INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
Economic reality forces VR firms to switch focus for wider audience MORE
Good Money , a new Los Angeles digital banking startup founded by Gunnar Lovelace, the co-founder of Thrive Market , announced on Monday that it has raised $30M in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by Galaxy Digital via its Galaxy EOS VC Fund with investments from Breyer Capital, Blocktower Capital, Boost VC, Ken Howery, Blockchange Ventures, Cross Culture Capital, Troy Carter, Mitch Kapor, Peter Diamandis, Blake Mycoskie, Justin Rosenstein, and others. MORE
Pitching app developers with a new way to convert app browsers into actual customers, AppOnboard has raised $15 million in a new round of funding, the company said. MORE
The official opening of the first tunnel being built by Los Angeles-based Boring Company , a prototype tunnel meant to prove out its technology and feasibility of transporting people and traffic beneath city streets, has shifted to December 18th, according to Elon Musk. The official opening of the tunnel system had been scheduled for December 10th. According to Musk, the tunnel opening will "include modded but fully road legal autonomous transport cars & ground to tunnel car elevators." MORE
San Diego-based Trovata , a company developing cash automation software for the treasury management market, has raised a round of seed funding, led by J.P. Morgan, according to the company. Size of the investment round was not announced. According to Trovata, it has developed a cash automation platform built on open banking for finance and treasury operations, which is currently in a pilot with Square and JPMorgan Chase & Co. MORE
Los Angeles-based venture investor Upfront Ventures is the lead investor in a MetacX , a startup developing collaboration software for suppliers and buyers of enterprise software. According to MetaCX, it raised over $14M in the funding round, which was led by Upfront Ventures. Upfront's participation was led by Kobie Fuller, who joins MetaCX's board of directors as part of the funding. MORE
In another big, software acquisition for California's Central Coast, Paso Robles-based IQMS , a developer of ERP software for the engineering and manufacturing industry, has been acquired by French software giant Dassault Systemes. Dassault said that it is paying $425M in cash for IQMS, in order to extend its solutions to business operations for small and midsized manufacturers. IQMS develops manufacturing ERP software which are used by manufacturers to manage their business processes. MORE
Costa Mesa-based Veritone , a developer of artificial intelligence software, said it has received an unsolicited acquisition bid from private equity firm Apis Capital Management. According to Veritone, Apis has offered to acquire all of its outstanding shares for $10.26 per share in cash. Veritone said the proposal is an increase from an earlier offer to pay $8.00 per share in cash for the company, which it received on December 4th from Apis. MORE
Los Angeles-based 8minuteenergy Renewables , a private solar and energy storage developer, said it has entered into a joint venture with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and an affiliate of Upper Bay Infrastructure Partners , which will provide over $200M in capital for 8minutenergy's pipeline of products. According to the firms, the joint venture will support 8minuteenergy's 10.7 gigawatt pipeline of projects. 8minuteenergy builds utility-scale solar projects. MORE
Anyone knows that word-of-mouth recommendations--whether from friends, family, or influencers--carries a huge amount of weight when you're making purchasing decisions. So, if you're a marketer, how do you track and encourage those word-of-mouth recommendations? And, if you're a social platform, is there a way to monetize all that activity happening on your service? MORE
San Diego-based sensemetrics , a startup developing software to digest the vast amount of industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensor data in the areas of mining, dams, energy and the industrial machine sectors, said on Tuesday that it has raised $10M in a financing round. The Series A funding was led by German inestor X2 I Equity, and also included Mooring Ventures and Three Curve Capital. MORE
Mobile advertising firm Maple Media announced Monday it acquired the intellectual property rights to San Francisco-based game developer Banana & Co.’s s game portfolio MORE
Upfront Ventures leads $14 million MetaCX round; Axiomatic invests in Matcherino; Hyperloop Transportation Technologies links with German port authority MORE
Costa Mesa-based venture capital investor CerraCap Ventures says it has seen an exit out of its investment portfolio, saying that the sale of digital gifting and exchange company Swych resulted in a 4.3X return for the firm in less than two years. Swytch was a developer of digital gift card and mobile gifting apps, and was acquired about four weeks ago by a company called Finablr. MORE
Elon Musk , the technology mogul behind SpaceX and Tesla Motors, apparently is continuing his disparagement of the Securities and Exchange Commission , this time on an interview with 60 Minutes. In an interview, aired over the weekend, Elon Musk says "I want to be clear. I do not respect the SEC. I do not respect them." Musk and Tesla settled a lawsuit by the SEC in October, settling charges brought by the SEC over disclosure controls and procedures around Musk's tweets. MORE
Snap Inc., based in Santa Monica, announced Dec. 10 Julie Henderson will join the social-focused camera company as chief communications officer MORE
