socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

El Segundo-based Mattel , and Chinese Internet technology and video game developer NetEase , said this morning that the two are in a new joint venture to public mobile games and education apps. According to the two, they will create a new mobile game publishing and development studio called Mattel163 , which will specifically bring new mobile games and education apps to market, inspired by Mattel's large collection of brands.

El Segundo 178

El Segundo Mobile Education Pricing 178

L.A. Business Journal

JANUARY 30, 2018

On-demand dog-walking app Wag landed a $300 million commitment from the SoftBank Vision Fund and announced former LifeLock executive Hilary Schneider as the company’s new chief executive.

Demand 150

Demand Funding 150

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., said the funding was led by Greylock Partners and also included Science Inc. Greylock's Josh Elman joins the company's board as part of the funding.

Mobile 173

Mobile Media Entertainment Incubator 173

L.A. Business Journal

JANUARY 30, 2018

Dog-walking app Wag lands $300 million from SoftBank and appoints new chief executive; Next Trucking raises $21 million in Series B round; and nonprofit fundraising startup Funraise closes $9.7 million round.

Report 100

Report Startup 100

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

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

As reports of Elon Musk receiving thousands and thousands of orders for a Boring Company Flamethrower , at least one California legislator is moving to make sure people won't actually get their hands on the device. Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) issued a statement saying he will introduce legislation to block sale of the invention to the public.

Los Angeles 154

Los Angeles Sales Ideas Report 154

SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 30, 2018

Thursday, February 1, 2018 -- CONNECT 2018 International Demo Day. Join us for our 2018 International Demo Day to hear tech and life science startups from CONNECT affiliates from around the globe pitch their startups. This exclusive demo day luncheon is open to the public (registration required) and will be held at the CONNECT office in UTC.

Startup 100

Startup 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 30, 2018

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 -- Scaling your Startup. TiE South Coast and EvoNexus jointly present a very special event! Speakers include: Mark Bowles, CoFounder and Former CEO, ecoATM, Inc. Serial entrepreneur; VCs have backed Mark seven times! Kian Sineii, CEO and Cofounder, Independa, Inc. Suman Kanuganti, CEO and Founder, Aira Moderator: Devang Thakkar, Managing Partner, DCM Consulting.

San Diego 100

San Diego Startup Entrepreneur 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based online invitations service Evite --which is now owned by Liberty Interactive--says it is celebrating its 20th birthday this year , and will be running a number of promotions, including a sweepstakes, sharing video content, and customer stories around its anniversary. The company, which is currently led by CEO Victor Cho, was founded in 1998 by Al Lieb and Selina Tobaccowala.

Evite 149

Evite Los Angeles Content Customer 149

SoCal Tech Calendar

JANUARY 30, 2018

Monday, February 5, 2018 -- Digital Entertainment World (DEW2018). Recognized by Hollywood insiders, digital influencers and industry leaders throughout the world as a "must-attend" event, now in its 5th year Digital Entertainment World (DEW) is where you want to be if you are in the business of creating or monetizing digital entertainment content. DEW 2018 focuses on "The FUTURE of." and will cover topics from OTT to Innovation to eSports to Millennials to Content Marketing to VR/AR to Music Ri

Marina Del Rey 100

Marina Del Rey Entertainment Santa Monica Venice 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based on-demand, dog walking startup Wag has raised an enormous, $300M funding round, the company announced Tuesday morning. Wag said the funding comes from SoftBank Vision Fund. As part of the funding, the company said it has named Hilary SChneider as its new CEO. Wag--founded in 2015 by Joshua and Jonathan Viner--says its services are now available in more than 100 cities nationwide.

Symantec 138

Symantec Funding Yahoo Demand 138

L.A. Business Journal

JANUARY 30, 2018

Next Trucking Partners, an online marketplace connecting truckers with shippers has raised $21 million in a series B round, the company announced Jan. 30.

Company 100

Company Companies 100

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

San Diego-based biotechnology developer MabVax Therapeutics Holdings reported today that the company is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to MabVax, it was informed that the SEC was conducting an investigation and examination, relating to the company's registration statements and amendments. Other details of the investigation were not announced.

