socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2018

Santa Monica-based electric scooter startup Bird is now officially worth $2 billion, after saying on Thursday that it has completed a $300M venture funding round, led by Sequoia Capital, and also including Accel, B Capital, CRV, Sound Ventures, Greycroft and e.ventures. Bird is battling Lime, plus a host of other competitors including Uber and Lyft, to establish a beachhead in the growing "last mile" electric scooter market.

Santa Monica 100

Santa Monica Funding Capital Marketing 100

Both Sides of the Table

JUNE 28, 2018

My friend Michael Broukhim, founder & co-CEO of FabFitFun and I recently had a catch-up meeting for 3-miles on the Santa Monica “Bird Trail” No company has ever elicited so many questions by friends, colleagues, entrepreneurs, fellow VCs and journalists as has Bird, the company that pioneered the electronic scooter as a service market. Until recently it was headquartered 2 blocks from our offices in Santa Monica so we literally saw it emerge under our feet and we proudly invested in the last

Santa Monica 256

Santa Monica Funding Startup Course 256

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 28, 2018

Lawmakers in California passed a data privacy bill in both chambers June 28 that would require major companies to disclose the data they collect from consumers and also allow consumers to elect not to have their data sold by the company to ad agencies. Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law Thursday afternoon.

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Company Companies 145

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 28, 2018

This week, both Microsoft and Google made moves to woo Hollywood to their cloud computing platforms in the latest act of the unfolding drama over who will win the multi-billion dollar business of the entertainment industry as it moves to the cloud. Google raised the curtain with a splashy announcement that they’d be setting up their fifth cloud region in the U.S. in Los Angeles.

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Hollywood Cloud Computing Netflix Google 254

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

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2018

Chatsworth-based DataDirect Networks (DDN), which develops data storage equipment and software, has acquired the Lustre File System business from Intel , according to DDN late Sunday evening. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. DDN said the acquisition included both Intel's Lustre File Systems business and related assets. Intel's Lustre File System is heavily used in the cluster computing market, which DDN's storage hardware is also used.

Chatsworth 140

Chatsworth Acquisition Networking Software 140

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 25, 2018

Friday, June 29, 2018 -- Ophthalmology Technology Summit (OTS). Orange County is the single most technology-rich epicenter for ophthalmology technology. OCTANe's annual Ophthalmology Technology Summit (OTS) will continue to build upon the rich tradition of creating a local forum where leading ophthalmology technologists, researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs can come together to discuss ground-breaking ophthalmic technologies, unmet clinical needs, and new business opportunities, all to fue

Orange County 100

Orange County Technology OCTANE Southern California 100

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 26, 2018

Aclima , a San Francisco-based company which builds Internet-connected air quality sensors and runs a software platform to analyze the extracted intel, has closed a $24 million Series A to grow the business including by expanding its headcount and securing more fleet partnerships to build out the reach and depth of its pollution maps. The Series A is led by Social Capital which is joining the board.

Platform 224

Platform Google SaaS Los Angeles 224

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2018

Camarillo-based Semtech reported a win this morning with a Chinese manufacturer, which will use the company's LoRa low power wireless technology for use in a "smart city" product. According to Semtech, Chinese company Lowan , a low power wide area network (LPWAN) solution provider located in Hangzhou, China, has incorporated its LoRa radio frequency technology into its smart-grid power meters.

Design 127

Design Report Networking Technology 127

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 25, 2018

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 -- Innovation and Growth Fair - Q2 by 805 Startups, City of Agoura Hills, and Greater Conejo Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this event is to promote personal and professional growth while inspiring innovation at all levels. You will be exposed to many different people and companies in an environment designed to foster authentic relationships between one another.

Agoura Hills 100

Agoura Hills Agoura Startup Commerce 100

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 29, 2018

Snapchat enters gaming landscape; SpaceX sends Space Station payload; scooter startup attains $300 million.

Snapchat 100

Snapchat SpaceX Report Startup 100

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 26, 2018

It’s no secret that Google has long planned to open a cloud region in Los Angeles. The company has long said that a second region on the U.S. West Coast was in the works, after all. What we didn’t know for sure was when this new region would go live. But as Google announced today , the new Los Angeles cloud region will go live in July, making it the company’s fifth region in the U.S.

