Sat.Mar 19, 2016 - Fri.Mar 25, 2016

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How to Decrease the Odds That Your Startup Fails

Both Sides of the Table

Many startup businesses – tech or otherwise – fail. In our industry we applaud the efforts for entrepreneurs to have tried and we know that today’s failure can bring the experience for tomorrow’s success. We also know that even though many of us who are experienced in startup successes & failures look at businesses and say, “That will never work” (as many people said about Uber) or “You can’t make any money in that business” (as many said

Startup 235
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The seven attributes of a highly successful start–up CEO

Berkonomics

Dave’s note: This week we welcome guest author, David Friedman, to tell us about his favorite startup CEO, and his take after interviewing her – asking for her list of attributes for startup success. . By David Friedman. I met Kirsten Mangers several years ago after she successfully sold her startup, Webvisible. Kirsten is the founder of ChickLabs , an incubator that focuses on helping primarily women entrepreneurs.

Startup 223
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How Crexi's Startup Dream Team Is Tackling Commercial Real Estate

socalTECH

In the world of residential real estate, there are now web and mobile services for everything from finding a new home, comparing neighborhoods and properties, to finding a mortgage, and even handling paperwork and closing. But, over in the commercial real estate world�it's still fax machines, phone calls, and the post office. How do you apply technology to help improve that industry?

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Psychology for Digital Behavior Change – LA (2-day Workshop) [ LOS ANGELES ]

Tech.Co

Over two days, you’ll learn to build online products that are more motivating, usable, and persuasive, by harnessing digital psychology. Though this workshop is all based on science, the content is presented at a practical level, through clear visual examples and hands-on exercises, designed to reinforce your understanding and to help you develop new skills.

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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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How to Decrease the Odds That Your Startup Fails

Both Sides of the Table

Many startup businesses — tech or otherwise — fail.

Startup 221
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The 4 Stages From A Startup To A Sustainable Business

Startup Professionals Musings

According to most definitions, an entrepreneur is one who envisions a new and different business, meaning one that is not a copy of an existing business model. Many entrepreneurs have a passion and an idea, or even invent a new product, but are never able to execute to the point of creating a startup. Even fewer are able to grow the startup into a viable business.

Startup 66

More Trending

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How to Create And Use Snapchat’s New Custom Geofilters

Tech Zulu Event

Less than a month ago, Snapchat opened custom on-demand geofilters to everyone. Industry news was excited, but for how amazing of a product they are, custom Snapchat geofilters have remained stunningly under the radar. In case you’re just getting into Snapchat, a geofilter is like a normal Snapchat filter: a design you can overlay onto a photo you take in the app.

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Student-Founded Fantasy Pollster Is Hoping To Pick The Next President

InfoChachkie

A version of this article previously appeared Forbes. Fanstasy sports sites DraftKings’ and FanDuel’s popularity has spurred a new-breed of political betting sites. Unlike sites of the past that were deemed illegal, the current crop of election sites appear to well positioned to exploit the unprecedented focus Americans are applying to the 2016 election cycle.

Startup 116
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6 Strategies For Finding Truly Disruptive Solutions

Startup Professionals Musings

Every entrepreneur with a new technology tells me that his innovation will be industry-disrupting, meaning that it will render the existing technology obsolete, and create a new market. Yet truly disruptive innovations, like the smartphone from Apple and the rise of the Internet, are very rare, and are generally unpredicted. So why would any investor ever believe any of these claims?

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Report: Snapchat Acquires Bitstrips For Around $100M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Snapchat has acquired emoji software developer Bitstrips , in a deal worth around $100M in cash and stock, according to a report this morning. Fortune citing multiple sources, says the companies refused to comment on the deal. Bitstrips makes an app called Bitmoji, which lets you create your own, personalized emojis/cartoon avatars, with customized hair, coloring, eyes, and other features, which can be shared and incorporated into different scenes, and even personalized comic s

Snapchat 143
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Social Media Brand Image Guidelines for New Businesses

Tech Zulu Event

For new businesses, social media marketing may seem a bit overwhelming. However, with a good set of rules to frame your communication, you will quickly become comfortable presenting quality content that reflects the voice of your brand and appeals to your audience. Here are four steps to help you get started building a great social media presence. Invest in a professional brand.

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Survey: SoCal Startups Optimistic Even As Venture Capital Tightens

socalTECH

A new survey, released this week by Silicon Valley Bank, finds that even as the availability of venture capital in Southern California is tightening, and lofty unicorn valuations are declining, startup entrepreneurs are still optimistic about the future of technology in the region. The Startup Outlook 2016 report--SVB's annual analysis of the startup environment--broke out regional findings for Southern California for the first time, pulling responses from the local market about what technology

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Lytx Wins Michigan Trucking Company

socalTECH

San Diego-based Lytx , which develops camera-based driver monitoring systems for the fleet transportation market, reports a win this morning with a Michigan based trucking company, Martin Transportation Systems. Lytx said Martin will use its DriveCam products for its 1,3000 drivers. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. The companies said the adoption of the Lytx DriveCam product will help Martin reduce its costs on a high deductible insurance policy, and also help identify and improve

Company 130
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Newegg Puts Muscle Behind Anti-Patent Troll Effort

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based online electronics e-commerce giant Newegg said it is donating proceeds from a sale of T-shirts, to help defend what it says is a patent troll victim. The company has been adamant in attacking "patent trolls"--patent holders who have been suing companies, usually small, over usually dubious patent claims that they own solely to sue other people.

