Sat.May 26, 2018 - Fri.Jun 01, 2018

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Neighborgoods Gets $5.75M From CAA, Dollar Shave Club's Dubin

socalTECH

Neighborgoods , a company which is looking to create a "new type a department store", has received $5.75M in a funding, which included both CAA Ventures, the venture arm of the Creative Artists Agency, as well as Dollar Shave Club founder Michael Dubin. The funding was led by Forerunner Ventures, and also included Maveron, CAA Ventures, Global Founders Capital, NextGen Venture Partners, Revolution plus Alan P.

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SnackNation Gets $12M For Tech-Enabled Snack Delivery

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based SnackNation , the tech-enabled, snack delivery service aimed at company workplaces, has raised $12M in a Series B funding, according to the startup. The company, led by CEO Sean Kelly, said the investment was led by 3L Capital. SnackNation has now raised $22.5M in funding. SnackNation provides delivery of snacks to such companies as Microsoft, MailChip, Soothe, and others, helping to both provide snacks to those employers as an employee benefit, as well as helping brands to get

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Silicon Beach Report June 1: Live TV Growth Spurs Hulu Reorganization

L.A. Business Journal

Hulu Shakeup Includes Three Departures, Two Hires; Commercial Payload on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Could Come by Year’s End; Cache Creek Industries Acquires Mountain Secure

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How to Talk About Valuation When a VC Asks

Both Sides of the Table

One of the hardest things about the fund-raising process for entrepreneurs is that you’re trying to raise money from people who have “asymmetric information.” VC firms see thousands of deals and have a refined sense of how the market is valuing deals because they get price signals across all of these deals. As an entrepreneur it can feel as intimidating as going to buy a car where the dealer knows the price of every make & model of a car and you’re guessing at how much to pay.

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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

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.

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How can you let a talented employee go to pursue a new career?

Berkonomics

It is tough to lose your best employees wanting to advance their careers. Sometimes you can be the coach, helping them even if it means losing them. And, as in today’s story, sometimes it can mean the beginning of an amazing journey leading to a story for the ages… We’d all like to retain our best managers and employees forever or at least for as long as possible.

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Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Launches Zero Emissions Transport Effort

socalTECH

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), the non-profit which encourages clean technology startups in the City of Los Angeles, said it has launched a new effort to accelerate the electricification of regional transportation, in an effort to reach zero emissions in the area's movement of goods. According to LACI, the nonprofit has partnered with a number of local government leaders, utilities, regulators, and others, with the target of reaching zero emissions for the transportation network by

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How Much Should You Raise in Your VC Round? And What is a VC Looking at in Your Model?

Both Sides of the Table

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. It goes something like this … VC: “How much money are you raising?” Founder: “$8–10 million” VC: “What’s your current burn rate?” Founder: “$250k / month.” VC: “So at a constant rate of burn rate you’d be raising enough for 2.5–3 years.

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LinQuest Acquired by Madison Dearborn, CoVant Management

L.A. Business Journal

LinQuest Corp., a Ladera Heights-based space technology solutions provider, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by private equity firms Madison Dearborn Partners of Chicago and CoVant Management of McLean, Va.

Equity 100
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Virgin Galactic Completes Second Spaceship Test Flight

socalTECH

Mojave-based Virgin Galactic , the commercial, tourism-focused spaceship company led by Sir Richard Branson, said on tuesday that it has completed its second, successful, rocket-powered test flight. According to Virgin Galactic, the test flight was focused on understanding the supersonic handling characteristics of its VSS Unity spaceship, as it added passenger seats and related equipment that are closer to the ultimate commercial configuration of the craft.

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With Launch of Dynam.AI, Analytics Ventures Shifts to New Model

Xconomy

The debut Wednesday of Dynam.AI, a San Diego startup offering its expertise in artificial intelligence, also marks a shift that has been underway for the past year or so at Analytics Ventures, a local fund that invests in tech deals. The small venture firm, which made traditional seed investments in a number of startups, including the healthtech companies CureMetrix and CureMatch, has evolved into a venture studio, according to managing partner Andreas Roell.

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Snack-delivery startup garners $12 million in Series B funding

StartUp Beat

Award-winning snack delivery app SnackNation has bagged a big Series B funding round of $12 million, the startup company announced Wednesday. With the latest round of funding led by 3L Capital investors, Los Angeles’ SnackNation has now received more than $22 million total in venture capital. The food delivery startup brings snacks to homes and businesses and has gained partnerships with important brands like Microsoft and MailChimp.

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Silicon Beach Report May 29: Is Bird the First Scooter Unicorn?

