Both Sides of the Table

MAY 20, 2020

Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash I was listening to Dan Primack’s podcast on Pro Rata and he was interviewing Senator Klobucher who is now publicly and vocally speaking out against Uber purchasing Grubhub and has tried to mobilize against this. Her argument is that if Uber buys Grubhub (which itself once merged with Seamless) it would mean that Uber Eats / Grubhub would control half the market and that with DoorDash the two together would control 90% of the market.

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SaaS Customer Custom Technical Review 242

TechCrunch LA

MAY 21, 2020

When former Bill Clinton speechwriter and political wunderkind Andrei Cherny launched Aspiration four years ago , the upstart fintech startup was one of Los Angeles’ early entrants into a financial services market dominated by players from Europe and the financial capital of the U.S. in New York City. Fast forward four years and the big New York fintechs are still around, but Cherny’s Aspiration remains undimmed and has today disclosed a $153 million funding round to get even bigger

Los Angeles 245

Los Angeles Customer Custom Services 245

Berkonomics

MAY 21, 2020

Assuming that a corporate whistle-blower is not tooting about you individually, such a class of people have been granted protections under the law and serve a function that needs to be acknowledged. Motive of the whistle-blower. First, the assumption is that such a person is not making his or her gesture for personal profit, but to give proper notice that there is something illegal going on within the company that the person cannot accept and must tell someone about.

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Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2020

Every startup founder loves to prompt for questions from investors and potential key team members about their vision, and the huge opportunity that can be had with their disruptive technology. Yet if you are on the other side of the table, there are some other key questions that you need to ask, which will tell you more about the real success prospects for this business.

Technical Review 174

Technical Review Startup Invest Patents 174

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

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 18, 2020

Finli Inc., a downtown-based fintech startup, is adapting to the Covid-19 crisis by helping its customers adapt.

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TechCrunch LA

MAY 19, 2020

The acute pain of California’s housing crisis can be measured in the human toll it takes on the increasing numbers of families made homeless by rising rents and the billions of dollars the state loses to the high cost of living. After wrestling with recalcitrant homeowners, husbanding their parcels of land to keep their property values high, the state’s leadership passed a law that increased the availability of new rental units and put more money into homeowners’ pockets in 201

Los Angeles 191

Los Angeles Startup Culver City .Net 191

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 17, 2020

Every entrepreneur I know has their favorite excuse for a previous failure – an investor backed out, the economy took a downturn, or a supplier delivered bad quality. These things outside your control do happen, but based on my years of experience as a startup advisor and angel investor, I still see too many strategies leading to failure that are inside the entrepreneur decision realm.

Startup 174

Startup Writing Entrepreneur Ideas 174

Xconomy

MAY 22, 2020

COVID-19 has ravaged the economy, and it was expected to quash the IPO market, too. But the biotech sector is defying the pandemic with crossover financings and freshly minted public companies. On Friday, three firms added their names to the list of life science companies preparing to join the public markets. Gene therapy company Generation Bio, vaccines developer Vaxcyte, and cancer diagnostics maker Burning Rock Biotech each filed IPO paperwork just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

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Company Companies Marketing Develop 145

TechCrunch LA

MAY 19, 2020

Polestar’s first U.S. retail stores will open in Los Angeles, New York City and two locations in San Francisco later this year — the latest milestone for the automaker as it gets closer to bringing its all-electric vehicle to market. Polestar, which is jointly owned by Volvo Car Group and Zhejiang Geely Holding of China, was once a high-performance brand under Volvo Cars.

Los Angeles 147

Los Angeles Pricing Angel Customer 147

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

Camarillo-based Saalex Information Technology (SaalexIT), a provider of managed services, says it has acquired Eugene, Oregon-based Arctic MSP. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. Saalex said the deal will expand its footprint in its western region. SaalexIT said it also recently acquired Scottsdale, Arizona-based Valeo Networks. Arctic MSP offers up cybersecurity, cloud, and compliance services; SaaletIT said that it will continue to run Arctic MSP as its own brand, based out

Acquisition 124

Acquisition Services Networking Technology 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 16, 2020

Many experts are certain that successful entrepreneurs are the ones with the most inspiration (passion and dream), while others will assert that it’s about more perspiration (working harder). In my experience, both are always required in heavy doses. There are no “can’t fail” shortcuts or “get rich quick” scenarios. That’s why all those so-called million dollar ideas I hear about as an investor don’t get me excited, and entrepreneurs find that working twenty hours a day often generates nothing m

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Customer Custom Outsource 174

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 21, 2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 -- CARES Act w/Moss Adams. CONNECT. Get key information regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in this Webinar presented by Moss Adams Partner in Charge, Gerardo Godinez and Tax Senior Manager, Desiree Klassen. See [link].

