Both Sides of the Table
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
“This is the year the tortoise may gain on the hare.” There are a lot of data points that one can observer to get a sense of the venture capital markets – both LP fundings into venture and VC financings of startups. They point to some widely known facts: financings & valuations are up massively over the past 7 years and non-VC money has entered the system.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Los Angeles-based political news site The Young Turks says that it saw record ratings for its live coverage of the Iowa Caucases earlier this week. The online news and politics show said it saw 256,000 unique views over the course of its seven hours of live coverage, which was the largest audience ever for a live broadcast for the company. The broadcast featured founder Cenk Uygur, plus Ana Kasparian, John Iadarola, Ben Mankiewicz, Jimmy Dore and Jordan Chariton.
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Berkonomics
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Say that you have a log file of every contact to your website. Or that you are a cell phone company with a multi–billion record log file of every call made from every location to every number dialed using your network. You can accurately state that you have big data at your fingertips. But it is useless in this raw, usually unstructured form. Adding context to data takes this information and creates actionable knowledge.
InfoChachkie
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
A version of this article previously appeared Forbes. A very good friend of mine has heard me tell many a tale of trips in which I have scored free drinks, gratis hotel and car rental upgrades and various travel freebies. However, without experiencing my stories first hand, he always suspected there was a degree of embellishment involved to make my stories a bit more entertaining.
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.
Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
Many entrepreneurs are so focused on finalizing their innovative product or service that they procrastinate on the formalities of forming the requisite new company until later. Unfortunately, waiting until later will dramatically increase the risk of losing ownership of the solution they worked so hard to complete in addition to personal and family assets.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Carlsbad-based 5D Robotics , a developer of positioning and navigation tools aimed at robot navigation, has raised $5.5M in a seed funding. Names of the seed investors in the company were not disclosed. 5D Robotics said its software uses data from GPS, LIDAR, IMU, odometry, vision, and UWB sensors for far more accurate positioning of vehicles than GPS alone.
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Frank Addante
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
In my more than 20 years serving as a CEO and/or Founder, one thing I have learned is that change is the only constant. But then why is it so difficult to bring about, even in the most forward-thinking organizations? The simple truth is that it’s human nature to resist change. Change is threatening because it’s associated with uncertainty, self-examination, and a loss of control.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 31, 2016
Successful entrepreneurs are the ones who think the most creatively, not only in their initial product or service, but more importantly all through the stages of growth from startup to maturity. But even the best of them can easily slip into some bad decision habits that limit or hurt their business, due to natural human tendencies and the pressures of business challenges.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Los Angeles has 8 percent of all the "unicorn" companies globally, according to a new study released Wednesday by the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business. According to USC Marshall, it tallied up the numebr of startup companies with $1 billion valuations, as a measure of business activity, and found that Silicon Valley had 39 percent of Unicorns, followed by New York (9%), Beijing (6%), Los Angeles (5%), Boston (4%) and Shanghai (3%).
Tech Zulu Event
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
The allure of using big data is undeniable for the business world. That’s why we’ve seen so many companies adopt big data solutions and platforms in recent years. Big data analytics provides unprecedented capabilities and insights as organizations spend more effort collecting valuable information about everything from customers to logistical concerns.
Frank Addante
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
In my more than 20 years serving as a CEO and/or Founder, one thing I have learned is that change is the only constant. But then why is it so difficult to bring about, even in the most forward-thinking organizations? The simple truth is that it’s human nature to resist change. Change is threatening because it’s associated with uncertainty, self-examination, and a loss of control.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 30, 2016
It’s easy to declare yourself an entrepreneur, but it’s not so easy to convince investors, your team and customers that you are that special one to fund and follow. If you don’t consistently display the right entrepreneur mindset traits, people won’t follow and business success will likely elude you. And don’t even think you can fake the important attributes once the going gets tough.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Power Supply , a food startup which provides weekly menus from chefs to local customers for pickup at local locations and gyms, has raised $5M in a seed funding, the company disclosed Wednesday. The funding came from Upfront Ventures. The company offers up a weekly set of meals from local chefs, to customers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
Tech Zulu Event
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
The dynamism of web design ascertains that trends should keep varying to the better with changing times. The changes are usually due to improvements in previous designs to suit current tastes and preferences. Creativity thrives on a blend of several ideas to propose solutions and convey emotions, creative fields like fashion and graphic designs always find its way to web design and vice versa.
