opens up its automated bidding platform, Disney relaunches Club Penguin as mobile game, and Radish raises $3 million for serialized fiction stories Snap Inc. MORE

PrestaShop is one of the fastest growing ecommerce platforms in the world (with over 127,000 stores and counting), and the launch of “WSS For PrestaShop” marks the first time any ecommerce platform has offered an augmented reality (AR) module to its e-tailers. MORE

Lisa Hennessy: The short one liner answer, is it''s a robust, digital platform that broadcasts once-of-a-lifetime job openings and experience, which everyone can apply for. Lisa Hennessy: It''s much more than a website, it''s really a platform. MORE

In sales we do this by creating a “compelling event” or as some people call it “a burning platform” (in case the reference isn’t obvious, when you’re on a oil platform that’s burning you have no choice but to jump. This is part of my ongoing series Startup Advice. MORE

For those companies looking to venture into the mobile space, there are multiple platforms in market to help accomplish the move. However not all those platforms can provide companies with all tools needed. MORE

In the centerpiece of his education platform , Trump would redirect $20 billion in federal education spending to K-12 school choice programs. Among the many initiatives in Clinton’s education platform is proposed federal funding to provide computer science lessons to every public school student in the country—something Clinton says the majority of U.S. MORE

The company said its new product, Zypline, helps media owners deliver video to OTT platforms, automating and simplifying the process of distributing content to Roku, Hulu, Verizon, Comcast, LeEco and other OTT platforms. ownzones media management platform over MORE

The team at Native Ads hope that they can help all websites remove ‘disruptive display ads’ with its innovative platform. The platform bridges the gap between live streaming channels and website owners to provide a useful and effective advertising experience for online audiences. MORE

Ken Rutkowski , the well connected Los Angeles founder of networking group METal International and KenRadio , has a new platform for his musings on technology and media, on a new show on KFWB. MORE

Los Angeles-based online advertising marketplace and technology provider Rubicon Project is launching its mobile, video advertising platform out of beta, the company said today. According to Rubicon, its Mobile Video Platform (MVP) is now reaching more than one billion unique connected mobile devices globally. MORE

The firms said that the new, RightScale Zend PHP Solution Pack will provide a pre-configured, open Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) to help for faster launch and management of web applications in the cloud. MORE

Walt Disney to acquire stake in MLB streaming platform for $1 billion, SpaceX Ships rocket to Texas for preliminary testing, West Hollywood’s Opinit acquired by Canadian app developer, and more MORE

Walt Disney Co. will acquire a 33 percent stake in Major League Baseball’s video streaming company, BamTech, for $1 billion MORE

Unlike first-generation social media solutions that focus on building awareness at the top of the funnel, Fan Appz’ Personalized Marketing Platform helps brands close the sale. Platform For Speed & Scalability. The new Fan Appz solution runs on the SAP HANA® platform. MORE

Los Angeles-based Asset Avenue has launched a new, crowdfunding site focused on commercial, real estate investments, the company said this week. According to the startup, its online marketplace lets potential real estate investors access to pre-vetted investment opportunities across the country. The company said it has already completed its first deal, a $485,000 investment round to acquired a commercial real estate loan backed by office space in New York''s Trump Palace. MORE

Los Angeles-based Mogreet , the mobile marketing and mobile video technology firm headed by James Citron, has launched a new product today, aimed at providing monetization of MMS messages. The firm said its new AdStitch mobile advertising service ads pre-roll and post-roll adds to MMS videos, which allows companies to combine advertisements with MMS video messages. The firm said the tool makes it simple for companies to generate advertising revenue from opt-in, MMS messaging campaigns. MORE

Los Angeles-based DataScience , the data analytics software developer led by Ian Swanson, has rolled out its data analysis platform, the DataScience Cloud. DataScience said its platform supports connect any time of data source to data sciences sources, including databases, distributed filesystems, software-as-a-services; includes visualization tools and data browsers; connections to an API; and more. datascience data analysis software platform tools MORE

The firm said that the new platform is being used by customers such as Groupon, Orange-France Telecom Group, and Excite Japan. Pasadena-based OpenX , the Internet ad server developer, said today that it has launched a new version of its OpenX Enterprise software. OpenX said the updated software includes such features as real-time ad bidding, more control by publishers over ad quality and pricing, new APIs, and other features. OpenX is headed by Tim Cadogan. READ MORE>>. MORE

SweetLabs launched Pokki in June of last year, looking to bring the ubiquity of apps to the desktop PC platform. Desktop application environment maker Pokki , which is run by San Diego-based SweetLabs, said yesterday that it has added the popular Galaxy Life social game on its environment. The firm said that Galaxy LIfe, which is developed by Digital Chocolate, now runs via its desktop application environment. MORE

