Sat.Dec 12, 2015 - Fri.Dec 18, 2015

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Sometimes your gut is the best you’ve got.

Berkonomics

Years ago I led a deal and invested in a company that looked like it had lots of promise to disrupt the women’s clothing industry with special algorithms and an online store. But something had bothered me from the very start – unsalable inventory.you trusted the data. You see, women’s clothing is subject to fashion changes so frequently that inventory becomes obsolete quickly.

Design 166
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Talk Like An 8th Grader When Pitching Investors

InfoChachkie

Photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Independent’s recent Techtopia Issue. A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. Serial entrepreneurs agree that it is best to communicate with investors on an eighth grade level. To illustrate this point, former DoubleClick Founder and current CEO of Graphiq Kevin O’Connor often begins his talks to entrepreneurial students by asking the following question.

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District2 Finds Funding For Fashion Marketplace

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Los Angeles-based District2 , a startup which is developing a business-to-business marketplace for fashion suppliers and designers, has raised a round of equity funding, from Saandaga Capital Corporation. Size of the funding was not announced. The startup wa part of the Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Precellerator program. District2's online marketplace helps fashion designers find suppliers, ranging from screen printers, dye houses, factories, and others to bring their designs to life.

Funding 138
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6 Ways Employees Kill Productivity Through Gossip

Startup Professionals Musings

As an entrepreneur, you should treat gossip among the members of your team as a reduction in productivity at best, and at worst, an indication of unhappy, un-empowered, or non-collaborative employees. As a leader, you should be asking yourself if you are the problem, and working hard to improve the situation before it gets out of hand, causing lost clients as well as lost productivity.

Product 61
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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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3 Business Tips to Keeping Your Online Data Secure

Tech Zulu Event

There have been many changes in the business world over the past few decades. One of the biggest changes has been how many businesses store their confidential information. The traditional methods of storing corporate information historically have involved a local network, wide area network, a standalone computer, or storage device such as a flash drive.

Tips 40
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RealD Wins Patent Infringement Action

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Beverly Hills-based 3D movie projection technology developer RealD reports that it has won a patent infringement ation against competitor MasterImage, after a U.S. International Trade Commission investigation and ruling. According to RealD, the US ITC has reached an initial determination, which concludes that RealD's patents were valid and infringed by MasterImage.

Patents 126

More Trending

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Elon Musk Backs Billion Dollar Artificial Intelligence Effort

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Elon Musk , the billionaire technology mogul behind SpaceX, has put some money behind--surprisingly--an effort to help developer artificial intelligence research. Musk--who has voiced his concerns over artificial intelligence taking over the world and threatening humankind--is one of the backers of a new, nonprofit research company called OpenAI. OpenAI says its goal is to advance digital intelligence in a way that "is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole, unconstrained by a need to genera

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Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Gets High Ranking In List

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The Los Angeles Cleantech Incuabtor (LACI) said this week that it has been ranked third on the 2015 University Business Incubator list, an annual ranking of top university-associated incubators. LACI said it also received the 2015 High Impact Incubation Programs in North America award by UBI Global, the group behind the rankings. LACI, led by Fred Walti, focuses on cleantech startups,and ays so far it has helped over 40 companies who have raised over $60M, and created over 700 jobs.

Incubator 122
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University Of California Raises $250M Venture Fund

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The University of California system said Tuesday that it has launched a new venture capital fund, with $250M in investments, to specifically invest in opportunities emerging from the University of California's ten campuses. The UC System said the new fund will be led by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Vivek Randadive. The new fund comes as a result of a September 2014 decision by the UC Board of Regents, which approved of the concept of investing in companies in such areas as life sciences, technolo

Funding 122
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codeSpark:Teaching Kids Software Coding Without Words

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Why teach your kids how to code, and what's the benefit of learning computer programming concepts--even before you've learned to read? It turns out, there are lots of benefits to learning the logical thinking behind software coding, according to Grant Hosford , the founder of Pasadena-based codeSpark (www.codespark.org). codeSpark develops the kids' game The Foos , which teaches kids the principles behind software programming, all without words, even for those who can't read or don't speak Engli

Software 122
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Dollar Shave Club Sued By Gillette

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Los Angeles-based subscription razor startup Dollar Shave Club has been sued by razor giant Gillette , which claims that Dollar Shave Club is infringing upon Gillette's patents. According to Gillette, is is seeking both damages and an injunction to prevent Dollar Shave Club from selling any products infringe upon its technology. The lawsuit was filed in the District of Delaware.

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Tastemade Raises $40M

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Santa Monica-based food content and programming startup Tastemade has raised $40M in a Series D funding, the company announced this morning, to further expand its content channels. Tastemade said the funding was led by Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division, and also included Redpoint Ventures, Raine Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Liberty Media, Scripps Networks Interactive, and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation.