Both Sides of the Table
JANUARY 30, 2016
5 years ago I sat at our annual meeting bored beyond belief. It wasn’t just that I have ADD making boring meetings excruciatingly painful – it was that the format was tired, unimaginative, uninspiring and not very useful. We did what many VC funds did – we presented our annual results, we stood up and talked about our portfolio companies, we invited a few to also present and then we had dinner & drinks at some posh restaurant.
Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Businesses always seem to take longer to succeed than an entrepreneur expects. Seth Godin once said that overnight success in startups takes about six years, and Seth is an optimist. Thus we all look for shortcuts. Execution shortcuts would be hidden strategies to achieve the endgame sooner, without losing 40 to 60 percent of the financial potential along the way.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
In a bid for a new generation of readers, Playboy , the men's magazine best known for its long history of nude photo pictorials of women, has launched a new "non-nude" era of the publication, with a Snapchat-like front cover. The magazine said its cover--which features Instagram celebrity Sarah McDaniel--was deliberately designed to look like Snapchat, and a collection of selfie-style photos which the magazine says provides a "more intimate experience" for readers.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Agoura Hills-based Internet access gateway maker Nomadix says that it has received a win in a federal court, saying that Blueprint RF has infringed upon one of the company's patents. The summary judgement was made by Judge Dean D. Pregerson, U.S. District Court judge for the Central District of California, and stems from a patent infringment lawsuit filed by Nomadix in October of 2014, covering the idea of a "portal page" which users land on when first connecting to a network, particularly in ho
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
A local startup, which organizes and runs drone racing events , is holding an invite-only event this weekend to qualify UAV pilots for a competition in Dubai later this year. According to the Aerial Grand Prix , it is hosting a local qualifier to advance pilots to the World Drine Prix in Dubai, which is dangling a $1M prize. Aerial Grand Prix said the event is being run in partnership with the International Drone Racing Association (IDRA), and will feature both multirotor and fixed wing model ai
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Make In LA , a hardware-focused startup accelerator and mentorship program, said this week that it has selected a second class of startup for its four month accelerator program. The accelerator said it has selected Canvizis (connected LCD photo canvas); Emerge (touch sensitive communications hardware); Luma Legacy (connected, smart bracelets); and Rufus Labs (wireless wrist communicator) to the program.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Costa Mesa-based Connectifier , the artificial intelligence software developer led by John Jersin, has been acquired by LinkedIn , the companies said Thursday afternoon. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Connectifier was developing automated software to help companies with their recruiting, and had raised around $12.0M in funding from such investors as Galeo Ventures, Goldcrest Investments, Okapi Venture Capital, and True Ventures.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Los Angeles-based Alelo , which develops game-based, role playing simulations and teaching technology, says that it has partnered with the USC Institute for Creative Technologies , to co-develop disruptive learning technology. Alelo--which originally spun out of USC--said they have been partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, to build a project called VRP (Virtual role-playing) Builder, which is aimed at helping to make it easier to develop virtual role playing-based le
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Irvine-based Biosynthetic Technologies , a developer of high performance biobased oils targeting the automotive and industrial lubricant market, has received a $100M loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the company. Biosynthetic said the guarantee will go towards a guarantee of 80 percent of a loan being issued for the company to build a commercial-scale manufacturing plant.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
