L.A. Business Journal

MAY 31, 2021

Marina Del Rey-based Whatnot Inc. raised $50 million in Series B funding to grow its staff and expand its marketplace of collectible fan memorabilia.

Marina Del Rey 246

Marina Del Rey Funding 246

Berkonomics

JUNE 3, 2021

How easily it happens…. Sometimes it is easy for someone to make a statement that, in the enthusiasm of the moment or to make a point, crosses the line between fact and fiction. Sometimes it seems to you to be just an unimportant little stretch of the facts. An estimate of the number of customers, of the amount of traffic to your website, of the numbers of products sold or hours spent in development – there are thousands of areas where a number sounds better when it is larger.

Customer 156

Customer Custom Examples Email 156

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 29, 2021

An underutilized, but valuable resource, every startup should investigate is a formal or informal connection to your alma mater, including any local university. These resources are definitely not limited to students, since every university seeks out and needs the real world exposure and experience of entrepreneurs who already are active in the real world marketplace.

Incubator 172

Incubator Mentor Class Resource 172

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

Santa Monica-based Red 6, which is developing augmented reality (AR) technology used to provide air combat training, said today that it has raised $30M in its Series A funding round. The company said the funding gives it a $130M post-cap valuation. The funding was led by Snowpoint Ventures, an existing investor in Red 6. According to Red 6, Snowpoint contributed $25M of the round, with an additional $5M from other investors.

Funding 124

Funding Santa Monica Training Technology 124

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

JUNE 1, 2021

Aerospace company Red 6 raises $30 million in a Series A round to fund its augmented reality military training technology.

Training 264

Training Funding Technology Company 264

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 3, 2021

Digital Colony Management has completed its acquisition of wireless internet provider Boingo Wireless Inc.

Acquisition 246

Acquisition 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 4, 2021

Probably every one of you who has a business and a website have been approached through email or personal contact, and asked to spend money on paid search results (appear on the first page of search results, despite low SEO rank). What most people don’t realize is, according to recent statistics , despite top positioning, only a quarter of sites selected comes from paid search.

PPC 154

PPC SEO Paid Search Search Engine Optimization 154

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 31, 2021

Amid a global pandemic, Activision Blizzard shifted to a remote work model to facilitate the release of new games and the operation of two esports leagues.

Activision 130

Activision 130

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 30, 2021

Even though the world is getting smaller, due to easy global connectivity, people still feel alone if not well-connected locally. There is also more going on in every location, so this personal need and super sensitivity to the local community has spawned a new breed of Internet startups, called “hyperlocal.” The term first appeared at least ten years ago, but the model is now very common.

Startup 144

Startup Sites Content Sales 144

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 2, 2021

In case you hadn’t noticed, the key elements of a competitive advantage for your business have changed as businesses move online, and your domain is instantly global. The old approaches of controlling distribution channels, saturating retail, and methodically scaling your brand awareness don’t protect you anymore. The real challenge is to win massive consumer preference repeatedly.

Competition 142

Competition Software Review Social Media Customer 142

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 31, 2021

As an advisor to new businesses, I’m a strong believer that no one succeeds alone in business. Yet I find that many entrepreneurs struggle and fail with that transition from personally developing an innovative new idea, to building all the relationships necessary to transform their idea into a successful business. These relationships include investors, an operational team , and customers.

Develop 136

Develop Development Ideas Customer 136

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2021

Los Angeles-based Linksys said on Friday that it has named a new CEO. According to the company, Harry Dewhirst, who had been Vice President at the company overseeing product and business development, will step into the role. Dewhirst was previously co-founder of advertising technology company Amobee, and also served as President of Blis, and once was a venture investor, running Ballpark Ventures.

Belkin 113

Belkin Advertising Los Angeles Networking 113

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2021

Los Angeles-based omnichannel logistics provider Whiplash, which provides fulfillment, warehouse, and other services to the e-commerce and other industries, says it is expanding with a second fulfillment center, in Columbus, Ohio. The company said the new, 261,400 square foot facility was opened due to a surge in consumers pivoting towards home delivery offerings.