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L.A. Business Journal

MAY 18, 2020

Cornerstone OnDemand Inc., the Santa Monica-based talent management software developer, said founder and Chief Executive Adam Miller will step down and transition to co-chairman, effective June 15.

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Cornerstone OnDemand Santa Monica Software Development Software 100

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

San Diego-based venture capital fund Sectoin 32 says it has made a number of key appointments, as it expands its human resources, staffing, and communications efforts. According to Section 32, it has named Sarah Larson as Chief People Officer; Alice Cheung as Head of Talent; Kenzo Fong Hing as Advisor; Claire Stapleton as Writer in Residence; Kimberly Shih as Talent Specialist; and Anna Bullard as Executive Assistant.

Google 124

Google San Diego Venture Capital Resource 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2020

If you really want to start a business your way without a boss or professional investor hovering over you, then just fund it yourself or through friends and family, and grow it organically. It’s more possible to bootstrap today than a few years ago, as the cost of entry continues to go down. According to Investopedia , over 90 percent of successful businesses currently start this way.

Social Media 169

Social Media Startup Equity Summary 169

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 21, 2020

Wednesday, May 27, 2020 -- The Mindset of an Investor Today: A Webinar Series with Arlan Hamilton, Founder and Managing Partner, Backstage Capital. Join Peter Cowen (Managing Director, Sutton Capital Partners) as we explore what investors are looking for in the current climate. Presented by Sutton Capital Partners and the Recurring Revenue Conference.

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Conference Capital 100

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 18, 2020

Fair Financial Corp., a Santa Monica-based car leasing and financing provider backed by SoftBank Vision Fund, has named Bradley Stewart as the company’s new chief executive.

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Santa Monica Funding 100

socalTECH

MAY 19, 2020

Carlsbad-based ChromaCode , which is developing molecular testing equipment, announced today that it has raised $10M in a Series C extension round. The funding came from Adjuvant Capital. As part of the funding, ChromaCode said that it will add Adjuvant Capital's Managing Partner, Jenny Yip, to its board. The company has now raised $38M in the Series C round.

Platform 124

Platform Capital Funding Technology 124

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2020

As I was watching the investor show, Shark Tank , on TV the other night, I was struck by how quickly and how extensively the sharks focused on the background and character of the entrepreneurs, compared to time spent evaluating their products. I realized it was consistent with my own view as a former angel investor, that investors invest in you, more than your solution.

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Entrepreneur Mentor Metrics Customer 168

Xconomy

MAY 20, 2020

Biotechs are increasingly looking to leverage a mechanism cells use to get rid of unwanted proteins to drug targets previously considered out of reach. Roche ponied up $135 million upfront this week to work with Vividion Therapeutics in search of small molecules that use that “protein degradation” process to do just that. The drug discovery agreement is seeking small molecule drugs that can hit proteins considered “undruggable” by designing therapies that prompt the proteasome—

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Class Design San Diego Company 117

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2020

Bevy is Emerging as a Leader in Software for Building Virtual Communities?—?with $15 million to Prove It The venture capital world has started firing up a few cylinders again and looking for businesses that it believes will help us all succeed in ways that resonate with new ways of working as we begin to return to work. It’s clear things have changed for good and the need for managing remote communities of employees, customers and partners has become ever more important.

Software 234

Software Startup Tool Platform 234

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2020

Redlands-based geographical information system (GIS) software developer Esri says is offering up its technology to help address the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of a partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). According to Esri, the effort will allow governments in the region to use a COVID-19 solution to track critical equipment and asset availability, manage supply chains, and maintain business continuity.

Resource 124

Resource Software Development Software Technology 124

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2020

Irvine-based technology distributor Ingram Micro is looking to help its technology channel partners in Europe, who have been hit by cash flow challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new suite of financing options. According to Ingram Micro, it has rolled out new low interest and long term financing, extended credit terms, deferred payments, as-a-service models, and pay-as-you-go options for its customers.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Technology Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2020

Irvine-based storage-as-a-service provider Zadara said this week that it has partnered with data center colocation and interconnection provider Cyxtera. According to Zadara, its fully managed storage-as-a-service is now available in 62 of Cyxtera's data centers worldwide. Financial details of the partnership deal were not announced. Zadara offers up its storage to enterprises, helping them avoid the usual capital expenditures associated with enterprise storage array purchases; the company only c

Services 113

Services Customer Custom Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2020

Santa Monica-based healthcare practice management software developer PatientPop is adding a new set of telehealth features to its software suite, saying this week that it has launched a new product called PatientPop Pro. According to PatientPop, the new software offers telehealth, digital communications, and patient intake tools, allowing healthcare practices to deliver virtual care, connect with patients, and streamline office tasks.

