Silicon Beach Report July 13: Spotify Moves to L.A.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 13, 2018
Spotify moves to L.A.
July, 2018
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Facebook Alternative MeWe Raises $5.2M
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 7, 2018
Sgrouples Inc.’s MeWe, a Culver City social network startup that calls itself an alternative to Facebook Inc., announced July 5 it had raised $5.2 million in Series A fundraising.
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Illuminate Education Gets Backing From Insight Partners, Rolls Up Five Companies
socalTECH
JULY 10, 2018
Irvine-based Illuminate Education , a brand new startup backed by Insight Venture Partners, said today that it has merged five different companies-- Illuminate Education , IO Education , SchoolCity , Alpine Achievement , and Key Data Systems --to create a new company focused on data platforms, data, analytics, and formative assessments of K-12 students.
j2 Global Buys Two More Companies, Line2 and Mosaik
socalTECH
JULY 19, 2018
Los Angeles-based j2 Global , which has made an art out of buying small companies and incorporating them into a large portfolio of acquired companies, has acquired two more companies, saying this morning that it completed two more acquisitions in Q2. j2 Global said it acquired certain assets of Line2, which will join its cloud services arm, and Mosaik Solutions, which will become part of its digital media operations.
Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19
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.
Why buy IT? Why buy MINE? Why buy NOW?
Berkonomics
JULY 26, 2018
What a powerful set of three questions. These are so succinct, so well defined, so precise that everyone in sales and everyone involved in marketing must be able to answer these three questions without pause, and convincingly. Turning these into statements instead of questions provides a framework for the sales presentation from the highest levels of collateral materials and marketing support, to the salesperson on the front line.
The brains behind one of marketing’s biggest hits are out to reshape the industry again… with direct mail
TechCrunch LA
JULY 3, 2018
Postie , a new Los Angeles-based startup, has a vision for the future of advertising and marketing — and it’s direct mail. Founded by some of the men responsible for the biggest hits in online marketing (like the Dollar Shave Club commercial that launched what became a billion dollar acquisition ) think that its time to take technology where it’s never gone before — into targeted, direct mail campaigns using the best ad-targeting that money can buy.
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Cesppa Closes $1.5 Million Seed Round
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 27, 2018
Cheviot Hills-headquartered anti-hacking startup Cesppa Inc. closed a $1.5 million seed round July 26, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Virtual Physical Therapy Firms Reflexion and MindMaze Probe Markets
Xconomy
JULY 2, 2018
For most patients—and for many drug developers—healthcare reimbursement policies can present a daunting maze of restrictions and uncertainties. But for some tech companies, those policies can be accelerants that boost the chances that new products will be adopted. That’s the case for Reflexion Health , which benefits from U.S. insurance coverage regulations that create openings for the use of its “virtual physical therapy” system for patients trying to recover a full rang
Postie Raises $3.5M To Apply Machine Learning To Direct Mail
socalTECH
JULY 3, 2018
Los Angeles-based Postie , a new startup focused on using machine learning and "quant marketing" to direct mail, said on Tuesday that it has raised $3.5M in a seed funding. The funding was led by Bonfire Ventures and Crosscut Ventures. The startup was started by Dave Fink (CEO and co-founder of Postie) and Jonathan Neddenriep (CTO and co-founder), who both previously were at startup studio and incubator Science Inc., working on such companies as Dollar Shave Club, DogVacay, MeUndies, Famebit and
Faster is sometimes more valuable than better.
Berkonomics
JULY 19, 2018
And d oing both well usually wins the day. This is one of those arguable insights, where both sides win. Dell is a great example of emphasis upon fast, creating a customized computer in 48 hours or less, bringing in assemblies and components just-in-time to make the assembly line. However, if Dell quality were poor and returns high, the company surely would not have survived on speed of response alone.
Google Cloud’s LA region goes online
TechCrunch LA
JULY 16, 2018
Google Cloud’s new region in Los Angeles is now online, the company announced today. This isn’t exactly a surprise, given that Google had previously announced a July launch for the region, but it’s a big step for Google, which now boasts five cloud regions in the United States. It was only three years ago that Google opened its second U.S. region and, while it was slow to expand its physical cloud footprint, the company now features 17 regions around the world.
ACG 101 Annual Summer Wine Social - August 1st
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 26, 2018
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 -- ACG 101 Summer Social at the Stonehaus. Join ACG 101 and ACG 101's Women in Corporate Growth the evening of August 1st at the beautiful Westlake Village Inn Stonehaus for our annual Summer Social. This always-popular gathering brings together ACG Members, Sponsors, friends - new and old - past program presenters and other special guests for an evening aimed at nothing but the enjoyment of one another's company!
