Sat.Aug 17, 2019 - Fri.Aug 23, 2019

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LA-based gaming company, Scopely, expands in Spain and Ireland

TechCrunch LA

The Los Angeles-based gaming company, Scopely is expanding its geographical footprint in Spain and Ireland. The company is building out its Barcelona offices tripling its office space and planning to significantly expand its 100-person-strong team in the city. Meanwhile, Scopely is also planning to invest heavily in expanding its strategy-focused game studio, DIGIT, in Dublin.

Company 166
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Retrophin Sinks as Drug “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli Co-Invented Fails

Xconomy

Retrophin, the drug developer founded by jailed former biotech executive Martin Shkreli, has failed its first big test. The San Diego-based company’s experimental drug fosmetpantotenate failed a Phase 3 trial, FORT, in patients with a rare and deadly neurological disorder called pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, or PKAN. The Retrophin (NASDAQ: RTRX ) drug flunked all of its main and secondary goals in the study, which tested fosmetpantotenate against a placebo in PKAN patients.

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Brainbase Brings in $3 Million

L.A. Business Journal

Intellectual property licensing software developer Brainbase Inc. announced August 20 it raised a $3 million seed round led by Struck Capital.

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Video Interview with Courtney Farr, House Calls Mobile

socalTECH

Our interview today is with Courtney Farr, the founder and CEO of House Calls Mobile (www.housecallsmobile.com), a startup in the health services area. READ MORE>>.

Mobile 189
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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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Shell’s first electric vehicle fast charger lands in Singapore

TechCrunch LA

Royal Dutch Shell, the energy giant known for its fossil fuel production and hundreds of Shell gas stations, is creeping into the electric vehicle-power business. The company’s first DC fast charger launched Monday at a Shell gas station in Singapore. Greenlots, an EV charging startup acquired by Shell in January, installed the charger. This is the first of 10 DC fast chargers that Greenlots plans to bring to Shell service stations in Singapore over the next several months.

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MTS FASHION TALK @PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, August 22, 2019 -- MTS FASHION TALK @PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER. Join us for a fascinating MTS Fashion Talk bringing together top fashion icons, bloggers and influencers focusing on How Entrepreneurship Is Changing Fashion.

Design 100

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Lynda.com Move To LinkedIn Learning Spurs Complaints Over Privacy Issues

socalTECH

In what looks to be a rough transition for users of Lynda.com , library users of Lynda.com's wide range of educational topics and courses are finding they are running into major privacy issues through LinkedIn's new, forced move of users from Lynda.com to LinkedIn Learning. Accoding to ZDNet , LinkedIn is forcing public library patrons to create a LinkedIn profile in order to access content on the LinkedIn Learning/Lynda.com service, which raises major privacy issues for library patrons.

Education 170
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Men’s personal care startup Huron raises $1M

TechCrunch LA

Huron founder and CEO Matt Mullenax is hoping to build a big business around body wash. “For us, the broader mission is A+ personal care for guys everywhere — not just guys in New York or guys in the Bay Area or guys in Los Angeles,” he said. The startup has raised $1 million in seed funding from RXBAR founders Peter Rahal and Jared Smith, CXT Investments, and Lean Luxe founder M.

Startup 217
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Ford’s Autonomic Connects EV Maker Ayro to Its Mobility Cloud

Xconomy

Ford subsidiary Autonomic today announced a step forward in its drive to expand the online mobility hub it built to manage digital interactions among cars, drivers, fleets, service providers, and auto manufacturers—including Ford’s rivals. Palo Alto, CA-based Autonomic signed up Ayro , an electric vehicle startup, as a paying customer of its Transportation Mobility Cloud (TMC), in Autonomic’s first partnership with a vehicle manufacturer other than Dearborn, MI-based Ford (NYSE: F ).

Mobile 104
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Rick Fox Sued by Echo Fox Partners

L.A. Business Journal

One week after Riot Games Inc. kicked Echo Fox out of its "League of Legends" esports tournament, the company itself is looking to kick out its celebrity founding owner Rick Fox, saying he owes the other investors at least $2.5 million.

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Upfront Ventures Names New Partners

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based venture capital investment firm Upfront Ventures said over the weekend that it has named two new Partners at the firm. The venture investor said it has added Aditi Maliwal as a Partner, and also promoted Michael Carney to Partner. Maliwal was most recently a product manager at Google, and also had served at Crosslink Capital and Deutsche Bank.

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5 Tips to Gain From People Who Don’t Think Like You

Startup Professionals Musings

One thing we all have to learn in business is how to work with and lead people that are not like you , and don’t think like you. In my experience as a business advisor, that’s probably the biggest hurdle to success encountered by every new business owner. Your biggest challenge may be members of your own family, some of your best customers, or a key business partner or investor.

