socalTECH

OCTOBER 4, 2018

Mike Morhaime , the longtime CEO of Irvine's Blizzard Entertainment , has stepped down from his role, becoming an advisor to the company, Morhaime said on Wednesday. Morhaime has been at Blizzard for more than 27 years, since he joined the company in 1991, when it was known as Silicon & Synapse. The CEO role will go to J.

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Entertainment Develop Development Company 113

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 7, 2019

The company is one of a growing number of startups trying to rejuvenate the music streaming market by combining it with social networking so that audiences can listen to the playlists of their favorite athletes and entertainers… and their friends. “He was jamming. Logging on is easy.

Entertainment 224

Entertainment Social Media Social Network Media 224

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 17, 2020

Imagine Impact , the entertainment accelerator launched by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard to try and bring Silicon Valley-style mentorship and project development techniques to Hollywood, has inked a development deal with Netflix and is looking for submissions. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

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Netflix Entertainment Hollywood Writing 137

socalTECH

AUGUST 14, 2015

Burbank-based Enntertainment Partners , a provider of payroll an dproduction management services for the entertainment industry, and Ease Enertainment Services , a provider of technology to the industry, said Thursday that Entertainment Partners will acquire Ease. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Burbank Technology Software 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Los Angeles-based First Access Entertainment , and entertainment firm which provides music recording management and publishing, film and TV development, and acting and model management, said this morning that it has launched a new investment fund, called The Fund by First Access Entertainment.

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socalTECH

MAY 4, 2020

Los Angeles-based private equity investor Platinum Fortune LP says it has acquired one o the UK's largest video game developers and publishers, Jagex , in a deal worth $530M. According to Platinum Fortune, it acquired Jagex from Shanghai Hongtou Network Technology , which is a subsidiary of Shanghai Fukong Interactive Entertainment Co, Ltd.

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socalTECH

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Los Angeles-based 3BLACKDOT , which develops mobile entertainment titles, has raised a round of strategic funding from Legendary Entertainment. 3BLACKDOT is the developer of mobile game Zombie Killer Squad, among other titles. The company is led by Angelo Pullen. Size of the funding was not announced.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Funding Mobile Los Angeles 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

in a seed funding round, to go towards its development of tools to power apps and games for 5G and augmented reality (AR), the company said on Tuesday. The company is targeting its tools for use by multi-player gamed developers. A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Croquet Corporation has raised $2.7M in the seed funding.

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Tool Seed Funding Develop Development 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 17, 2017

According to the startup, is is developing "voice-activated entertainment experiences" and interactive audio technology, which will tape into well-known personalities across entertainment, sports, politics, music and beyond. Macadaan is a longtime LA technology vet, having been Chief Creative Officer at Science Inc.,

Dollar Shave Club 124

Dollar Shave Club Entertainment Activity Design 124

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Sawtelle-based gaming studio That’s No Moon Entertainment Inc. launched July 28 with a $100 million investment from Smilegate Entertainment, a global game development company based in Seoul, South Korea.

Invest 264

Invest Entertainment Develop Development 264

socalTECH

AUGUST 25, 2016

Santa Monica-based Twistory Entertainment Studios , which had been a mobile game development and graphic novel design company, is being sold in an asset sale, according to auction company CMA Auctions. Twistory Entertainment was founded in 2009, and had developed Ouch! Couch and other titles.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Sales Santa Monica Mobile 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Los Angeles-based Global Eagle Entertainment , the developer of in-flight wireless and entertainment systems for airlines, said today that it has linked up with satellite operator SES , to bring Ku-band satellite bandwith to the company''s systems. Financial details of the link were not announced by the companies.

Entertainment 138

Entertainment Los Angeles Networking Software 138

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 14, 2017

Los Angeles-based Dreamscape Immersive , a developer of immersive, virtual reality entertainment experiences, said on yesterday afternoon that it has raised a Series A financing round. Size of the funding round was not announced, however, a regulatory filing indicates around $11.36M was raised in the round. READ MORE>>.