Software Review 113

Software Review Santa Monica Tool Software Development 113

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2020

SiFi Networks , which develops open access fiber optic networks, which it offers up to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), says it has received $50M to build out its network in the United States. The company--which has one of its offices in El Segundo--said it will use the funding for recruitment and training of industry specialists, to help it expand its deployments.

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Networking El Segundo Training Funding 113

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

Los Angeles-based Aspiration , which offers up financial services, no-fee checking accounts, and a debit card focused on socially conscious spending, has raised $135M in funding, the company said Thursday. The Series C funding came from Alpha Edison led, along with UBS O'Connor Capital Solutions, DNS Capital, Radicle Impact, Sutter Rock, Jeff Skoll, Joseph Sanberg, Social Impact Finance, the Pohlad Companies, and AGO Partners.

Funding 113

Funding Los Angeles Capital Customer 113

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

Los Angeles-based Modern Trust said this morning that it has launched a new online site to help people create and maintain living trust and estate planning documents. The startup, led by Daniel Hales, said it is tackling the time-consuming, tedious and expensive process of creating a trust and dealing with estate planning, which the company says has traditionally involved numerous in-person meetings with lawyers, advisors and lots of paperwork and paper documents.

Services 113

Services Guide Los Angeles Sites 113

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

Los Angeles-based private equity investor K1 Investment Management said this morning that it has entered into an agreement to sell San Diego-based FMG Suite to another private equity ivnestor, Aurora Capital Partners. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. FMG Suite is a developer of cloud-based marketing automation software specifically for financial services professionals and advisors.

San Diego 113

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socalTECH

MAY 21, 2020

Long Beach-based Virgin Orbit is planning a demonstration launch of its small satellite delivery vehicle this weekend, saying it is hoping to launch a satellite into space on Sunday, May 24th at 10 AM PT. The launch--which will be made from the Mojave Air and Space Port is intended to put the LauncherOne rocket into space, launched from Virgin Orbit's modified 747 launch platform.

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Long Beach Southern California Hawthorne SpaceX 113

socalTECH

MAY 20, 2020

San Diego-based Insightful Science has acquired Cytapex , a bioinformatics contract research organization. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. According to Insightful Science, Cytapex focuses on helping pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies to improve and automate high-throughput and high-dimensional cytometry informatics for basic and clinical research, biomarker discovery, and clinical trials.

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San Diego Research Acquisition Organization 113

socalTECH

MAY 20, 2020

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which provides return management for e-commerce and other retailers, said today that it has partnered with BigCommerce , a developer of e-commerce software. According to Hppy Returns, it will offer up its full suite of returns software and reverse logistics services to BigCommerce merchants. The company said it has integrated its service with the BigCommerce platform, and also now offers up in-person drop off of returns at its nationwide network of more than 70

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Commerce Platform Software 113

socalTECH

MAY 20, 2020

Los Angeles-based XPRIZE said it has launched a new initiative, which will provide "thousands of dollars" in prizes that invites the next generation to develop video games which "depict a better future for humanity". According to XPRIZE, the new effort, XPRIZE Connect , aims to "democratize access to learning through technology" and will be open for entrants between the ages of 10 and 18 years old.

Design 113

Design Technical Review Competition Equity 113

socalTECH

MAY 20, 2020

Los ANgeles-based Brainbase , a new startup developing software to help manage licensing, partnership and sponsorship agreements, has raised $8M in a Series A funding round, the company said this morning. The funding was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Nosara Capital, and also included Alpha Edison, Struck Capital, Bonfire Ventures, FJ Labs, Spencer Lazar, Michael Stoppelman, former senior vice president of engineering at Yelp, Jenny Fleiss, co-founder of Rent The Runway, and David Fraga, p

IP 113

IP Software Los Angeles Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 19, 2020

Los Angeles-based RelayCars , which provides a library of immersive and virtual reality content for the automotive industry, says it has launched a "virtual showroom" for individuals looking to shop and research a new car, as a result of more people being stuck at home. According to RelayCars, the website now features high quality, virtual realty (VR) content which lets users take virtual tours of any vehicle category, year, make, and model from its database of content.

Content 113

Content Research Los Angeles Services 113

socalTECH

MAY 19, 2020

Los Angeles-based United Dwelling , a startup that helps homeowners convert garages or unused backyard space into newly allowed "Accessory Dwelling Units" which they can rent out to others, has raised $10M in a Series B funding round, the company said this week. The startup--led by longtime Southern California startup and venture capital veteran Steven Dietz--said the funding was led by Alpha Edison, and also included Lightspeed Venture Partners.

GRP Partners 113

GRP Partners Southern California Venture Capital Los Angeles 113