Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 11, 2011

I recently had the pleasure of spending an hour with Jon Steinberg, president of Buzzfeed , a company who focuses on helping media companies make their content go viral. His words, “we find things on Sunday morning that will be on the Today show on Tuesday morning.&# That’s why people turn up to Buzzfeed. We talked about a lot of great stuff in the video including how to do sales calls and a how a new “culture of writing&# is emerging as a critical skill set in business today.

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Buzzfeed Content Tips Blogging 354

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APRIL 14, 2011

Howard Lindzon is CEO and Co-founder of StockTwits (www.stocktwits.com), the financial micro-messaging service. He was also the founder of Wallstrip, which he sold to CBS back in 2007, is an investor in a significant number of web and social media companies. Through Howards investment in betaworks, he also owns early shares in Twitter. Howard is based in San Diego, and spoke to us about StockTwits.

Ideas 248

Ideas Web Startup Content 248

InfoChachkie

APRIL 11, 2011

As a young boy, Bruce Wayne watched his parents die in an alley after they were shot by a mugger. This event was pivotal in his life and became the basis of his future career as Batman, Gotham City’s crime.

Tool 239

Tool Entrepreneur 239

Berkonomics

APRIL 11, 2011

In the past insight, we created an example to demonstrate that it truly takes money to make money; that growth calls for increases in working capital. The example we crafted proved that companies can easily find themselves strapped for cash during periods of rapid growth as well as in downturns. There are many techniques and time horizons for forecasting cash.

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Examples Tool Customer Custom 153

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

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 13, 2011

Brad Feld is a fountain of knowledge & wisdom. I had the chance to sit down with him for an hour and ask him loads of questions that I thought you’d enjoy hearing. If you have time check out the video (or download on iTunes – Episode 27 - and listen at the gym or on your commute!). Or, as always, summary notes available below. Huge thank you to Steve De Long for the write up.

Venture Capital 288

Venture Capital Startup Technical Review Software Review 288

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APRIL 15, 2011

Sherman Oaks-based SaveFans , an online, third party marketplace for sports, concert, theatre, and other tickets, has recently scored a round of investment. The firm's first outside round came from angel investor Jamie Kennedy. SaveFans is headed by Wes Brodsky. Amount of the angel funding was not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

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Sherman Oaks Invest Angel Funding 242

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 12, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011 -- Media Leaders Santa Monica Bootcamp. An interactive presentation by Josh Ochs that will show you how to utilize Twitter and Facebook for your business.

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Santa Monica Media 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 13, 2011

Friends tell you what you want to hear. Mentors tell you what you need to hear. When the message is the same from both, you don’t need the mentor anymore. In that sense, you should think of a mentor more like your advisor who has done all he can. You always need the friend. Also don’t confuse a business mentor with a business coach. A mentor’s aim is to teach you what to do and how, in specific situations, unlike a coach who helps you develop your generic skills for deciding what to do and how.

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Mentor Coach Ideas Entrepreneur 98

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

NASA , which is in the process of retiring the Space Shuttle, announced the final destination of the space shuttle fleet Tuesday, saying that the Space Shuttle Endeavor will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Endeavor, which is set to have its final flight at the end of the month, is one of four Space Shuttles which are going to museums after the shutdown of the Space Shuttle program.

Palmdale 240

Palmdale Los Angeles Angel 240

Tech Zulu Event

APRIL 13, 2011

This weeks installment of the TZ Startup Hot Seat features Adam Kanner, CEO of ScoreBig. Think of it as the Priceline for the sporting, music, arts, and theater event ticketing space. Shoppers name their price, wait a few moments, then see if their price was accepted. One of the great things of ScoreBig is that the price you pitch is the price you pay.

Startup 92

Startup Pricing Entrepreneur Mobile 92

SoCal Tech Calendar

APRIL 13, 2011

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 -- Five Hidden Mistakes CEOS Make: How to Thrive in the New Economy. AccessEN. Speaker: Tom Northup, President/ CEO, Leadership Management Group. All successful leaders want to achieve success. They want to grow profits and revenues, beat the competition, and be proactive rather than reactive in their marketplace. To realize their future vision, successful leaders know they must do more than maintain the status quo, they must strategically transform how they and their com

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Competition Company Companies 113

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 15, 2011

Many entrepreneurs work hard on the proof of concept (technical), but skip any proof of the business model (revenue flow). In other words, once they are convinced that the product works, they assume their price, sales channel, and marketing will bring in the customers. These days, the technical side may be the easy part. Proving the business model requires a different approach than proving the technical concept.

Startup 93

Startup Pricing Custom Customer 93

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

Santa Monica-based BetterWorks , the employee benefit and perks startup headed by angel investor Paige Craig, said Tuesday that it has added a slew of new vendors to its service. BetterWorks, which provides pre-negotiated local deals, discounts, and savings on gyms, restaurants, and services to employees of companies, said it added six health and wellness vendors, and half a dozen food and restaurants to its list of vendors.