Santa Monica-based GraphEffect has launched a new product effort today, saying it has launched SHIFT.com , a new platform which connects people across and within organizations. GraphEffect said its new platform also includes and API and connections into third party app provider, including Lettuce, Gradient X, HYFN, Kenshoo, and The Resumator. MORE

Santa Monica-based Brighter , the dental healthcare company led by startup veteran Jake Winebaum, said this morning that it now has almost 75,000 dentists on its marketplace. The company--which lets consumers shop for local dentists--says it has been working with health insurance carriers to integrate into its directory, which had initially been aimed at self paying dental patients. MORE

HTC disclosed that it spent almost $10 million for a 15 percent stake in WEVR, an open VR platform and community based in Los Angeles. HTC is planning to release its extremely well-received virtual reality headset Vive to consumers later this year, possibly in November. MORE

Los Angeles-based Spreeify , the social marketing software startup led by Ruben Dua, announced this morning that it has launched a new, social advertising platform it is calling SocialActive. MORE

A new, Los Angeles startup, SendUs , launched its services to help brands manage user-generated video content this morning, saying that its platform helps companies leverage that user-generated content and turn it into videos for companies. According to SendUs, brands and companies can use its video platform to request specific videos from their audiences, and promote that through social networks. MORE

Morphlabs , the developer of cloud-based infrastructure software, announced today that it has launched a new, Openstack-powered public cloud platform. The firm said the new software allows service providers to implement their own, public cloud software--and claims that it out-performs the giant in the market, Amazon Web Services. Morphlabs said its software is aimed at helping service providers compete head-to-head with Amazon Web Services. MORE

Newport Beach-based Swell , a new fintech startup, said on Tuesday that it has launched a new online platform which lets consumers invest in specific portfolios focused on social impact. Swell said it lets users invest as little as $500 into such themed investments in the areas of green technology, renewable energy, zero waste, clean water, healthy living, and disease eradication. MORE

In the VC insider baseball world a discussion has gone on about “VC platforms” over the past 5 or so years. Examples of VC platform services include: recruiting, marketing, design support, inside sales reps, consulting, accounting services and so forth. MORE

San Diego-based KidZui said this week that it has launched a new advertising platform focused on family-friendly brands. The firm said its new platform, KidClicks, allows brands to reach kids through the KidZui browser. As part of the launch, the firm said it has hired Bryan Mullen as Chief Revenue Officer. Mullen joins the firm from The Nickelodeon Kids & Family Group, where he was VP Sales and Marketing. MORE

Los Angeles-based Rubicon Project is in a deal to extend the company's advertising marketplace to linear television, in a partnership deal with AdMore , the companies said this week. Rubicon said it will power automation technology for AdMore, which will allow advertisers to use programmatic buying to target linear TV audiences. AdMore, which is backed by The Carlyle Group and HIG Growth Partners, helps agencies and marketers automate their TV advertising. READ MORE>>. MORE

The Social Promotion Management Platform is for businesses of all types – small, medium and enterprise. Even with its simplicity, quality is not sacrificed as the platform produces professional, graphical campaigns at low-cost points. MORE

Spireon said its NSpire platform is being used by auto insurers to use rich data to deliver price discounts and more based on driver behavior. Irvine-based telematics developer Spireon announced this morning that it has reached 2.4 million subscribers for its products, which it says makes it the industry's largest non-OEM telematics company. The company offers up GPS tracking software, which is used by insurers to track the driving behavior of their clients. MORE

Los Angeles-based StartEngine , which recently pivoted into equity crowdfunding, said Thursday that it has added a second company to its platform with SEC qualification. StartEngine said that XTI Aircraft , which is developing new aircraft, has received qualification through the SEC to begin collecting capital in exchange for equity through StartEngine's platform. MORE

I read the declarations by industry analysts on Twitter that this was “proof that you can’t build a business on somebody else’s platform” and perhaps DataSift should have known better. The post Can You Build Your Business on Somebody Else’s Platform? MORE

Analytics and optimization startup, FlxOne , aims to deliver insights and actions for real-time advertising by use of cloud-based infrastructure and data crunching to deliver insights and actions, making it the first platform to optimize performance automatically. MORE

a platform that uses artificial intelligence to enhance students’ behaviors online, according to a statement El Segundo-based education software startup GoGuardian has launched Admin 2.0, MORE

Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal , the online marketing and advertising firm headed by Zorik Gordon, said Thursday afternoon that it has launched ReachDeals, a daily deals syndication platform. ReachDeals is a relaunch of the deal commerce software platform it acquired when it acquired DealOn, a daily deals publisher, in February. ReachLocal said the platform will make it easier for publishers to integrate local deals into their own websites. MORE