need to be simplified and align investor / founder interests. That prompted Fred Wilson’s blog [.].
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 18, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series, “ Startup Lessons.&#. Yesterday I wrote a blog post ( here ) in which I urged people to not have too many founders. Best case scenario in my mind is just 1, but at most I recommend 2. I knew this topic would be controversial because when I tell people this in person it always elicits shock. To be clear – it is not about being stingy with or hoarding equity – it is about having a prenuptial agreement.
Both Sides of the Table
AUGUST 15, 2009
This is part of my ongoing series on Start-up Lessons that I learned from founding two companies. I HATE LOSING. I hate it. I really, really, really hate it. It chaps my hide. It rips at my core. I don’t get over it easily. I lose sleep. I fucking hate losing. I think about it for months, often years. But I embrace losing. It is how I learn.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2009
A new effort by Facebook to expand their "Gift Shop" application to third party developers has roped in San Diego-based RealGifts as one of its first partners, according to reports this week. Facebook is apparently expanding its "Gift Shop" application--which allowed users on the social network to buy each other virtual gifts--to include products from American Greetings Interactive, GreetBeatz, Someecards, and Real Gifts.
socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2009
In the recent surge in interest in the clean technology and energy investment area, we're constantly surprised by the number of startups in the area focused on some aspect of the industry. Recently, we learned about Solarmer Energy , a spinout of UCLA, which is developing flexible solar panels, and caught up with Woolas Hsieh , President and Founder of the firm and Dina Lozofsky , VP, Corporate Development at the firm to hear more about its emerging technology.
socalTECH
AUGUST 17, 2009
Los Angeles-based DemoPit.com , a new web site profiling startups and technology, launched Monday afternoon, saying that it is looking to help startups and small businesses to demo their products and projects. The site--founed by John Diep--is also hoping to do quarterly live demo events to show off startups featured on the site. READ MORE>>. Tags: demopit startup technology events.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
Last Week, Calabasas-based Masher Media announced it had received a round of angel funding from the Tech Coast Angels to fund its development of MyMiniPeeps (www.myminipeeps.com), a virtual world for children. We spoke with Sherry Gunther, CEO and founder of the firm, earlier this week to get a better look at the company and the dynamics behind the virtual world market nowadays--as well as why Sherry decided to make the jump from the world of entertainment media to online.
socalTECH
AUGUST 17, 2009
Carlsbad-based Breach Security , a developer of Internet security software, has released the results of a security report, saying that nineteen percent of all online attacks in 2009 so far have been based on social networking sites. According to the company's Web Hacking Incidents Database (WHID) 2009 Bi-Annual Report, hackers are taking advantage of user generated content, Twitter, and other Web 2.0 web sites to launch their hacking attempts.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment has inked a deal with games media publisher Future , where Future will publish a magazine focused on Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The firm ssaid the magazine will be a quarterly publication, covering "all aspects" of the massively multiplayer, online role playing game.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
Irvine-based YouMail , a developer of enhanced voicemail services, said today that it has added support for voice-over-IP services Vonage, Google Voice, Magicjack, OOMA, Pack 8, eVoice, and others, through a new service called YouMail DropBox. the firm said that the new service consolidates voicemails from both online, VoIP services as well as PBX services such as RingCentral, Phone.com, Adomo, Nortel, Cisco, and Avaya.
socalTECH
AUGUST 17, 2009
A report today from TechCrunch reports that Los Angeles-based online social networking site MySpace is in the process of acquiring iLike , which operates an online service that allows users to share their music playlists and recommendations with friends. Neither company has confirmed the deal, which TechCrunch puts at "around $20 million." iLike is backed by Ticketmaster.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2009
Think that venture capitalist or investment banker is obsessively checking his email on his Blackberry? Maybe not. Los Angeles-based EA Mobile --the mobile games unit of EA which was formerly JAMDAT Mobile--is launching a number of its more popular mobile titles onto the Blackberry, saying Friday that it has launched eight new titles on Blackberry's App World.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
San Diego-based DivX reported Wednesday that it has reached a settlement with Internet portal Yahoo!, over a contract dispute concerning a cobranded Toolbar deal made between the firms in September of 2007. The firm said the settlement would boost its earnings by $0.29 per diluted share, or around $9.47M based on its shares outstanding. DivX sued Yahoo in November of 2008, after Yahoo backed out of a deal to offer its toolbar to users who downloaded video software from DivX.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
San Diego-based Sequoia Communications , which was developing transceivers for the wireless RF market, has apparently shut down, and now has its assets up for auction. Messages and emails sent to the firm for confirmation were not returned. Sequoia Communications had raised over $50M in funding from such firms as BlueRun Ventures, Cadence Design Systems, Gabriel Venture Partners, Huntington Ventures, Motorola, Nokia Venture Partners, Tallwood Venture Capital, and Third Point Ventures.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
Los Angeles-based AccessDNA , which operates an online site for locating genetic testing services, said this morning that it has raised $670,000 in a new round of angel funding. The funding brings the company's total raised to $1,115,000. Source of the funding was not disclosed. The company said the new funding will go towards accelerating growth, particularly new hires, PR, and marketing.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
