Sat.Mar 06, 2021 - Fri.Mar 12, 2021

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Your “drop dead” question for a customer survey

Berkonomics

Here’s the question: Sean Ellis, the marketing guru behind DropBox and other successes, advises clients that “The most important question on a survey is , ‘How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?’” He goes on to quantify the response. If more than forty percent of the respondents say they would be “very disappointed,” then the product should go viral and be a great success.

Customer 218
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New Game Studio Theorycraft Announces $37.5 Million In Funding

L.A. Business Journal

Fledgling video game studio Theorycraft Games Inc. announced March 4 that it had hauled in an impressive $37.5 million to fund development of its first title.

Funding 246
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Taiwanese reassurances that water shortages won’t hit chipmaking show climate change’s direct threat to tech

TechCrunch LA

A weekend statement from the Taiwanese government over its ability to provide water to the nation’s chip manufacturers in the face of an unprecedented drought make it clear that climate change is a direct threat to the foundations of the tech industry. As reported by Bloomberg, Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen took to Facebook on Sunday to post about the nation’s capacity to provide water to its citizens and businesses in the face of the worst drought the nation has faced in 56 years

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Cheese Targets Asian Community With Digital Banking, Backed By $3.6M

socalTECH

A new, Pasadena-based fintech startup, Cheese, said on Wednesday that it has launched a digital banking platform focused on Asian communities. According to the company, it is offering up zero-fee, cashback banking services to customers, serving primarily Asian-Americans and immigrants in the United States. The company has coupled its banking services with cash back at stores, and donations to charitable organizations supporting the Asian-American community.

Idealab 164
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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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10 Mistakes To Avoid When You Want To Sell A Business

Startup Professionals Musings

There comes a time in the life of every business owner when you need to move on to something new, retire, or let your business go to someone with new energy and ideas. As a business advisor, I always have qualms about recommending this move, because the process of selling your business can generate more pain and loss than continuing to run it yourself.

Sales 164
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Startup TutorMe Rides Wave of Remote Learning

L.A. Business Journal

Well before the pandemic forced schools to adapt to virtual instruction, Myles Hunter was brainstorming ways to make tutoring more efficient.

Startup 246

More Trending

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Insights: 3 Steps to Software Market Entry Success

socalTECH

For our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Tony Cristiano of Pivotal Arc, talking about 3 Steps to Software Market Entry Success. Do you have an article that would be useful to the SoCal startup and technology community? Let us know! There is much money to be made in software and tech. AI and innovative paradigms are booming!

Software 113
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7 Startup Laws Of Finance That You Dare Not Shortcut

Startup Professionals Musings

Many startups fail before reaching that magic “cash-flow positive” position they have been striving for, despite seemingly reasonable financial projections. A closer analysis often indicates the cause to be a lack of diligence in handling common business finances. These mistakes are usually masked by excuses, like the economy turned on me, or my competitors played dirty.

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Curio Raises $1.2 Million for Digital Collectibles Platform

L.A. Business Journal

Curio’s platform allows individuals to create, own, share and trade digital collectibles from TV shows, graphic novels, movies and music.

Platform 195
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Belkin Announces Move to El Segundo

L.A. Business Journal

Computer accessories manufacturer Belkin International Inc. announced March 11 that it plans to move from its current headquarters in Playa Vista to a new office space in El Segundo.

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New Techstars LA Director Looks to Big Problems

L.A. Business Journal

Since launching its first Los Angeles-based startup accelerator in 2014, Boulder, Colo.-headquartered company Techstars Central has worked with dozens of local entrepreneurs.

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New Game Studio Theorycraft Announces $37.5 Million In Funding

L.A. Business Journal

Fledgling video game studio Theorycraft Games Inc. announced March 4 that it had hauled in an impressive $37.5 million to fund development of its first title.

Funding 130
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Maestro Raises $15 Million for Video Streaming Platform

L.A. Business Journal

Streaming video exploded in popularity during the last year, and few companies were better positioned to take advantage of that than Maestro Interactive Inc.

Platform 130
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Curio Raises $1.2 Million For Digital Collectibles Platform

L.A. Business Journal

Curio’s platform allows individuals to create, own, share and trade digital collectibles from TV shows, graphic novels, movies, and music.

