Monday, March 10, 2008BrainCells Raises $30MSan Diego-based BrainCells, a biopharmaceutical firm developing treatments for central nervous system diseases, said Monday that it has raised $30M in a Series B funding round. The round came from MedImmune Ventures, City Capital, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Technology Partners, Pappas Ventures and Neuro Ventures. BrainCells is developing compounds that promote the growth of new neurons in the brain. The firm said the funding will go towards clinical development. William Bertrand, Jr., of MedImm (More info...)
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MaxxAthlete Raises Funding, Acquires Online Sports FirmsLos Angeles-based MaxxAthlete said today that it has raised a Series A round of funding, and acquired three online event-based youth sports services. Financial terms of the funding, and acquisitions, was not disclosed. MaxxAthlete said the funding came from four former technology entrepreneurs. The firm said it has acquired VisionSports, HoopTV.net, and MaxAthlete, all of which focus on the youth sports market. MaxxAthlete said it will focus on creating a broadband network for youth sports.
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Saban Capital Creates New SoCal Media FundLos Angeles-based private investment firm Saban Capital Group said this morning that it has started a new digital media investment group, focused on investing in digital media firms. The company said that the new digital media investment division of the firm will be headed by Craig Cooper. Cooper was most recently a venture partner at VantagePoint Venture Partners and a partner in the SoftBank Capital Technology Fund. Cooper has served as director at PureVideo networks, AmpTech Design, Thumbplay (More info...)
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Guidance Software Gets Win At ExperianPasadena-based Guidance Software said today that Experian has selected the firm's digital investigation software. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Guidance Software, which develops forensics and compliance software, said that Experian has purchased the firm's EnCase Enterprise platform. The software is used for finding corporate policy violations and for responding to regulatory data requests.
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SAIC Buys Icon SystemsSan Diego-based Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) said today that it has agreed to buy San Diego-based Icon Systems, a provider of systems and products for military training and testing. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Icon develops laser-based systems used for live training of the military, and employs over 100. According to SAIC, Icon will become an operation within its Analysis, Simulations, Systems, Engineering and Training business unit.
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SpaceX Signs DoD Satellite ContractHawthorne-based commercial launch vehicle startup SpaceX said Monday that it has signed a contract with the Department of Defense, to carry a space satellite into orbit. According to Space Exploration Technologies, which is funded by PayPal founder Elon Musk, the contract calls for the firm to carry an as-of-yet determined payload on its June 2008 flight. SpaceX said the contract was signed with the Department of Defense’s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office. Possible satellites to be (More info...)
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Gemstar-TV Guide, Nintendo Ink License DealLos Angeles-based Gemstar-TV Guide International said Monday that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Nintendo, covering the availability of a new television programming guide in the Japanese market for the Wii Gaming Console. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to Gemstar-TV Guide, the deal covers the G-GUIDE interactive Program Guide for the Wii console in the Japanese market. The guide will be provided to Nintendo through Interactive Program Guide, Inc., Gemst (More info...)
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WiSpry Adds $7MIrvine-based WiSpry, a developer of RF semiconductors, said today that it has raised an additional $7M in a Series B funding round. The firm said the funding was led by its existing investors, American River Ventures, Blueprint Ventures, and L-Capital Partners. New investor DoCoMo Capital, and Arkian, along with prior investors Hotung Capital Management, In-Q-Tel, and Shepherd Ventures also participated. WiSpry develops RF, CMOS-based tunable antenna chips, used for wireless networks. According (More info...)
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Entriq Buys DayPortCarlsbad-based Entriq said today that it is in a definitive agreement to acquire DayPort, a supplier of video publishing and workflow management software. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Entriq also supplies systems for managing media distribution and conntent. Corey Factor, CEO of Dayport, joins Entriq as CTO; the firm also said that other DayPort executives would join the management team. Entriq was advised by Cabrillo Advisors in the deal.
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Iomega Reports EMC Bid For FirmSan Diego-based Iomega Corporation reported today that it has received an unsolicited acquisition proposal from data storage giant EMC. According to Iomega, EMC offered to acquire the outstanding common stock of the firm for $3.25 per share. According to Iomega, its board of directors has determined that the poprosal from EMC would not constitue a superior proposal for the firm to the company's existing agreement with ExcelStor Great Wall Technology Limited. Iomega announced a merger with ExcelS (More info...)
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