Santa Monica 235

Santa Monica Hulu Los Angeles Services 235

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2011

Philanthropist and entrepreneur Sidney Harmon , founder of Harmon Kardon and husband of former Rep. Jane Harman, dies Wednesday, according to a statement from the family. Harmon founded Southern California's Harman International , which now owns Harmon/Kardon, Infinity, JBL, and other audio equipment brands. Sidney Harmon also recently acquired news magazine Newsweek.

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Southern California News Los Angeles Entrepreneur 214

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2011

Hawthorne-based SpaceX , the commercial rocket firm of technology mogul Elon Musk, is reportedly looking to add itself to the list of Southern California technology firms aiming at at IPO. According to Musk at a conference Tuesday, the firm is considering an IPO filing sometime next year. SpaceX recently announced plans to develop the largest rocket since the Saturn V, the Falcon Heavy.

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SpaceX Southern California Hawthorne Conference 209

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2011

Pasadena-based UberMedia , the Twitter client applications firm backed by Idealab, said this week that it has rolled out a new, branded "theme" for the firm's UberSocial for BlackBerry application, crafted by music artist 50 Cent. According to hip hop record label G-Unit Records and UberMedia, the Uber50 theme includes both a free version and deluxe version, which costs $1.99, which includes background art and sounds selected by 50 Cent.

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Idealab Pasadena News Content 205

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

Derek Norton is head of Los Angeles-based Watertower Group (www.watertowergroup.com), a firm which helps companies raise funding, one of the rare companies which has a track record and good reputation helping companies with fundraising, and also runs its own investment fund. Watertower has been involved in a number of high visibility exits and fundings in recent months, including Riot Games (rumored to be $400M+), Machinima, and ExtendMedia.

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Riot Games Technology Los Angeles Entrepreneur 199

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2011

Los Angeles-based Mogreet , the mobile video advertising firm headed by James Citron, announced today that it has launched a new, Facebook marketing service via Facebook Connect. The firm said it has added a new feature allowing consumers to share videos from Mogreet advertisers on their Facebook news feed, via a single click. Mogreet said the new feature will allow advertisers to track the number of postings to Facebook and views of videos.

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Mogreet Advertising News Mobile 188

socalTECH

APRIL 14, 2011

The latest venture capital numbers from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data provided by Thomson Reuters, was released tonight, showing that Southern California had $493.2M in investments in Q1 of the year, across 54 deals. Investments were down from $625.4M invested in Q1 of 2010. The largest investment was $111.92M invested in Irvine-based Fisker Automotive , followed by $76.4M invested in Santa Monica-based Coda Automotive.

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Southern California Invest Orange County Tech Coast Angels 186

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

Chatsworth-based MRV Communications , the developer of optical communications and networking equipment, said today that it has name David Stehlin as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of its Optical Communications System Division. Stehlin has previously served as CEO and President of Ceterus Networks, was President of Overture Networks, and also has been at Valo, OnePath Networks, Keptel, and other firms.

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Sales Chatsworth Marketing Networking 185

socalTECH

APRIL 14, 2011

It looks like executives at Pasadena-based UberMedia , the Twitter client application provider started by Idealab's Bill Gross, may finally be fed up with the firm's constant battles with Twitter. According to reports, it is planning to launch its own, competing microblogging service. The news comes via a report last night from CNN. UberMedia--which has been in a running battle with Twitter over its various Twitter clients for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry--apparently is looking to launch

Report 180

Report Idealab Pasadena News 180

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2011

3D filmmaker James Cameron of Avatar fame announced Monday that he has launched a new, technology firm based in Burbank focused on creating 3D technology. According to Cameron, he has launched the CAMERON - PACE Group with fellow 3D technology developer Vince Pace, which will focus on new camera systems, services, and other related tools for the 3D market.

Technology 176

Technology Burbank Software Engineering Design 176

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2011

Santa Monica-based Demand Media , the online content publishing empire of Richard Rosenblatt, has handed out some big bonuses to executives, three months after the firm's successful IPO. According to a regulatory filing from the firm, uncovered by paidContent, the company said it elected to fund its bonus pool in "excess of 100% of the target level".

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Demand Media Santa Monica Content 170

socalTECH

APRIL 15, 2011

NewBlue , a developer of video editing and effects technology aimed at mobile devices and smartphones, has been accepted into San Diego's EvoNexus technology incubator, the firm said this week.NewBlue said it is working on Vibop , a cloud-based technology to help enable social networking with videos on mobile devices. NewBlue as cof-ounded by Melissa Jordan Grey and Todor Fay.

