Both Sides of the Table
JANUARY 5, 2010
This is part of my series on what makes an entrepreneur successful. I originally posted it on VentureHacks , one of my favorite websites for entrepreneurs. I started the series talking about what I consider the most important attribute of an entrepreneur : Tenacity. I then covered Street Smarts , Ability to Pivot , Resiliency , Inspiration and Perspiration.
SoCal CTO
JANUARY 5, 2010
The analysts at Morgan Stanley have produced a report that’s quite good reading on some of the major trends concerning mobile web. The report consists of: The Mobile Internet Report Summary Slides – a 92-slide presentation that provides highlights on the key themes The Mobile Internet Report Key Themes – a 659-slide presentation that drills down a bit more The Mobile Internet Report – a 424 page report which explores 8 major themes in depth and includes the two aforementioned slide presentations
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socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
Los Angeles-based Fandango , the online movie information and ticketing firm now owned by Comcast Interactive Media, has rolled out two mobile applications this week at CES. According to Fandango, it launched a new movie information, showtime, and ticketing app for BlackBerry phones, which is available for free for the BlackBerry Tour, Bold, Storm, Curve, and 8800.
SoCal Tech Calendar
JANUARY 8, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010 -- Schmoozd Social Media Mixer. The first-ever Schmoozd event, a new Social Media Mixer event in Los Angeles will be held at the Xbar in Century City, CA on January 14th, 2010. X bar's environment is the perfect place to network a lounge designed with spots for hanging out as well as socializing and action. 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.
Jason Nazar
JANUARY 4, 2010
This month’s Startups Uncensored will be on the “Building an Online Brand”. It will be an open and frank town-hall conversation talking about what it takes to build and grow an online brand that’s meant to last. We are joined this month by Sean Moriarty , the former CEO of TicketMaster. During his time at Ticketmaster, Moriarty led the company through its multiple acquisitions and strategic investments.
SoCal CTO
JANUARY 7, 2010
This is purely anecdotal, but it seems like a lot of companies are hiring technology talent here in Southern California. I’ve recently seen several tweets from software development companies looking for talent. And I’ve heard from several people looking for Startup Software Developers. And we have been looking to hire several positions (but are being really picky as is normally the case).
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
JANUARY 8, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010 -- Funding Sources Within the Federal Government. OCTANe. As private and venture capital sources of funding are shrinking, the Federal government has expanded the amount of funding available to private sector companies. The challenge for companies is understanding the process and identifying the business opportunities hidden in the labyrinth of government programs.
Tech Zulu Event
JANUARY 8, 2010
At the Intel booth, we took a look at a table-top phone being produced by Open Peak. The phone has a single-tough capacitive touchscreen and its own app store. Currently, the phone isn't available in the U.S. but should be "sometime soon.". Tags: frontpage.
Berkonomics
JANUARY 6, 2010
Let’s spend a few moments defining a sometimes confusing set of terms. A budget should be created each year as a result of a series of negotiations between departmental managers and their superiors through to the CEO, all in support of the next year’s tactics previously agreed upon (which in turn support the longer term strategies leading to the next goal beyond). .
socalTECH
JANUARY 4, 2010
San Diego-based Entropic Communications is powering a Ethernet-to-coax bridge product from Wistron NeWeb (WNC), a developer of home entertainment networking products, the firm disclosed today. According to Entropic and WNC, Entropic's chip set is being used as part of the product, which allows consumers to connect up to four Internet TVs, Blu-ray Players, game consoles, and other Ethernet-enabled devices via preexisting coax cable, using the MoCA standard.
SoCal Tech Calendar
JANUARY 8, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010 -- Private Equity Night. ACG Orange County. PE Night is a must-attend event offering unmatched networking opportunities for business leaders across several industries. It brings together best-of-class local and national equity sources, professional MandA service providers, lenders, corporate members and their guests to make connections, share intelligence, and advance their businesses.