Mobile app demo and analytics platform AppOnboard Inc., based in Santa Monica, announced Dec. 11 it completed a $15 million series B funding round led by Breakaway Growth Fund, bringing its total 2018 fundraising to $30 million. To date, AppOnboard has raised $35 million MORE
Scott McCorkle has spent most of his professional career thinking about business to business software and how to improve it for a company’s customers. MORE
Pasadena-based Calibrate Ventures , a brand new venture capital firm founded by Kevin Dunlap and Jason Schoettler, announced on Tuesday morning that it has raised $80M in its very first venture capital fund, Calibrate Ventures, L.P. According to the newly created venture capital firm, it will focus on early revenue startups, focused on companies across both the consumer and enterprise sectors. MORE
Los Angeles-based AppOnboard , the startup developing mobile app demo and analytics software, has raised $15M more in a funding round, the company said on Tuesday morning. The funding was led by Breakaway Growth Fund, and also included Tiller Partners & Rainier Partners, plus Manta Ray Ventures, Runa Capital, Korea Investment Partners, Mirae Asset Management, MTGx, Troy Capital Partners, and 500 Startups. MORE
3D and visual technology developer RealD Inc. announced Monday it signed a deal with Beijing, China-based Wanda Cinema Line Corp. to install RealD 3D film screens into 100 of its theaters across China MORE
El Segundo-based medical apparel brand Jaanuu --formed by former investment banker Shaan Sethi and his sister, Dr. Neela Sethi Young --has snagged $15M more in funding, the company said this week, bring the company's total raised to $25M. The funding was led by JMK Consumer Growth Partners, and also included existing investors, including the Nordstrom family, and new investor David Kessenich, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of healthcare private equity firm Excellere Partners. MORE
Los Angeles-based Happiest Baby , the developer of a "smart" crib which automatically soothes babies to sleep, depending on their activity level and fussiness, has raised $23M in Series B funding, the company said this morning. The funding was led by Greycroft Partners, and also included Sallfort Bank and GV; the startup is also backed by Google Ventures, Greycroft, Lux, Obvious Ventures, Felecis Ventures plus Justin Timberlake and Scarlett Johansson. MORE
People argue over whether an entrepreneur with a sense of fairness, a desire for collegiality, a want to share the profits can succeed in the long run within a business world full of lions and tigers that eat timid entrepreneurs for lunch. Does a “good heart” diminish the chances of success? MORE
San Diego-based LightPointe , which manufactures outdoor, point-to-point radios used for wireless backhaul, said it has moved its headquarters and manufacturing facility into a new facility in San Diego. According to the company, the move will consolidate manufacturing of its 60 GHz, 70 GHz, 80 GHz, and 90 GHz point to point radios at the new location. MORE
Hawthorne-based SpaceX , in an attempt to further hone its technology to be able to catch the rocket fairings off of its spacecraft, was running a test on Monday afternoon off the back side of Catalina Island, dropping that fairing to Mr. Steven, its fairing-catching marine vessel. According to both aircraft and marine traffic tracking systems, SpaceX made its latest drop at around 2:30pm, letting go of its fairing from 10,800 feet. MORE
Santa Barbara-based Sonos said on Monday that it has named a new Chief Legal Officer. According to the firm, Eddie Lazarus, who was most recently General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer for Tribune Media Company from 2013 to 2018, will join the company in Santa Barbara on January 2nd. Sonos said Lazarus will head up all legal, corporate governance, SEC reporting, government affairs, regulatory and compliance activities across Sonos' global operations. MORE
San Antonio — When it comes to medical technology, what’s good for the military isn’t always good for the private sector. It’s often difficult for military researchers to find investors who will help them privately commercialize the innovations they develop, in part because the duties of military physicians are different than those of civilian doctors. That’s the case when it comes to both treating patients and working with others to develop new healthcare tools. MORE
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 -- Digital Family Reunion. Please join us for the 11th Annual Digital Family Reunion, the premier holiday party celebrating LA's vibrant technology community. Come reconnect with old friends and enjoy quality networking with fellow technology, media and finance professionals from across biotech, martech, fintech, blockchain, healthtech, IoT, big data, VR, AR, AI, entertainment and more. See [link] (more MORE
Friday, December 14, 2018 --. MORE
TechCrunch LA
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Pitching app developers with a new way to convert app browsers into actual customers, AppOnboard has raised $15 million in a new round of funding, the company said.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 12, 2018
San Diego-based LightPointe , which manufactures outdoor, point-to-point radios used for wireless backhaul, said it has moved its headquarters and manufacturing facility into a new facility in San Diego. According to the company, the move will consolidate manufacturing of its 60 GHz, 70 GHz, 80 GHz, and 90 GHz point to point radios at the new location.
