Sat.Aug 06, 2016 - Fri.Aug 12, 2016

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Interview With Mike Mothner, Wpromote On Growth, Acquisitions

socalTECH

Last week El Segundo-based Wpromote acquired fellow marketing agency Standing Dog, in a deal which brings the company to 260 employees, and continues to grow the company. We caught up with founder and CEO Mike Mothner --who we first interviewed back in 2007 --to catch up with the company, gets some hints and tips on growing a company, the challenges of bootstrapping, and why Wpromote hopes to be buying more companies in the future.

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Selling Online In 2016 For The First Time – What Works When You Have A Blank Slate?

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared in Forbes. Kate Hudson, Emma Roberts, Eva Longoria, Jessica Biel and Rihanna began wearing Z Supply's clothing before it could be purchased online. It may seem hard to believe, but even in 2016, there remain a number of successful consumer brands that are not sold online. The reasons companies elect to sell exclusively offline differ, but they often center on managing channel conflict with their retail partners.

Sites 148
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Careful with terminations. Don’t disparage.

Berkonomics

It happens all the time when you’re a CEO. Somebody important leaves or is let go, and you worry over the impact upon remaining employees and customers. You worry that the person leaving will begin to unload all the pent–up garbage from the past, perhaps damaging the company and causing customer defections and even employee unrest. Your worry is real.

Customer 133
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Hulu Ends Free Viewing

L.A. Business Journal

In a move to align itself with its paid-subscription rivals, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, television-streaming service Hulu of Santa Monica has ended its free-to-view streaming service.

Hulu 132
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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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SoCal Sees Summertime Surge In Exits

socalTECH

In what looks to be an unprecedented surge in high profile, high value exits for high tech companies in Southern California, there have now been six big exits in the region over the last month worth over $100M. Those exits--worth more than a collected $3.8 billion--include the recent sales of Vizio , Dollar Shave Club , Nervana Systems , TouchCommerce , and Orbitera , and Aurrion.

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Tech Panel: DevOps Discussion

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, August 18, 2016 -- Tech Panel: DevOps Discussion. Free tech panel discussion with 3-4 industry-leading professionals and a moderator covering some of the most pressing topics surrounding DevOps. We will be covering what the best tools are for DevOps engineers, which cloud providers are industry leaders and what skill sets are most desirable and applicable for DevOps engineers.

Press 100

More Trending

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Sales System Looks to Line Up Concession Gigs

L.A. Business Journal

Appetize’s point-of-sale devices aim to help venues get a line on their concession stand needs.

Sales 166
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PureSpectrum Gets $1.6M

socalTECH

Westlake Village-based PureSpectrum , a startup which operates an online marketplace to help buyers collect survey panels, has raised $1.6M in a funding round, according to the company. The funding came from multiple, un-named strategic partners. The company was founded by Michael McCrary. PureSpectrum is part of the Hub101 startup incubator space in Westlake Village, which is part of the Cal Lutheran University Center for Entrepreneurship.

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The Art of Fundraising Episode II: Setting the Deal

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, August 18, 2016 -- The Art of Fundraising Episode II: Setting the Deal. Panel discussing the ins and outs of fundraising including: -The Pitch -Relationship Building -Negotiation (Term Sheet, convertible notes, etc.) -Due Diligence See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preccelerator-program-presents-the-art-of-fundraising-episode-2-setting-the-deal-tickets-26851702164.

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As U.S. Looks to Launch Precision Health Study, Google’s Role Emerges

Xconomy

The U.S. government has ambitious plans for a long-term health study with one million Americans, and one of the world’s most powerful tech companies has a big part to play, including the storage of all the data on its “cloud” servers. Google’s parent company Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG ) and its wholly owned biotech R&D group, Verily Life Sciences, are helping build a secure center where health records, genomic data, and other personal information from hundreds of thousands of p

PMI 68
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Silicon Beach Report Aug. 11: Another Snapchat Filter Causes Uproar

L.A. Business Journal

Another Snapchat filter causes uproar, Samsung Electronics to buy Dacor for an estimated $150 million, Flipagram announces partnership with SoundHound, and more.