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Entertainment Century City Funding Los Angeles 160

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 2, 2021

As video commerce becomes the norm and entertainers, brands, businesses, and franchises of all sizes and stripes look to cut out the middle man, the array of services on offer from Maestro may be the scissors these entities need to cut the cord. Sales, Sony Music Entertainment, in a statement. .

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Tool Commerce .Net Entertainment 315

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Sharp Display Company , a unit of Sharp Eectronics Corporation which develops TFT-LCD products, plus Flying Eagle Sytsems , a new company created by Foxconn crated to "drive innovation in the display industry", announced today that they have set up shop in downtown Los Angeles.

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Orange County Company Companies Design 133

socalTECH

APRIL 16, 2014

Web video content provider My Damn Channel --led by Rob Barnett and Warren Chao--has relaunched the company, and changed its name to Omnivision Entertainment , the company recently announced. Barnett remains as Founder and CEO, and Chao has become President of the renamed company. READ MORE>>.

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Entertainment Long Beach Content Venture Capital 124

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment , the developer of the popular World of Warcraft, massively-multiplayer online game, said this morning that it has cut 600 jobs. The firm said approximately 90 percent of the cuts would come from departments not related to game development. Blizzard is a unit of Activision. READ MORE>>.

Entertainment 164

Entertainment Activision Develop Development 164

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 20, 2021

With real-time online reviews and feedback via the Internet, and instant relationships via social media, a voice from the top that is inconsistent with what is heard from the firing line defines a dysfunctional and noncompetitive company for today’s customer. Thus team makeup is the critical success factor.

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Class Develop Development Startup 155

socalTECH

MARCH 12, 2013

Beverly Hills-based talent agency and entertainment giant William Morris Endeavor looks to be busy with investments this week. The firm as backed a mobile application development company, Chaotic Moon Studios , as part of a strategic partnership. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

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Beverly Hills Mobile Invest Develop 185

SoCal CTO

OCTOBER 7, 2009

As part of doing that, I've had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of different chief technical officers from different kinds of companies over those years. This is a private group of CTOs who are responsible for software development within their companies. or focused on industry or type of company.

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Southern California Software Development Software Develop 150

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 2, 2015

San Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment , the developer of EverQuest and other massively multiplayer, online games, has been sold to investment management firm Columbus Nova , SOE said this morning. The company specifically said the move will allow it to "embrace the multi-platform world we are living in." READ MORE>>.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Invest San Diego Platform 100

socalTECH

MAY 10, 2016

Los Angeles-based inflight entertainment, wireless, and communications systems developer Global Eagle Entertainment is acquiring satellite communications services provider Emerging Markets Communications , the two said Monday, in a deal worth $550M in cash and stock. Global Eagle said it would pay $30M in cash plus 6.6

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Marketing Los Angeles Organization 100

TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 20, 2019

The Los Angeles-based gaming company, Scopely is expanding its geographical footprint in Spain and Ireland. The company is building out its Barcelona offices tripling its office space and planning to significantly expand its 100-person-strong team in the city.

Company 166

Company Companies Los Angeles Entertainment 166

socalTECH

JULY 23, 2014

Santa Monica-based entertainment company Lionsgate has made an investment in a Finnish game developer, Next Games , as part of a strategic partnership, the studio said this morning. lionsgate finnish game developer nextgames venture capital strategic investment hollywood content walkingdead videogame mobile rovio'

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socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2015

According to the two, the new startup accelerator will focus on companies at the intersection of sports, technology, and entertainment. The accelerator says it hopes to have a mix of early-stage startups developing new technologies, products, and services, as well as later-stage companies. READ MORE>>.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Technology Mentor Los Angeles 100

socalTECH

AUGUST 19, 2014

Los Angeles-based 3BLACKDOT --founded by Machina Vets Angelo Pullen, Luke Stepleton, Adam Montoya, and Tom Cassell--said Tuesday that it has snagged another Machinima vet, Marwan Abderrazzaq, to head up game development at the company. The company said that he worked with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

