Sat.Feb 17, 2018 - Fri.Feb 23, 2018

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Three Bitcoin Billionaires Share Their Story of How They Moved Early into the Asset Class

Both Sides of the Table

At the recent Upfront Summit my partner Stuart Lander had the opportunity to show some California Love and interview three of the wealthiest Bitcoin owners, each of whom were some of the earliest owners in the asset class and who haven’t sold any of their holdings. It’s an extraordinary story ranging from Jaime who studies cryptography in college to Bryan who was early in selling products on Silk Road to Steven owns 179,000 Bitcoin worth more than $2 billion.

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Sports stars, franchises and Hollywood agencies are betting $38 million on an esports revolution

TechCrunch LA

What started with an esports team is now quickly becoming an esports empire, backed by some of the biggest names in sports and money managers for entertainment family dynasties and Hollywood power brokers. Vision Esports LP, the esports conglomerate launched by Stratton Sclavos, Rick Fox and Amit Raizada has just closed on a $38 million […].

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Hire a consultant; ignore the advice.

Berkonomics

At one time or another, most all businesses use consultants to fill the gaps in knowledge or to provide guidance for management. Consultants are good in that you can sample their work with short projects, change to other consultants quickly, and stop using them when a project is completed. I have a partner in a consulting practice that specializes in the travel industry.

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Esri Acquires ClearTerra

socalTECH

Redland-based GIS software giant Esri announced on Friday morning that it has acquired ClearTerra , a developer of data extraction technology, from ClearShark, LLC. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. ClearTerra's technology helps extract unstructured data from emails, briefings, and reports, and automatically extracts geographic coordinates from that information.

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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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“What Unites Us” —Important Lessons from @danrather at the #UpfrontSummit

Both Sides of the Table

“The institution of a free press in America is in a state of crisis greater than I have ever seen in my lifetime , and perhaps in any moment in this nation’s history.”?—?Dan Rather I sat down to interview Dan Rather at the 2018 Upfront Summit about his outlook for our country one year into the Trump presidency. The interview was conducted around the thesis of Dan’s newest book, “ What Unites Us ,” which is a must read.

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Investment Fund Vision Esports Raises $38 Million

L.A. Business Journal

Investment fund Vision Esports announced on Feb. 22 that it raised $38 million in a round led by Evolution Media, the investment firm backed by Creative Artists Agency and private equity fund TPG Growth.

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More Trending

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Cornerstone's DisasterReady.org Aims To Help In Syrian Crisis

socalTECH

DisasterReady.org , the online learning site created by Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand and its nonprofit arm, the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation, is pitching in to help address what the Cornerstone calls "one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent time". According to the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation, its DisasterReady.org effort has partnered with the Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to design and implement free, online learning resources and courses--in

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IEEE Buenaventura EMBS Talk

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 -- IEEE Buenaventura EMBS Talk. Understanding Signal Transduction Pathways. Cancer cells are notorious for uncontrolled growth and invasiveness. Within the human cell, proteins "talk" to each other and practice checks and balances to ensure that communication is tightly regulated. Speaker: Dr. Nitika Parmar received her PhD in Molecular Biology from UCLA and subsequently completed a Post-Doctoral fellowship at UCLA after which she was appointed as an Assistant Projec

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Pasadena’s New Profile

L.A. Business Journal

Academia, Fortune 500 companies and tech, aerospace, biotech and engineering businesses mix in Pasadena.

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8 Smart Tips To Soliciting Friends And Family Funding

Startup Professionals Musings

It’s great to start with a big dream as you contemplate a new business, but finding the money you need takes more than dreaming. As an advisor to young entrepreneurs, I find that many are a bit naïve about how the investment process really works. For example, I just read an otherwise impressive business plan last week from a first-timer who asked for $10 million to get started.

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Fandango Sells More Than 30 Percent Of Black Panther Tickets

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based movie ticketing and information service Fandango reported on Tuesday that it sold more than 30 percent of the tickets for "Black Panther" over the film's four-day opening weekend. According to Fandango, the sales represent one of the company's largest share of opening weekend for any movie in the company's history. According to Fandango, the large percentage of sales came due to its "entire portfolio of digital properties", including an exclusive poster offer from Fandango FanS

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Digital LA - International Startup Cities Pitch and Olympics Viewing Party

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, February 21, 2018 -- Digital LA - International Startup Cities Pitch and Olympics Viewing Party. Join us for our first International Startup Cities Pitch and Olympics Viewing Party at CTRL Collective DTLA. Representatives from different countries will give a 10 minute overview of their startup tech scenes and connections to LA, followed by startup pitches from startups from each country.

