Sat.Jan 15, 2022 - Fri.Jan 21, 2022

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The best advice startups will never follow

Berkonomics

Dave’s note: This is a reprint of a 2015 insight that seems to have struck a chord with investors and entrepreneurs. None of this advice has changed… Let me tell you a few short hair–raising stories of entrepreneurs who have raised money and regretted it later. Here are some rules that entrepreneurs almost always ignore to their future peril.

Startup 317
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ImmPACT Bio Lands $111M For Cancer Therapy

socalTECH

Camarillo-based ImmPACT Bio, a company developing cancer therapies, said this week that it has raised $111M in a Series B financing round. The funding was led by venBio Partners, along with Foresite Capital and Decheng Capital, plus Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), OrbiMed, Novartis Venture Fund, RM Global Partners (RMGP), and Bukwang Pharmaceutical.

Capital 203
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The subsidiary follows acquisition of virtual stock trading startup

L.A. Business Journal

Beverly Hills-based LiveOne Inc., the owner of streaming services like Slacker Radio, LiveXLive and PodcastOne, is making a foray into the gaming business with a newly launched subsidiary called GamifyOne.

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5 Key Attributes Of A High-Performing Business Leader

Startup Professionals Musings

Every business leader I know struggles with the challenges of leadership , and is constantly honing their formula for success. We all wish it could be boiled down to a short list of actions, but we continue to be surprised and frustrated by new situations that seem to be beyond our thinking. Thus, ever after years as an executive in IBM and other companies, I’m still looking for the magic.

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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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LINK Agency: Utilizing TikTok to Skyrocket Brand Awareness

StartUp Beat

One could say that 2021 taught us many things, but it could be argued that one of its most interesting lessons was how valuable the art of going viral is—giving people the capacity to reach millions from their at-home wifi […]. The post LINK Agency: Utilizing TikTok to Skyrocket Brand Awareness appeared first on StartUp Beat.

Startup 104
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NextCar Offers Up Tesla Model 3 Subscription

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based NextCar Holding Company (NXCR), the vehicle subscription company led by auto- and tech-veterans Scott Painter and George Bauer, said late Thursday that the company has launched a new, Tesla Model 3 EV subscription program through its new, consumer brand called Autonomy. NextCar recently made an $83M acquisition of the Autonomy brand, Autonomy.com, and related trademarks and brand IP.

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More Trending

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7 Lessons On How Startups Use Social Media To Succeed

Startup Professionals Musings

If you are a business owner today, and not using social media to promote your business, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. But, contrary to what most people preach, it isn’t entirely free. Most social media outlets don’t require a subscription charge, but they certainly always require an investment, sometimes large, in people, in technology, your reputation, and your time.

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Is Real Estate a Good Investment? The Pros & Cons of Real Estate Investing

AllTopStartups

Real estate investments are among some of the riskiest investments, but they’re also one of few investments that yield higher returns. One of the things that makes real estate so… The post Is Real Estate a Good Investment? The Pros & Cons of Real Estate Investing appeared first on AllTopStartups.

Invest 59
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Topography Health Finds $21.5M For Clinical Trial Network

socalTECH

Los Angeles- and New York-based Topography Health has raised $21.5M in a Series A funding round, the company said this week, to launch what it says is a national network of community physicians to expand access to clinical drug trials. The investment was led by Bain Capital Ventures, and also included Andreessen Horowitz. The round also included angels One Medical Founder Tom Lee, former Flatiron Health Chief Medical Officer Bobby Green, and Zillow Co-founder Spencer Rascoff.

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LiveOne Announces New Gaming Division

L.A. Business Journal

Beverly Hills-based LiveOne Inc., the owner of streaming services like Slacker Radio, LiveXLive and PodcastOne, is launching a new gaming business.