Tips 97
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Bio Roundup: Sarepta’s Stumble, Opioid Suits, Shkreli’s Legacy & More

Xconomy

Biotech news tends to slow down in August but the past seven days have been busy for regulatory decisions. Three drugs and two devices won FDA nods. Not all companies were as fortunate. Several biotechs reported failed clinical trials or unfavorable FDA decisions. The most notable one might be the rejection of a Sarepta Therapeutics treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, golodirsen (Vyondys 53), that appeared to be well on its way to approval.

News 77
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Mobile Game Developer Scopeley Expands Internationally

L.A. Business Journal

Scopely is expanding its footprint in Europe, more than tripling its office space in Barcelona and upgrading its existing facility in Dublin, Ireland.

Develop 133
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Resolve Systems Buys FixStream For $24M

socalTECH

Irvine-based Resolve Systems , a developer of IT automation and orchestration software, announced today that it has acquired FixStream , a developer of artificial intelligence IT automation software. Resolve said it paid $24M to acquire FixStream, in a deal which is expected to close at the end of September. Resolve Systems said the deal will help it create a unified platform which combines artificial intelligence with automation.

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8 Actions To Ignite Engagement For You And Your Team

Startup Professionals Musings

Based on my own experience as a business professional, employees who are not seriously engaged in the business should be totally obvious to everyone, including the manager or CEO. Yet many managers and executives seem to ignore the situation, or have no idea how to fix it. The result is that the performance of whole team is degraded, and the business suffers as well.

Mentor 97
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Startup Blooma Launches With $2.75M to Digitize Commercial Lending

Xconomy

Many facets of the finance industry, a highly regulated sector of the economy, are still reworking the tools used to move around money so that they fit a digital world. Digital mortgage lenders, for example, are having a field day, pulling in millions from investors who see opportunities to make money by speeding up the historically tedious process of getting a home loan.

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Tala Raises $110 Million Series D

L.A. Business Journal

Santa Monica-based financial technology startup Tala completed a $110 million Series D raise to expand its market reach in India and continue developing its mobile micro-lending platform.

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Phyn Rolls Out DIY Water Savings, Leak Detection Product

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Phyn , which develops sophisticated devices that can both detect water leaks and also monitor water usage across a home--through a single device--has rolled out a new product this week, aimed at the do-it-yourself (DIY) market. According to Phyn, its new product, the Phyn Smart Water Assistant, will launch at Best Buy stores in September, and allows users to track how much water each and every fixture in a home uses, providing water monitoring for an entire home.

Product 124
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8 Steps To Stop Killing Yourself As A Micro-Manager

Startup Professionals Musings

For a few, delegating comes easily, maybe too easy. For others who are perfectionists, letting go of even the most trivial task is almost impossible. If you are in this second category, you probably don’t like the references behind your back that you are a “control freak” or a “micro-manager.” London business school professor John Hunt notes that only 30 percent of managers think they can delegate well, and of those, only one in three is considered a good delegator by his or her subordinates.

Startup 96
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Preccelerator Workshop: Strategic Partnerships with Jonathan Tavss

SoCal Tech Calendar

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 --.

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So, your board is dysfunctional. What to do?

Berkonomics

It happens. Boards are elected by the shareholders, sometimes with preferred shareholders holding seats by right of their investment. In that instance, often the investor selects the board member and the CEO goes along with the choice, mostly out of having no alternative at the time. How the board can arrive at dysfunction. Then there comes the first – or better yet the fourth – meeting of the board following the appointment of a new member.

Design 120
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Report: Southern California Still Faces Broadband Digital Divide

socalTECH

According to a new report, issued this week, Southern California still has a big "digital divide", between those who have access to affordable, wired broadband, and those that do not. According to BroadbandNow Research, just 68 percent of Californians have access to a $60 or less monthly wired broadband plan--and many California still don't have any kind of wired Internet access at all.

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7 Common Themes That Indicate An Extraordinary Leader

Startup Professionals Musings

In building successful businesses, I find that creating a new and innovative product or service is usually the easy part. The hard part is providing the leadership required to align and motivate all the constituents and players – from engineers, to investors, vendors, and ultimately customers. Great entrepreneurs are not just idea people and then managers, they are extraordinary leaders.

Coach 96
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Video Interview: Tony Winders, The Winders Group

socalTECH

Our video interview today is with Tony Winders, the CEO of The Winders Group, a marketing agency in Los Angeles. Tony is a longtime veteran of the digital marketing world, co-founded the InterActive Agency, was a VP at companies like ValueClick, GumGum, Search123, and others, and also has been very involved in bringing together the local technology community through such efforts as the Digital Family Reunion and during the Internet 1.0 era with the Venice Interactive Community (VIC).

