Wednesday, November 14, 2007DECA Announces New PartnershipsSanta Monica-based digital entertainment firm DECA said Wednesday morning that it has inked a new set of programming partnerships. The firm, which recently launched Boing Boing TV, said that it will partner with Peter Rojas of Engadget; Larry Lyttle of Judge Judy/Judge Joe Brown, Alex Albrecht of DiggNation, and SuicideGirls for future programming. DECA also said that it will work with Dog & Pony, a business innovation interview video podcast that is distributed by CNET. Details of the partnersh (More info...)
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Qualcomm Buys Firethorn For $210MSan Diego-based Qualcomm said Wednesday that it is acquiring Firethorn Holdings, a provider of technology for the mobile banking industry. Qualcomm said the deal is worth $210M in cash, and is expected to close in the next 30 days. Atlanta-based Firethorn develops products used by wireless operators, financial institutions, and payment processors to provide banking through wireless devices. Qualcomm said that Firethorn's employees will remain in Atlanta, and will continue to be led by its CEO, T (More info...)
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Nirvanix Gets Win With ElasticDriveSan Diego-based storage firm Nirvanix said Wednesday that ElasticDrive, a provider of a remote storage application, has selected the firm's storage system. Nirvanix is a startup which allows developers to access storage over the Internet, through application interfaces (APIs). Details of the win were not announced. ElasticDrive is run by Enomaly Inc. Nirvanix is venture backed by Mission Ventures, Valhalla Partners, and Windward Ventures, and offers its Internet storage services based on gigabyt (More info...)
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WooMe Launches ServicesWooMe, the online speed dating and social networking web site startup backed by Atomico, Mangrove Capital, and investor Klaus Hommels, said today that it has launched its services. The firm, which is headquartered in San Francisco but maintains major operations in Los Angeles, said that its services are now open to anyone. The firm was previously in beta with its services, which allow people to meet others through 1-minute, video sessions. The firm said that its services can be used to meet new (More info...)
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Ripple Expands Board, Adds AdvisorsEl Segundo-based Ripple, the firm which is developing a network of retail television screens, said today that it has added Briggs Ferguson, former CEO of Citysearch, to its board of directors. The company also said that John Richards and T.S. Ramakrishnan have joined its advisory board. In addition to serving as CEO of Citysearch, Ferguson was previously EVP Marketing and Product Strategy for Launch Media/Yahoo, and also has served at EMI Music. Richards has served at Starbucks and Four Seasons (More info...)
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Mad Catz Acquires SaitekSan Diego-based Mad Catz Interactive, a manufacturer of gaming peripherals, said today that it has acquired Saitek, a fellow manufacturer of PC gaming accessories, multimedia audio products, and other electronics. Mad Catz said it would pay $30M for Saitek, which it said had $43M in net sales for the last 12 months. The deal is split between $15.5M in cash plus $14.5M in convertible notes. Saitek has 120 employees, who Mad Catz said it expects to join the firm. Saitek was based in the UK, with (More info...)
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Ambit Biosciences Gets $49M In FundingSan Diego-based Ambit Biosciences said today that it has raised $49.3M in a Series D equity financing. According to Ambit, the round came from Apposite Capital LLP, and also included MedImmune Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, Radius Ventures, NovaQuest, and Horizon Technology Finance, along with existing investors Perseus-Soros Biopharmaceutical Fund, Forward Ventures, Avalon Ventures, Roche Venture Fund, GIMV, Jov-CMDF, and Genechem. The firm said the funding will go towards advancing its product pi (More info...)
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Abraxis BioScience Spins off From APP PharmaceuticalsLos Angeles-based Abraxis BioScience said this morning that it has spun-off from APP Pharmaceuticals, the firm said today. The firm will focus on drug development. The firm's major product, ABRAXANE, is used for treating cancer and other illnesses. According to Abraxis, it has been capitalized with $700M in cash and it will trade on the Nasdaq Global Market as ABII.
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PropertyRoom.com Expands In KentuckyMission Viejo-based PropertyRoom.com, a web site which provides online police auctions, said today that it has opened up a new centralized services office in Lexington, KY. The firm, which has previously received seed funding from the Tech Coast Angels, said that the office will handle on scheduling, logistics, client services, and production management. PropertyRoom.com takes seized and forfeited personal property from law enforcement, and auctions that property off on the internet.
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