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5 Keys To Being Seen As A Valued Contributor At Work

Startup Professionals Musings

As I talk to business owners and entrepreneurs, I’m surprised at how many complain about team members who feel taken for granted , or have contributions not appreciated. As an advisor and mentor, I’m always looking for more ways to improve communication, get people more engaged , and get more done. Great communication inside the organization and outside is the key to value.

Coach 119
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ICEYE Scores Contract From NRO

socalTECH

Irvine-based ICEYE, a satellite developer which is launching a constellation of satellites to monitor the earth using radar, says it has received a contract from the National Reconnaissance Officer (NRO). According to ICEYE, the contract will enable it to participate in the NRO's evaluation of commercial, remote sensing companies operating synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.

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Bonfire Ventures Eyes New, $165M Fund

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Bonfire Ventures is looking to raise $165M in its third fund, according to a regulatory filing from the firm. As expected, due to legal restrictions, venture capital investor--led by Jim Andelman, Mark Mullen, and Brett Queener--has not detailed its fundraising efforts. The regulatory filing says the firm has yet to sign up any limited partners on the new fund.

Funding 113
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Filmhub Finds $6.8M For Film Streaming

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based streaming startup Filmhub, a startup which helps independent filmmakers with online streaming, has raised $6.8M in a seed funding round, the company said this week. The funding was led by a16z, and also included 8VC, FundersClub, Eleven Prime and angels. The company helps independent filmmakers with distribution of their content via streaming platforms, via a 80/20 revenue split model.

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BioTheryX Names Chief Business Officer

socalTECH

San Diego-based biopharmaceuticals company BioTheryX said today that it has named Sahm Nasseri as Chief Business Officer. Nasseri was previously CEO of PYC Therapeutics, an RNA therapeutics company based in the United States and Australia. In addition, Nasseri served at Merck & Co., serving as interim Vice President and Global Product Leader for Merck's HPV Vaccines, and also was at McKinsey & Company.

San Diego 113
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Nativo Names CFO

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Nativo said this week that it has appointed technology veteran Rob Leff as the company's new Chief Financial Officer. Leff was most recently at VideoAmp, and also was CFO at OpenX, CFO at Fandango, and previously served at Countrywide Financial Corporation (purchased by Bank of America), Tanner & Haley Resorts, Intel and America West Airlines.

Fandango 113
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Tom Brady, Richard Rosenblatt Get $170M More For NFT Venture

socalTECH

Autograph, the NFT ageny which was co-founded by longtime Los Angeles technology veteran Richard Rosenblatt, alongside NFL quarterback Tom Brady, has raised $170M mor follow up investments from 01A and investments from LIghtpeed Partner e in its Series B funding, according to the company. The funding was led by a16z and Kleiner Perkins, as well as a fund run by Nicole Quinn of Lightspeed Venture Partners and Katie Haun.

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Untapped Ventures Launches Early Stage VC Fund

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Untapped Ventures said on Wednesday that it has launched a new, early-stage venture capital fund, which it says invests in companies that "help people live the best version of themselves, personally and professionally." The size of the new fund was not announced. The venture capital fund is led by Founding General Partner George Bandarian.

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The Trade Desk Names Apple Mac Pioneer To Board

socalTECH

Ventura-based advertising technology developer The Trade Desk has added an early, Apple Computer pionner to its board of directors, according to the company. The Trade Desk said that Andrea "Andy" Cunningham, who helped launch the Apple Macintosh early in her career, has joined its board as an independent director. Cunningham is the founder and president of Cunningham Collective, a marketing strategy firm, and also serves on the boards of MixR, Motive Power Systems, Specialized Bicycle Component

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Rocket Lab Completes SolAero Acquisition

socalTECH

Long Beach-based Rocket Lab said Tuesday afternoon that it has completed its acquisition of SolAero Holdings. The deal was worth $80M in cash. SolAero Holdings is a manufacturer of solar power technology and aerospace structures for use in space. Rocket Lab says SolAero's space solar cells are used in civil space exploration, science, defense and intelligence, and commercial markets.

