Both Sides of the Table

DECEMBER 7, 2011

A few weeks ago I was reading a blog post by MG Siegler that really struck a chord. The title was “The Jerk,” which is a reference to both the Steve Martin film but more precisely to Robert Scoble’s interpretation of Steve Jobs having just read his biography. The gist of MG’s argument is that he’d rather work with people who are openly critical of his ideas if it helps him to perform better than to have a bunch of “yes men” around who just say what a gre

Press 337

Press Venture Capital Doc Summary 337

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Article first published as Eleven Startup Tips From Mark Cuban on Technorati. Note: This is an installment in the Iconic Advice series. Other installments include: Jeff Bezos , Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. Mark Cuban is a lifelong serial entrepreneur, launching his startup career with a variety of teenage schemes, including buying and selling collectable stamps to pay for college.

Tips 274

Tips Startup Entrepreneur Ideas 274

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2011

The Digital Family group said this week that they will be honoring Eric Pulier with its Outstanding Achievement Honor at its event Thursday. The group has previously recognized Nolan Bushnell, Scott Painter, and William Quigley with the award. Pulier is the founder or co-founder of IVT, US Interactive, Desktone, and SOA Software. The Digital Family is running its fourth annual holiday party, the Digital Family Reunion , on Thursday, gathering together a collection of over 30 different local orga

Organization 244

Organization Software 244

Berkonomics

DECEMBER 3, 2011

People argue over whether an entrepreneur with a sense of fairness, a desire for collegiality, a want to share the profits can succeed in the long run within a business world full of lions and tigers that eat timid entrepreneurs for lunch. First, let’s separate the “good heart” from the issue of whether an entrepreneur is driven to succeed. A sense of values that allows for sharing and fairness is not at odds with a ‘type A’ entrepreneur driven for success.

Metrics 168

Metrics Entrepreneur Email Organization 168

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

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 4, 2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011 -- Interview Skills Workshop. The job market is tough these days. It pays to be prepared to present what you have to offer to a new or present employer with clarity and impact. But where can you learn the skills required to master an interview? Four Los Angeles organizations have joined together to bring you the Interview Skills Workshop on December 10, 2011.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Organization Marketing Angel 113

InfoChachkie

DECEMBER 8, 2011

I recently reviewed Brad Feld and Jason Mendelson’s book Venture Deals , in THIS ENTRY. I concluded that it is an effective tool for leveling the playing field between sophisticated investors and emerging entrepreneurs. I have subsequently recommended the book to number of students as well as emerging entrepreneurs, all of whom expressed positive feedback. .

Venture Capital 224

Venture Capital Writing Entrepreneur Blogging 224

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Many believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. While I agree that successful company builders usually have a natural inclination to be entrepreneurs, a good education helps polish that apple. There are people who are natural musicians, but that doesn't mean we don't try to teach them music. Of course, there's no law saying you have to go to college to start a business.

Entrepreneur 105

Entrepreneur Startup Course Education 105

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011 -- Managing Your Innovation. Metropolitan Water District. The Business Outreach Program would like invite you to participate in Managing Your Innovation's final workshop for the year. All of the workshops over the past year have been designed to develop the skills needed to connect innovation and ideas with capital and resources.

Social Media 100

Social Media Resource Design Ideas 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 7, 2011

It’s that time of year again. You know what I’m talking about – scrambling to buy gifts because you blanked on Cyber Monday, pulling late-nighters to debug your software and push a new version before everyone checks out, and refusing to count the calories you’ve consumed since turkey day. You’ve been working like a maniac, so why not take a break to reflect, relax and raise a glass with some of LA’s most successful technology entrepreneurs?

Southern California 105

Southern California Santa Monica Course Pricing 105

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based Start Engine , the business accelerator being spearheaded by Activision co-founder Howard Marks, said today that it has created a new, $15M investment fund for its portfolio of startups, and added former Governor Gray Davis as an advisor. The accelerator--just one of the many accelerators to emerge in Southern California in recent weeks--also said it has added John Maataa, the COO of the CW; Hayward D.

Funding 214

Funding Southern California Activision Class 214

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 4, 2011

Since the days of Henry Ford, mass production has been the Holy Grail of business, rather than build-to-order. Too many businesses haven’t noticed that we have come full-circle, where mass customization is required now to win. Customers have come to expect immediate and tailor-made responses to their needs, and the businesses that fail to deliver quickly fall behind.

Startup 105

Startup Cloud Computing Customer Custom 105

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 4, 2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011 -- Untold Facets of an Entrepreneur's Success: Failure, Timing, Dumb Luck and Advice (Good and Bad). Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum. Beneath the patina of their success, most ventures have a sausage-like story to tell that differs from familiar "how to build a company" lessons and catechism. Right decisions but for the wrong reason, unanticipated market events, fortuitous encounters, naivly ignoring sage advice.