Commerce 113

Commerce Demand Los Angeles Services 113

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2021

Los Angeles-based social media app developer Triller says it has inked a deal with a new sports league, BIG3, the creator of the FIREBALL3 sport. According to Triller, it will join CBS Sports and an official media partner for BIG3's fourth season, and will air games on its streaming platform. The company said the deal covers airing 30 hours of exclusive live games.

Social Media 113

Social Media Media Los Angeles Platform 113

socalTECH

JUNE 4, 2021

Los Angeles-based ImaginAb, a biotechnology company which is developing radiopharmaceutical imaging and therapy agents, has raised $12.8M in a funding round, the company said on Thursday. According to the company, the funding was led by Adage Capital and Cycad Group and also included new investors Norgine Ventures and Theravance Respiratory Company, along with current investor Jim Pallotta of the Raptor Group.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Capital Funding Angel 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

El Segundo-based human capital and policy management software developer NEOGOV, which is led by Shane Evangelist, has scored a round of funding from private equity giants The Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus. The size of the investment--described as "significant"--was not announced. Warburg Pincus had an existing stake in NEOGOV. NEOGOV develops employee management software for state and local government, education, public safety, and other public sector customers, made available through softwar

El Segundo 113

El Segundo Funding Equity Education 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Santa Monica, California-based Ring, which is part of Amazon, is significantly tightening how it shares videos from its users with law enforcement, in a move which should please privacy advocates. According to Ring, it will change it will now require a valid case number and department contact information on requests, with specific law enforcement requests coming through Ring's Neighbors app, meaning that Ring users in the US will not receive direct emails from police and fire departments.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Email 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Irvine-based document automation systems provider Kofax said this week that it has acquired PSIGEN Software, a developer of document capture, content management and workflow automation software. Financial details of the transaction were not announced. According to Kofax, the deal will add to its existing document capture software and solutions. PSIGEN's flagship software is PSIcapture, used for document capture in such areas as quote-to-cash, accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Software 113

Software Content Develop Development 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Costa Mesa-based wireless networking hardware provider EnGenius says it has launched a new feature for its products, which allows small- and medium-sized businesses to extend their existing Wi-Fi to its customers, via a link with Facebook or Instagram. According to EnGenius, the link allows businesses to integrate their Facebook page and Instagram profile when customers connect to a businesses's Wi-Fi network.

Networking 113

Networking Customer Custom Product 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Los Angeles-based DRINKS, a startup which is developing software which helps companies sell alcoholic beverages online via e-commerce, has named two executives, according to the company. According to the company, it has named Amber Roberts as Vice President of Enterprise, and Blake Hunter as Senior Director of Data Science. Roberts was most recently Head of Marketplace at Kroger, where the company said she spearheaded the establishment of its digital marketplace model.

Activision 113

Activision Commerce Los Angeles Platform 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Los Angeles-based Wi-Fi network and distributed antenna systems provider Boingo Wireless is now officially owned by private equity investor Digital Colony, the two said on Wednesday. The deal valued Boingo at approximately $854M. Digital Colony paid $14.00 in cash per share of Boingo common stock. The deal takes Boingo off the public markets, where it had been trading as WIFI on the NASDAQ.

.Net 113

.Net Equity Los Angeles Networking 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Venice Beach-based Specular Theory, a developer of virtual reality training software for the U.S. Air Force, says it has received $4.5M in a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III contract. According to the company, the funding will go towards expanding its immersive training products supporting U.S. Air Force B-52, C-17 and KC-135 aircrew training over the next three years.

Training 113

Training Outsource Development Venice Research 113

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2021

Long Beach-based Rocket Lab has been approved to resume launching its rockets into space, after a brief pause following a failed launch three weeks ago. Accordign to Rocket Lab, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given it permission to resume launches. Rocket Lab says it is continuing a "rigorous internal review" into what it calls "the anomaly" which caused the loss of the rocket and payload on May 15th.

Long Beach 113

Long Beach 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

Playa Vista-based iLife, a startup which is developing tools to help life insurance agents set up their own, branded "digital insurance agency", has raised $4M in a seed funding round, according to the company. iLife said the funding was led by Foundation Capital, and also include AME Cloud Ventures and Cherubic Ventures. iLife was founded and is led by CEO Nelson Lee.

