Both Sides of the Table
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Last week a company we enthusiastically backed, uBeam , led by a very special entrepreneur, 25-year-old Meredith Perry , announced a $10 million round of financing. The press around the raise & company was fantastic and the promise of their technology – wireless charging that works as easily as WiFi – would positively affect many of our lives.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'This is our second year of creating our list of the top 50 people to watch in Southern California''s technology industry, and it was NOT an easy task. As we found last year, it''s a tough, unforgiving task to narrow down a list of the folks in Southern California''s technology industry to just fifty to watch. There were many, many people who are not on the list who indeed deserve to be on this list -- in fact, we had so many names from readers and our nominating committee, we were forced into t
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InfoChachkie
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
'A version of this article previously appeared on Forbes. It is no secret that Pinterest and other social commerce sites have begun to dial in the commerce equation. These sites (so far) have managed to balance facilitating product discovery and purchase capabilities with users'' desires to entertain and educate themselves without feeling like they are in a marketplace.
Berkonomics
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'While we are revisiting the issues raised by my (newly revised) book, Extending the Runway , we should examine the challenges to a CEO in making use of enterprise time, one of its most valuable and often misused assets. Enterprise time, as opposed to personal time management, is defined as the sum total of resources available to a company expressed in terms of time – time to develop, to debug, to produce, to deploy, to respond to issues, and to make changes in plans that are not working.
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Both Sides of the Table
NOVEMBER 2, 2014
'This weekend I was reading the NY Times online and I came across this excellent piece about ADHD written by Richard Friedman, a professor of clinical psychiatry. In the article the author talks about the condition of the brain – which affects up to 11% of American children in which people with ADHD (or ADD, which doesn’t have hyperactivity) – in which people with ADD have a low tolerance for routine tasks and thus they seek out “novelty” The author believes this ma
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'David Carter and Allen Hurff are two startup veterans, who believe they have a new formula to help create early stage, technology companies, through their new "startup studio", Zuma Ventures (www.zumavc.com). Carter was a co-founder/partner at Amplify.LA, and also was founder of Vertical Technologies, Thoughtstar, and S5 Wireless'' Hurff was formerly the EVP of Engineering at MySpace, and also was an EIR at Science Inc.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Santa Barbara-based ShipHawk , which offers up an online service and marketplace to help businesses and individuals to arrange for packing and shipping of items via shipping carriers, has rolled out a new API to let users tap into real time status of their shipments. The startup, led by Jeremy Bodenhamer, said the API offers up pickup notifications, weather updates, and other shipping data.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Los Angeles-based FloQast has raised $1.3M in a funding round, according to the company. Source of the funding was not disclosed. According to FloQast, it is developing closing software aimed at helping accountants close their books faster, and which integrates with Intacct and NetSuite. The company was founded by Michael Whitmire, Cullen Zandstra and Chris Sluty.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'Jason Thanh La , the co-founder and CEO of payment processing company Merchant Services Group , said this week that he has committed to personally fund $1M to early stage companies in Southern California. La said he is specifically seeking early stage companies who are developing better payment processing technology. La said he is looking at payment processing, data analytics, and mobile payments companies.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Irvine-based home automation systems provider Insteon reported this morning that it is rolling out its products at Walmart. The company said its connected home products will be available at more than 1,500 Walmart stores nationwide just ahead of the holidays. The home automation products include motion sensors, a leak sensor, dimmer switch, door and window sensor, and much more.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Fisker Automotive , one of Southern California''s biggest technology startup flameouts in the past decade, appears to getting set to be relaunched as a brand by Chinese automotive maker Wanxiang. Wanxiang has launched a new website featuring the Fisker auto brand, and Lake Forest-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies said earlier this week that it has entered into an agreement with Fisker Automotive and Technologies Group LLC--the new owner of Fisker--to provide its plug-in hybrid control sof
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