Santa Monica-based Atom Tickets , the developer of a mobile app which lets users find and buy movie tickets for groups, has raised $50M in a funding round, the company disclosed over the weekend. The funding came from Lionsgate, which led the investment, along with The Walt Disney Company and Fox. Atom Tickets was founded by Ameesh Paleja, Matthew Bakal, and Geoff Schaevitz.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Pakedge Device & Software , a provider of home and business networking products and services, has been acquired by Control4 in a $32.7M deal, the companies said this week. Pakedge has offices in Huntington Beach. Control4 said that the acquisition will help it expand its networking, power management, and cloud-based remote management capabilities.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Citrix Systems is moving closer to a spinout of its GoTo product line this week, saying that it has named Kevin Parker, co-founder and senior operating principal at Bridge Growth Partners as Chairman of a soon-to-be-formed company specifically encompassing the Citrix "GoTo" product line. Those products--most of which are developed in Santa Barbara--will be split out from Citrix in late 2016, according to the company.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Venice, California-based The Bouqs Company , the direct, cut-to-order flower delivery provider led by John Tabis, is announcing today that it has raised $12M in a Series B funding. The funding brings the company's total raised to $20M. The Bouqs said the funding came from Quest Venture Partners, Azure Capital Partners and KEC Ventures, along with Enspire Capital and Draper Associates.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 2, 2016
Carpinteria-based Procore Technlogies , which develops cloud-based, construction management software, said it has signed its largest deal to date, with construction company Mortenson Construction. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Procore, which is led by Tooey Courtemanche, said that Mortenson Construction is approximately number 18 in the nation in terms of top construction firms, based on industry rankings.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
A report Friday from Bloomberg says that Los Angeles-based Honest Co. is prepping for an IPO, and has hired a set of investment bankers for the effort. Bloomberg--citing "people familiar with the matter"--said Honest Co. has hired Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to head up the IPO effort. Honest Co. is led by LA startup veteran Brian Lee, and was co-founded by Jessica Alba.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Venice, California-based Wevr has raised $25M in a funding round, for the company's virtual reality studio efforts, the company announced Friday. The funding came from strategic investors, including TC, Samsung Ventures, Evolution Media Partners, Madison Wells Media (Gigi Pritzker/Clint Kisker), Orange Digital Ventures, Digital Garage (Joi Ito), AME Cloud Ventures (Jerry Yang), Boldstart Ventures, Scott McNealy and Ross Levinsohn.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Aliso Viejo-based WiSilica , a developer of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) hardware and software, has raised $3.35M in a Series A funding, according to the company. The funding was led by FirstFloor Capital, and also included Anchor Asia Management, Aurotek and angels. WiSilica said it will use the funding to expand its product team, which currently includes 50 people in Southern California and India.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Los Angeles-based advertising technology provider and marketplace operator OpenX says that it has expanded a partnership it has with publisher Purch --owner of Tom's Guide, Top Ten Reviews and ShopSavvy. According to the two, they have integrated OpenX's header bidding solution into Purch's monetization efforts and applied the efforts of OpenX yield analysts at Purch.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
Santa Monica-based AirMap , a startup developing airspace mapping services for drones, has added two security experts to the company. AirMap said it has named Jared Ablon as its new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and named Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney (USAF Ret.) to the company's Board of Advisors. Ablon was previously at MITRE Corporation, where he worked on next generation GPS navigation systems for a number of U.S.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
The Walt Disney Company said Thursday that it will run its startup accelerator program, the Disney Accelerator , for the third year, with applications for the next session due on April 10th. According to Disney, the three month mentorship and investment program will run through the summer, with a Demo Day in October. The program, which is run in Burbank, includes both early and venture-backed startups in the area of media and entertainment.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
San Diego-based software developer Zeeto , a developer of online advertising software, said it has expanded to the East Coast, and opened up a New York City office. Zeeto said the new office will include both engineers and support staff. The new offices in in the Union Square district. Zeeto is led by Stephan Goss, and develops software to manage advertisements on websites using a method it calls "registration marketing".
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 4, 2016
Los Angeles-based Tribogenics , which is developing handheld, X-ray technology, has scored a strategic investment from Nikon , via its subsidiary, Nikon Americas Inc. Size of the investment was not announced. According to Tribogenics, the funds goes towards commercialization of its handheld XRF analyzer products, which allow X-rays to be taken from a small, handheld device.
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