Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Early today I gave a keynote at the VCJ Venture Alpha conference here in San Francisco. I was asked to speak about the topic of “what is going on in the venture capital world and what is the next big thing after social networking?”. Future of VC Internet – Tough topic, but what the heck? Next week I promised to follow up on PE Hub , one of the main journals VCs read about our industry, with a detail description of some specifics that are happening.

Venture Capital 306

Venture Capital Capital Journal Social Network 306

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

The Los Angeles winners of the Deloitte Fast 500 ranking of fastest growing companies was announced last night at an event at Santa Monica's Shutters on the Beach, with 26 companies recognized in the overall 2011 Technology Fast 500, and three "Technology Rising Stars" recognized in the Los Angeles area. In the private award event, Deloitte announced the local companies who made the national list of fastest growing companies.

Los Angeles 263

Los Angeles Marina Del Rey Woodland Hills Angel 263

InfoChachkie

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Note: This is the fourth installment of an ongoing Guerilla Marketing series. The other installments address: 1) FUEL’s use of faux Monks dominates the social consciousness of a major media tradeshow. 2) TestFlight’s clever distribution of free meals garners Steve Jobs’ attention. 3) Social Stay’s failed attempt to utilize parcours to liven up a hospitality tradeshow nearly lands them in jail.

Marketing 256

Marketing Media Examples Organization 256

Berkonomics

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Some companies have good, formal stock option plans with properly priced options set to reward all in the event of a corporate sale. Usually, the higher the ranks, the more the options held and therefore the greater reward at exit. If there has never been outside investors to organize such an option program, many CEOs never get around to creating a system for rewarding employees in a sale. .

Sales 120

Sales Pricing Organization Software 120

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.

Company

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011 -- LEDs 2011: Bringing Lighting to Life. By delivering even more technical depth across a broader range of issues than ever before and bringing together the key industry RandD personnel, investors and executives, LEDs 2011 is the must-attend event of the year for the LED and lighting sector. LEDs 2011 will provide three full days of coverage of the latest technology, applications and end uses, lighting design and luminaires and market expectations and analysis most relev

Design 124

Design Marketing Technology 124

socalTECH

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Santa Monica-based GraphEffect , the provider of Facebook and social media marketing services, said over the weekend that it has hired Stephano Kim as its President and GM, New York. Kim was previously COO and President of [x+1], and was a co-founder of Blackboard. The company said that Kim will manage its newly opened New York and Chicago offices. Kim was also previously an angel investor in GraphEffect itself.

Santa Monica 239

Santa Monica Social Media Media Software 239

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 21, 2011

To be successful as an entrepreneur, you don’t have to be a fabulous person, but it helps. Some people, and some entrepreneurs, have that something extra, like Simon Cowell is searching for on the X-Factor , that you can’t quite put your finger on. But the entrepreneurs that have “it” seem to be able to effortlessly get team members, investors, and customers to follow them anywhere.

Entrepreneur 108

Entrepreneur Tips Social Media Startup 108

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011 -- Spotlight: LA Tech Fall. Spotlight: LA Tech is part of a quarterly demo series that will highlight the finest technology entrepreneurship in Southern California. Were looking for companies with new technology to demonstrate (or better yet, those with upcoming launches they wish to promote among savvy peers).

Southern California 113

Southern California Technology Company Companies 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

What's the latest craze in startups in Southern Califonia? It looks to be startup accelerators. In just the last few weeks, at least five different incubation/acceleration efforts have booted up in the region. Here's a rundown of the latest (but not all) of the incubation/acceleration efforts in the area: MuckerLab --which just launched this morning, is headed by Erik Rannala (formerly of Silicon Valley venture firm Harrison Metal) and William Hsu (formerly of AT&T Interactive), and is looki

Southern California 216

Southern California Orange County Incubator Tech Coast Angels 216

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 20, 2011

After months of submissions and the amazing help from our judges , the Spotlight is shinning down on awesome companies that were born right out of Southern California. For those who still might be wondering what Spotlight: LA Tech is all about, It’s a screening room for new technology homegrown in our region. It’s a gallery of great entrepreneurship.

UCLA 102

UCLA Company Companies Idealab 102

Startup Professionals Musings

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Just because you are an entrepreneur, or work in a startup, you can’t ignore the rules of building and maintaining relationships. Many despise these experiences in corporate environments, and leave for a startup, only to find that they have to be able to navigate a similar minefield there of workplace and business relationships to be successful. Jan Yager, Ph.D., an author and speaker on this and related subjects, outlines in her latest book “ Productive Relationships: 57 Strategies for Building

Startup 96

Startup Social Network Mentor Networking 96

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011 -- Growth Capital Conference. Network with capital sources,advisors,dealmakers and 50 entrepreneurs seeking capital and counsel. DEAL DISPLAYtm showcases attractive firms needing growth capital. View products,videos, on-line demos.