Incubator 168

Incubator San Diego Social Network Mobile 168

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2011

Los Angeles-based OnGreen , the online marketplace for clean technology deals, said Monday that it is planning to give away trips for five CEOs to a Chinese investment roadshow it is running in May. The firm said the trips are part of a plan to connect Hong Kong and Jiangsu Province investors with companies seeking investment capital. OnGreen said it is running the roadshow in conjunction with the Hong Kong Trade Development Commission.

Invest 168

Invest Los Angeles Technology Capital 168

socalTECH

APRIL 13, 2011

San Diego-based Verve Wireless , the developer of mobile publishing and advertising applications, announced today that it has hired two executives. Verve said that it has appoint Dan Hodges as Chief Revenue Officer, and Aimee Irwin as SVP Business Development and Publisher Network. Hodges was most recently Head of Global Sales at the Associated Press, and also has served at Nokia Interactive, Enpocket, and Discovery Communications.

Press 165

Press San Diego Mobile News 165

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

Burbank-based 3ality Digital , a developer of 3D production technology and services, has scored a new funding from Clearlake Capital Group. According to Clearlake, it led and sponsored a recapitalization of 3ality, acquiring the majority of newly issued preferred stock of the company. 3ality said it now owns a majority of the voting shares of the company.

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Funding Burbank Capital Product 164

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2011

Long Beach-based Apriso said Monday that it has landed manufacturer Cummins Inc. as a customer. Financial details of the win were not announced, however, Apriso said that Cummins has standardized on the firm's FlexNet software as its enterprise manufacturing execution system. Apriso's others customers include GM, Volvo, Honeywell, and others; the firm is venture backed by Brentwood Venture Capital, CMEA, LogiSpring, SAP Ventures, and WallStreet Technology Partners.

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Brentwood Long Beach Venture Capital Custom 162

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APRIL 14, 2011

Los Angeles-based MarketShare , the provider of marketing analytics software headed by Wes Nichols and Jon Vein, announced today that it has raised $32M in a follow on investment from private equity firm Elevation Partners. According to MarketShare, the investment will go to support its organic growth, strategic acquisitions, Asia-Pacific and EMEA expansion, plus its products.

SoCalTech 159

SoCalTech Equity Los Angeles Organization 159

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

Irvine-based Specific Media , the online advertising network headed by Tim Vanderhook, said today that it has received the new IAB Quality Assurance certification. The Interactive Advertising Bureau certification covers training, audit, and compliance requirements for brand-safe advertising. Specific Media said it is one of the first companies to meet the requirements of the new certification, which gives advertisers control over the placement and context of their ads.

Media 157

Media Advertising Training Networking 157

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2011

For our Insights and Opinions section today, Ryan Born , entrepreneur and CEO of AudioMicro , talks about why he tries every day to get rejected : Being an entrepreneur isn't easy. You get rejected a lot. Whether it's trying to chase down a new customer, pitching investors, recruiting new content providers, sending cold emails / cold calls to partners, journalists, and colleagues, there are just so many times when you'll be rejected.

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Email Entrepreneur Content Custom 154

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APRIL 11, 2011

San Diego-based Nirvanix , the cloud storage firm, is targeting customers of Iron Mountain , after Iron Mountain said it will stop offerings its own cloud storage services. Nirvanix said over the weekend that it will offer free data migration services to Iron Mountain customers who want to migrate to the service, plus 30 free days of unlimited storage.

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Customer Custom San Diego Services 154

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2011

Los Angeles-based GreenScreen Animals , a firm developing a library of digital animal footage and stills for Hollywood, announced this morning that it has received a Series A funding round. Size and source of the funding was not announced. As part of the funding, the company said it has hired Laura Conrad as CEO. Conrad was previously President of PriceGrabber.com, and also had served as Chief Operating Officer of Experience Interactive Group.

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Funding Hollywood Los Angeles Angel 154

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APRIL 14, 2011

The Annoying Orange , the animated YouTube series, is the latest YouTube sensation to go mainstream in Hollywood, according to a report today. According to Deadline.com, the animated series is being financed by management/production company The Collective. READ MORE>>.

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Hollywood Report Product Company 153

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APRIL 13, 2011

Santa Monica-based EdgeCast Networks , the operator of a content delivery network (CDN), said today that it has entered into general availability of its new Application Delivery Network service. The new service is focused on serving up web applications and dynamic customers for its customers. The firm has been in beta since December on the service, which is being used by such customers as Gawker Media.

Networking 150

Networking Santa Monica Social Media Commerce 150

socalTECH

APRIL 11, 2011

San Diego-based MabVax Therapeutics , a biotechnology firm developing cancer treatments based on vaccine and antibody based therapies, said this morning that it has received $1.8M in a Phase 2, Small Business Innovation Research award. The award came from the National Cancer Institute. The SBIR grant is broken up into an initial grant worth $150,000, a second year award of $974,000, and a third year worth $878,000.

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San Diego Research Funding Develop 150