Platform 130
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AeroVironment Wins $5.9M Contract For Unmanned Aircraft

socalTECH

Simi Valley-based unmanned aircraft systems developer Aerovironment reported a $5.9M contract win this week, saying it signed a deal to deliver its Puma 3 AE aircraft systems to a European allied nation. According to the company, the contact came in the form of a U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract award. The unmanned aircraft are expected to be delivered by April of 2021.

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Sidecar Health Expands To Utah

socalTECH

El Segundo-based online health insurance company Sidecar Health--which is backed by $175M in funding from from Drive Capital, BOND, Menlo Ventures, Tiger Global, Cathay Innovation, GreatPoint Ventures and Morpheus Ventures--said on Thursday that it is now available to consumers in Utah, bringing the total number of states it is operating in to 16. The company, led by CEO Patrick Quigley, allows members to pay "cash price" for health services, which is typically a steep savings compared with insu

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Procore Names Diversity VP

socalTECH

Carpinteria-based construction management giant Procore Technologies--which just launched an IPO effort--said this week that it has named Sandy Hoffman as the company's VP of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The firms said that Hoffman is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring diversity and inclusion initiatives. Hoffman has served as similar roles at ServiceNow, LinkedIn, and Cisco.

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Belkin Plans Move To El Segundo

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based consumer electronic giant Belkin announced on Thursday that it is planning to move its headquarters from Playa Vista to El Segundo, in Q4, as part of what it called a move to a "hybrid, flexible" workspace. Belkin said the new headquarters, at 555 Aviation, also will help it reach a corporate goal of becoming carbon neutral in scope 2 emissions by 2025.

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Canoo Teases Electric Pickup Truck

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Canoo, the now public developer of electric vehicles, has rolled out plans for an electric pickup truck, which it promises to deliver as early as 2023. The company said its new pickup truck--shown in a rendering--will include workbenches, tool storage, and a modular expandable bed. The company said a production version of the truck will open for preorders in Q2 of 2021.

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VOXOX Links With YouMail

socalTECH

San Diego-based cloud communications provider VOXOX said today that it is partnering with YouMail, to offer up YouMail's Robocall Mitigation Service to block robocalls and phishing messages to its users. Financial details of the partnership were not announced. VOXOX said by tapping into YouMail's services, the company can quickly prevent bad calls from reaching peers or consumers and proactively shut down fraud.

San Diego 113
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EVgo's Nissan Affiliate Program Tops 6,000 Drivers

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based electric vehicle charging network operator EVgo reports that it has reached 6,000 members in its Nissan Energy Perks by EVgo program, which offers up access to fast charging stations across the country. The program--which it runs in partnership with Nissan--offers up $250 of charging credit for new Nissan LEAF and LEAF PLUS drivers in eligible markets.

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C3 Partners With Unilever For Virtual Ice Cream Venture

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based C3 (Creating Culinary Communities), the virtual kitchen startup founded by Sam Nazarian, says it has inked a partnership with consumer goods giant Unilever, and a new "virtual store" called The Ice Cream Shop. According to C3, it is now hosting The Ice Cream Shop from 17 locations across Los Angeles, Orange County, Oakland and Chicago.

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NuOrder Gets $45M For Fashion Merchandising

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based NuOrder, which provides technology that allows fashion brands and retailers to process and manage orders, has raised $45M in a funding round, the company said this week. The funding was led by Brighton Park Capital and Imaginary Ventures. The company says it provides its service to help manage merchandise orders for such brands as Coach and retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's.

Coach 113
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Fralock Holdings Buys Oasis Materials

socalTECH

Valencia-based Fralock Holdings, which is owned by private equity investor Arsenal Capital, says it has acquired Oasis Materials, a developer of materials used in in semiconductor, medical, aerospace, defense and other applications. Financial details of the buy were not announced. Fralock said the acquisition is its third in 12 months. Fralock is a developer and manufacturer of engineered advanced materials.

Equity 113
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Flutterwave Finds $170M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based payment technology developer Flultterwave, which helps companies manage cross border payments in Africa, has raised $170M in a Series C funding round, according to the compny. The funding was led by Avenir Growth Capital and Tiger Global Management, along with other un-named investors. Flutterwave said it is now valued at more than $1 billion.

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Mentorcam Captures $1.4M

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based startup Mentorcam, which develops a video messaging platform, has raised $1.4M in a seed funding round, the company said on Tuesday. The funding was led by General Catalyst, and also included Studio VC, Kosinski Ventures, Realize Tech Fund and angels. The startup--led by CEO Rune Hauge--offers up a video messaging platform which helps consumers gain access to personal advice from experts in a variety of fields.