Conference 113

Conference Capital Networking Entrepreneur 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Santa Monica-based Docstoc , the online document sharing and marketplace firm headed by Jason Nazar, has just inked a syndication deal with Businessweek. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. On a new, Small Business Resource section--which is live now--Businessweek is offering up small business forms, contracts, worksheets, and more focused on small businesses, all using Docstoc's library of over 10,000 forms and legal contracts.

Santa Monica 215

Santa Monica Yahoo Resource Sites 215

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Big news in the mobile sector this week. Yesterday, Lookout , a mobile securities start-up based out of San Francisco, CA announced their release of an iOS version of their widely used Android compatible app. Lookout is a relatively new company, but has been a dominant figure in the mobile securities sector for Android phones. 12 million users world wide across 170 countries is certainly no joke as the company is ranked #1 in Android mobile security and has received numerous awards and accolades

Mobile 88

Mobile Startup Software Review News 88

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2011

I’ve just completed an investment in Ryan Carson’s new company, TreeHouse. It meets everyone of my criteria so I thought I’d elaborate. 1. I’m investing heavily in Internet video. Why? Americans watch 5.3 hours of television / day – many age groups are even more. We read less than an hour / day. I know readers of this post aren’t in that demo but that’s what the data says.

Invest 295

Invest Carson Technical Review Education 295

SoCal Tech Calendar

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 -- Emerging Threat Vectors. CommNexus. The landscape for security is constantly evolving and new threats require more specific protection mechanisms and plans for long-term mitigation. In a panel discussion of experts including the FBI, NSS Labs, redIT, and SAIC, we will explore this new vector for cyber threats.

113

113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Venture capital investments in Southern California for Q3 of 2011 are up from last year, but down from last quarter, according to the latest numbers from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association based on data provided by Thomson Reuters. The latest MoneyTree report from the three find that $603.2M was invested in Q 3in Southern California companies, up from the same quarter last year, when only $443.8M was invested in the region.

Southern California 212

Southern California Venture Capital Orange County Capital 212

Tech Zulu Event

OCTOBER 19, 2011

CapLinked , the online platform for private investment funded by members of the “ PayPal Mafia “—announced that it is launching a worldwide pitch competition for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of all-star judges from Idealab, Rincon, Rapidfire, and Actarus. Company founders and aspiring entrepreneurs of all-stripes are welcome to submit their plans for a chance at fame and glory, as well as international exposure for their company.

Competition 70

Competition Idealab Slides Startup 70

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Irvine-based K5Launch , a new venture accelerator started by angel investors Amir Banafatemi, Ray Chan, David Cheng, and Kai Tao, is looking to spawn the growth of startups in Southern California, saying today that it has launched its efforts in the area. The accelerator said that it is aiming at helping entrepreneurs--particularly in the social and mobile technology space--in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County with pre-seed funding and mentoring.

Orange County 208

Orange County Southern California Seed Funding Mentor 208

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

It's a story you hear too many times: a venture or angel funded firm just can't figure out its business, runs low on cash, can't get another round of funding, and soon all that's left is a few chairs and servers. However, every so often, you hear about a firm at that point, which is able to turn around, build a sustainable business, and is eventually sold for a positive return.

Outsource Development 190

Outsource Development Startup Outsource Tech Coast Angels 190

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Pasadena-based X1 Discovery , the Idealab-backed electronic discovery firm split out from X1, said today that it has shipped its first product, X1 Social Discovery. The firm said its new product is specifically designed to address social media content, and collects Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin information for use as social media evidence for investigators.

Social Media 180

Social Media Media Software Idealab 180

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Los Angeles-based Total Immersion , the developer of augmented reality (AR) software, is aiming at the game development market with its technology today, saying it has released a new version of its software specifically aimed at game and application developers. The firm--which also released a free, AR-based game called SkinVaders for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch--said it is looking to help developers create new cross-platform games and applications using its technology.

Web 177

Web Los Angeles Platform Software 177

socalTECH

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Just in time for Halloween, Santa Barbara-based zuuka , the firm behind the iStoryTime line of interactive books for the iPhone, said it has launched a title called Five Little Pumpkins , which it says is the first interactive title for Apple's iBook app. According to zuuka, the book was released in partnership with HarperCollins Children's Books, and features animation and sound, which was recently added by Apple to iBook via its EPUB 3.0 technology. zuuka said it has added animation and sound

Santa Barbara 176

Santa Barbara Technology 176

socalTECH

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Irvine-based Local.com has scored a patent out of its acquisition of Krillion , in April, the firm reported this morning, after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues patent number 8,032,427 to the company. The patent covers a system for providing consumers with information sold by local retailers, using location-based information. Krillion's site offers up a product search service which show prices and availability of products in local stores based on a user's location.