Venice 124
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EvoNexus Deadline Approaches On Friday

socalTECH

Startups in the Internet-of-Things (IoT), analytics, and security areas looking to join the EvoNexus startup incubator, need to submit their applications by Friday, August 23rd, according to the startup incubator. The group said that it is looking for startups aiming at such areas as artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, mobile payments, insurance technology, edge computing, and other areas for its next class, which is being sponsored by Franklin Templeton and RBC (Royal B

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Riot Games Settles Class Action Over Sexist Culture Allegations

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Riot Games said on Thursday that it has settled a class action lawsuit, which had alleged that the company had a sexist corporate culture. Terms of the settlement were not annouced, however, the attorney representing the plaintiffs said it was a "very strong settlement agreement that provides meaningful and fair value to class members for their experiences at Riot Games" and which was " a clear indication that Riot is dedicated to making progress in evolving its culture and emp

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Boingo To Power Indoors Wireless For Verizon 5G

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless , which provides Wi-Fi, small-cell, and distributed antenna systems (DAS), will help power indoor 5G wireless services for Verizon , the two companies said on Thursday. According to Verizon, it is working with Boingo to provide 5G Ultra Widebamd services to such areas like airports, stadiums and arenas, office buildings, and hotels.

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Semtech Wins Design For Art Tracking

socalTECH

Camarillo-based analog and mixed-signal semiconductor developer Semtech says its wireless LoRa products are being used for tracking art and museum objects, as part of a new product from a company called Conserv. according to Semtech, Conserv has developed an Internet-of-Things (IoT) application which uses its LoRa devices and its LoRaWAN protocol, which helps museums and exhibitions track museum and art collections.

Design 113
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AttackIQ Ties Into Microsoft Defender

socalTECH

San Diego-based cybersecurity software developer AttackIQ , which develops continuous security validation tools, said today that it has integrated its AttackIQ platform with Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). The company said the integration will help joint customers validate their configuration and security coverage provided by Microsoft Defender ATP.

San Diego 113
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Newegg Joins In With Intel Gamer Days 2019

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based online electronics products retailer Newegg said today that it is lauching a promotion as part of Intel Gamer Days 2019, which will run from August 30th to September 8th. According to Newegg, it will offer up promotions and discounts during the event, and also run an event at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas on September 7th. Newegg said the a href="[link] FragFest 2019 will occur on September 7th, and will be co-hosted by Newegg and Intel, and feature pro players from Cou

NewEgg 113
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Tala Takes $110M More In Funding For Fintech Efforts

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Tala , the fintech startup led by CEO Shivani Siroya, has raised $110M more in a Series D funding round, the company said this morning. The funding was led by RPS Ventures, and also included GGV Capital, IVP, Revolution Growth, Lowercase Capital, Data Collective VC, ThomVest Ventures, and PayPal. The company has now raised a total of $215M.

Funding 113
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TPx Communications Acquired By Private Equity Investor

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based TPx Communications , a provider of unified communications services, including call center, contact center, managed WAN, managed Office 365, and other similar services, has been acquired by private equity investor Siris. Financial terms of the acquisition, which was announced on Monday, were not announced. TPx Communications--formerly known as U.S.

Equity 113
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Affinity Biosensors Finds $5.9M

socalTECH

Santa Barbara-based Affinity Biosensors , a startup developing benchtop, automated systems for microbiology research, has raised $5.9M in a ongoing funding round, according to a regulatory filing from the company this week. The filing said the funding is part of a $10M, ongoing funding. Affinity Biosensors' products are based on micro-electromechanical (MEMS) technology, which it says allows for cell counting, mass measurements, and visual observation of liquid samples.

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Scopely Expands Team In Europe

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile games developer Scopely said on Tuesday that it is expanding its team, by opening up new offices in Spain and Ireland. Scopely said it is opening up a new, 26,000 square foot office in Sarria-Sant Gervasi in Barcelona, an expansion from its earlier 7,000 square feet office in the city it opened in 2017. In addition, Scopely said it will be expanding an office in Dublin.

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Happy Returns Tackles Cardboard Box Proliferation With New Program

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Happy Returns , which helps online retailers manage the flow of returns--both through behind-the-scenes logistics services and in-person "Return Bar" locations, is helping to tackle the growing pile of cardboard boxes being generated by online commerce. According to Happy Returns, it has created a new "box-free" return program, where the company aggregates returned items across participating retailers, then bulk-ships them in reusable packaging to regional return hubs.

Draper 113