L.A. Business Journal

Sequoia said to Value Scooter Outfit Bird at $1 Billion as Part of $150 Million Raise; Snap Facing Diversity, Morale Challenges; Surkus Raises $10 Million

Report 100
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Tesla Sedan On Autopilot Slams Into Police Car In Laguna Beach

socalTECH

A Tesla sedan, operating in "Autopilot" mode, slammed into the back of a parked police car in Laguna Beach on Tuesday morning, according to the Laguna Police Police Department. According to the department, minor injuries were sustained by the Tesla driver, and--luckily--its officer was not in the unit at the time. The incident is not the first involving a Tesla vehicle, Autopilot, and public safety.

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Smart-Kitchen Startups Give Cooks Digital Help Via Internet of Things

Xconomy

When it comes to connected homes, the hottest spot is located in your kitchen. The Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and related technologies are being used to connect ovens, refrigerators, and other kitchen appliances to the Web. Feeling unsure about cooking that fish dish? Smart ovens can more accurately calibrate temperatures to avoid over-cooking.

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ShiftPixy Heads To Chicago

socalTECH

Irvine-based Shiftpixy , which develops mobile apps and systems which help businesses manage shift-based wokers, said it has expanded to Chicago this morning. The company said the new office follows openings of offices in Orlando and Austin earlier this year. The company's software and systems are used by restaurants and others to manage signups for open work shifts.

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ResMed Acquires HEALTHCAREfirst

socalTECH

San Diego-based ResMed , a developer of healthcare software, has acquired HEALTHCAREfirst , a developer of cloud-based software for the home health and hospice area. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. HEALTHCAREfirst develops electronic health records software, billing and coding services, and other related software for home health and hospice agencies.

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Esri Adds New Satellite Imaging From Sentinel-2 Satellite

socalTECH

Redland-based geographical information systems (GIS) provider Esri said on Monday morning that it is extending its suite of satellite images for its service, adding Sentinel-2 Earth Observation Satellite images, for any location in the world. Those images--from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellite--is at a 10 meter resolution, and updates every 5 to 7 days.

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ISSQUARED Acquires Starnet Data Design

socalTECH

Newbury Park-based ISSQUARED , an information technology provider, said this morning that it has acquired Westlake Village-based Starnet Data Design. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. BOth companies provide information technology consulting, including consulting in the areas of networking, security, hardware, and other related areas for enterprise to SMB customers.

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Moleaer Finds $6M For Nanobubble Technology

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Moleaer , a manufacturer of industrial "nanobubble generators" used for water and wastewater treatment, agriculture irrigation, and oil-water separation, announced this morning that it has raised $6M in a funding round. The funding was led by Energy Innovation Capital (EIC). According to Moleaer, its products increase gas transfer rates and improve solids separation from water, wastewater and produced water.

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Overwatch League Sells Out Finals

socalTECH

The Overwatch League , the e-sports tournament operator started by Blizzard Entertainment, said it has sold out tickets on its Overwatch League Grand Finals, which are being held in New York on June 17th. According to the Overwatch League, fans purchased more than 20,000 tickets to the e-sports championship event, which is being held at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn.

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Cache Creek Industries Buys Mountain Secure Systems

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based private equity investor Cache Creek Industries announed this morning that it has acquired Mountain Secure Systems , a provider of proprietary, ruggedized and highly engineered electronic solutions to leading defense contractors in the United States. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. According to Cache Creek Indusries, it partnered with Rockmont Capital to acquire Mountain Secure Systems (MSS), which was previously owned by Phillips Service Industries.

Equity 100
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Zen Ecosystems, Backed By New Funding, Adds Energy Veteran As Advisor

socalTECH

Newport Beach-based Zen Ecosystems , a provider of energy management solutions, said today that it has named Jon Wellinghoff, the longest serving chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and an expert in sustainability policy, as a strategic advisor. Wellinghoff is currently CEO of GridPolicy, and was formerly SolarCity's Chief Policy Executive.

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SpaceX Delays SES-12 Launch, Shows Off Fairing Capture

socalTECH

Hawthorne-based rocket and spacecraft developer SpaceX delayed the SES-12 satellite launch, which had been scheduled for Friday, saying on Thursday that it needed to run additional tests on the Falcon 9's second stage. According to SpaceX, it is now looking at a June 4th launch of the satellite mission from Florida's Cape Canaveral. In separate news, SpaceX showed off photos of the landing of the fairings for the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base last week, saying it manag

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Emagispace Finds $5.06M For Architectural Building Blocks

socalTECH

Colorado Springs, Colorado- and Los Angelesbased Emagispace , a startup that offers up very modular "building blocks" used to construct interior construction, has raised $5.06M in a Series B funding, the company said Thursday afternoon. The funding was led by Alpha Edison, and also included US News, Fischer Capital Investments, March Capital Partners and Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of UTA.