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Los Angeles Google Angel Entertainment 207

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2018

Networking products giant Cisco said this week that it has been selected by The Walt Disney Studios announced in March, in conjunction with Accenture, and includes a 3,500 square food facility in Burbank. Cisco says that StudioLAB will feature both its hardware and software, in the areas of network, storage, orchestration and collaboration. READ MORE>>.

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Burbank Networking Software Product 124

Xconomy

JUNE 26, 2018

When it comes to startup tech hubs, U.S. cities from San Francisco to Austin to Boston come first to mind. But that is starting to change, as Asian cities—particularly in China—are snapping up more tech venture capital funding and exits, according to a new report from CB Insights. Silicon Valley tech startups pulled in the most funding of any metro region globally during the last six years at $140 billion, according to CB Insights’ Global Tech Hubs Report, which the New York-based re

Startup 84

Startup Report Venture Capital Research 84

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 25, 2018

Pinscreen sued; new Thiel fellow named; Snapchat shares ad revenue

Snapchat 124

Snapchat Report 124

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 26, 2018

Thursday, June 28, 2018 --.

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socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2018

Southern California Edison , Southern California's biggest electric utility, said on Tuesday that it is launching a new, $760M effort to expand the region's electric vehicle infrastructure. According to SCE, it has proposed a new, $760M "Charge Ready 2" program, which will go to help boost the number of electric cars on the state's highways. SCE says it hpoes that investment will support the installation of 48,000 more electric charging ports across its service area, with the $760M program to co

Southern California 124

Southern California Invest News Help 124

Xconomy

JUNE 26, 2018

The practice of encoding data in DNA molecules could be inching closer to graduating from research labs to finding practical commercial use. In the coming years, the explosion of data being generated by computing devices could outstrip the supply of hard drives needed to store it, some industry experts say. Some academic researchers and business leaders think that the solution could be to house information in lab-made DNA molecules instead of silicon.

Research 79

Research San Diego UCLA Venture Capital 79

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 27, 2018

HyreCar announces IPO; Google Filestore revealed; Honk Technologies raises $18M.

Technology 100

Technology Google Report 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

JUNE 25, 2018

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 --.

OCTANE 100

OCTANE 100

socalTECH

JUNE 27, 2018

West Hollywood-based LiveXLive Media , the parent firm of online radio streaming service Slacker Radio , says that Slacker has launched its own Amazon Alexa "Skill" to enable voice control of its streaming music services. According to LiveXLive, the skill allows Slacker to be controlled from all Alexa-enabled devices, including Echo Dot, Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV.

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West Hollywood Hollywood Activity Media 124

Xconomy

JUNE 29, 2018

It is with profound sadness that we at Xconomy say goodbye to our longtime friend and editor of Xconomy San Diego, Bruce Bigelow. An outstanding journalist, colleague, and friend, and a fixture of the San Diego innovation scene, Bruce passed away today at age 63 after a brief illness. We are in shock at this awful turn of events. We are a close-knit team despite being spread out around the country, and just two weeks ago several of us had the rare pleasure of catching up with Bruce in person at

San Diego 76

San Diego Blogging 76

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 28, 2018

Data privacy law signed; Fitplan raises $4.

Report 100

Report 100

Berkonomics

JUNE 28, 2018

Close. There is more money lost in businesses today from inefficient processes than any other single area. Yet this is not a place where most managers feel comfortable deconstructing and rebuilding. Somewhere out there is a consultant or future employee (or even suggestions from present employees) that will provide the roadmap toward making your processes run more smoothly, more quickly and more inexpensively.

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Company Companies Outsource Resource 226

socalTECH

JUNE 26, 2018

Los Angeles-based CLoud Constellation Corporation , which is in the midst of planning a satellite constellation aimed at providing high speed, cloud storage from space, said today that it has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT). Cloud Constellation said the two have agreed to develop a go-to-market strategy for enterprise and government customers in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Central Asia.

Los Angeles 124

Los Angeles Organization Custom Customer 124

Xconomy

JUNE 25, 2018

When Cathy Polinsky became chief technology officer of Stitch Fix in late 2016, she knew one of the San Francisco-based company’s key challenges was continually refining its core software algorithm to make sure customers received the right tailored suggestions in their monthly wardrobe boxes. So, she made it into a game. Style Shuffle is a Tinder-like app that encourages Stitch Fix customers to evaluate clothing items and accessories.

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CTO Chief Technology Officer Customer Custom 62

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 26, 2018

Carblip raises $2 million; L.A.