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GoGuardian Sets Chief Revenue Officer

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based education technology developer GoGuardian says it has named a new Chief Revenue Officer. According to the company, it has named Brandon McAllister to the post, to help shape its long-term strategy for scale, as well as to oversee day-to-day operations of its Revenue team. McAllister most recently served as VP, Enterprise Sales, North America for Everbridge, and also has served at Monster, PowerReviews, LinkedIn, and CareerBuilder.

Equity 113
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OTOY Launches GPU Rendering Software For MacOS

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based visual effects software developer OTOY says it has launched new GPU rendering software for MacOS, aimed at providing macOS users with what it says provides what it claims is the fastest spectral GPU renderer on macOS Big Sur. the company said its new software, Octane X, is available on the Mac App Store for free. The new tool integrates with such 3D content creation tools as Cinema4D, SketchUp, Maya, Houdini, Blender, Modo, Nuke, Unreal Engine and Unity.

Software 113
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Ventyx Biosciences Takes $114M

socalTECH

Encinitas-based Ventyx Biosciences, a developer of immune modulators to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders, said this morning that it has raised $114M in an equity funding round. The funding was led by venBio Partners, and also included Third Point, RTW Investments, LP, Janus Henderson Investors, Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Farallon Capital, Vivo Capital, Logos Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Cormorant Asset Management, plus New S

Equity 113
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Capsule Launches Digital Pharmacy In LA

socalTECH

Capsule--a well funded, venture funded startup with more than $270M in funding and backing from TCV, Thrive Capital, and Glade Brook Capital, as well as local investors M13 and Ashton Kutcher's Sound Ventures--has expanded into Los Angeles, part of a big expansion push by the company. According to the company, it will offer up its digital pharmacy services to 13.2 million residents across Los Angeles County and Orange County, with its pharmacy located in West Hollywood.

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Heal Shuffles CEO

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based in-home healthcare provider Heal has shuffled its CEO, saying last week that it has appointed Scott Vertrees as CEO of the company, replacing co-founder Nick Desai. Heal did provide reasons for the shuffle. Vertrees has been an advisor to Heal, and previously served as CEO of EasyPay Finance, where he still sits on the board; he also was president of healthcare technology company BidShift.

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Theorycraft Games Finds $37.5M

socalTECH

Los Angeles- and Seattle-based Theorycraft Games, founded by veterans of Riot Games, has raised $37.5M in a funding round, according to the company. The funding was led by NetEase, and also included NEA, Bitkraft Ventures, Griffin Gaming Partners, Sisu Game Ventures, as well as angels. According to the company, it is looking to make "deep, 10,000-hour games that are just better when played with friends.

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HyperX Launches Its Own Apparel Line

socalTECH

Fountain Valley-based HyperX, the gaming products maker which is currently part of Kingston Technology--but is in the process of being sold to HP--says it has launched its own apparel line. The company--which targets videogamers with its products--said its "GG Collection" is being manufactured in collaboration with Champion Athleticwear. The company said the new apparel line "is intended to provide gamers a stylish way to display their passion" and will include T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and a coo

Product 113
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Levine Leichtman's Therapeutic Research Center Acquires NetCE

socalTECH

Therapeutic Research Center, which is owned by Los Angeles-based private equity investor Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, says it has acquired NetCE, a Roseville-based provider of continuing education resources for the healthcare industry. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. NetCE (CE Resources Inc.) was founded in 1991. TRC is based in Denver, Colorado.

Research 113
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Instride Adds Meg Whitman To Advisory Board

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Instride, which operates enterprise education programs, says it has tapped Meg Whitman, most recently the CEO of ill-fated Quibi, for its advisory board. Whitman also had previously served at eBay, Hewlett-Packard, and other companies. Instride says its advisory board also includes George S. Barrett, former Chair and CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc.; Barbara J.

Education 113
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Iteris Seeks Buyer

socalTECH

Santa Ana-based Iteris, which develops traffic and mobility management products, says it is seeking "strategic alternatives", and has hired investment banker Moelis & Company to assist it in the review. The company said its board has "initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value." The company did not give any other details on the effort, but did say that Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as the Company's legal advisor.

Mobile 113