'Los Angeles-based digital advertising technology developer Social Reality said this morning that it has raised $25M, and acquired display and mobile ad company Steel Media. Social Reality--which is traded OTCBB--said the $25M came in the form of a $20M credit facility from victory Park Capital, and $5M in equity from Siskey Capital LLC. Terms of the Steel Media acquisition were not disclosed, however, the company said Steel Media expected $10M in 2014 revenues.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Viddy , once the hottest company in Los Angeles, and which had been for awhile calling itself the "next Instagram"--is shutting down its namesake app, as of December 15th. According to a Viddy blog post, Viddy pulled its app from the App Store and Google Play yesterday, and is giving users until December 15th to export any of their videos from the service.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Marina Del Rey-based textPlus , the message app developer led by Scott Lahman, has unveiled a new app called Nextplus , aimed at ramping up adoption of the company''s messaging tools. textPlus disclosed that the new app will offer up cloud phone features, a virtual phone number, text messaging features, GIF sharing, stickers, and more, as well as voice service, and better scalability than the existing textPlus application.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'Pasadena-baesd Central Desktop , the developer of cloud-based collaboration and project management software, has become part of Atlanta-based PGi (Premier Global Services), a provider of collaboration software and services. The transaction occurred in October. Central Desktop was led by Isaac Garcia. PGi said that Central Desktop has a current projected annual revenue run rate of approximately $9M.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Still undecided on who you are going to vote for in today''s elections? Los Angeles-based iSideWith -- founded by Taylor Peck and Nick Boutelier--said today that so far 13 millino voters have used the site to try to narrow down the list of mid term candidates they might vote for in the election. The company--which offers up an interactive election tool to help voters figure out which candidates agree with their personal positions on key issues--is looking to help educate voters based on positio
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Santa Barbara-based LogicMonitor , which develops IT infrastructure monitoring software, said today that it has connected its tools to Amazon Web Services. The company said its platform now has the ability to monitor Amazon Web Services instances and services. The company said the new monitoring capabilities include monitoring of SQS, DynamoDB, S3, and monitoring Amazon billing data.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'The CEO of Los Angeles-based mobile dating phenomenon Tinder , Sean Rad , has been forced out as CEO of Tinder by majority owner IAC, according to a lengthy report by Forbes. Apparently, the move by IAC was made last month, but only came to light last night. The report says that Rad will remain CEO until a replacement is found, and extensively details the decisions behind the move.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Irvine-based security software firm CrowdStrike has named a new marketing chief Wednesday, saying that it has appointed Johanna Flower as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Flower had previously been at Websense for more than 14 years, serving in a number of roles, including Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President of SMB sales and Vice President of International Marketing and Channel Programs.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Los Angeles-based FilmTrack , a developer of contracts and rights management software for the media and entertainment industry, has raised $10M in a Series B funding, and also acquired Dashbox, a developer of cloud-based music asset and metadata management software. The funding came from Insight Venture Partners and Dave Goldberg, the founder of Dashbox.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Youtube network StyleHaul has been acuqired by European entertainment network RTL Group , in a deal that values the company at over $205M if earn out goals are met. RTL said it would acquire a controlling stake in StyleHaul for $107M plus up to $54M of earnout. The company said the initial acquisition values StyleHaul at $151.4M, not including that potential earnout.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Unitas Global announced this morning that it has appointed Rachel Williams as the company''s Chief Financial Officer. The company said Williams was most recently serving as an outsourced CFO to several technology startups, and also had been CFO for a Native American Tribe in the gaming area. Williams also had founded software-as-a-service company Wigot.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'Pasadena-based Guidance Software , which develops computers forensics analysis software, said late Thursday that CEO Victor Limongelli, its president and CEO, has departed the company, and also resigned as a member of the company''s board. Guidance Software said that Barry Plaga, the company''s CFO, has been appointed interim CEO of the company. The reason for the move was not given.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'Los Angeles-based Wi-Fi and small cell provider Boingo Wireless said today that it has completed the single, largest deployment in the company''s history with the U.S. military, and is now providing high speed Internet services covering more than 100,000 beds across 21 United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force and United States Army bases worldwide.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 7, 2014