Report 100

Report Startup 100

socalTECH

JUNE 26, 2018

Los Angeles-based advertising technology developer OpenX is in an expansion in the Asia Pacific region, saying that it has opened up a new office in Singapore. According to OpenX, the new Singapore office will serve as a regional hub for the company. OpenX also says it intends to ramp up its efforts in the region with increased headcount and expansion into additional markets, including Australia.

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OpenX Advertising Google Los Angeles 124

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2018

GroGuru , a startup developing irrigation automation technology for the agriculture industry, has raise $250,000 in a seed funding from Western Growers and Radicle Growth. GroGuru is part of San Diego- and Irvine's EvoNexus startup incubator, and develops a precision soil and irrigation monitoring system. The funding was part of the Radicle Automation Challenge, a competition which focused on technology to improve on-farm efficiencies in the light of a severe labor shortage in the agricultural m

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Funding San Diego Incubator 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2018

Beverly Hills-based 3D movie projection technology provider RealD and AMC Theatres said Thursday that they have extended and renewed a 3D agreement through 2024, and also plan on installing RealD 3D systems in all of AMC's new and upgraded theaters. Financial impact of the win was not announced. AMC and RealD said that so far, AMC has 4,900 RealD units installed at its theaters.

Beverly Hills 113

Beverly Hills Technology 113

socalTECH

JUNE 28, 2018

Can artificial intelligence help Hollywood unlock more creativity from storytellers? Los Angeles-based RivetAI hopes it can, saying Thursday that it has launched to apply artificial intelligence technology to help assist storytellers in planning and producing content. The startup--whose founders come from production company End Cue, SpaceX, and Caltech--says its software can help assist in such areas as script dissection--providing producers with information every prop, character, and scene that

Hollywood 113

Hollywood Artificial Inteligence CalTech Tool 113

socalTECH

JUNE 26, 2018

Costa Mesa-based Ice Energy , which develops thermal energy storage systems which work in conjunction with commercial and industrial air conditioning units to help provide distributed energy storage, has raised $40M in a new funding round, the company said on Tuesday. The funding came from private equity investor Argo Infrastructure Partners. Ice Energy was founded in 2003, and is led by CEO Mike Hopkins.

Demand 113

Demand Equity Funding Help 113

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2018

- AT&T , which recently has been shifting some of its operations into the LA area due to its merger with Time Warner, has acquired digital ad technology provider AppNexus , the company said on Monday. Financial details of the buy were not announced. AppNexus is based in New York, and provides enterprise digital advertising platforms, used particularly in the premium TV and video ad marketplace.

Technical Review 113

Technical Review Advertising Platform Software Review 113

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2018

Los Angeles-based personalized video messaging software developer AdGreetz says it has signed on a U.S. Congressional Candidate in Colorado, who will be using its technology in his midterm election efforts. According to AdGreetz, Levi Tilleman, Democratic candidate in Colorado's 6th Congressional District, will use its technology in outreach to voters, where they will receive a personalized video from Tilleman.

Software Development 113

Software Development Los Angeles Technology Software 113

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2018

Fountain Valley-based gaming hardware developer HyperX , which is a division of Kingston Technology, announced this morning that USC Trojans' Juju Smith-Schuster has been signed on as a brand ambassador for the company's HyperX gaming headsets. Smith-Schuster--who is now a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers--apparently is a video gamer, and will use HyperX's HyperX headsets during his gaming sessions.

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USC Marketing Technology Develop 113

socalTECH

JUNE 25, 2018

The Thiel Foundation , the nonprofit formed by maverick technology investor Peter Thiel, named a new class of twenty entrepreneurs as part of its 2018 Thiel Fellows program--including one Los Angeles entrepreneur, Gemma Busoni. The Thiel Foundation--which specifically provides its awards to convince promising entrepreneurs to skip college and instead go into business--has awarded Busoni and 19 others with $100,000 each and a mentorship with its network of technology founders, investors, and scie

Entrepreneur 113

Entrepreneur Class Training Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2018

Santa Monica-based mobile movie ticketing platform Atom Tickets said this week that it it expanding its platform to the independent theater market. According to Atom Tockets, it has launched what it calls the "Independent Exhibitors Program",which will support independent theater owners and operators on its platform. As part of the launch, Atom Tickets said it has added independent exhibitors BG Cinema Inc, Ruby Cinemas, 8k Cinemas, Aksarben Cinema (Main Street Theatres), Midwest Movies Inc.

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Screening Santa Monica Platform Mobile 100