NewEgg 122
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J2 Global Acquires Callstream

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based J2 Global has reportedly acquired Callstream , a UK-based provider of cloud-based, contact-management and call management software for the UK insurance, travel, and retail market. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. The deal was announced in the UK by YFM Equity Partners (YFM) and Octopus Investments (Octopus), which said they had sold their stakes in Callstream to J2 Global; J2 Global had not yet announced anything on the deal publicly or in any regulatory filings

Equity 122
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EDF Renewable Energy: We're Number One In Wind Energy Development

socalTECH

San Diego-based renewable energy developer EDF Renewable Energy says it is the leader in U.S., wind energy projects, with 12 percent of the market share in installed capacity in 2015. EDF Renewable Energy said it developer 1,055.4 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity in 2015, which gives it the largest share of the market. EDF Renewable Energy is a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, and is led by CEo Tristan Grimbert; the company has around 800 employees.

Develop 116
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Boingo Wireless Targeted By Activist Investor

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless reported on Thursday afternoon that an investment group, Ides Capital Management LP , has nominated two candidates for election to the company's board of directors. Boingo Wireless said that Ides Capital owns 104,927 shares, or approximately 0.3% of the outstanding shares of the company. Boingo said that it was "disappointed" that Ides Capital decided to publicly announce that nomination of directors.

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Ambry Genetics Founder Shifts Out Of CEO Role

socalTECH

Aliso Viejo-based genetic diagnostics software developer Ambry Genetics sai Thursady afternoon that its founder and current CEO, Charles Dunlop, will shift to become Chairman and President. The company said that Dr. Aaron Elliott has become CEO of the company. Elliot had been serving as Chief Operating OFfier and Chief Scientific Officer at the company.

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Hulu Debuts Virtual Reality App For Samsung Gear

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based streaming television and movie site Hulu said Thursday that it has rolled out a new virtual reality application for Samsung Gear , which gives user access both to its 2D streaming library as well as new, 360 degree video content. Hulu said its entire 2D library is available through the app, as well as 25, virtual reality films. The new VR films come from Baobab Studios, Discovery Communications, Las Vegas, The National Geographic Channel, RYOT, Showtime Networks, SilVR Thread,

Hulu 109
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HG Data Takes $12M More For Market Analytics

socalTECH

Santa Barbara-based HG Data has raised $12M in a Series B funding, the company announced today, for it market analytics and intelligence information. The startup said the funding was led by Updata Partners, and also included Rincon Venture Partners and Epic Ventures. HG Data is led by Craig Harris. The company's service revolves around tracking the installed base of a wide range of products, ranging from cloud services, enterprise applications, and customer relationship management tools, to hard

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Visionary VR Gets $6M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Visionary VR has raised $6M in a Series A round, the company said on Wednseday, led by DFJ. The round also included The Venture Reality Fund, BDMI, GC VR Gaming Tracker Fund (Greycroft Partners), Vayner/RSE, and End Cue, along with angels Walter Kortschak, Douglas Purdy, Lee Rierson, Carl Rosendale, Ethan Beard, Jeff Marx, and Anamitra Banerj.

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Blossom Launches New Smart Watering Controller

socalTECH

Irvine-based Internet-of-Things device developer Blossom , the smart sprinkler developer led by Manrique Brenes, has rolled out a brand new, smart watering controller this week called the Blossom 8. The startup said its new, smart watering controller supports eight watering zones, is connected by WiFi, and also can handle tough outdoor weather conditions, among other enhancements to the product.

Help 109
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Forbes Midas List Skips SoCal, Again

socalTECH

In what has been a familiar refrain, the annual Midas List ranking by Forbes Magazine of the most influential venture capitalists has completely skipped Southern California's venture capital community, although it did credit the position of at least four of the VCs on the list to their investments in Southern California startups, and highlighted Ashton Kutcher and Guy O'Seary for their investment efforts.

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Esri Powers New Forest Data Maps From USDA

socalTECH

Redlands-based geographical information systems (GIS) software developer Esri is continuing to help government agencies make more of their data available to the public, in a new deal with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. The Forest Service rolled out a new set of maps--the Forest Atlas of the United States , which lets the public browse a wide range of data, ranging from lumber areas to wildfire burn patterns across the U.S.