Patents 174

Patents Pricing Acquisition Report 174

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Mountain View-based business networking service LinkedIn appears to be tempting some trademark confusion--and maybe, a lawsuit-- with the launch Wednesday of a new service it bills Classmates , to help its users connect with former classmates via the service. The name of the firm's new feature goes head to head with a trove of trademarks owned by Classmates Online , the subsidiary of Woodland Hills-based United Online.

Woodland Hills 171

Woodland Hills Patents Tool Networking 171

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

A new, technology startup accelerator modeled after the TechStars venture incubator in Boulder said today it has launched, and will bring business acceleration to Los Angeles. MuckerLab , headed by Erik Rannala, William Hsu, Greg Bettinelli and Yan-David Erlich, said it will employ a similar model to TechStars and Y-Combinator, recruiting Internet softwar,e services, and media entrepreneurs through a three month program.

Los Angeles 170

Los Angeles Incubator Rustic Canyon Angel 170

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

A San Diego-based auction firm, Heritage Global Partners , said today that it will be selling off the surplus assets of bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra. Heritage Global Partners said it will sell of Solyndra's assets at an auction beginning November 2nd, and going through November 3rd. The auction includes solar panels, manufacturing and assembly equipment, computers, office equipment, and more.

San Diego 170

San Diego Technology 170

socalTECH

OCTOBER 17, 2011

City of Industry-based Newegg , the online electronics retailer, has scored a win in a patent lawsuit after a jury invalidated a patent held by Alcatel-Lucent USA. Newegg, along with co-defendant O.co (Overstock.com), had been accused by Alcatel Lucent of infringing on patents covering basic e-commerce functionality, including the ability to search for products on their web sites.

NewEgg 165

NewEgg Patents City of Industry City of Industry 165

socalTECH

OCTOBER 20, 2011

Hawthorne-based Space Exploration Technologies , the commercial rocket firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, said today that it has completed a major milestone in its efforts to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. The company said it completed a preliminary design review of its launch abort system, for use with its Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX 164

SpaceX Technical Review Hawthorne Design 164

socalTECH

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Pasadena-based UberMedia , the Twitter client apps developer headed by Idealab's Bill Gross, appears to be further moving away from its reliance on Twitter, and is getting set to launch a new service called Chime.in a direct competitor to Twitter's service. In multiple reports, plus an early release on Apple's iTunes store, UberMedia's plans for its own, social updates service--which allows users to share text, pictures, and more in essentially the same way as Twitter--leaked out this morning.

Idealab 164

Idealab Pasadena Services Report 164

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Thousand Oaks-based Amgen said Wednesday afternoon that it is cutting 380 jobs from the firm, as part of a corporate restructuring. The firm said it is cutting 226 people in its Thousand Oaks headquarters. The firm said most of the positions are in its research and development division, and that it is notifying its employees today. READ MORE>>.

Thousand Oaks 159

Thousand Oaks Research Develop Development 159

socalTECH

OCTOBER 17, 2011

Santa Monica-based BetterWorks , the provider of a technology based, employee fringe benefits programs, said today that it is planning to expand to Orange County, San Diego, Austin, and New York in the next month. The firm--which has been ramping up efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area over the last few months--said it so far has signed up private beta customers at.

San Diego 159

San Diego Orange County Redpoint Santa Monica 159

socalTECH

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Santa Monica-based Pose , a developer of mobile apps for shopping discovery, announced Friday morning that it has raised $3M in a Series A funding round. The round came from GRP Partners, True Ventures, and Mousse Partners. Pose develops both iPhone and Android apps which lets people share their style and shopping efforts with friends and followers.

Mobile 157

Mobile GRP Partners Santa Monica Funding 157

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

Fullerton-based Hipgeo , the developers of iPhone apps for tracking and logging your travels, said today that it has launched a new version of its product which is specifically aimed at travelers. The firm said its new "Trips" feature helps iPhone users to take pictures and track their travels, allowing them to share those travels and locations with their friends.

eHarmony 154

eHarmony Yahoo San Diego Blogging 154

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

San Diego-based Stocktwits , the real-time, stock focused discussion and micro messaging service, said today that it has launched an updated version of its iPhone app. According to the firm, the updated app now includes real time stock prices for the NYSE and NASDAQ, allows access to its real-time "idea stream", and more. Stocktwits is headed by Howard Lindzon, and provides a Twitter-like environment for sharing and discussing stock trades and information.

San Diego 154

San Diego Pricing Ideas Services 154

socalTECH

OCTOBER 19, 2011

San Diego-based MeLLmo , the developer of the Roambi mobile business analytics software, said today that it has opened up an office in Shanghai, to support the Greater China market. MellMo said the office will serve its customers in the region in the retail, automotive, pharmaceuticals and consumer technology industries. MeLLmo's Roambi Analytics and Roambi Visualizer App products are both now available in Chinese.

Oracle 154

Oracle San Diego Mobile Software 154