Sat.Nov 02, 2013 - Fri.Nov 08, 2013

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GoCoin Raises $550,000 For BitCoin Purchases

socalTECH

'Santa Monica-based GoCoin --one of the first BitCoin startups to emerge out of the Silicon Beach technology ecosystem--said today that it has raised $550,000 in a seed funding round, to develop a platform to enable the purchasing of good and services around the world with Bitcoin. The seed funding came from former Facebook exec Owen Van Natta, Ooma founder Andrew Frame, BitAngels, Stephens Investment Management, Mikael Pawlo (Mr Green LTD), Jonathan Congdon (Beachbody), Ruvento Ventures, Ronnie

Beachbody 211
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The most important person on the startup team

Berkonomics

'By David S. Rose. Described by BusinessWeek as a “world conquering. entrepreneur” and by Forbes as “New York’s Archangel”, David is a former Inc. 500 CEO, serial entrepreneur and the founder of New York Angels. He is the. founder and CEO of Gust, the angel financing platform used by over 50,000. accredited investors in 1,000 angel groups and venture capital funds to. collaborate with over 250,000 entrepreneurs in 95 countries.

Startup 189
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Restarting – an Entrepreneur’s Journey

Eric Greenspan

'I’ve had an interesting run this past year and I’ve dealt with restarting…more than once. After my latest company collapsed in June of 2012, I went into a bit of a depression. I’m no longer afraid to admit it and quite frankly, it made me stronger…much stronger. I was full of emotion, mostly anger, the rest sad. This company I started with my own money and in my third bedroom, had grown and served its customers and employees well for over 11 years.

Startup 167
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How To Begin Using Social Media In Your Business

Startup Professionals Musings

'When my friend’s small business was struggling a while back, I suggested he add some social media marketing initiatives, and his answer was that he was “too busy.” His business has since closed, but his mindset is still out there. According to a study of 1700 CEOs last year, only 60% of companies today use social media for marketing, and only 12% of those feel that they are using it effectively.

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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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Convertro Debuts New Product

socalTECH

'Santa Monica-based Convertro , the developer of marketing attribution software led by serial entrepreneur Jeff Zwelling, has rolled out a new product, which it says helps marketers measure the return on investment from printed catalogs. According to Convertro, the new, catalog-tracking capabilities in its software helps marketers figure out how much more likely a customer is to visit a company''s website if they receive a catalog, which catalogs perform better, the optimal number of catalogs to

Product 205
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Is Your Startup Ready for Investment Capital?

Tech Zulu Event

'You’ve identified a pain point. You’ve come up with a solution. You’ve thought through your offering—and it’s a winner. You’re ready for next steps. You’re ready to raise some funding. Or are you? Before working your contacts and networking like crazy to connect with VCs, you need to make sure that you’ve fully assessed the business opportunity. Ask yourself these key questions to prepare for a raise—because if you don’t ask yourself these questions, you can be sure that the VC on the other sid

Invest 95

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The Next Business Stage Requires Aggressive Growth

Startup Professionals Musings

'Early-stage entrepreneurs rightly keep their focus on creating an innovative product or service. After celebrating success at that level, they often find themselves ill-prepared to move to the next stage, for scaling their business into a high-performing enterprise. That’s where I see too much entrepreneur burnout, growth plateaus, and Founders being replaced, to their chagrin.

Sales 96
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Surf Air Expands To Hawthorne, Palm Springs

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based Surf Air , the membership-based, all-you-can fly airline headed by Wade Eyerly, has extended out its footprint today, saying that it has added another aircraft and expanded service to Hawthorne and Palm Springs. The startup airline said the move adds nearly 50 percent more capacity for the company, and also makes it easier for people on the Westside of Los Angeles to access the company''s services.

Hawthorne 190
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At The Pool Pivots to Mobile Only & Ditches Common Interests to Proximity

Tech Zulu Event

'Smart matching offline connections startup, At The Pool , has today launched a mobile app that is set to reinvent the way people connect and interact. The new iOS app utilizes a contact list that’s organized by geographic proximity making it easy for people with like interests to connect through “shouts.” The app allows easy photo sharing, existing contact list, push notifications and geo-awareness.

Mobile 92
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Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Gets $200,000 Grant, Eyes Investment Fund

socalTECH

'The incubator effort looking to make Los Angeles a key part of the clean technology industry, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) , announced this morning that it has received a $200,000 grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, to help advance its program--and may even start its own investment fund. The incubator said the grant will help fund programs focused on advancing sustainable technology development and adoption in the Los Angeles region.

Incubator 190
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Boingo Wireless Wins Internet Service Deals With U.S. Military

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based Wi-Fi access point and wireless infrastructure provider Boingo has won both the U.S. Army and the Marines as customer, to provide IPTV and broadband Internet services at the two military branches'' bases worldwide. According to Boingo, it iwll provide internet protocol TV and broadband Internet at all of the United States Marine Corps bases worldwide, via a deal with Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS); separately, the company has signed an agreement with The Army & Air

Services 190
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Ebyline Rolls Payment System For Wordpress Blogs

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based freelance writing marketplace Ebyline said this week that it has launched a brand new product, which helps WordPress publishers pay contributors to their WordPress blog. The new product--which is a plug-in to the WordPress software--lets publishers directly pay freelance writers through WordPress, track payment history, provide 1099''s, and offer up other management of payments to blog authors.