Enterprise Forum 100

Enterprise Forum Entrepreneur CalTech Marketing 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 5, 2011

These past few months we have seen the rebirth of virtual worlds. With sites like TurnTable.fm , Chill , and Shaker to name a few. Although Worlize may be news to some they have been around for just over a year and they are based right here in Los Angeles. Worlize is a user-created social gaming and chat platform for Facebook and social networks including Twitter, MySpace and OpenSocial.

Blogging 84

Blogging Paramount Social Network Entertainment 84

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Santa Monica-based Nimble , the developer of customer relationship management and contacts management software headed by Goldmine Software founder Jon Ferrara, looks to be shifting its sights to paid, business accounts. In a message to users Monday morning, Ferrara said that the service--which has been free during its beta testing phase--is planning to charge $15 per user per month for business users.

Santa Monica 213

Santa Monica Social Network Competition Software 213

Jason Nazar

DECEMBER 6, 2011

These are the core questions that I ask every person that I interview. I’ve narrowed the list down to the top 7 questions I ask from a list of hundreds I have tried. Hope this helps. And as a bonus threw in a video for those folks looking for a job on the best way to get that interview.

Help 53

Help 53

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 3, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011 -- Insights on the Future of UAVs. CommNexus San Diego. Lieutenant General Terry Robling, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, USMC, will give his unique insights on the current and future demands that our military faces. His experience as a Commanding General, tactical aviator and Requirements Officer for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles allows him to provide insight on the challenges that manned and unmanned military aviation platforms face in the future.

San Diego 100

San Diego Demand Platform Technology 100

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Everyone needs a date at some point, why not get it right the first time (or three). We all have our types of attractions and it’s a difficult dating world out there. The women at Three Day Rule have set out to change that for all of us. And luckily I was able to catch up with Valerie Brennan the CEO and Co-Founder of Three Day Rule for some Q & A.

Startup 75

Startup Technical Review Blogging Demand 75

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2011

San Diego-based Qualcomm announced this morning that it has created a new, wholly owned subsidiary called Qualcomm Life , which will focus on wireless solutions for the medical devices market. The new subsidiary will also backed by a new, venture capital investment fund worth $100M, called the Qualcomm Life Fund , which will invest in medical device manufacturers.

Funding 210

Funding San Diego Venture Capital Invest 210

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based Gehry Technologies , a developer of architectural design software co-founded by architect Frank Gehry, announced Tuesday that it has raised $10M in a Series B financing round. The firm said the round was led by Autodesk, and also included Dassault Systemes and others. The firm said the funding will go towards the firm's consulting services, as well as towards technology development.

Software 209

Software Technology Design Los Angeles 209

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2011

In a major win for SpaceX , the Southern California firm developing commercial rockets for spaceflight, NASA announced Friday that it has approved the SpaceX mission to dock with the International Space Station on Friday. SpaceX--headed by technology mogul Elon Musk--will launch a demonstration flight on February 7, 2012, according to NASA, using the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX 208

SpaceX Southern California Services Technology 208

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

In the second, location-based networking app to launch in the area in as many weeks, Los Angeles-based Mingle said today that it has launched a new, iPhone app which aims to help people meet other local professionals. Mingle said its app helps users find other professionals who might be sitting at the next table or standing in the same line as you. The company--founded in August--said it has created an iPhone app which helps professionals introduction themselves to others nearby, providing infor

Networking 207

Networking Los Angeles Help Angel 207

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Los Angeles-based Stamps.com , the provider of online postage and shipping software, said Monday that it has connected its USPS shipping service with Etsy , the online marketplace for handmade items. Stamps.com said that its integration allows Etsy sellers to print shipping labels for all USPS mail classes, automatically posting order status, delivery confirmations, and other information to Etsy's seller accounts.

Class 202

Class Los Angeles Services Software 202

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2011

A new study compiled by the University of Southern California tallies up $380M raised in capital by USC spinouts in the last three years, and a 15 year total of $800M raised by 39 startups with roots at the school. The study, conducted by the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, is part of an effort by the school to identify and nurture innovations which can translate into high growth startups.

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USC Southern California Study .Net 200

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2011

San Diego-based Climber.com , which operates an online site to help job seekers network with recruiters, announced today that it has acquired Affinity Circles , an online social networking site focused on membership organizations. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Mingle LLC, the parent firm of Climber.com, said that Affinity Circles will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.

Social Network 194

Social Network San Diego Sites Networking 194

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Have you ever wondered what the name of that actor is on your favorite show? Los Angeles-based Hulu has just rolled out a unique feature to the video streaming service today, saying that it is applying facial recognition techniques which will allow its viewers to identify actors in videos, by hovering over their face. The feature--which comes out of Hulu Labs--will provide information about the actor or actress, a link to their Facebook or Twitter account, and more.

