TechCrunch LA

MARCH 6, 2020

Reuters reports that the Chinese company sold its 98% stake in Grindr to a U.S.-based based company, San Vicente Acquisition Partners. Last year, it was reported that while under Chinese ownership, Grindr allowed engineers in Beijing access to the personal data of millions of U.S. That ownership was later scrutinized by a U.S.

Los Angeles 321

Los Angeles Software Review Acquisition Report 321

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 11, 2021

Photo by Vanna Phon on Unsplash Customer acquisition is the lifeblood of many startups from e-commerce to gaming to marketplace companies, among others. But if you ask anyone in the ecosystem of customer acquisition?—?founders, and you’ll hear the same thing: customer acquisition (CAC) is getting harder and more expensive.

Product 424

Product Platform Advertising Acquisition 424

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Los Angeles-based comedy website Funny or Die --started by Will Ferrell--is looking for a buyer, according to reports this week from Bloomberg. to help sell the company, according to the report, saying that the website is seeking $100 million to $300 million in the sale of the company. READ MORE>>.

Report 138

Report Hollywood Acquisition Content 138

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 24, 2022

As a business consultant and angel investor, I often ask for your own assessment of marketing ROI , or customer acquisition cost (CAC). Are you making the proper investment, and is it paying off? Here I recommend the use an outside consultant report periodically to avoid internal turf wars.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Acquisition Technical Review 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2013

In a very bold move, Venice-based Snapchat has apparently turned down a $3 billion acquisition offer from Facebook , according to a report today from the Wall Street Journal. snapchat merger acquisition exit facebook tencent mobile' READ MORE>>.

Snapchat 210

Snapchat Report Southern California Journal 210

socalTECH

MAY 17, 2011

A report today from Greentech Media says that Pasadena-based Idealab 's sale of portfolio firm RayTracker was worth $44.8M. Idealab, Quercus Trust, and Phoenix Fire had invested $3.5M on their investment. in funding in RayTracker a developer of solar tracking technology. RayTracker was a spinout of Idealab's Energy Innovations.

Idealab 140

Idealab Report Acquisition Pasadena 140

Tech.Co

FEBRUARY 8, 2019

It’s the biggest podcast industry acquisition ever, and Spotify isn’t done. The company has stated that it plans to spend a total of $500 million on podcasting investments, meaning it still has a few hundred million to burn. That’s because the acquisitions make Spotify a publisher, as well as platform.

Acquisition 124

Acquisition Media News Platform 124

socalTECH

JANUARY 12, 2017

Los Angeles-based apartment rental marketplace RadPad , which was founded by Jonathan Eppers, has been acquired by LandlordStation , according to a report. Financial details of the acquisition were not anounced. RadPad had been venture backed by Altpoint Ventures, Goldcrest Investments and AmplifyLA. READ MORE>>.

Report 100

Report Acquisition Los Angeles Pricing 100

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2013

San Diego-based DriveCam is driving towards an IPO, and has hired a trio of investment banks to manage its IPO pricess, according to Reuters. Reuters reports that Morgan Stanley, Baclays PLC, and Credit Suisse AG have been hired to manage the company''s IPO, citing three sources familiar with the move. READ MORE>>.

Report 147

Report San Diego News Invest 147

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

is looking at a possible acquisition of Twitter , according to reports. Walt Disney apparently is working with an un-named investment bank to evaluate the deal. Glendale-based Walt Disney Co. Twitter had been rumored to be looking to sell itself to Salesforce.com on Friday.

Report 100

Report Glendale Acquisition Invest 100

socalTECH

APRIL 17, 2013

A report Wednesday afternoon says that Los Angeles-based streaming media site Hulu has hired investment banking firm Guggenheim Partners, to advise the firm on a sale. The report from Reuters , citing three sources with knowledge of the matter, said there''s an ongoing auction process for Hulu. READ MORE>>.

Hulu 189

Hulu Report Company Companies 189

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2016

A report, published late Wednesday evening, says that Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. Disney had been reported to be looking at Twitter in September. Salesforce.com has been named as the most probably buyer for Twitter, which appears to have been running an investment banking process in its attempt to find a buyer. READ MORE>>.