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Electronic Arts Develop Development Activision 153

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based Mammoth Media , a startup that says it is developing mobile-first media, has raised $13M in a Series A funding round, the company disclosed on Tuesday. The company, co-founded by CEO Benoit Vatere, and incubated at venture studio Science Inc.,

Media 173

Media Mobile Entertainment Incubator 173

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 24, 2017

Talks Hosts Leading Virtual Reality Developers. Talks: Creating the Next Wave of Consumer Entertainment,” a discussion with one of the leading VR companies, Lucid Sight Inc., Thursday, March 30, 2017 -- R.E.D Los Angeles is the fastest growing tech startup region, but it soon may acquire another moniker: Virtual Reality Hub.

Develop 100

Develop Development UCLA Entertainment 100

socalTECH

AUGUST 23, 2017

LA's technology startup industry has saw a surge in new companies and efforts from its serial entrepreneurs in the last few months. Here's a quick look at just a few of the new companies who are led by serial entrepreneurs from the LA ecosystem. Entering Startup image courtesy Mike @ flickr. Funding status: Backing from CAA.

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Company Companies Technical Review 113

socalTECH

JULY 18, 2018

Los Angeles-based media brand Pocket.watch , which creates content for kids, has raised $15M in a Series B funding round, led by Viacom, the company said today. As part of the funding, Viacom Media Networks COO Sarah Levy joins the company's board of directors.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Screening Content Los Angeles 100

socalTECH

JUNE 21, 2011

A new Los Angeles investment group, AngelVision Investors , said this morning that it has launched, and is looking to invest in startup and emerging growth-oriented companies, in the entertainment, marketing and new media. The company also revealed that it has invested in SoliDDD Corp, a firm developing 3D technology.

Entertainment 170

Entertainment Invest Media Los Angeles 170

L.A. Business Journal

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

As digital media continues to evolve, and as entertainment plays an increasingly crucial role in the category, Silicon Beach has developed into an essential location for big and ambitious companies.

Media 244

Media Entertainment Develop Development 244

socalTECH

AUGUST 15, 2011

A trio of United Talent Agency execs said Friday that they have launched a new, media company focused on the intersection of Internet and entertainment. The firm said it will work with creative talent to "produce television formats with a web sensibility" and also help develop digital platforms into TV and digital projects.

Entertainment 157

Entertainment Funding Seed Funding Web 157

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 28, 2020

In a move to shore up institutional support in what’s likely to be it’s last fundraising as a private company, the Los Angeles-based mobile gaming behemoth Scopely has raised $340 million in its latest eye-popping round of funding. “We were excited to crossover and invest in Scopely.”

Los Angeles 252

Los Angeles Mobile Platform Entertainment 252

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

Yellow , the accelerator program launched by Snap in 2018, has selected ten companies to join its latest cohort. The list of new companies include: Brightly — an Oakland, Calif.-based based media company angling to be the conscious consumer’s answer to Refinery29. Hardworkers — a Cambridge, Mass.-based

Artificial Inteligence 331

Artificial Inteligence Social Network Los Angeles Snapchat 331

Tech Zulu Event

JUNE 10, 2014

Malibu and Beverly Hills have long been hot neighborhoods for entertainment execs. As the line blurs between tech and entertainment, and as Silicon Valley seeks synergy with L.A.’s In part because there is not much developable or rentable space left in that city, the Santa Monica firms tend to be smaller.

Entertainment 108

Entertainment Santa Monica Journal Belkin 108

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

Los Angeles-based Two Bit Circus , the developer of micro amusement parks and STEM-inspired experiences, says it has launched a new, online entertainment platform that allows brands to engage their fans remotely. Two Bit Circus is led by CEo Brent Bushnell. READ MORE>>.

Platform 113

Platform Entertainment Class Los Angeles 113