Snapchat 120
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Soylent Rolls Out Coffiest, So You Can Live On Coffee Alone

socalTECH

Are you one of those folks who wished they could live on coffee alone, and nothing else? Los Angeles-based food startup Soylent has rolled out a brand new product, Coffiest , which pretty much lets you do just that. According to Soylent, its new Coffiest is a "balanced breakfast and your morning coffee" all in a convenient bottle. Soylent says that the product--available on subscription for just over $37 a month--includes 400 calories of plant-based nutrition, and the same caffeine as a strong c

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LAVA Venture Panel and LAVA Annual Meeting

SoCal Tech Calendar

Tuesday, August 16, 2016 -- LAVA Venture Panel and LAVA Annual Meeting. Join us at MAGICOPOLIS for a fun evening of Capital Networking with VC and Angel Investors, LAVA Members and LAVA Board Members. LAVA kicks off the the summer by hosting it Annual Membership Meeting , conducts Director elections and will feature its Annual Venture Capital Panel.

LAVA 100
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Gary Hayslip on the City of San Diego as Cybersecurity Test Bed

Xconomy

When Xconomy convened a dinner discussion earlier this year that included prominent San Diego cybersecurity innovators, startup founders, and system administrators, I was stunned to learn that Gary Hayslip oversees an IT network that blocks an average of 800,000 cyber attacks a day. Hayslip is deputy director and chief information security officer (CISO) for the city of San Diego.

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Silicon Beach Report Aug. 12: LeEco Building Plant to Be Used By Faraday Future in China

L.A. Business Journal

LeEco building plant to be used by Faraday Future in China, Riot goes to court to stop League of Legend cheats, Arsenic raises $3 million seed round, and more.

Report 120
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Dodgers Back Startup Aimed At Real World Interaction

socalTECH

The Los Angeles Dodgers have backed a Silicon Valley startup which says it is developing software to help bring engagement into real world venues and bricks-and-mortars locations. Sunnyvale-based Xperiel says it has raised $7M in funding, from several members of Google's board, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Andy Bechtolsheim, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems.Xperiel says its system can "unlock the power of physical interactivity" using GPS, beacons, and augmented reality, much like Pokemon Go a

Startup 135
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Make it on Mobile: Using Adobe Mobile Apps to Create Your Initial Design

SoCal Tech Calendar

Monday, August 15, 2016 -- Make it on Mobile: Using Adobe Mobile Apps to Create Your Initial Design. General Assembly. See https://generalassemb.ly/education/make-it-on-mobile-using-adobe-mobile-apps-to-create-your-initial-design/los-angeles/27328.

Mobile 100
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MEI Pharma Partners with Helsinn on Drug with Potential $464M Payoff

Xconomy

After reporting encouraging news last week from a mid-stage trial of its lead anti-cancer drug, San Diego’s MEI Pharma (NASDAQ: MEIP ) said it has signed a drug development deal with the Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn that could eventually be worth over $464 million. Under terms of their agreement announced today, Helsinn will pay MEI $15 million upfront, with another $5 million due after a pending Phase III study of the drug, pracinostat, begins for certain older patients who are diagnosed

Study 58
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Silicon Beach Report Aug. 8: Walt Disney to Acquire Stake in MLB Streaming Platform for $1B

L.A. Business Journal

Walt Disney to acquire stake in MLB streaming platform for $1 billion, SpaceX Ships rocket to Texas for preliminary testing, West Hollywood’s Opinit acquired by Canadian app developer, and more.

Platform 109
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Cal Net Technology Group Acquires inhouseIT

socalTECH

Chatsworth-based Cal Net Technology Group , a provider of IT support services, has acquired Orange County-based b> inhouseIT , according to Cal Net Technology's investors, including Boathouse Capital and Olympic Valley Capital. Cal Net Technology Group had quietly announced the deal to its customers at the end of July. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

.Net 129
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Interactive Architecture: Adaptive World Release Party and Book Signing

SoCal Tech Calendar

Saturday, August 13, 2016 -- Interactive Architecture: Adaptive World Release Party and Book Signing. Architect Michael Fox and guests talk smart highways and adaptive buildings. Fox will sign his new book Interactive Architecture. Open to the public. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interactive-architecture-adaptive-world-release-party-book-signing-tickets-26597580078.

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Productivity in Your Pocket

Xconomy

The app that you use is the one in your pocket. Today, larger mobile screens and touch interfaces are allowing people to do real work—not just e-mail—with the computer they have, wherever they are. It started with the Blackberry in the early 2000s. Like a dream, or a nightmare, e-mail—which is still the go-to work productivity app—became 100 percent mobile, available anytime you wanted or needed, day or night.

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Walt Disney to Acquire Stake in MLB Streaming Platform for $1B

L.A. Business Journal

Walt Disney Co. will acquire a 33 percent stake in Major League Baseball’s video streaming company, BamTech, for $1 billion.