Blogging 186
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Silvercar Launches At LAX

socalTECH

'Los Angeles has been a hot market for smartphone-driven services, with the latest service launching in the market today being Silvercar , a venture backed startup offering up luxury car rentals with GPS, SiriusXM satellite radio, in-car Wi-Fi and other features. According to Silvercar, it launched operations today at Los Angeles International (LAX), its sixth location nationwide.

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Seriously Lands $2.35M From Upfront For Video Game Efforts

socalTECH

'Seriously , a new video game startup, has just received $2.35M in a seed funding from LA''s Upfront Ventures, to help create mobile and casual games. The startup''s founders--Petri Jarvilehto and Andrew Stalbow--are both veterans of Roxio, and split between Helsinki and Los Angeles. Sunstone Capital also participated in the funding. READ MORE>>.

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SOA Software Debuts New Product

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based SOA Software said this morning that it has launched a new product. SOA Software said its new product, the SOA Software Datacenter API Platform, is aimed at the "software-defined datacenter", and helps its customers abstract data center resources from applications. The company said its new API essentially replaces vendor-specific APIs and abstracts away the vendor-specific functions, helping companies avoid vendor lock-in.

Software 173
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UberMedia Names Sales VP

socalTECH

'Pasadena-based mobile advertising firm UberMedia , one of the companies out of Idealab, said Thursdya that it has named a new VP of Sales, covering the company''s Eastern Region. The company--which runs UberAds, a mobile ad network which uses location, social, and interest information to help advertisers target ads--said that it has named Neil Shapiro as VP of Sales in the Eastern Region.

Sales 171
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Lawsuit Targets Snapchat Founders, Venture Investors

socalTECH

'A new lawsuit, targeting Venice, California-based Snapchat --the hottest company to emerge out of the area''s high tech startup cluster in recent years--says that the company''s founders stole the idea for the company from him after forcing him out of the company early on in its history. According to the legal filing--which has now been widely published --Reggie Brown, who says he was the third co-founder of SnapChat--was forced out of the company only a month after it was created, but says he

Snapchat 170
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Santarus Acquired by Salix Pharmaceuticals For $2.6 Billion

socalTECH

'San Diego-based biopharmaceuticals firm Santarus has agreed to be acquired by Salix Pharmaceuticals , in a deal worth $2.6 billion, the two said late Thursday. According to the two, Salix will pay $32.00 per share in cash for Santarus, which the companies said is a 36 percent premium over Santarus'' closing price on Wednesday. The two said the deal has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies.

San Diego 164
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ImmunGene Raises $9M

socalTECH

'Thousand Oaks-based ImmunGene , a startup biotech company developing antibody-based, protein therapeutics for treating cancer, said today that it has raised $9M in a Series A funding, to advance its early stage development products. According to the company, the funding came from Ally Bridge Group. The startup is led by Sanjay D. Khare, PhD, and includes a team from Amgen, Baxter, Genentech and Seattle Genetics.

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TakeLessons Launches On Google Helpouts

socalTECH

'San Diego-based online lesson marketplace TakeLessons said yesterday that it will offer up its tutors, music teachers, and performing art instructors via the new service, Google Helpouts , which launched Tuesday. According to TakeLessons, it will provide access to experts from its site via Helpouts by Google, which is Google''s new service for finding experts that users can consult with via live video.

Google 164
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Demand Media Names Domain Spinoff, Appoints Execs

socalTECH

'Santa Monica-based Demand Media said this morning that it has come up with a name for its domain name services group, which it is in the midst of spinning off into an independent company. Demand Media said the new company will be named Rightside Group, Ltd. , and will be headed by Taryn Naidu, who is current Demand Media''s Executive Vice President of Domain Services.

Demand 164
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Nimble Launches New Update

socalTECH

'Santa Monica-based Nimble , the developer of cloud-based, contact management and relationship management software, has debuted a brand new version of its platform today. According to Nimble, the new update provides significant updates to the software, and also includes widgets which integrate the software with Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, and HootSuite.

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Amgen Foundation Commits $2.5 Million To Science Education Efforts

socalTECH

'The Amgen Foundation , the nonprofit arm of biopharmaceuticals giant Amgen, has committed $2.5 million in new grants to help bolster scientific education. Amgen said the new funding will go to provide real-world biotech lab experience to middle and high schools in Amgen''s U.S. and United Kingdom communities, and brings its total invested in its program to nearly $8 million.

Education 159
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Velocify Launches New Tool On Salesforce.com's AppExchange

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based Velocify , the startup led by Nick Hedges, has launched a new tool to help companies manage their prospects and leads on Salesforce.com. The company said its new Velocify LeadManager with Activity Prioritization connects into Salesforce.com, via that companhy''s AppExchange, which helps companies manage new leads, opportunities, and scheduled calendar events.