Hulu 185

Hulu Los Angeles Services Angel 185

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2011

Santa Barbara-based FindTheBest , the online product comparison site headed by former DoubleClick founder Kevin O'Connor, said Thursday that it has partnered with an online consumer electronics products review and technology news site, eCoustics. FindTheBest said that it build 24 custom comparisons of technology products for eCoustics, part of an expansion of its platform to external sites.

Technical Review 183

Technical Review Sites Santa Barbara News 183

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2011

Santa Barbara-based FindTheBest.com , the online products and information comparison site started by former DoubleClick founder Kevin O'Connor, has made a major upgrade to the site today, shifting the site into a more interactive, visual display. The site--which allows users to sort and search for information on electronics products, schools, consumer goods, vacation destinations, and much more--now features bright graphics, instead of the former, spreadsheet-like rows and tables on the site.

Santa Barbara 182

Santa Barbara Sites Resource Research 182

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2011

Santa Monica-based TrueCar , the car pricing and information site, said Monday that it has updated its ClearBook used car valuation site. ClearBook was originally launched in February. TrueCar said the updated, ClearBook 2.0 service provides expected sale price, recommended list price, and trade-in price for "tens of thousands" of makes and models of vehicles, and pulls data from current sales from across the country; prices are derived from used car values in a user's individual zip code.

Truecar 171

Truecar Sites Santa Monica Pricing 171

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

San Diego-based StockTwits , the financial micro messaging service headed by Howard Lindzon, is announcing this morning that it has rolled out a new product aimed at Fortune 500 companies. The firm said the new StockTwits Direct service will help public companies communicate their company news and information to their company's Yahoo! Finance Quote page.

Yahoo 168

Yahoo San Diego News Services 168

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2011

Los Angeles-based Hulu said this morning that it has released a new version of its Xbox LIVE app. Hulu said the app--which was "rewritten from the ground up" now supports Xbox 360's new dashboard and Kinect voice recognition features. The app works for Xbox LIVE Gold members. The Xbox 360 has been one of Hulu's platforms for Hulu Plus since the launch of the premium video streaming service.

Hulu 168

Hulu Los Angeles Platform Services 168

socalTECH

DECEMBER 7, 2011

Santa Ana-based SRS Labs , the developer of surround sound technology, reported this morning that it has extended a license agreement it has with Westinghouse Digital. The firm said the multi-year agreement will add its SRS Audio to a the Westinghouse Digital 2012 LED TV line. Financial terms of the license deal were not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

Report 160

Report Technology Develop Development 160

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

YouTube 's foray into professionally produced, video channels has launched today, with the debut of a channel from Los Angeles-based Deca , called KinCommunity. Deca launched KinCommunity, and online, women's lifestyle "channel" featuring food, parenting, fashion, and other videos, on YouTube this morning, featuring short, professional clips on fashion, cooking tips, and other topics.

Southern California 160

Southern California Tips Demand Content 160

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

Two local investors, Los Angeles-based Baroda Ventures and actor Ashton Kutcher , have helped boost the financing of New York-based fashion flash sales site Fab.com. Both have joined in a $40M, Series B funding for the site, which was led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors in the round were Menlo Ventures, First Round Capital, SoftTech VC. Kutcher's investment came via A-Grade Investments.

Venture Capital 157

Venture Capital Sales Sites Los Angeles 157

socalTECH

DECEMBER 9, 2011

Looking to extend its reach, Huntington Beach-based AnyMeeting announced this morning that it has integrated into the Google Apps Marketplace, allowing Google Apps users to be able to start online meetings directly from the service. AnyMeeting said the integration allows for single-sign on to its services and access to Google contacts from AnyMeeting.

Google 154

Google Tech Coast Angels Pasadena Angels Pasadena 154

socalTECH

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Los Angeles-based Tribogenics , a startup working on technology to bring elements of Star Trek's "tricorder" to life, said this morning that it has raised $2.5M in a venture funding round. The firm, a spinoff of UCLA whose technology has been funded by DARPA, said the funding came from Flywheel Ventures and angel investors. Tribogenics has developed technology which will enable small, handheld X-ray devices, originally developed from research at UCLA.

UCLA 153

UCLA Technology Research Los Angeles 153

socalTECH

DECEMBER 8, 2011

San Diego-based Nirvanix , the provider of enterprise cloud storage services, said today that it has scored a customer win at Relativity Media, an entertainment studio working on film and television production. Nirvanix did not say what the win was worth, but said Relativity is using its cloud storage to make it easier to access files from multiple locations.

Entertainment 150

Entertainment San Diego Media Custom 150