Report 149

Report Burbank Invest Company 149

socalTECH

MAY 15, 2014

Los Angeles-based online apparel and shoe company JustFab is eyeing a possible IPO, and also is in the midst of raising between $50 to $100M, according to a report. According to the report, from Re/Code, the company has hired Morgan Stanley as an advisor. JustFab is led by Adam Goldenberg, and is a spinout of Intelligent Beauty.

Invest 147

Invest Venture Capital Report Acquisition 147

socalTECH

JANUARY 26, 2022

According to reports, the company has "kicked off preparations" for an IPO in early 2022. It's not uncommon for companies looking for an acquisition to leak rumors of an IPO, typically through their investment bankers or investors. Reuters cites "people familiar with the matter", and said ServiceTitan was valued at $9.5

Report 113

Report Acquisition Los Angeles Services 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2016

--otherwise known as SnapChat , is aiming at a March IPO, according to a report on Thursday afternoon. The WSJ reports that the company is looking to hit the market as early as March , in a deal which would value the company at $25 billion.

Snapchat 157

Snapchat Report Venice Invest 157

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Machinima , which had been the poster child for Southern California's multi-channel-network (MCN) boom, has laid off most of its employees and ceased its operations , according to reports. in 2016, in a deal then reported as worth less than $100M. Machinima had been acquired by Warner Bros. READ MORE>>.

Report 127

Report Southern California Media Content 127

Xconomy

JULY 10, 2019

That, plus robust merger and acquisition activity, set a record for venture-backed exit value—$165.2 More than a third of the companies that went public in the first half of this year were backed by venture capital.

Venture Capital 86

Venture Capital Invest Startup Activity 86

socalTECH

OCTOBER 22, 2018

CrowdStrike , the cybersecurity software developer which has major operations in Irvine, has hired an IPO banker and is eyeing an IPO before the end of the year, according to a report from Reuters. According to the report, CrowdStrike has hired Goldman Sachs to run its IPO process.

Invest 140

Invest Report Software Development Software 140

socalTECH

MAY 23, 2013

Struggling electric car maker Fisker Automotive has received a bid from a group of investors, to purchase the company for a mere $20M, according to a report today. fisker automotive cleantech auto hybrid bankruptcy merger acquisition' billion in a combination of equity and Department of Energy funds. READ MORE>>.

Report 147

Report Equity Acquisition Invest 147

socalTECH

JANUARY 13, 2017

Los Angeles-based advertising exchange Rubicon Project is reportedly seeking a buyer, and has engaged investment banking firm Morgan Stanley to shop the firm, according to the WSJ on Friday. The report cited "people familiar with the matter".

Report 100

Report Advertising Los Angeles Sales 100

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 10, 2021

To put that into context; Affirm’s financial report in May projected it would process $8.04 We’ve scaled up so massively in investments in our growth and technology, but running on a loss is very odd for us,” he told TechCrunch. “We Now we have more cash and money available to invest further in the long term.”.

Los Angeles 266

Los Angeles Funding CIO Marketing 266

socalTECH

MAY 12, 2020

Los Angeles-based J2 Global , which operates a large number of Internet related businesses, reported its first quarter results on Monday. The company--which is an avid acquirer of companies--said it deployed $19M for acquisitions in the quarter, and $36M in contingent payments from acquisitions from previous years.

Acquisition 113

Acquisition Los Angeles Report Invest 113

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 20, 2014

MiTú, based out of Los Angeles, was founded in 2012 by three veterans from the Hispanic media world: Beatriz Acevedo ( recently named on the 25 most important digital media players on The Hollywood Reporter !) , Doug Greiff and Roy Burstin. I outlined in this post how I believe YouTube Networks can still build high-margin businesses.

Invest 291

Invest Content Media Networking 291

socalTECH

MAY 8, 2018

Los Angeles-based j2 Global , the online services and publishing giant, reported on Monday that its Q1 2018 quarterly revenues grew to $280.6 According to j2 Global, it ended the quarter with approximately $400M in cash and investments, after spending around $100M for acquisition and its regular quarterly dividend.