Tool 157
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Mobile Learning Networks Raises $350,000

socalTECH

'San Diego-based Mobile Learning Networks , which is developing tablet-based apps to help students work with tutors, has raised $350,000 in a funding round, the company announced Thursday. Source of the funding was not announced. Mobile Learning Networks'' develops apps for the iPad which let tutors and students collaborate virtually. The company''s management team includes Andrew Meyer (Websense, Epicor, MSC Software) and Josh Roach (former SVP of Engineering at Mitek Systems).

Mobile 153
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Horizon Communications Gets Investment From Solis Capital Partners

socalTECH

'Irvine-based Horizon Communications , a provider of telecommunications and electrical infrastructure installation and support services, has received an investment from Newport Beach-based private equity firm Solis Capital Partners. Size of the deal was not announced. Horizon installs Wi-Fi, DAS, and other telecommunications and wireless infrastructure for data center owners and operators, telecommunications carriers, and real estate owners.

Invest 153
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MSC Software Wins Volvo Group

socalTECH

'Newport Beach-based simulation software developer MSC Software said today that it has signed up truck manufacturer Volvo Group as a customer. MSC Software said that Volvo Group is using its Actran acoustic simulation software to reduce cabin noise in its trucks. FInancial impact of the win was not announced. READ MORE>>.

Software 153
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DriveCam Rebrands Itself Lytx

socalTECH

'San Diego-based DriveCam has renamed itself as Lytx , as the company said it has evolved the company and vision beyond just devices. The company said that expansion includes a new compliance service, which helps fleets comply with safety regulations, in addition to the company''s devices used to monitor driver behavior and safety. Lytx is led by Brandon Nixon.

Carson 153
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Viddy Relaunches As Supernova

socalTECH

'Venice-based Viddy , the developer of social video sharing apps, said today that it has rebranded itself as Supernova , and has expanded into a new set of mobile apps. The startup--which went through a huge rollercoaster ride earlier this year--is launching two new online apps, Clique, and EPIC. Clique is a mobile app for sharing thigns anonymously with your friends, and EPIC is a slow motion video sharing app.

Venice 153
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BYD Facing Critics Over Labor Practices In LA

socalTECH

'Electric bus maker BYD is on the defensive, after a recent report which says that BYD--despite huge fanfare over its creation of a bus manufacturing plant in Lancaster--employs less than 40 workers here, and has been under investigation for importing Chinese workers and paying them at less than minimum wage. The New York Times said that California had charged the company $100,000 for violating minimum wage laws.

Lancaster 153
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Provide Commerce Buys Mobile Gifting Firm Sincerely

socalTECH

'San Diego-based Provide Commerce , the company which owns such brands as ProFlowers, RedEnvelope, Gifts.com, and other e-commerce sites, announced this morning that it has purchase mobile gifting startup Sincerely, Inc. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Sincerely provides mobile photo postcard and greeting card apps for the iPhone and Android.

Commerce 147
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Sonos Raises $25M To Buy Out Early Employees

socalTECH

'A report today says that Santa Barbara-based Sonos , the developer of the user-friendly wireless home audio systems, has raised $25M in a secondary funding, which will go towards buying out fully vested employees. The report came from Fortune''s The Term Sheet. No details on the funding have been announced or released by the company. READ MORE>>.

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ReachLocal Swizzles Execs, Loses Co-Founder

socalTECH

'The executive turmoil over at Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal continues, as the company said yesterday that President and co-founder Nathan Hanks has resigned as an officer and director of the company. Reasons for the resignation was not given, however, the move follows the abrupt resignation of CEO and founder Zorik Gordon in September. ReachLocal said that Josh Claman, previously the Chief Revenue Officer at ReachLocal, has been appointed President in Hanks'' place.

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ValueClick Looks To Sell Investopedia, PriceRunner

socalTECH

'Westlake Village-based online advertising and marketing firm ValueClick said late Tuesday that it is planning to divest its "Owned & Operated" websites segment, the company''s division which runs such sites as Investopedia, PriceRunner, Smarter.com, SymptomFind, and CouponMountain.com. According to ValueClick, it has retained Wells Fargo Securities as part of the move.

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METRIX Capital Gets $5M For Funding Efforts

socalTECH

'Orange County-based investor METRIX Capital Group has announced a $5M funding round, which it says will go towards its alternative funding for small and medium sized businesses. The firm--which is led by Jeff Brannon--said that the funds will go towards its Revenue/Royalty Based Funding, an alternative loan program aimed at companies with at least six months of revenue and a growth plan.

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Greentoe Raises $500,000 For Name-Your-Own Price Marketplace

socalTECH

'Los Angeles-based Greentoe , a startup developing an e-commerce marketplace which lets people set their own price on appliances, photo equipment, home theater, baby products, music, and more, has raised $500,000 in angel funding. Names of the investors in the company were not announced. According to founder Joe Marrapodi, the company believes it wil lbe on a $3M a year run rate by December.

Pricing 147