LegalZoom Valued at $2 Billion Following Investment
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 31, 2018
Glendale online legal technology company LegalZoom.com Inc. announced June 30 it completed a $500 million financing round from four total investors, its second since the firm’s founding in 2001. With this investment, LegalZoom’s estimated value totals roughly $2 billion.
Study: Blood Test for Prostate Cancer Can Guide Therapy, Extend Lives
Xconomy
JULY 2, 2018
Blood tests for cancer, known as liquid biopsies, have become available in recent years to guide treatments for people already diagnosed. But how useful are they? A paper published last week in the journal JAMA Oncology makes the case that one such test, Oncotype DX AR-V7 Nucleus Detect, might be worth its $3,980 price tag. (Earlier this year, the federal insurance program Medicare sent positive signals about coverage but hasn’t made a final decision.
SPACES' Shiraz Akmal On Making VR A Real Life Experience
socalTECH
JULY 18, 2018
How do you apply virtual reality (VR) technology, and turn it from just a nifty technology trick, to something which is truly a lifelike journey you can experience with friends? Santa Monica-based SPACES (www.spaces.com), led by CEO Shiraz Akmal and a team of entertainment veterans from Dreamworks Animation, is hoping to do that with a series of physical attractions, powered by VR technology.
Are you the bottleneck in your organization?
Berkonomics
JULY 12, 2018
Close. At many board meetings, I can be counted upon to ask, “Where’s the bottleneck this month?” Senior management is usually prepared with an answer, and a good discussion of resource availability and application follows. Sometimes, the bottleneck is not so visible to the CEO. In those instances, I follow with: “Do you notice people waiting at your door, telling you that they were waiting for your response or decision, even if you were unaware of this?”.
Google builds its own subsea cable from the US to France
TechCrunch LA
JULY 17, 2018
Google, like all major internet companies, often participates in building new subsea cables because it wants to own the connectivity between its data centers around the world. Those cables are typically built and owned by a consortium of companies (and sometimes shared by competitors ). Now, however, Google is building its own cable that will span from Virginia Beach in the U.S. to the Atlantic coast of France.
TCVN Discussion: Should You Use a Finder to Help You Raise Capital?
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 25, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018 -- Should You Use a Finder to Help You Raise Capital? Tech Coast Venture Network. You've been banging your head against the wall for months - perhaps years - looking for capital, but you can't seem to be getting any traction. And whenever anyone expresses any interest in talking to you, you stumble your way through a very awkward discussion of terms for which you haven't the slightest idea about.
HyreCar, DriveItAway Bring Car Sharing to Dealerships
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 18, 2018
Downtown-based car-sharing platform HyreCar Inc. announced July 17 that it will partner with DriveItAway.com Inc., a used vehicle auction platform based in Cambridge, Mass. The collaboration is designed to allow independent car dealerships in 34 states and Washington, D.C. to list their vehicles on the HyreCar platform.
OUTBio, A Biopharma LGBTQ Group, Grows Fast & Ponders Its Future
Xconomy
JULY 26, 2018
In June, Jennifer Petter, the founder and chief scientific officer of biotech startup Arrakis Therapeutics, got an e-mail from a stranger. His name was Ramsey Johnson, a biotech veteran who works in clinical operations at Boston startup Phoenix Tissue Repair. Johnson was writing about OUTBio, a networking organization for LGBTQ members of the biopharma community.
Joybird Acquired By La-Z-Boy
socalTECH
JULY 16, 2018
Commerce, California-based Joybird , an online retailer and manufacturer of furniture, has been acquired by La-Z-Boy Incorporated , La-Z-Boy said on Monday. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. Joybird (Stitch Industries) was founded in 2014 by Alex Del Toro, Andres Hinostroza, Joshua Stellin and Christopher Stormer, and manufactures mid-century modern upholstered furniture, which it sells online through its own brand.
Are you thinking of the end game when managing your business?
Berkonomics
JULY 5, 2018
Ever think about growing your business with the plan to sell it someday, cashing in on your hard-earned work over the years? Or if you’re an employee with stock options, are you aware of the increases in value you can make with your efforts? Then again, you may be an architect or doctor or other professional managing your. Dave’s book on exits.
How Some Ventures Continually Stay Ahead Of The Crowd
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 20, 2018
As a business advisor, I have long been surprised by the large number of industry stalwarts, including Blockbuster, Kodak, and General Motors, that have been dealt major setbacks, or even total failure, by upstart young companies, with a fraction of the resources or industry experience. The stalwarts should be making the big leaps to be competitive, rather than the other way around.
CTO Mixers: Cruise w/ Anita Sengupta of Virgin Hyperloop
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 25, 2018
Tuesday, July 31, 2018 -- CTO Mixers: Cruise w/ Anita Sengupta of Virgin Hyperloop. CTO Mixers is a curated, invite-only event. Geared at C-Level, SVPs in the Enterprise and high quality entrepreneurs.
