socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

Culver City-based Maker Studios confirmed today that it has raised $26M in additional funding in its Series C funding. According to the company, the new round was led by Time Warner Investments, along with Canal+, Astor, Singtel Innov8, Upfront Ventures, Greycroft Partners, and Downey Ventures. READ MORE>>.

Culver City 170

Culver City Downey Hollywood Venture Capital 170

socalTECH

MARCH 25, 2010

Los Angeles-based Taltopia , an angel backed, online social networking site focused on Hollywood, said today that it has launched both Apple iPhone and Google Android applications. Taltopia is backed by $800K in angel funding; the firm said it is now actively seeking investors in a second round of funding. READ MORE>>.

Funding 165

Funding Hollywood Social Network Entertainment 165

socalTECH

JUNE 3, 2010

in a funding round, and acquired online social networking site WEvolt , focused on comic books and creative content. WOWIO said the funding was led by CEO Brian Altounian. Tags: wevolt wowio venture capital comic strip content hollywood creative. READ MORE>>.

Funding 140

Funding Hollywood Social Network Content 140

socalTECH

AUGUST 15, 2013

Santa Monica-based YouTube food show producer Tastemade has raised $10M in new funding, the firm said Thursday, led by Raine Ventures and also including Redpoint Ventures. As part of the new funding, Tastemade also launched an iPhone app geared around local restaurant review videos. READ MORE>>.

Redpoint 153

Redpoint Santa Monica Hollywood Venture Capital 153

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

Santa Monica-based KIN , which operates a female-focused lifestyle YouTube network, has raised $12M in a funding round, the company said last week. The funding came from Corus Entertainment, Emil Capital, Mayfield Fund, General Catalyst Partners and Rustic Canyon Partners. The company is led by Michael Wayne.

Rustic Canyon 138

Rustic Canyon Santa Monica Entertainment Hollywood 138

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2020

West Hollywood-based Dear Media , which is developing a podcasting network focused on female voices, said on Thursday that it has raised $8M in a funding round. The funding came from private equity investor Magnet Companies. Dear Media is led by CEO Michael Bosstick, and the company was co-founded with Raina Penchansky.

West Hollywood 113

West Hollywood Media Hollywood Equity 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

Los Angeles-based YouTube network Machinima announced Wednesday afternoon that it has laid off 10 percent of its employees, or 22 employees out of a current staff of 206, as part of a shift in its programming plans. Machinima has apparently been looking for a big funding round in recent months. READ MORE>>.

Layoffs 133

Layoffs Hollywood Venture Capital Content 133

socalTECH

AUGUST 8, 2017

Los Angeles-based TYT Network , the online news empire run by Cenk Uygur, said this morning that it has raised $20M in a round of funding, to expand the company's management, creative talent, subscription offerings, marketing, and content and community. Shawn Colo of 3L will join the company's board as part of the funding.

News 113

News Networking Content Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

APRIL 30, 2009

According to the firm, the funding came from Australian investors Bruno Charlesworth, Michael Kantor and Steve Castan, along with former Sony Pictures co-President and CBS Television President Jeff Sagansky. Tags: view2gether venture capital content hollywood video community social networking.

Funding 100

Funding Social Network Hollywood Venture Capital 100

socalTECH

JUNE 6, 2018

Three, Southern California investors--Qualcomm Ventures, Disney, and the United Talent Agency--have backed the developer of a network of "experience centers" focused on virtual reality entertainment, as part of a newly disclosed Series A Funding. READ MORE>>.

Entertainment 138

Entertainment Southern California Santa Monica Hollywood 138

SoCal CTO

JANUARY 5, 2011

Steve Blank , January 25, 2010 10 Tips for Adding Game Mechanics to a Non-Gaming Service - ReadWriteStart , September 21, 2010 Startups & VCs: Learn How to Design, Market, & Eat Your Own. - First Principles.

Startup 378

Startup Venture Capital Blogging CTO Coach 378

socalTECH

MAY 15, 2017

San Diego-based Scientist.com , a startup which operates a marketplace for outsourced research, has raised $24M in a funding round, the company announced Monday morning. The company--previously known as Assay Depot--is led by President and CEO Kevin Lustig, PhD.