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Mythical Games Acquires Polystream

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based game publishing company Mythical Games, a venture-backed game company which recently raised $150M in a round led by Andreessen Horowitz, said Tuesday that it has acquired Polystream, a developer of an interactive 3D content streaming platform. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. Polystream's technology helps reduce the size of game client software and allows players to more quickly start playing a game, rather than waiting for a long download.

Content 113
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FastSpring Expands To Ireland, Names New VP

socalTECH

Santa Barbara-based FastSpring, which develops e-commerce software used by software-as-a-service companies to manage sales and VAT taxes, prevent fraud, and more, says it has opened up new operations in Belfast, Ireland. The company also said it has appointed Mansoor Bajowala as the VP of Global Customer Operations to manage those operations. Bajowala was most recently General Manager and VP of Sales and Operations for Omnitracs, a developer of fleet management software.

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Parallel Systems Picks Up $49.55M For Autonomous Trains

socalTECH

Culver City-based Parallel Systems, a startup developing autonomous train and transportation technology, said today that it has raised $49.55M in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by Anthos Capital, and also included Congruent Ventures, Riot Ventures and Embark Ventures. The company is led by CEO Matt Soule. The company's founders are engineers from SpaceX, Google, and Tesla.

Training 113
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Psomas Buys KPG

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Psomas, and engineering consulting firm, said this morning that it has acquired Seattle-based KPG. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. According to the two, they will now be known as KPG-Psomas. The two provide planning, design, and construction services.

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Microsoft To Acquire Activision Blizzard For $68.7B

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard is being acquired by Microsoft in a deal worth $68.7 billion, the two companies announced this morning. According to Microsoft, it will pay $95.00 per share in an all cash transaction to acquire Activision Blizzard. Microsoft said the deal will make it the third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.

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Mustard Gets $3.75M For High Tech Coaching

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Mustard, which develops technology which uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to evaluate an athlete's mechanics and to help with coaching, has raised $3.75M in a seed funding, the company said this morning. According to the company, the funding led by the Lake Nona Sports & Health Tech Fund (a partnership between leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners and Tavistock Group) and also included Mark Cuban, OneTeam Partners, Ronnie Lott, Justin Rose, the Major League Soccer

Coach 113
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GigXR Gets Strategic Investment For AR/VR CPR Training

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based GigXR, a developer of mixed reality simulation training for the healthcare industry, says it has received a strategic investment and partnership with a subsidiary of Northwest Permanente P.C. Northwest is a physicial-led multispecialty group practice. Financial details of the investment were not announced. According to GigXR, the effort will focus on developing mixed reality teaching and training simulations for both healthcare professionals and introductory learners starting w

Training 113
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Griffin Gaming Partners Backs Mobile Game Developer Spyke

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based venture investment firm Griffin Gaming Partners is the lead investor in Turkish mobile gaming developer Spyke, Spyke said on monday. According to Spyke, it raised $55M in its seed funding round from Griffin Gaming Partners. Griffin is led by Peter Levin, Phil Sanderson and Nick Tuosto. Spyke's team comes from Peak Games, Zynga and Riot Games.

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Every Online User Platform Needs Revenue To Survive

Startup Professionals Musings

A question that I still hear debated often is whether a new online platform startup growth strategy should focus on user count or profits. First of all, the glory days of “dot.coms” are gone, when investors “didn’t care” about profitability, and all the big money was focused on user count growth. In the long run, everyone wants both profitability and user growth, but the question is which comes first.

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8 Growth Practices That Every Startup Needs To Follow

Startup Professionals Musings

Many new business owners I know have learned the hard way that you can never be everything for everyone. As a startup, you need to use your limited resources to excel at a few core things for your best customers, in order to stand out and get the momentum going. Focus on a few key principles is the key to success, and it takes discipline and determination to make this happen.

Startup 144