San Diego-based Qualcommm said today that it has named its join venture with Verizon Wireless, as nPhase. Qualcomm had said at the end of July that it was entering into a joint venture with Verizon Wireless focused on wireless communications for smart devices, with the new venture to be headed by Steve Pazol. Verizon and Qualcomm said at the time they would be joint owners in the new venture, but said they had not yet named the venture.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
San Diego-based Palkion , a developer of oral drugs for treating anemia, has raised $2.5M in a funding round, according to a regulatory filing from the firm Monday. Details on the funding have not been released. The firm is backed by ProQuest Investments and CrystalGenomics. Tags: palkio oral drugs anemia lifescience biotech biopharmaceuticals venture capital.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
Irvine-based Integrien , a developer of enterprise, IT monitoring software, has raised $6.5M in a funding round, part of an ongoing $7.475M fundraising effort, according to a recent regulatory filing by the company. Details on the funding have not been announced by the company. The firm, which has previously raised funding from Clearstone Ventures and the Acartha Group, continues to have Clearstone's Jim Armstrong and Acartha's Ameet Patel listed as board members.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2009
San Diego-based MediciNova , a biotech firm developing small-molecule therapeutics, said Friday that it has reached an agreement with Alameda-based Avigen to merge with the firm. Medicinova said Avigen shareholders would receive either $1.24 per share in cash, or secured convertible notes. The deal is worth approximately $37M. Both firms are publicly held.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2009
Playa del Rey-based Smart Action Company , the artificial intelligence startup headed by Richard Koffler, said this week that it has been selected by Technology for Business Corporation (TFB), a provider of computer-telephony-integration products. Smart Action said its virtual agent software has been integrated into a product called Virtual Agent NXT, and interactive voice response (IVR) application targeting industries like healthcare, hospitality, education, government, and homeland security.
socalTECH
AUGUST 21, 2009
San Diego-based FLO TV , the subsidiary of Qualcomm providing the FLO TV live mobile TV service, said this week that it has inked a deal with media measurement firm Rentrak to provide comprehensive viewership and advertising impression reporting on its viewers. FLO TV said the reports will provide deeper insight into its audience viewing patterns for its advertisers.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
San Diego-based music startup Slacker has apparently lost its CEO, according to a report from VentureWire. VentureWire said it confirmed the departure of Dennis Mudd with an investor in the company. Slacker is venture backed by Austin Ventures, Centennial Ventures, Mission Ventures, Rho Ventures, and Sevin Rosen Funds. The firm has raised around $70M in funding.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
The long saga of Callwave has ended, as the firm said this morning that it has officially changed its name to Fuze Box. The firm--which was for years one of Santa Barbara's most prominent technology firms--moved its headquarters to the Bay Area nearly a year ago, and recently went private, delisting from the NASDAQ. The firm went IPO in 2004. Fuze Box said it is now focused on online meetings and mobile collaboration; the firm said it still has offices in Santa Barbara.
socalTECH
AUGUST 20, 2009
In response to the worries of companies about data theft, Poway-based Apricorn , a developer of personal storage products, has released another product in its line of encrypted hard drives. Apricorn said its new Aegis Padlock Secure Hard Drive requires its customers to type in a personal identification number, before users can access data on an encrypted hard drive.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
This morning's Insights and Opinions article comes from venture capitalist Mark Suster of GRP Partners , who shares some of the most common mistakes he sees startups making. This is a very important post to me because I find myself giving this advice all the time and if you don't follow the basic advice here you can cause yourself much heartache down the line - even if your company ultimately becomes uber successful.
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2009
Sherman Oaks-based Advertise.com , the online search engine marketing firm run by Dan Yomtobian, has been sued by AOL over the firm's domain name, according to reports. Apparently, AOL is suing Advertise.com over its similarity to AOL properties Advertising.com and Ad.com. Advertise.com was, until recently, known as ABCSearch. The Scour.com meta-search engine is also run by Yomtobian, and is an offshoot of ABCSearch.
socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2009
Santa Monica-based Activision Publishing announced Tuesday that it is shipping a new Wolfenstein title, for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATIOn 3, and PC. The game, a military combat game set in Nazi Germany, is a sequel to 2001 title Return to Castle Wolfenstein, itself a sequel to a series of similarly themed video game titles which evolved from an Apple II software title, Castle Wolfenstein, released in 1981.
socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2009
Carlsbad-based Dot Hill Systems , a developer of enterprise storage systems, disclosed today that the firm has landed two patents covering its products. The firm said the patent include U.S. Patent 7,558,897 and U.S. Patent 7,558,981, both of which were granted to the firm by the USPTO on July 7th. The firm said the two patents brings the company's total patent portfolio to 53 patents.
socalTECH
AUGUST 18, 2009
Los Angeles-based social shopping site Tibesti is setting its sights on students, saying today that it will give 100 percent of its sales commissions from student products to users, as part of a back-to-school promotion. The site--which allows users to recommend, review, and sell products through a social networking-centric site--already was offering fifty percent of product sales to its users.
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