Monday, February 11, 2008Topanga Technologies Gets Funding From Khosla VenturesTopanga, California-based Topanga Technologies, a firm developing high intensity, discharge lighting products, has quietly raised a round of capital from Khosla Ventures, the venture capital arm of Vinod Khosla. The funding was disclosed by Khosla Ventures Monday in conjunction with the addition of Ford Tamer as an operating partner at the firm. Tamer, who was most recently head of Broadcom's Enterprise Entworking Group, sits on Topanga's board of directors and led the investment. Details of the (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 (More)(Full story)
Zag Gets Win At Overstock.comSanta Monica-based Zag, the online car shopping web site headed by former CarsDirect founder Scott Painter, has inked a deal to power a new auto buying program with Overstock.com. Overstock.com said that Zag will connect customers with certified dealres on the firm's web site. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Zag has developed a web-based service which allows consumers to research, configure and price automobiles; the firm also has a number of deals with affiliate marketing orga (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Universal Space Network Gains $18MNewport Beach-based Universal Space Network said Monday that it has raised $18M in funding, in a combination of $13M in equity and $5M in debt. Universal Space Network provides outsourced space operations, and ground control and communications services, for the satellite industry. According to USN, the funding came from Warburg Pincus, which led the round, along with Swedish Space Corporation, Pistol Creek, Frost Group, LLC, and the Cycad Group, LLC. The debt portion of the funding came from Co (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 (More)(Full story)
mobileStorm Expands Into VideoLos Angeles-based email and mobile marketing firm mobileStorm said Monday that the firm has expanded its offerings, and has opened up a new video production unit. According to mobileStorm, the company will produce internal and external video shorts for its customers. mobileStorm provides email marketing services, mobile SMS messaging, and other services for customers such as Qantas and MGM Grand.
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Oversee Brokers $4.5M Domain SaleLos Angeles-based Oversee.net has brokered the sale of a domain name, Bored.com, for $4.5M. According to Moniker, the domain name brokerage owned by Oversee.net, it brokered a sale of Bored.com for $4.0M, plus an additional portfolio of 170 websites for $500,000. JW Media is the new owner of the domain and operator of BuyShoes.com and Campout.com, and also owns other domain properties. Moniker provides domain name registration, management, escrow, appraisal, and other domain services focused on (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Interview with Derek Norton, Watertower GroupLast month, Los Angeles-based Watertower Group (www.watertowergroup.com) announced a new venture fund focused on $500K to $1M deals in the technology and digital media sector. The firm is geography agnostic, and invests in not just Southern California but any U.S. company. To get a better idea of the goals of the fund, and how it hopes to fill the funding gap between angel and venture capital investment, we spoke with Managing Partner Derek Norton.
Derek, tell us a little bit about the goal o (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Juice Wireless Rolls Out In EuropeVenture backed, mobile social networking application provider Juice Wireless said Sunday evening that the firm has rolled out its application, JuiceCaster, in Europe. Juice Wireless said that it has opened up an office in London as part of its expansion efforts, and appointed Daniel Matray as managing director of the office. Juice Wireless is venture backed by Qualcomm, Citizen’s Communications and 21 Ventures. The firm's cell phone applications allow users to post pictures, video, and text to (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
EI Solutions Gets Solar Install Win With BTBT Group plc, the global telecommunications firm formerly known as British Telecommunications, said this morning that it is in an agreement to use Pasadena-based EI Solutions to construct a photovoltaic system for its North American headquarters in El Segundo. BT said that it will construct a 500 kW solar photovoltaic system at its headquarters using EI Solutions, which was selected through a competitive bidding process. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. According to BT, the syst (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Novatel Rolls 3G ModuleSan Diego-based Novatel Wireless said Sunday at Mobile World Congress that the firm has rolled out a new embedded module targeted at OEMs and laptop manufacturers. The new module provide 3G wireless functionality for HSDPA networks. According to Novatel, the new EU850D Expedite Embedded Module is optimized for European telecom networks, including HSDPA, UMTS, GPRS, and EDGE networks. The new device is designed for used by OEMs and laptop manufacturers to integrate directly into their designs. No (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Smith Micro Adds Symbian SupportAliso Viejo-based Smith Micro Sofware, a developer of software for the wireless market, said Monday that it has added support for Symbian devices in the latest release of its QuickLink IMS software. QuickLink is Smith Micro's software for handing off calls between Wi-Fi and cell networks, along with providing instant messaging over wireless broadband. The software now supports Symbian S60 and Symbian UIQ devices, including Nokia and Sony-Ericsson dual-model WiFi phones.
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)
Boingo Targets Windows Mobile, Expands Handset CoverageSanta Monica-based WiFi network provider Boingo Wireless said Monday that it has added support for Windows Mobile 6 devices, along with support for Sony Ericsson UIQ devices. According to Boingo, Windows Mobile 6.0 device users can download its newest Wi-Fi software for its web site; the new version of software automatically connects users to Boingo's network of Wi-Fi providers. The company also said that its services will be used by Sony Ericsson UIQ 3.0 handset devices. The deal to include Boi (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 11, 2008(Full story)