Southern California 162

Southern California Acquisition Los Angeles Activity 162

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2012

GoPro , the maker of the popular, wearable, waterproof, sports action cameras for consumers, is planning an IPO, says a report Tuesday afternoon from Reuters. The report-- citing sources near to the company --said that GoPro has hired JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Barclays Plc to manage the offering. READ MORE>>.

Steamboat Ventures 164

Steamboat Ventures Report San Diego Southern California 164

socalTECH

OCTOBER 12, 2016

Venice-based Snapchat has selected two investments banks--Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs--to lead the company's much anticipated IPO, according to a report from Reuters Wednesday afternoon. The report--citing "a source familiar with the situation"--said the IPO would value Snapchat at $25 billion. READ MORE>>.

Snapchat 100

Snapchat Report Venice Invest 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 27, 2010

San Diego-based Phenomix , adeveloper of diabetes drugs, has shut down, according to reports. The news of the shutdown was first reported by Xconomy. The news of the shutdown was first reported by Xconomy. Tags: phenomix lifescience medical biopharma biopharmaceuticals merger acquisition exit shutdown employment jobs.

Report 124

Report San Diego News Acquisition 124

socalTECH

JANUARY 15, 2013

Ross Levinsohn , the former head of Yahoo and Fox Interactive Media, has just been appointed CEO of Guggenheim Digital Media , the parent firm of The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Adweek, and other entertainment focused properties.

Hollywood 173

Hollywood Report Yahoo Entertainment 173

socalTECH

AUGUST 27, 2019

Mobile games developer Seriously , which has offices in Los Angeles and links to the local technology ecosystem, has been acquired by social gaming company Playtika , according to reports. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced, however, the deal is rumored to be around $275M. READ MORE>>.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Acquisition Mobile Report 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 14, 2015

Irvine-based data storage developer Western Digital has been named as one of the companies potentially looking at a deal for flash memory maker SanDisk , according to a report late Tuesday. According to Bloomberg, SanDisk has hired investment bankers to find a buyer for the company. READ MORE>>.

Report 100

Report Invest Marketing Develop 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 5, 2016

A report Friday from Bloomberg says that Los Angeles-based Honest Co. is prepping for an IPO, and has hired a set of investment bankers for the effort. The report says that Honest Co.'s The report is the first that confirms the company's entry into the ranks of technology startup unicorns. The Honest Co.

Report 100

Report Research Los Angeles Startup 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 18, 2013

Carlsbad-based Life Technologies said this morning that it has hired two investment banking firms, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. However, according to a Canadian newspaper, the investment bankers are actually looking to help drum up interest in buyers for the company.

Technical Review 147

Technical Review Invest Technology Equity 147

socalTECH

AUGUST 23, 2011

Los Angeles-based matchmaking site eHarmony is approaching a redemption deadline from its last venture funding round, according to a report today from Reuters. However, it is apparently a rare event in the venture capital business to run into a redemption rights deadline, according to the report. READ MORE>>.

eHarmony 181

eHarmony Report Venture Capital Los Angeles 181

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2020

According to Fair Stewart served as CEO of XOJet from 2013 to 2018, eventually steering the company through an acquisition by its parent company, Vista Global. The appointment of a new CEO comes only seven months after replacing its CFO and cutting nearly half of its staff. READ MORE>>.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Acquisition Report Invest 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

Venice, California-based Snapchat has begun discussing an IPO with bankers, but has yet to select an investment bank to lead the effort, according to a report on Wednesday. Snapchat reportedly is looking at an IPO towards the end of this year or in early 2017.

Snapchat 100

Snapchat Temple City Report Ventura 100

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2010

A report last night from the San Diego Union Tribune says that San Diego News Network (SDNN), the local news effort run by entrepreneurs Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry, is looking for a buyer. Senturia and Bry are well known San Diego angel investors, and also head up investment firm Blackbird Ventures. READ MORE>>.

San Diego 145

San Diego News Networking Report 145

socalTECH

MARCH 18, 2011

San Diego-based Websense is reportedly considering a sale of the company, according to a report this week in the Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports Websense has hired investment banking firm Qatalyst Partners on the sale. According to the WSJ, the firm is looking to get around $1B for the company.

Report 145

Report Journal San Diego Sales 145