Tech Zulu Event
JANUARY 8, 2010
Despite holding a press conference that was more "look what we've done lately" than "look what we're going to do," Microsoft has made some cool announcements at CES regarding video games. We caught up with a Microsoft rep who took us through the Xbox Game Room which will be released this spring with more than 30 games like Centipede and Asteroids. If you're looking for retro games without hi-def modifications, look no further.
socalTECH
JANUARY 8, 2010
San Diego-based Slacker , the online personalized radio service backed by Mission Ventures, Austin Ventures, Centennial Ventures, Rho Ventures, and Sevin Rosen Funds, said Thursday that it is adding ABC News to its Slacker personal radio service. The firm said that the firm's listeners will have access to a dedicated news station including ABC News content.
socalTECH
JANUARY 5, 2010
Irvine-based loanDepot.com said today that it has launched an online, mortgage marketplace with backing from private equity firm Parthenon Capital Partners. The firm did not disclose financial details behind the deal, which was brokered by Milestone Capital. loanDepot.com is headed by Anthony Hsieh, who founded E*TRADE Mortgage and LendingTree Loans.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
Los Angeles-based Pong Research , a firm developing cases which cut cell phone radiation, has launched a new case for the RIM Blackberry Curve. Pong, which was started by UCLA professor emeritus of physics Alfred Wong, previously only had an iPhone version of the firm's silicone protective case. Pong's products use antenna theory and technology to redirect cell phone signals away from a user's head, for users who might be concerned about cell phone radiation.
socalTECH
JANUARY 8, 2010
San Diego-based Achates Power , which is developing 4-cylinder, piston engine technology, said late Friday that it has raised $19.2M in a Series B funding round. The funding came from Triangle Peak Partners , Sequoia Capital , Rockport Capital Partners , Madrone Capital Partners , and InterWest Partners. As part of the funding, Dain DeGroff of Triangle Peak partners joins the firm's board.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
Santa Monica-based CODA Automotive , a developer of electric cards, said Wednesday that it has raised $25M more in a first close of a Series C investment round. Source of the new funding was not disclosed. CODA said that the new funding will go towards final safety certification testing, and scale up production of its joint venture battery manufacturing facility.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
David Titus , a venture capitalist at Windward Ventures , has joined the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation as Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives, the nonprofit said yesterday. The San Diego EDC is a nonprofit helping to bolster businesses in the San Diego region, and said that Titus will help support the group in familiarizing company executives in San Diego with the group's mission, encourage them to grow in the region, and also look to attract and identify companies loo
socalTECH
JANUARY 5, 2010
Pasadena-based LeisureLink , a provider of travel distribution software for specialty lodging suppliers, said today that it has been powering lodging for Snowcreek Resort, in Mammoth Mountain. The firm did not disclosed details of the win, but said that it is helping to increase the visibility of the resort in distribution channels. LeisureLink's online platform is used to gain bookings for the vacation rental and specialty lodging market.
socalTECH
JANUARY 5, 2010
Aliso Viejo-based Gaikai , a startup developing technology to play computer games online in a web browser, has raised $5.0M in a funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the firm Tuesday. Source of the new funding was announced, however, the firm now lists Mitch Lasky, former founder of JAMDAT, and now a General Partner at Benchmark Capital, on its board of directors.
socalTECH
JANUARY 4, 2010
Pasadena-based Cogent Systems , a developer of fingerprint and other biometric scanning equipment, said today that it has gained a contract with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Size of the 5.5 year contract was not announced by the company. Cogent said the contract covers replacement of the OTDA's Automated Finger Imaging System, used to verify the identity of public benefits recipients.
socalTECH
JANUARY 8, 2010
Camarillo-based Vitesse Semiconductor said late Thursday that it has launched an effort to regain listing on the NASDAQ, starting with a reverse stock split. Vitesse, which has been on the Pink Sheets since dropping off the NASDAQ in June 2006 related to an investigation into the firm's stock options grant practices by the SEC, said the firm is seeking to regain NASDAQ relisting, to increase the opportunity for stock liquidity, as well as investor and analyst support.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
El Segundo-based satellite broadcaster DIRECTV said Wednesday at CES that it is in a deal with HDTV manufacturer Panasonic, to broadcast 3D television starting in June of 2010. According to DIRECTV, its customers will receive a free software upgrade showing three, dedicated 3D channels to 3D television sets, including Panasonic's VIERA Full HD 3D TVs.
socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
Several of the major semiconductor components behind this week's launch of the Google Nexus One phone are actually from Southern California companies, Qualcomm and Broadcom , teardowns of the phone are showing. In those teardowns , it appears that Qualcomm's QSD8250 "Snapdragon" 1GHz ARM processor is the main processor being used in Google's phone, along with a number of other Qualcomm components, and it appears Broadcom is powering the Nexus One's Bluetooth and 802.11n wireless, with its BCM432
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
Camarillo-based Cool Planet Biofuels , which is developing technology to maximize fuel energy for cellulosic biomass, has quietly raised $3.5M in funding, according to a recent regulatory filing by the firm. The source of that funding was not disclosed. Cool Planet Biofuels is headed by Mike Chieky, who is also involved with firms Transonic Combustion and ZPower.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
San Diego-based Sigalert.com , which provides local traffic information both through an online site as well as by providing traffic graphics to local television stations, has been acquired by Westwood One. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to Westwood One, it has acquired the Sigalert business from parent firm Jaytu Technologies, LLC., and will also bring on the expertise of Sigalert co-founders Jonathan Berke and Joel Johnstone.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
Los Angeles-based music service Napster , which is now owned by Best Buy, announced today that it has released a new application programming interface, targeted at consumer electronics and web developers. According to Napster, the new API allows those developers to integrate content from Napster into their own web sites or products. Along with the announcement of the API, Napster said that Samsung's connected TVs are using the API to enable on-TV access to the Napster music service.
socalTECH
JANUARY 4, 2010
Los Angeles-based Equipois , a developer of devices for providing better ergonomics, is closing on $1.25M in a Series B-1 funding round this week, the firm told socalTECH today. The new round is being led by Penny Black. Equipois develops mechanical devices to make objects weightless, which are used by manufacturers and others to reduce workplace injuries and improve efficiency.
socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
To kick off our first interview for the year, we've got an interview with Kevin Strong , the CEO of Laguna Beach-based FutureDash (www.futuredash.com), a developer of technology for the home energy monitoring market. Kevin was previously an executive at GloNav, and founder and President Allan Hundhausen was previously at Quark, Inc. We spoke with Kevin shortly before the holidays about the firm, as well as how he connected with Allan at an OCTANe event.
socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
Beverly Hills-based 3D technology provider RealD said today that it has signed agreements with Sony, JVC, Samsung, Toshiba, Panasonic, and DIRECTV, around support of its RealD format on new, 3D televisions. RealD said the agreements include supporting its stereoscopic RealD format on Sony LCD TVs, JVC LCD monitors, Samsung 3D TVs, Toshiba REGZA LCD TVs, and Panasonic's 3D VIERA TVs.
socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
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socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
Santa Barbara-based D2 Technologies , a developer of embedded IP communication software, announced two different partnerships this week at CES, saying that it has linked with NetLogic Microsystems on an Android product, and separately, that it has partnered with Opulan on a product for the residential gateway market. In the NetLogic deal, D2 said that its mCUE communications client is now available on NetLogic's Au1300 processor, which is being aimed at OEMs and ODMs developing Android phones an
socalTECH
JANUARY 7, 2010
San Diego-based Websense , a developer of web security products, said Wednesday that it is seeing strong demand for the firm's new Web Security Gateway and appliances, and is also benefiting from currency exchange rates, and upped its guidance range Wednesday. According to the firm, it has been seeing growing demand for its product for the last five quarters--pushing its expected, full year operating cash flow to more than $90M, up from its guidance of $80M.
socalTECH
JANUARY 6, 2010
Los Angeles-based CyberDefender , a provider of PC security and antivirus software, announced today that it has turned to on-demand billing provider Vindicia. The firm said the move will help mitigate accidental lapses and gaps between expiration and renewal of subscriptions to its service. Financial details of the business partnership were not disclosed by the firm.
socalTECH
JANUARY 5, 2010
San Diego-based VMIX , which provides online video management tools for web publishers, said today that it has hired on four new executives to its Business Development team. The firm said it has hired on Kate Dixon, Charles white, Scott O'Donnell, and Alan De Leon to the firm as part of a plan for expansion. Dixon was most recently at Origin Digital, White at PermissionTV/VisibleGains, O'Donnell at CDN, and De Leon at Gen2Media.
socalTECH
JANUARY 5, 2010
Irvine-based Local.com , which operates a local search site and network, announced today that it has acquired 22,000 web hosting subscribers from LaRoss Partners, in a deal worth approximately $2.6M in cash. Local.com said those web hosting customers pay approximately $35 per month for web hosting services, provided by a third party. As part of the deal, Local.com said it also has the option to buy another 10,000 web hosting subscribers during the first quarter of 2010.
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