Redpoint 116
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Purch Acquires ShopSavvy For Mobile Shopping Apps

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Purch , the online publishing company which owns Tom's Guide, Space.com, TopTenReviews, LAPTOP, and a number of other online properties, has acquired mobile shopping app developer ShopSavvy. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Purch has offices in Culver City, thanks to its acquisition of Tom's Guide a few years ago , when Purch was known as Best Media Network.

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Abacus Data Systems Acquired By Providence Equity

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La Jolla-based Abacus Data Systems , a developer of software to help law firms manage their practices, has been acquired by private equity investor Providence Equity , the companies announced today. Financial details of the deal were not announced. Abacus said the strategic majority investment by Providence Equity will help it quickly sale up its technology infrastructure.

Equity 116
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LA Startups Band Together To Support Local Charities

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A group of Los Angeles-based startups said today that they have launched a new effort, called #StartupsForCharity , where those companies and other local startups can help volunteer and support local charities. The group--whose members include Float, BloomNation, CurbStand, NailSnaps, Nanny Agency:LA, NuPad, Plug and Play, Team Friday, Built in LA, and WriteyBoard--said startups can have team members sign up for specific volunteering and giving opportunities through the platform's website.

Startup 116
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Pinkberry, Backed By Venture Investors, Acquired By Kahala Brands

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Los Angeles-based frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry --which is backed by venture investors--has been sold to Arizona quick serve restaurant operator Kahala Brands. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Pinkberry is one of the few, unusual retailers backed by venture capitalists, having previously raised funding from Maveron (the venture firm co-founded by Starbucks founder Howard Schultz), along with Ram Shiram of Sherpalo Ventures and Highland Consumer Partners.

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Cogent Road Acquired By Chronos Solutions

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San Diego-based Cogent Road , a developer of software used by mortgage lenders for a wide range of credit report, valuation, and underwriting tools, has been acquired by Texas-based Chronos Solutions. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Cogent Road was founded by William DiPaolo and Alan Baia in 2002. Chronos was advised by Holland & Knight LLP; Cogent Road was advised by Stinson Leonard Street LLP and Berkery Noyes.

San Diego 116
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CapLinked Wins Lending Club

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Los Angeles-based CapLinked , the secure, document sharing service aimed at corporate transactions and due diligence documents, has been selected by Lending Club for institutional investor due diligence. CapLinked said its software will be used as the secure portfol for providing due diligence materials to those investors. FInancial impact of the win was not announced.

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How ZendyHealth Is Adding Price Transparency To Healthcare

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Anyone who has visited the doctor or a hospital knows that what you will pay�whether yourself or through insurance�is a complete and total mystery. Is there a way to use technology to help make it more clear what medical procedures cost, and help patients�and doctors�better manage expectations? Los Angeles-based ZendyHealth (www.zendyhealth.com) thinks it has figured out a way to help both patients and doctors by helping connect patients to doctors and specific procedures, with upfront pricing.

Pricing 109
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Ligand Buys OMT For $178M

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San Diego-based Ligand Pharmaceuticals said Thursday that it is paying $178M in cash and stock for genetic engineering firm OMT. OMT develops genetic engineering technology used to create human therapeutic antibodies through animals. Ligand said it will pay $178M, split between $92.6M in cash and $85.4M in Ligand common stock for OMT. OMT is based in Palo Alto.

San Diego 109
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Matcherino, With San Diego Founder, Finds $1.25M For eSports Startup

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Matcherino , an online crowdfunding startup focused on funding eSports matches, has raised $1.25M in a funding round, the company said today. The startup--whose co-founder, Mario Gutierrez, is based in San Diego--said the funding was led by Madrona Venture Group, and also included Vulcan Capital and angels. Matcherino's headquarters are listed in Seattle, where the company's other co-founder, Grant Farwell, is based.

San Diego 109
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Masimo Names Retired Senator Harkin To Board

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Irvine-based patient monitoring device developer Masimo announced this mroning that retired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin has joined the company's board of directors. Harkin is the former Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee. Harkin retired in January. Masimo said Harkin's insight into the health system will be valuable to Masimo; Harkin was involved in such efforts as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the

Education 109
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ShipHawk Names Two VPs

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Santa Barbara-based ShipHawk , which is developing a cloud platform to help retailers with logistics automation and shipping, has hired to new executives. The company said it has named Koreen Pagano as Vice President of Product and George Chapman as Vice President of Engineering. Pagano joins ShipHawk from Lynda.com, where she was Director of Enterprise Product.

CTO Hire 109
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Triton Digital Gets Win In Southeast Asia

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Los Angeles-based audio advertising exchange developer Triton Digital says that it has won a deal to deploy its audio advertising exchange in Southeast Asia, via a deal with company Big Mobile. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Big Mobile is based in Singapore. The two said the deal will make Triton's audio advertising exchange available to music streaming services and radio broadcasters in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia.