Meg Whitman Invests in Immortals; Joins Board
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 24, 2018
Westwood-based Immortals, an e-sports competition league with worldwide reach, announced today an investment from Meg Whitman, who also joined the company’s board of directors.
The Empathy Economy: Emotional Intelligence in Customer Service
Xconomy
JULY 5, 2018
The “empathy economy” will help define the new reality of human and machine interactions in the customer service industry. A takeoff on the sharing economy, the empathy economy will grow due to brand mania and increased automation in the workplace. Consumers are inundated by brands in their day-to-day lives, and these brands sometimes create personal meaning in our consumer-based society.
Surf Air Aims At Weekend Travelers With New Experiences
socalTECH
JULY 10, 2018
Santa Monica-based air travel provider Surf Air --which got its start offering up low cost "all you can fly" travel between Silicon Beach and Silicon Valley--has lauched a new offering which hopes to attract its members for weekend getaways. According to Surf Air, its new Surf Air Experiences, which it is running in conjunction with partner All Roads North, will offer up special, three-day weekend trips to its Surf Air Members only.
Some Quick Things Every Founder Should Know
Both Sides of the Table
JULY 17, 2018
One thing that comes with being a venture capitalist is you see hundreds and hundreds of businesses. You get to have interesting conversations with founders and review business plans and then see how these businesses evolve over the years. A firm like ours has almost 100 different investments across all the various partners so we get to see some businesses very intimately.
8 Ways To Instill A Sense Of Purpose In Your Startup
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 16, 2018
Starting a new venture and thriving in today’s economy is hard, but the best have figured out that customers and employees need to feel that you have a sense of purpose, to complement the company’s pursuit of profit. A higher purpose motivates people in a way that financial wins alone never will. For a company to thrive, it needs to find and broadcast its purpose in all that it does.
MasterMinds OC Startup Accelerator Workshop #16
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 20, 2018
Thursday, July 26, 2018 -- MasterMinds OC Startup Accelerator Workshop #16. OC ENTREPRENEURS: Join us for another LIVE MasterMinds Workshop. Bring your startup ideas and business questions so our friendly group of local Orange County entrepreneurs and business owners can help you move your business farther, faster. Free tickets available if you have a good startup business question for discussion, or you want to practice your startup pitch!
Logitech Inc. Acquires Blue Microphones for $117 Million
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 31, 2018
Newark and Switzerland-based computer accessory company Logitech Inc. purchased Westlake Village microphone manufacturer Blue Microphones Holdings Corp. for $117 million in a cash deal finalized July 30.
If the Shoe Fits: Luxury Shoe Club Launches E-Consignment Store
Xconomy
JULY 19, 2018
One in five pairs of shoes sit unworn in the average woman’s closet. So, why not sell these unused, or slightly used, pairs to someone who will wear them? That’s the view of Scott Van Valkenburgh, co-founder of Luxury Shoe Club, a Raleigh, NC-based startup that caters to women who want to buy and sell high-end designer footwear. “This is a way for people who love shoes to trade them,” he says.
Sonos Files For IPO
socalTECH
JULY 6, 2018
Santa Barbara-based Sonos , which develops very easy to use, connected whole-home speaker systems, has filed for an IPO, saying in a filing on Friday that it is looking to raise up to $100M in an offering on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The company has applied to list as SONO. The IPO is being underwritten by Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs & Co, Allen & Company, RBC Capital Markets, Jeffries, KKR, Raymond James, and Stifel.
Crinetics Sets Estimated IPO Range
socalTECH
JULY 10, 2018
San Diego-based Crinetics Pharmaceuticals , a pharmaceuticals firm focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors, has set its estimated IPO range, saying in a filing that it is looking to sell 5,000,000 shares of its stock at between $15.00 and $17.00 per share.
Applied Data Finance Finds $145M
socalTECH
JULY 24, 2018
San Diego-based Applied Data Finance , which is developing technology used for credit modeling, loan origination, and asset management, said on Tuesday afternoon that it has raised $145M in a combination of equity and debt. The funding came from MAI Capital Management, LLC (MAI), Victory Park Capital Advisors, LLC (VPC) and Park Cities Asset Management, LLC (PCAM), along with family office investors.
Kumbaya Expands Board
socalTECH
JULY 19, 2018
Rancho Palos Verdes-based Kumbaya , which is developing a device to bring solar- and battery- powered Internet connectivity and content to third world communities, said today that it has added a United Airlines IT executive to its board. According to Kumbaya, Silvia Prickel has joined its Board of Directors. Prickel is currently Managing Director of Application Development for United Airlines, where Kumbaya said she has spent the past 12-years in the IT department.
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