San Diego 138

San Diego Report Develop Development 138

Xconomy

JANUARY 30, 2018

Gene therapy pioneer James Wilson and University of Pennsylvania colleagues sounded an alarm Tuesday morning about the use of gene therapy to treat severe diseases like spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sending a chill across the sector. Shares of several companies inched downward as word spread about the UPenn work on Tuesday.

Study 78

Study San Diego Company Companies 78

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based Loot Crate , which operates a monthly, subscription service that sends videogame- and geek-related "boxes" to its subscribers, has been named in a sexual harassment lawsuit, which was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court this month. The lawsuit, JANE DOE v. LOOT CRATE INC., filed January 5th, alleges that Loot Crate maintained a "fraternity-like" culture and that Loot Crate's controller engaged in a "continuous, severe, and pervasive campaign of sexual harassment" tow

Southern California 127

Southern California Los Angeles Report Invest 127

Xconomy

JANUARY 30, 2018

Tech vendors know when they knock on the doors of local politicians to pitch smart cities technologies and promising billions in savings, they are going to find a receptive audience. Big Tech promises what politicians desperately want to hear: that we can address deep-seated, structural urban problems through business-led technological innovation and somehow sidestep the messiness of inclusive politics.

Technology 77

Technology San Diego Design Software 77

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based dating app developer Tinder should not be allowed to charge extra for older users to use the app, according to an appeal court ruling, issued Monday. According to the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, which is located in Los Angeles, Tinder's pricing scheme violates age discrimination laws in California.

Class 113

Class Pricing Los Angeles Competition 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based SpaceX , the space rocket developer led by Elon Musk, has pushed off its launch of the GovSat-1 satellite until tomorrow, January 31st, after an issue with a second stage sensor. SpaceX, which had been aiming at a launch at 4:25 p.m. EST, did not provide any other details on what issue had been encountered in its launch attempt. SpaceX is looking to deliver the GovSat-1 satellite into geosynchronous orbit.

SpaceX 113

SpaceX Los Angeles Angel Develop 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Online lending provider Elevate , which has its research and analytics center in San Diego, has named the former Chief Credit Officer of PayPal to the position at the company, based in San Diego. According to Elevate, which had an IPO in April of 2017, it has named Brian Biglin as Chief Credit Officer, to lead the company's technology and proprietary risk team.

San Diego 113

San Diego Artificial Inteligence Research Technology 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based venture investment firm Moonshots Capital , which is led by Kelly Perdew, has scored an exit at portfolio company Edbacker. Edbacker, a developer of fundraising tools for school districts, has been acquired by Austin, Teas-based LivingTree , another developer of software for fundraising and parent engagement for schools. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced.

Acquisition 113

Acquisition Capital Los Angeles Tool 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Scientific equipment maker Agilent is funding a new scientific research center at the University of Southern California , focused on biomedical research, through a new scientific collaboration. According to Agilent, it is working with the University of Southern California (USC) Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience to create an Agilent Center of Excellence (CoE) in Biomolecular Characterization.

USC 113

USC Research Southern California Funding 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based SpaceX is targeting another launch today, at 4:23PM ET, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to the Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX is currently scheduled to launch the SpaceX Falcon 9 SES-16/GovSat 1 mission, from Space Launch Complex 40. The mission will place a geostationary communications satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) for GovSat, which is a joint venture between SES and the government of Luxembourg.

SpaceX 113

SpaceX Los Angeles Angel 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based auto leasing startup Fair , led by startup veteran Scott Painter, has acquired the auto leasing portfolio of Uber , including both vehicles and existing leases, Uber said on Tuesday. Fair-- backed by more than $1 billion in funding from such investors as BMW i Ventures, Penske Automotive Group, Sherpa Capital, and others, operates a service which helps people gain access to a car, which they pay for using monthly payments, with no long term commitments.

Truecar 100

Truecar Equity Los Angeles Activity 100