Startup 100
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Silicon Beach Report Feb. 20: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Sold $50 Million in Stock

L.A. Business Journal

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel sold $50 million in stock; NASA certifies Falcon 9 for science missions; and federal judge bars California’s actor-age censorship law.

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XRC Labs Chief Anthos: Retailers Must Adopt “Test and Learn” Culture

Xconomy

As college undergraduates, my roommate and I had what we called a “monowardrobe.” That’s how we described the contents of the closet that lined a wall in our dorm room. We each organized our own clothing on either side, but since we both wore the same size in clothing and shoes, we “shopped” for outfits in either section. “Sharing a closet, that metaphor … describes a peer-to-peer marketplace, an Uber kind of platform for clothing, where there is an endless supply,” says Pano Anthos, managing di

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Falcon 9 Launch Attempt Still Set For Wednesday Morning

socalTECH

Hawthorne-based SpaceX says that it is still set for another attempt to launch the PAZ satellite mission into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, on Wednesday, 6:17 a.m. PST. SpaceX said that the weather is "90% favorable" for tomorrow's launch window. SpaceX is attempting to put the PAZ satellite into orbit for Spanish satellite company Hidesat, and also will be putting two of its own satellites into space as secondary cargo.

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Breaking Down Barriers to Entrepreneurship Starts with Messaging

Tech.Co

With the rise in startup activity around the country, more local organizations are emerging to help provide resources, training, education, and funding to support underserved communities and their dreams to build a business. At Techstars Startup Week Phoenix 2018 powered by Chase for Business , leaders from Phoenix-based organizations discussed how they help break down barriers to entry for entrepreneurs.

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Silicon Beach Report Feb 22: Kylie Jenner’s Tweet Cuts $1.3 Billion of Snap's Market Value

L.A. Business Journal

Kylie Jenner’s tweet cuts $1.3 billion off Snap's market value; investment fund Vision Esports raises $38 million; and SpaceX successfully launches, but narrowly misses catching $6 million nose cone.

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Smart Cities Initiative Spurs “Gigabit Apps” for Next-Gen Internet

Xconomy

In late 2015, the National Science Foundation awarded a $6 million grant to the non-profit organization U.S. Ignite to help drive the development of next-generation “gigabit applications,” as part of a broader effort to create “smart gigabit communities” throughout the U.S. The idea was to both help cities improve local services and spur the development of something that didn’t really exist at the time—a nationwide infrastructure of ultra high-speed networks providing Internet service at s

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Tinder Flaw Allowed Anyone Into Your Account, Using Just Your Phone Number

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based dating app developer Tinder has been vulnerable to hacking, in an exploit which just required someone to have your phone number, according to a security researcher , who published information on a (now fixed) bug in Tinder's login process. According researchers at security researcher Anand Prakash, the flaw came from Tinder's use of the Facebook Account Kit API, an API which allowed anyone with a Facebook account to sign into Tinder using just their phone number.

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Make Sure Your Mistakes Are Affordable

Tech.Co

Making mistakes while building a business is part of the startup journey. But depending on the severity of the lesson, it can set you back or even close the doors for good. Fortunately, a t Techstars Startup Week Phoenix 2018 powered by Chase for Business , cofounders of Phoenix businesses shared their lessons learned when raising capital and using funds to hire the right talent.

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Caltius Equity Partners Sells Vision Technology Solutions

L.A. Business Journal

Caltius Equity Partners announced on Feb. 22 the sale of its portfolio company Vision Technology Solutions, a website developer for government organizations in the U.S. and Canada, to cloud-based software developer Granicus for an undisclosed amount.

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Forget Perfume Counters: Phlur’s A.I. is E-Commerce’s Scent Sherpa

Xconomy

Austin —It stands to reason that if any industry could resist the tidal wave of e-commerce, it would be the fragrance business. After all, how can you smell a perfume or cologne online to decide if you like the scent? But Eric Korman, founder and CEO of Phlur, says the startup can make it easier for shoppers to find scents they like while also offering up a more bespoke selection of products.

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FanWide Wins $10,000 Sports Startup Competition At USC

socalTECH

FanWide , a startup which helps users find "viewing parties" for their favorite college or pro sports teams, anywhere they live or travel, has won a the $10,000 prize in the HYPE Sports Innovation competition, held last week at the University of Southern California. According to HYPE, the competition, held in conjunction with USC's Marshall School of Business and Silicon Valley Bank, was aimed at finding the most disruptive technology likely to shape the future of basketball.