Outsource 100

Outsource San Diego Research Hollywood 100

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

Last year I was on Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley meeting with one of the most prominent venture capital firms in the country. The VC partner, somebody I greatly respect said, “Yeah, we like Gil and what they’re doing. Funding is different outside of Silicon Valley. Let me use LA as an example. Los Angeles.

Venture Capital 313

Venture Capital Southern California Google Startup 313

socalTECH

AUGUST 15, 2011

According to Serious Business , it has raised a second round of seed funding from Brave New Ventures to fund the effort. The firm said it is working with the Cheezburger Network to develop projects for TV and digital, and also has partnership with AdGent Digital and Funny or Die. Serious Business was founded by Jason U.

Entertainment 157

Entertainment Funding Seed Funding Web 157

socalTECH

MARCH 19, 2009

Los Angeles-based Buzznet , which operates a network of web sites focused on celebrities and pop culture, announced this morning that it has raised $12.5M According to the company, the funding round was led by Focus Ventures, and also included Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures.

Buzznet 100

Buzznet Anthem Redpoint Hollywood 100

socalTECH

APRIL 27, 2011

in a funding round, led by Technicolor, and including prior investors.406 406 Ventures, Aurora Funds, Chrysalis Ventures, Capitol Broadcasting and Cisco. Turner, The CW Network, Paramount, and Telepictures. operations in Hollywood. -based Digitalsmiths said that it has closed on $12.5M READ MORE>>.

Paramount 162

Paramount Hollywood Media Networking 162

socalTECH

MARCH 5, 2013

To that end, Venice-based Epoxy announced this morning that it has raised $2M in a funding round, to help build out its product suite to help grow, engage, and monetize online video channels. According to Epoxy, the new funding will go to expand its engineering team and build out its products. READ MORE>>.

Bertelsmann 191

Bertelsmann Downey GRP Partners Southern California 191

TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

Her newest venture, Moe Assist, claims to be the first project management and payments tool for influencers. million in funding from Rebecca Minkoff and other unnamed investors. Robertson is the founder of Influence , a networking tool for influencers that’s expected to announce its Series A financing in the coming weeks.

Platform 170

Platform Marketing Tool Venture Capital 170

Both Sides of the Table

FEBRUARY 26, 2016

I recently sat down with Troy Carter to talk about what he does and why he believes it is applicable to venture capital. And more recently he has turned that into a fund called CrossCulture VC such that many in Silicon Valley and beyond now know Troy as well. We covered the Gaga breakout story but also.

Mentor 150

Mentor Venture Capital Marketing Product 150

socalTECH

JULY 18, 2018

Los Angeles-based media brand Pocket.watch , which creates content for kids, has raised $15M in a Series B funding round, led by Viacom, the company said today. As part of the funding, Viacom Media Networks COO Sarah Levy joins the company's board of directors.

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Screening Content Los Angeles 100

Both Sides of the Table

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

And I’m a VC. You need to be extraordinarily giften in both vision and networking [and have deep pockets backing you] (see: Ashton Kutcher … yes, I will admit that I respect his judgment a great deal on tech startups). Put your money behind a fund that knows how to invest in startups. I live in LA.

Startup 321

Startup Press Equity Product 321

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2016

Los Angeles-based Naritiv , a new startup developing a network of content creators for Snapchat, has raised $3M in a funding round, the company said Thursday. The startup--founded by Dan Altmann and Eric Posen--says it is enabling the creation of mobile-first content for Snapchat and other social network platforms.

Snapchat 100

Snapchat Content Social Network Class 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Redpoint Ventures is one of the venture capital firms which has straddled both Northern California and Southern California, with offices in both locations. We can also write checks as large as $35M out of the Omega Fund. People can come in and have a coffee. What areas you personally are looking at right now?

Redpoint 154

Redpoint Southern California Cornerstone OnDemand Invest 154

Both Sides of the Table

APRIL 17, 2010

We held a 90-minute demo session where 150 of LA’s VC’s and senior technology executives watched the LPLA V2 group present in small groups of 12-15 each. The VC’s & executives were then asked to make “commitments&# (in writing) to 3-5 of the companies that they felt they could make some sort of contribution to.

Company 276

Company Companies Startup Southern California 276

Tech Zulu Event

JULY 19, 2013

It can be a confusing world to seek funding when you’re just starting out and Silicon Beach Fest (#SBF) was a great place to learn what investors are looking for, meet investors of all levels in a collaborative environment, network with like-minded entrepreneurs, and develop relationships to further your dream and business.