Berkonomics
DECEMBER 6, 2018
People argue over whether an entrepreneur with a sense of fairness, a desire for collegiality, a want to share the profits can succeed in the long run within a business world full of lions and tigers that eat timid entrepreneurs for lunch. Does a “good heart” diminish the chances of success?
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Pasadena-based Calibrate Ventures , a brand new venture capital firm founded by Kevin Dunlap and Jason Schoettler, announced on Tuesday morning that it has raised $80M in its very first venture capital fund, Calibrate Ventures, L.P. According to the newly created venture capital firm, it will focus on early revenue startups, focused on companies across both the consumer and enterprise sectors.
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 5, 2018
Upfront Ventures leads $14 million MetaCX round; Axiomatic invests in Matcherino; Hyperloop Transportation Technologies links with German port authority
SoCal Tech Calendar
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 -- Digital Family Reunion. Please join us for the 11th Annual Digital Family Reunion, the premier holiday party celebrating LA's vibrant technology community. Come reconnect with old friends and enjoy quality networking with fellow technology, media and finance professionals from across biotech, martech, fintech, blockchain, healthtech, IoT, big data, VR, AR, AI, entertainment and more. See [link] (more
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Xconomy
DECEMBER 10, 2018
San Antonio — When it comes to medical technology, what’s good for the military isn’t always good for the private sector. It’s often difficult for military researchers to find investors who will help them privately commercialize the innovations they develop, in part because the duties of military physicians are different than those of civilian doctors. That’s the case when it comes to both treating patients and working with others to develop new healthcare tools.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Anyone knows that word-of-mouth recommendations--whether from friends, family, or influencers--carries a huge amount of weight when you're making purchasing decisions. So, if you're a marketer, how do you track and encourage those word-of-mouth recommendations? And, if you're a social platform, is there a way to monetize all that activity happening on your service?
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 7, 2018
SpaceX reaches new heights with record-breaking rocket launch
SoCal Tech Calendar
DECEMBER 8, 2018
Friday, December 14, 2018 --.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
In another big, software acquisition for California's Central Coast, Paso Robles-based IQMS , a developer of ERP software for the engineering and manufacturing industry, has been acquired by French software giant Dassault Systemes. Dassault said that it is paying $425M in cash for IQMS, in order to extend its solutions to business operations for small and midsized manufacturers. IQMS develops manufacturing ERP software which are used by manufacturers to manage their business processes.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Costa Mesa-based Veritone , a developer of artificial intelligence software, said it has received an unsolicited acquisition bid from private equity firm Apis Capital Management. According to Veritone, Apis has offered to acquire all of its outstanding shares for $10.26 per share in cash. Veritone said the proposal is an increase from an earlier offer to pay $8.00 per share in cash for the company, which it received on December 4th from Apis.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Los Angeles-based 8minuteenergy Renewables , a private solar and energy storage developer, said it has entered into a joint venture with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and an affiliate of Upper Bay Infrastructure Partners , which will provide over $200M in capital for 8minutenergy's pipeline of products. According to the firms, the joint venture will support 8minuteenergy's 10.7 gigawatt pipeline of projects. 8minuteenergy builds utility-scale solar projects.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Hawthorne-based SpaceX , in an attempt to further hone its technology to be able to catch the rocket fairings off of its spacecraft, was running a test on Monday afternoon off the back side of Catalina Island, dropping that fairing to Mr. Steven, its fairing-catching marine vessel. According to both aircraft and marine traffic tracking systems, SpaceX made its latest drop at around 2:30pm, letting go of its fairing from 10,800 feet.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Elon Musk , the technology mogul behind SpaceX and Tesla Motors, apparently is continuing his disparagement of the Securities and Exchange Commission , this time on an interview with 60 Minutes. In an interview, aired over the weekend, Elon Musk says "I want to be clear. I do not respect the SEC. I do not respect them." Musk and Tesla settled a lawsuit by the SEC in October, settling charges brought by the SEC over disclosure controls and procedures around Musk's tweets.