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Evite Launches New iOS App, Gifting Feature

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Los Angeles-based event invitation provider Evite has rolled out a shiny new mobile app and mobile web experience, as part of a push to have users use the service for last minute holiday celebrations. In addition, the company says it has also rolled out an instant gifting app for its users. Evite says its mobile site is now optimized for mobile devices, letting users create and view party invitations from mobile devices; ability to add to guests lists and track rsvps; and more.

Evite 109
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Tealium Gains HIPAA Compliance

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San Diego-based tag management software developer Tealium , which develops software to help manage marketing and tracking tags on websites, says it has completed a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) attestation examination--which means its platform meets the data security safeguards of the two laws.

San Diego 109
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OpenX Names New CTO

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Los Angeles-base programmatic advertising marketplace operator OpenX has named a new Chief Technology Officer, according to the company. OpenX said it has named Michael Radovancevich as its new CTO, as well as shifting former Chief Legal Officer Douglas McPherson to become Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. Radovancevich was most recently CTO of Centro, and also served as CTo of Taleo.

OpenX 109
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Clearlake Capital Sells Inventus Solutions

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Santa Monica-based private equity investor Clearlake Capital Group has scored an exit with one of its portfolio companies, Chicago-based Inventus Solutions. Inventus has been acquired by RPX Corporation. RPX said it would pay $232M in cash to purchase Inventus, which is based in Chicago. Inventus develops e-discovery services to the Fortune 1000, global law firm, and government agency markets.

Capital 109
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Hallux Raises $7.1M

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Laguna Hills-based Hallux , a pharmaceuticals startup developing treatments for oncychomycosis, has raised $7.1M in a Series A funding. The funding came from Deerfield Management. Hallux is developing a priiorietary terbinafine product for treating subungual oncychomycosis--better known as nail fungus. The company says its dosage and treatment form avoid issues with current, oral therapies for treating the condition.

Funding 109
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CleanSpark Buys Specialized Energy Solutions

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San Diego-based CleanSpark , a developer of energy software and control technology, said it has acquired fellow San Diego company Specialized Energy Solutions (SES). Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. CleanSpark said SES specialized in engineering and construction of lean energy technologies, including 4MW of distributed solar power projects in the City of Colton, a number of Department of Defense installations, and other projects in California.

San Diego 109
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Cornerstone OnDemand Wins Hitachi

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Santa Monica-based talent and human resource management provider Cornerstone OnDemand has scored a win with Hitachi, Ltd. , and will supply learning an development programs to Hitachi's 350,000 employees. Cornerstone OnDemand did not detail the financial impact of the big win, but said its cloud-based software will be used across nearly 1,000 group companies owned by Hitachi.

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Velocify Names New Marketing VP

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Los Angeles-based sales lead management software developer a href="[link] has named Matt Reid as the company's new Vice President of Marketing, the firm said Monday. Reid was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Procore Technologies, and also previously served at OpenX, Eucalyptus Systems, and Citrix, working on that firm's GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar products.

Marketing 109
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Mojix Sets CFO

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Loss Angeles-based wireless RFID technology developer Mojix said this morning that it has named Carey Tokirio as its Chief Financial Officer. Tokirio was most recently CFO, SVP, and Corporate Secretary at Apriso Corporation. Tokorio previously served at Critical Path and QAD. Mojix said Tokirio served a significant role in the acquisition of Apriso by Dassault Systems.

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Legend VR, Littlstar Team On Virtual Reality Tools

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Los Angeles-based 3D special effects studio and virtual reality content developer Legend VR --which is part of Legend3D--and content distribution provider Littlestar are in a deal to work together on building production and post-production tools for VR. The two said they will combine Legend's 3D pipeline for content and Littlestar's VR network technology, to build tools aimed at helping studios, brands, and social stars get into virtual reality.

Tool 109
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Qualcomm: No Changes After Strategic Review

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San Diego-based Qualcomm says that its board of directors has decided to stay the course, and will make no change to the company's corporate and financial structure, after a strategic review by a special committee of its board. Qualcomm said that review, where it was assisted by independent advisors, concluded that the current structure "best positions Qualcomm to maintain its technology leadership and product strength, so as to drive the greatest long-term stockholder value.

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Morfis Semiconductor Uncloaks New RF Startup

socalTECH

Irvine-based Morfis Semiconductor announced the launch of the company's first products, unveiling what had been a stealth semiconductors startup until now. Morfis Semiconductor said its first products, which has been working on for two years, is a family of fully integrated CMOS, single-chip, single-die, flip-chip cellular RF front-ends. The startup said its chips are aimed at use across the entire 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE frequency bands, with production expected in Q2 of 2016.

Startup 109