Platform 126
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Ingenu Rolls Out M2M Network In Phoenix

socalTECH

San Diego-based Ingenu , a developer of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications technology, says it has rolled out its M2M network in Phoenix, Arizona. The company says its network covers more than 1,850 square miles, and is aimed at hosting smart energy, agriculture, and other sustainability applications. The company says its technology uses what it calls RPMA (Random Phase Multiple Access) communication, which it says enables it to cover all of Phoenix with only 10 access points--far less than

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SOLA/HACK!

SoCal Tech Calendar

Saturday, August 13, 2016 -- SOLA/HACK! Generaly Assembl. In this mini-hackathon event, participants will use design thinking, UX design methods and web development skills in an entrepreneurial spirit to address social, economic, and environmental challenges specific to South L.A. Participants will learn about these challenges with two kick-off talks, and then form teams to brainstorm and rapidly prototype solutions.

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7 Ways To Attract Customers Without Viral Marketing

Startup Professionals Musings

Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Indeed, while the rules and technologies for lead generation have changed, Forrester and other experts still see it as the most effective way for businesses with limited budgets to maximize their return on marketing investment (ROMI).

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Silicon Beach Report Aug. 10: Soylent Launches Coffee Drink

L.A. Business Journal

Soylent launches coffee drink, XPrize launches artificial intelligence contest, and Edmunds.com launches new Facebook and Instagram ad product.

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Express Logic Expands In France

socalTECH

San Diego-based operating system developer Express Logic said today that it has opened up a new office in France, to help it support its European customers. The company said the office is 35 kilometers southwest of Paris, and will be lead by Jean-Paul Medina. Express Logic also has offices in the UK and Germany. The company develops real time operating system (RTOS) software, which is used in developing embedded and what are now referred to as "Internet of Things" devices--although the company h

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AirMap Developer Conference and Launch Party

SoCal Tech Calendar

Friday, August 12, 2016 -- AirMap Developer Conference and Launch Party. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the potential for unmanned aircraft. Join us in Santa Monica for a sneak peek of AirMap’s brand new platform, APIs, and SDK for drones, apps for iOS and Android, and Web. Space is limited. RSVP to attend.

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When Did Profit Become A Bad Word For Entrepreneurs?

Startup Professionals Musings

As a startup advisor and investor, I find that more and more entrepreneurs avoid using the term “profit” in pitching their new venture. They seem to feel it conveys a message of personal enrichment at the expense of others. My view is that the purpose of every business is to make a profit, as fuel for growth, sustainability, and social impact. Without profit there is no business.

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Silicon Beach Report Aug. 8: Hulu Ends Free Viewing

L.A. Business Journal

Google buys Orbitera for reported $100 million, Hulu ends free viewing, shows based on 'The Voice,' 'SNL' coming to Snapchat, and more.

Hulu 111
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Report: SpaceX's Mars Budget More Than $300M

socalTECH

A set of recent reports say that Hawthorne-based SpaceX is planning to spend more than $300M to deliver its Red Dragon spacecraft to Mars. NASA will be contributing another, $32M in staff hours and technical hours to support SpaceX in its efforts, according to those reports. The NASA efforts apparently will tap into the staff at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, who will apparently assist SpaceX in plotting its trajectory to Mars.

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Bio Roundup: Precision Med and Google, Heron, Lilly, Sarepta & More

Xconomy

The wait continues. An FDA ruling on a Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug from Sarepta Therapeutics—which could be the first ever approved for the disease—has been imminent for a while now, yet Labor Day is fast approaching and still the saga drags on. Speculation abounds, from analysts and pundits, each giving different opinions as to whether the delay means good or bad things for Sarepta and Duchenne patients.

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How To Move From An Entrepreneur To Manager Or Fail

Startup Professionals Musings

As a business advisor, I have too often seen technical entrepreneurs get a product or service off the ground with ease, but then struggle mightily when their business reaches a couple of million in annual sales, or the employee count grows beyond a handful. It’s at this stage that the job changes from creative and tactical to managerial and strategic.

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App Links Up Parents, Early Education Centers

L.A. Business Journal

App Kangarootime lets parents get a jump on connecting with teachers and preschools.

Education 127
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General Assembly To Open New Location In Irvine

socalTECH

General Assembly , the provider of technical skills training, which has an active campus in Santa Monica, says it is will be opening up a new location in Irvine. General Assembly said it has not yet finalized the precise location and opening date, but says it will start hosting events and short workshops throughout Irvine ahead of the new location. The expansion is part of a global expansion for General Assembly, which is expanding to a total of 25 campuses, up from its current 12 locations.