Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 10, 2022

As a long-time mentor and advisor to new business owners, I can attest to both the need for mentoring, and the satisfaction that comes from watching an aspiring but tentative entrepreneur grow into someone capable of changing the world. Business is not rocket science, and one-on-one guidance face-to-face, with a real project, trumps the classroom and mistakes every time.

Mentor 154

Mentor Entrepreneur Satisfaction Summary 154

socalTECH

JANUARY 10, 2022

Santa Monica-based online employment market operator ZipRecruiter said on Friday that it is raising $550M in debt, via 5.000% Senior Notes due in 2030, up from an earlier announced $500M. The company--which is traded on the NYSE as ZIP--said it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, investments and working capital.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica .Net Capital Invest 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 10, 2022

Los Angeles-based Display Social announced this morning that it has acquired two other companies, Thunder Studios and Infinite Reality, and will seek to focus on entertainment in "the Metaverse". Display Social did not provide details on the financial aspects of the two acquisitions. The company said it will focus on "creative tools covering social, gaming, virtual and remote production, NFT minting, and metaverse creation.

Entertainment 113

Entertainment Los Angeles Tool Acquisition 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 10, 2022

Venice, California-based AI customer service software developer Thankful said today that it is expanding into the European market, via a partnership with Netherlands-based Dixa. According to the companies, Dixa wil leverage Thankful's AI agent. Thankful is led by founder and Ceo Ted Mico. The company said it is developing natural language processing software to help provide personalized service interactions for brands.

Miramar 113

Miramar Venice Software Development Customer 113

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 10, 2022

Los Angeles-based mPulse Mobile, which develops conversational AI software for the healthcare industry, says it has acquired HealthCrowd, a provider of healthcare communications services for the Medicaid market. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. As part of the acquisition, mPulse Mobile said it has received a growth investment from growth equity firm PSG, along with existing investors Optum Ventures, OCA Ventures, HLM Venture Partners, Echo Health Ventures, SJF Ventures and Bonfire

Mobile 113

Mobile Funding Equity Acquisition 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 10, 2022

Santa Barbara-based smart speaker maker Sonos has scored a major win in its patent efforts, winning a patent infringement case it had filed against Google. As a result of that win, Google has started stripping functionality from its speakers, rather than pay Sonos for licensing. The entire issue apparently stemmed from information provided by Sonos to Google back in 2013, when it was pitching Google for support of Google Play Music--which Sonos said that Google incorporated into its Google Home

Patents 113

Patents Google Santa Barbara 113