News 100
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Zen Ecosystems, Backed By $5M In New Funding, Adds Energy Veteran As Advisor

socalTECH

Newport Beach-based Zen Ecosystems , a provider of energy management solutions, said today that it has named Jon Wellinghoff, the longest serving chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and an expert in sustainability policy, as a strategic advisor. Wellinghoff is currently CEO of GridPolicy, and was formerly SolarCity's Chief Policy Executive.

Funding 100
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Neural Analytics Gets FDA Clearance On Robotic Device

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Neural Analytics , a venture-backed developer of portable, robotic-driven ultrasound equipment, has received FDA clearance on its NeuralBot system, the company said this week. Neural Analytics said it has received FDA clearance on its robotic ultrasound system, which enables clinicians to monitor a patient's brain blood flow characteristics.

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TicketGuardian Launches Two New Event Insurance Products

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based TicketGuardian , a startup which offers up consumer insurance products for live event tickets, says it has launched two new products. According to TicketGuardian, it has launched FanShield, an insurance product which protects ticket holders from "crowd perils" which prevent them from attending an event, and is aimed at festivals, concerts, and sporting events; and RegShield, another product which cover marathons, fun runs, conferences and camps.

Product 100
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Report: Bird Seeks $150M In New Funding Round, Hopes To Become A Unicorn

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based electric scooter service Bird is looking to raise $150M more in new funding, according to a report , which values the company at more than $1 billion. The report, from Bloomberg, cites "people familiar with the matter", saying that the round is expected to be led by Sequoia Capital. Bird's CEO, Travis VanderZan, was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Lyft.

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GoGuardian Acquired by Sumeru Equity Partners

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based GoGuardian , a startup which develops Chromebook management software for schools, disclosed last week that it has raised a majority round of private equity from Sumeru Equity Partners. Size of the investment were not announced. GoGuardian is led by founder and CEO Advait Shinde. The company said that George Kadifa, Sanjeet Mitra and Sean Kendra--all of Sumeru Equity Partners--have joined the company's board with the majority investment.

Equity 100
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Guardian Circle Adds Peter Diamandis As Advisor

socalTECH

Marina Del Rey-based startup Guardian Circle , the developer of a social-based system and app that helps people summon help from their friends, said last week that it has added futurist Peter Diamandis as an advisor as part of a "token sale" the company is running. The startup--led by longtime LA entrepreneur Mark Jeffrey--has developed a system which uses mobile apps running on OS, Apple Watch, Android and Alexa where users can summon "emergency help" from their social circle, which the company

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NVCA: Elimination of International Entrepreneur Rule A Major Mistake

socalTECH

The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) said Friday that the recission of the International Entrepreneur Rule (also billed as the "Startup Visa") -- which was aimed at encouraging foreign-born entrepreneurs to launch high-growth startups in the U.S.--is a "major mistake for U.S. job creation and innovation". The rule, which the NVCA says would allow for talented immigrant entrepreneurs to remain in the U.S. to build and scale their startups, is being targeted by the current U.S.

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SpaceX Queues Up Satellite Launch At Canaveral For June 1st

socalTECH

Hawthorne-based SpaceX said over the weekend that its next launch, the SES-12 mission, is being targeted for June 1st, from Pad 40 at Cape Canveral. SES-12 is a communications satellite aimed at providing communications to the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and will be launched into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). According to Kennedy Space Center, the rocket being used in the SES-12 launch is a "flight-proven" first stage, used in a prior launch.

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Surkus Raises $10M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Surkus , a developer of a platform to help connect people with local events, has raised $10M in a Series B funding, according to the comapny. The funding was led by Capital Union investments and EOS Global. According to Surkus, the investment in the company is the first for EOS Global, a $200M venture fund focused on the blockchain.

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Silicon Beach Report May 30: Internet Trends Report Highlights Code Conference

L.A. Business Journal

Internet Trends Report Highlights Code Conference; Half of Hulu Subscribers Pay for Ad-Free Streaming; SnackNation Raises $12 Million

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Silicon Beach Report May 31: Emagispace Raises $5+M, WME’s AI Deal, Pew’s Social Media Breakdown

L.A. Business Journal

Emagispace raises $5 million, WME strikes deal with AI-driven data platform, social media ranked by demographic

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Drug Price Watchdog ICER Deems Amgen Migraine Drug “Cost-Effective”

Xconomy

As Amgen approached an FDA decision last month for its migraine-prevention treatment , concern mounted that the drug would come at premium. In setting a price thousands of dollars less than expected, Amgen has won over one of the pharmaceutical industry’s fiercest drug price critics. The non-profit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) assessed the effectiveness and value of the Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) drug erenumab (Aimovig) and other new migraine drugs, and concluded in an updated re

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