'Santa Barbara-based energy storage developer Ice Energy said late Thursday that it has been awarded sixteen contracts from Southern California Edison, providing 25.6 megawatts of energy storage. Size of those contracts were not announced by the company. Ice Energy said its systems are being used to reduce power consumption during peak periods. Ice Energy''s equipment works in conjunction with air conditioning units, attaching to standard 5 to 20 ton commercial AC unit, freezing ice at night whe
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'In a major Los Angeles area layoff, daily deals and offers service LivingSocial is closing a sales facility in Torrance, and cutting 400 employees throughout the company, as part of a restructuring. LivingSocial did not say how many employees cut were specifically in Torrance, but said the move cuts the company''s total workforce by approximately 20 percent.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Los Angeles-based entertainment company 3BLACKDOT , which was co-founded by former Machinima executives Angelo Pullen and Luke Stepleton, along with Adam Montoya and Tom Cassell, said today that it has launched a new, Multi-channel Network MCN) on YouTube called JETPAK. The company said the new MCN will develop "influencer driven" entertainment properties, using month-to-month subscription channels from such influencers as Adam Montoya (SeaNanners), Tom Cassell (TheSyndicateProject) and Scott R
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
'Santa Barbara-based Curvature --better known under its prior name, Network Hardware Resale--said this morning that it has acquired CSU Industries , a provider of third party maintenance and support services. Financial details of the buy were not disclosed. Curvature said the buy will help it offer more IT services, support, and equipment procurement options to its customers.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Irvine-based dental laser manufacturer Biolase reported Tuesday that it has raised $35M in a private placement. The publicly held company said the investment came from Jack W. Schuler, Oracle Partners, L.P. and other Oracle funds, three funds managed by Camber Capital Management, LLC, Eagle Growth Partners I and II, Birchview Capital L.P., Trellus Partners, as well as its directors, officers, and employees.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Los Angeles-based megapixel camera developer Arecont Vision reported that its cameras are being used on the SpaceX Dragon. The company said its high performance, megapixel cameras are being used to provide high quality images of the cargo for the International Space Station, as part of the deliveries of those items to the ISS. Arecont Vision said its cameras are being used in the non-pressurized cargo area of the SpaceX Dragon.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'Carslbad-based a href="[link] , the developer of radio frequency and mixed signal integrated ircuits, reported late Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of Physpeed Co., Ltd. , which develops high speed physical layer interconnects. MaxLinear said it will pay approximately $11.0M in cash for Physpeed, plus up to $750,000 in earnout. MaxLinear also said it will offer up to $3.25M in cash or shares in retention and performance-based agreements with Physpeed''s employees, based on 2015 an
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 5, 2014
'The launch of its latest videogame franchise, Destiny , drove better than expected quarterly results over at Activision , pushing the company''s GAAP revenues to $753M in its third quarter, the company announced late Tuesday. Those revenues were well above its prior estimates of $650M for the quarter. In a statement, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said those better-than-expected results came from its launch of Destiny, plus strong sales of its existing titles, including Diablo III: Reaper
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'Los Angeles-based audio processing technology developer Audyssey and Intel Capital said Tuesday morning that Intel Capital has made an investment in Audyssey. Financial details of the funding were not disclosed. The announcement came in conjunction with the announcement of investments in sixteen companies by Intel Capital, the venture arm of Intel.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
'San Diego-based enterprise tag management software developer Tealium and web and mobile app optimization company Optimizely announced today that they are in an integration deal, where they will link data from the two different products together for joint customers. Tealium develops software used to manage "tags", those snippets of code used for tracking marketing and data on websites.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
'Beats Music , the Los Angeles streaming music service which is now part of Apple, is rolling out an in-flight music service on Southwest Airlines , the two announced this morning. According to Southwest, Beats Music will offer up a wide range of music programming to Southwest Airlines listeners, via its inflight Wi-Fi service. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
socalTECH
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
'San Diego-based Proximal Data , a developer of storage caching software aimed at use with virtualized systems, has been acquired by Samsung Electronics , Samsung said today. Financial terms of the buy were not announced. Proximal Data was venture backed by Divergent Ventures and Avalon Ventures, and had only announced around $5M in funding. Proximal Dat was led by Rory Bolt, a storage veteran who previously founded Avamar Technologies, which was acquired by EMC.
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