Sales 113

Sales Seed Funding Startup Tool 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

Santa Barbara-based software developer FastSpring--best known for its e-commerce software tools--says it is expanding its offerings, and will offer up support to B2B, software-as-a-service and downloadable software companies with sales team. The company said the new expansion includes digital invoicing products, and other enhancements that allow companies consolidate their payments, subscription management, recurring billing, localized pricing, and account and order management into one place.

Platform 113

Platform Santa Barbara Commerce Pricing 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

San Diego-based oncology therapeutics developer Mirati Therapeutics said this morning that it has received $65M in an upfront payment, as part of a deal with Chinese company Zai Lab. According to the to companies,t he two have entered into a collaboration to develop and commercialize Mirati's Adagrasib in Greater China. Mirati will receive $65M upfront, with up to approximately $273M in potential milestone payments and royalties.

San Diego 113

San Diego Develop Development Company 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

Los Angeles-based Impervios Technologies, a developer of a software layer built on Bitcoin to enable "cryptographically secure, streaming, and censorship-resistant applications", said on Friday that it has raised a pre-seed financing. Size of the funding was not announced. The round was led by Trammell Venture partners, and also included Strategic Cyber Ventures, Ten-31, Deflation.vc, and Mike Doniger, Former Director of Research at Citadel Fundamental Strategies.

Funding 113

Funding News Research Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

A new effort by Amazon to extend the reach of the cameras, lights, motion sensors, and other devices created by Santa Monica-based Ring will share a portion of your Internet with neighbors, according to Amazon. Amazon said its new service, Amazon Sidewalk, is a shared network to help devices like Amazon Echo devices, Ring Security Cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers work better.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Networking Help Services 113

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 3, 2021

The acquisition of wireless internet provider Boingo Wireless has been completed by Digital Colony Management.

Acquisition 130

Acquisition 130

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2021

Los Angeles-based Master Ventures said today that it has launched a new, $30M venture capital fund, called the Master Ventures Polkadot VC Fund. According to the company, the funding will support and finance Blockchain and cryptocurrency projects which are related to the Polkadot Relay Chain and Kusama. The new fund is led by founder and CEO Kyle Chasse, who is based in Los Angeles, per his LinkedIn profile.

Venture Capital 100

Venture Capital Funding Los Angeles Capital 100

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

San Diego-based digital identity verification provider Mitek said on Monday that it has acquired ID R&D, a provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-based voice and face biometrics and liveness detection technology. According to Mitek, it will use the acquisition to help battle biometric identity fraud. The deal is worth $49M in stock and cash. According to Mitek, ID R&D's technology provides protection against deepfakes and synthetic voice augmentation.

Artificial Inteligence 100

Artificial Inteligence San Diego Acquisition Technology 100

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2021

A new, Los Angeles-based dog care startup, Dogdrop, says it has started offering up one free week of doggy daycare services to new customers, as the economy begins to open up and people start going back to work. According to Dogdrop, it is looking to decrease the rate of dogs being returned to shelters by offering up reliable, affordable daycare services for dogs.

Customer 100

Customer Custom Technical Review Startup 100

socalTECH

JUNE 2, 2021

Los Angeles-based URB-E, which is developing a delivery network based on compact containers delivered via small, electric vehicles, says it has linked with PackIt Fresh, a developer of reusable, freezable totes that keep food at safe temperatures for up to 24 hours. Financial details of the relationship were not announced. According to URB-E, the partnership will provide zero-emission, low-congestion, low-cost replacement for refrigerated trucks and vans that can save companies hundreds of thous

Metrics 113

Metrics Los Angeles Networking Angel 113

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2021

Santa Barbara-based NEXT Energy Technologies, a developer of a transparent, photovoltaic coating which turns commercial windows into energy producing solar panels, has raised $13.4M in a Series C funding. The funding was led by Alon Blue Square Israel, Ltd. and also included GEAR Innovation Network, and Viracon, an architectural glass fabricator, as well as family office Rincon Advisors.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara Technology Networking Funding 113