Education 109
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MaxLinear Deploys In China

socalTECH

Carlsbad-based radio frequency and mixed signal integrated circuit provider MaxLinear has scored a big deployment in China, the company said late Wednesday evening. MaxLinear said that its technology is being deployed in the Chinese cities of Yueqing and Yuxi, as part of a broadband customer premise equipment (CPE) install. Financial impact of the win was not announced.

Customer 109
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Uber Driver Killed In Inglewood

socalTECH

A driver for Uber was shot and killed this weekend, according to the Inglewoood Police Department, while on a trip with a passenger. Andre Jamal Bayyan was killed around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday morning, only a few blocks away from Hollywood Park Casino, and near Morningside High School. The neighborhood has seen gang shootings in the past, including one which killed an assistant football coach at the high school in 2014.

Inglewood 109
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ImpediMed Raises $56.8M In Private Placement

socalTECH

ImpediMed , a developer of medical devices used to measure, monitor, and manage fluid status in patients, said Tuesday that it has raised $56.8M in a private placement. The company--which is based in Australia, but has its U.S. headquarters in Carlsbad--said it raised A$75.1M in its private placement with institutional investors. The funding was managed by Canaccord Genuity (Australia) Limited.

Funding 109
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RealD Acquired By Rivzi Traverse For $551M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based RealD has been acquired by private equity investor Rivzi Traverse Management , along with founder Michael V. Lewis, in a deal worth $551M, the companies said late Tuesday. Rivzi Traverse is paying $11.00 per share in cash for each share of RealD, taking the company private. RealD had been listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal had originally been announced in November.

Equity 109
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Digsy Expands To Silicon Valley, Backed By Angel Funding

socalTECH

Irvine-based Digsy , an online search service for finding commercial office, warehouse or retail space, said today that it has launched into Silicon Valley and San Francisco. The startup also revealed a funding by investors Gil Amelio (former CEO of Apple), Gordon Stephenson (board member with Zillow) and Sean Ellis (GrowthHackers.com and DropBox), K5 Ventures, Tech Coast Angels, early LoopNet executives and other angels.

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Wavemaker Partners Backs Front Desk With $1M Investment

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based venture investor Wavemaker Partners has made a $1M investment in Front Desk , a developer of mobile scheduling and payment services for businesses, the company disclosed Tuesday. The funding is an extension of a recently announced Series A funding for Front Desk, which is based in Seattle. Front Desk had earlier raised $3.5M from Floodgate, Second Avenue Partners, Version One Ventures, and Zillow founder Rich Barton.

Invest 109
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HomeUnion Finds $16M For Rental Investments

socalTECH

Irvine-based HomeUnion , a crowdfunding site focused on rental real estate investments, has raised $16M in a Series B funding, the company said Tuesday. The funding came from Colchis Capital, Northgate Capital, and Tamarisc along with Artiman. HomeUnion said it has now raised a total of $23M in funding. HomeUnion lets investors invest in pre-vetted rental properties via its website, which it fully manages through its own rental management arm.

Invest 109
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TaskUs Gets $14M In Debt Funding

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based TaskUs said today that it has raised $14M more, via a senior debt facility, to help it continue to grow the company. The company--which just passed up a total of 5,000 employees--said the debt facility came from Bridge Bank. TaskUs uses a workforce in the Philippines to help support outsourcing of back office tasks for many, venture-backed, high growth companies--including Tinder, Whipser, Gilt Groupe, and many others.

Outsource 109
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Ixia Rolls Product For Network SLA Monitoring

socalTECH

Calabasas-based Ixia has rolled out another product in the area of network traffic monitoring today, a new product called Hawkeye, which it says is used to automate service level agreement (SLA) and user experience monitoring. Ixia said its new product continually evaluates network performance and service status, to help identify issues and track resolutions.

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Tinder Bolsters Executive Ranks

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based mobile dating app developer Tinder announced a major addition of executives to the company, saying it has named Ferrell McDonald as Chief Marketing Officer, Maria Zhang as VP of Engineering, Derek Callow as VP International, and James Kim as VP of Finance. McDonald was formerly SVP/Head of Original Marketing at Starz Entertainment; Zhang was VP of Engineering at Yahoo!

Yahoo 109
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Yardi Adds Customer In The UK

socalTECH

Santa Barbara-based software developer Yardi , which develops real estate property management software, says it has signed up a customer in Leeds, UK. Yardi said that Moorgarth Property Management Limited will managei ts office, industrial, and retail portfolio with Yardi's Genesis2 software. Financial impact of the win was not announced. READ MORE>>.

Customer 109
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FAA: Drone Nearly Collides With Airliner At LAX

socalTECH

The FAA and said Friday that a drone nearly collided with a commercial jetliner on Friday afternoon, while it was approaching Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). According to officials, the drone came within 200 feet of the airliner, when it was at around 5,000 feet. The LAPD was unable to find the drone or its owner. Legally, drones cannot fly above 500 feet above ground level, and drones are not allowed within 5 miles of the airport.