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Mobile app demo and analytics platform AppOnboard Inc., based in Santa Monica, announced Dec. 11 it completed a $15 million series B funding round led by Breakaway Growth Fund, bringing its total 2018 fundraising to $30 million. To date, AppOnboard has raised $35 million
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
San Diego-based sensemetrics , a startup developing software to digest the vast amount of industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensor data in the areas of mining, dams, energy and the industrial machine sectors, said on Tuesday that it has raised $10M in a financing round. The Series A funding was led by German inestor X2 I Equity, and also included Mooring Ventures and Three Curve Capital.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
Los Angeles-based AppOnboard , the startup developing mobile app demo and analytics software, has raised $15M more in a funding round, the company said on Tuesday morning. The funding was led by Breakaway Growth Fund, and also included Tiller Partners & Rainier Partners, plus Manta Ray Ventures, Runa Capital, Korea Investment Partners, Mirae Asset Management, MTGx, Troy Capital Partners, and 500 Startups.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
El Segundo-based medical apparel brand Jaanuu --formed by former investment banker Shaan Sethi and his sister, Dr. Neela Sethi Young --has snagged $15M more in funding, the company said this week, bring the company's total raised to $25M. The funding was led by JMK Consumer Growth Partners, and also included existing investors, including the Nordstrom family, and new investor David Kessenich, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of healthcare private equity firm Excellere Partners.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 11, 2018
San Diego-based Trovata , a company developing cash automation software for the treasury management market, has raised a round of seed funding, led by J.P. Morgan, according to the company. Size of the investment round was not announced. According to Trovata, it has developed a cash automation platform built on open banking for finance and treasury operations, which is currently in a pilot with Square and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 12, 2018
Los Angeles-based Happiest Baby , the developer of a "smart" crib which automatically soothes babies to sleep, depending on their activity level and fussiness, has raised $23M in Series B funding, the company said this morning. The funding was led by Greycroft Partners, and also included Sallfort Bank and GV; the startup is also backed by Google Ventures, Greycroft, Lux, Obvious Ventures, Felecis Ventures plus Justin Timberlake and Scarlett Johansson.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 6, 2018
The official opening of the first tunnel being built by Los Angeles-based Boring Company , a prototype tunnel meant to prove out its technology and feasibility of transporting people and traffic beneath city streets, has shifted to December 18th, according to Elon Musk. The official opening of the tunnel system had been scheduled for December 10th. According to Musk, the tunnel opening will "include modded but fully road legal autonomous transport cars & ground to tunnel car elevators."
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 7, 2018
Economic reality forces VR firms to switch focus for wider audience
socalTECH
DECEMBER 5, 2018
Los Angeles-based venture investor Upfront Ventures is the lead investor in a MetacX , a startup developing collaboration software for suppliers and buyers of enterprise software. According to MetaCX, it raised over $14M in the funding round, which was led by Upfront Ventures. Upfront's participation was led by Kobie Fuller, who joins MetaCX's board of directors as part of the funding.
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Snap Inc., based in Santa Monica, announced Dec. 10 Julie Henderson will join the social-focused camera company as chief communications officer
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 10, 2018
3D and visual technology developer RealD Inc. announced Monday it signed a deal with Beijing, China-based Wanda Cinema Line Corp. to install RealD 3D film screens into 100 of its theaters across China
socalTECH
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Santa Barbara-based Sonos said on Monday that it has named a new Chief Legal Officer. According to the firm, Eddie Lazarus, who was most recently General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer for Tribune Media Company from 2013 to 2018, will join the company in Santa Barbara on January 2nd. Sonos said Lazarus will head up all legal, corporate governance, SEC reporting, government affairs, regulatory and compliance activities across Sonos' global operations.
socalTECH
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Good Money , a new Los Angeles digital banking startup founded by Gunnar Lovelace, the co-founder of Thrive Market , announced on Monday that it has raised $30M in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by Galaxy Digital via its Galaxy EOS VC Fund with investments from Breyer Capital, Blocktower Capital, Boost VC, Ken Howery, Blockchange Ventures, Cross Culture Capital, Troy Carter, Mitch Kapor, Peter Diamandis, Blake Mycoskie, Justin Rosenstein, and others.
L.A. Business Journal
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Mobile advertising firm Maple Media announced Monday it acquired the intellectual property rights to San Francisco-based game developer Banana & Co.’s s game portfolio
socalTECH
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Costa Mesa-based venture capital investor CerraCap Ventures says it has seen an exit out of its investment portfolio, saying that the sale of digital gifting and exchange company Swych resulted in a 4.3X return for the firm in less than two years. Swytch was a developer of digital gift card and mobile gifting apps, and was acquired about four weeks ago by a company called Finablr.
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