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JPMorgan Chase Invests $2.2 Million to Benefit Phoenix’s Underserved Entrepreneurs

Tech.Co

Phoenix communities are celebrating because JPMorgan Chase has made several local charitable investments to support underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses with the goal of creating jobs and spark a growing economy. At the Techstars Startup Week Phoenix 2018 powered by Chase for Business , the Raza Development Fund and JPMorgan Chase announced a $1.1M fund for a small business lending fund to help them secure loans and fortify their potential to expand, increase their revenues, and thrive

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Silicon Beach Report Feb. 19: Elon Musk Gets Preliminary Permit for Hyperloop Tunnel in DC

L.A. Business Journal

Elon Musk gets preliminary permit for tunnel in DC; Air Force and Aerojet Rocketdyne renegotiating AR1 development agreement; and IdeaLab’s 3-D printer company New Matter shutting down.

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10 Strategies To Isolate Smart Risks In A New Venture

Startup Professionals Musings

There is an old saying that good lawyers run away from risk, while good businessmen run towards risk. Entrepreneurs see “no risk” as meaning “no reward.” In reality, all risks are not the same. Many risks can be managed or calculated to improve growth or provide a competitive edge, while others, like skipping quality checks to save money, are recipes for failure.

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SpaceX Delays PAZ Launch To Wednesday

socalTECH

Hawthorne-based SpaceX delayed its launch of the Spanish PAZ satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base over the weekend to Wednesday, February 21st. According to SpaceX, the delay is so its team can take "additional time to perform final checkouts of upgraded fairing." SpaceX had originally intended to launch its payload on Saturday, February 17th, but decided late Thursday to instead to shift it to Sunday, February 18th, before the current delay.

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Namely HR Santa Monica Launch Event!

SoCal Tech Calendar

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 --.

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Silicon Beach Report Feb. 21: Snapchat Promises Update After Users Balk at Redesign

L.A. Business Journal

Snapchat promises update after users balk at redesign; Elon Musk leaves AI foundation he co-founded; and Port Logistics Group invests in e-commerce startup Whiplash.

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6 Dream Team Members Will Energize Any Tech Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

In my years of advising startups and occasional investing, I’ve seen many great ideas start and fail, but the right team always seems to make good things happen, even without the ultimate idea. That’s why investors say they invest in people (bet on the jockey, not the horse), rather than the idea. Yet every entrepreneur I meet wants to talk about the idea, and rarely mentions the team.

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HyperX: 4 Million Gaming Headsets Shipped

socalTECH

Fountain Valley-based HyperX , the maker of video gaming accessories which is part of Kingston Technology, says it has now shipped a total of 4 million of its gaming headsets, since the division was started in April of 2014. According to HyperX, it first hit a major milestone in shipping a little over two years after it was created, shipping 1 million units, with the remainder shipping since then.

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The Rise of Big Data in the Enterprise Space and How to Handle It

Southern California Edison Blog

Big data and the insights that companies can glean from big data analytics has become a transformational tool for enterprises across all industries. In a study from NewVantage Partners, 48.4% of executives report that their firms have realized measurable benefits as a result of highly successful big data initiatives, with only 1.6% classifying their efforts as a failure.

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Silicon Beach Report Feb. 23: Snap’s Spiegel Earned $638 Million Last Year

L.A. Business Journal

Snap’s Spiegel earned $638 million last year; LAist’s assets bought by KPCC; and L.A. movie theaters could have LED screens by April.

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7 Keys To Leading Your Team And Business To Success

Startup Professionals Musings

One of the realities of being an entrepreneur is that you have to keep learning and changing to survive. Everyone on the startup team knows there is no buffer, and no personal isolation from impact based on your job description that can save you. Thus everyone has to make sure they are focusing on what is important, and making leadership decisions to save the business.

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Intellisense Spins Out Of Physical Optics Corporation

socalTECH

Torrance-based Physical Optics Corporation (POC), a military, defense, and security integrator, said this morning that it has spun off a new company called Intellisense Systems, Inc. According to POC, Intellisense Systems will also be based in Torrance, and will employ 83 people, with $24M in revenues. Intellisense said it will engineer, design, develop, test and produce sensor systems and optoelectronic solutions for the U.S.

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Bio Roundup: Meldonium Slip, Kratom Crackdown, Zinc Fingers & More

Xconomy

The 2018 Winter Olympics will end soon, and we did not skate through these games without a performance-enhancing drug allegation rearing its ugly head. This time, the drug in question was meldonium (Mildronate), a product widely available over the counter in Russia and some Eastern European countries. Though Latvian pharmaceutical company Grindeks markets meldonium for heart conditions, the drug also reportedly boosts stamina and endurance.

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