Tech Coast Angels 87

Tech Coast Angels Technical Review Invest Venture Capital 87

socalTECH

DECEMBER 19, 2012

Tubular Labs , the developer of analytics tools for YouTube networks--which is backed by a significant number of Los Angeles angel investors--has added another, $2.5M to its warchest in a new funding. Tubular Labs provides services to such local YouTube networks as BigFrame, DECA, Machinima, and others. READ MORE>>.

Los Angeles 153

Los Angeles Tool Networking Media 153

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

Los Angeles-based StyleHaul , an online video network focused on fashion and beauty, said today that it has raised $4.4M in a Series A funding round. StyleHaul produces videos, distributed via YouTube, about fashion and beauty topics.

Content 145

Content Los Angeles Pricing Networking 145

SoCal CTO

DECEMBER 1, 2010

aka: An Open Letter to the Next Big Social Network) - 500 Hats , November 1, 2010 I've held off writing this post for a long time, because I couldn't quite get my head around all the issues. I'm Tired of Creating Your Content - Babbling VC , November 12, 2010 Jeff triggered this post in regards to his Check-in Fatigue on Foursquare.

Technical Review 175

Technical Review Startup Product Technology 175

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

New York-based MediaMorph , a developer of technology used to track media rights for film, television, games and other publishers, said today that it has inked a strategic deal with Beverly Hills-based United Talent Agency , and also scored $2M in funding. G4/Style Networks, HBO, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros.

Beverly Hills 140

Beverly Hills Los Angeles Media Networking 140

Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

We will never be Silicon Valley in the way that Toronto will never be Hollywood. Funding is different – In Silicon Valley you have mega venture capital funds and many of them. As a result many funds are OK with big bets. But we have a great city for building technology companies.

Company 290

Company Companies Technology Startup 290

socalTECH

JULY 20, 2011

Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based HitFix (www.hitfix.com) an online news site focused on entertainment, announced it had raised $2M in a funding round. There are trade publications such as Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and Deadline at one end, and gossip celebrity news at the other end. Why the new funding round now?

News 173

News Entertainment Startup Bertelsmann 173

Both Sides of the Table

AUGUST 3, 2009

We had an excellent opening panel on early-stage investing with Dave McClure (Founders Fund – NorCal), Brad Feld (Foundry Group, Boulder) and Andy Sack (Founders Co-Op, Seattle). From this crowd of 12 I believe you’ll see 4-5 companies with the potential to rise to prominence. photo credit to Brian Solis].

Twiistup 228

Twiistup SoCal Southern California Yammer 228

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 14, 2009

All you have to do is hover over any video or image and drag it to the network or service of your liking. If you look to the bottom of your browser you will see to the far right the ability to connect to Facebook, AIM, Google Talk and other chat networks. is funded by: Y Combinator, Alsop Louie Partners and Draper Associates.

Stickam 60

Stickam Content Draper Web 60

InfoChachkie

FEBRUARY 17, 2011

That led us to venture capital as opposed to trying to bootstrap ourselves. Coming from the world of academia, did you feel you had to overtly fight the Hollywood stereotype that business leaders have to be greedy and vindictive to win? . “In One key decision early on was that RightScale needed to become big fast.

Cloud Computing 188

Cloud Computing Santa Barbara EC2 Startup 188

Tech Zulu Event

DECEMBER 9, 2009

SXSW Interactive features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. Are you interested?

Technical Review 40

Technical Review Stickam Web Conference 40

SoCal Delicious

MARCH 1, 2010

Surprisingly, Hollywood hasnt played a major role in the formation of new companies, which have tended to be in less glamorous though more lucrative areas like lead-generation and service (with obvious exceptions like JibJab and Hulu, a joint venture of Fox and NBC). My fund was an early investor in Overture.

Los Angeles 50

Los Angeles Company Companies Angel 50

SoCal Delicious

OCTOBER 8, 2012

Venture capitalist and hedge-fund manager Peter Thiel—PayPals co-founder and Facebook s. When I arrived in Hollywood, everybody had written a screenplay," he says. In the end, he sold an $8 million home in the Hollywood Hills to the entrepreneur. Wealthy Investors Flock to Puerto Rico. Now, everyone has an app.".

Los Angeles 44

Los Angeles Software Review Technical Review Journal 44