Monday, January 12, 2009X PRIZE Foundation Looks To Attract Major Auto FirmsThe X PRIZE Foundation is targeting large, established auto manufacturers with a new division in its Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, the firm said Monday afternoon, in an attempt to spur fuel efficient vehicles. The prize--modeled after the firm's successful Ansari X Prize for developing a commercial space vehicle--will focus on design of "viable, super fuel-efficient" vehicles. According to the X PRIZE foundation, the new prize will be open to established automakers who sold more than (More info...)
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Oberthur Technologies Moves Los Angeles ManufacturingOberthur Technologies, which develops smart identification cards, said late last week that it will move manufacturing from its Los Angeles operations to a facility in Exton, PA. Number of employees affected by the move was not disclosed. The firm said that manufacturing will cease at its Los Angeles facility by the end of March, and that it will offer some employees relocation. The firm explained that employees who are not willing to relocate will be provided transition assistance, and also said (More info...)
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AeroVironment Gets Win At Nestle For Electric VehiclesMonrovia, California-based AeroVironment, which develops electric charging systems used for electric vehicles, said Monday that it has installed more than 200 of its PosiCharge fast charge systems at Nestle facilities in North America. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. The systems are used to quickly charge industrial and heavy-duty electric vehicles. According to AeroVironment, those 200 systems were deployed across 14 Nestle facilities. AeroVironment's charge systems fast-charge e (More info...)
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SocialVibe Gains $9MLos Angeles-based SocialVibe said today that it has raised $9M in a Series B funding, for the firm's social media and brand charity site. According to the firm, the funding was led by JAFCO Ventures, and also included Series A investor Redpoint Ventures. SocialVibe said it will use the additional funding to help aggressively grow its consumer and business partner relations, along with accelerating product development. JAFCO's Joe Horowitz joins the firm's board along with the funding. The firm, (More info...)
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Transmodus Tapped For Payment SystemOxnard-based transmodus, a provider of check management software, said last week that the firm has been tapped for a payment system for Heartland Payment Systems, a provider of credit, debit, and prepaid card processing. Transmodus said that its SOA-oriented software will be used by Heartland as part of a check management system. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. Transmodus provides remote deposit capture and other functions through its SOA software, which can be used by business o (More info...)
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Smart Action Looks To Add Artificial Intelligence To Phone CallsPlaya del Rey-based The Smart Action Company is looking to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to the interactive voice response market, and has released a new producted focused on internative voice response, or IVR. The Smart Action Company--which is headed by Richard Koffler, who has been involved in the Tech Coast Angels and most recently Alelo--said it is looking to provide sophisticated, automated interaction using artificial intelligence, targeting IVR calls that currently can only be handl (More info...)
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Ablation Frontiers Acquired By MedtronicCarlsbad-based Ablation Frontiers, a venture-backed provider of products for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, has been acquired by Medtronic for $225M. According to Medtronic, it will pay $225M plus additional, unspecified contingent payments depending on meeting certain milestones. Ablation Frontiers will become AF Solutions. Ablation Frontiers develops catheters used to treat atrial fibrillation, and is venture backed by Aberdare Ventures, Affinity Ventures, Hexagon Investments, Novartis (More info...)
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Fallbrook Technologies Shifts Into $25.4MSan Diego-based Fallbrook Technologies, which is developing transmission technology for the automotive industry and human-powered devices, has raised $25.4M in a venture capital round. According to lead investor NGEN III, LP, the funding included $10M in investments from the firm, along with $10M from Robeco, the investment arm of Rabobank of the Netherland, along with other investors. The new funding will go continue commercialization of Fallbrook's continuous variable planetary transmission te (More info...)
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Illumina Signs University CustomerSan Diego-based Illumina, a developer of life science analysis tools, said Monday that the firm's products have been selected by Duke University Medical Center. According to Illumina, researchers at the school will use its Genome Analyzer to study resistance to HIV infection about individuals, who have been exposed but remain uninfected. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Illumina's Genome Analyzer product is used for gene sequencing applications. The Duke Unviversity study is being (More info...)
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Conexant: 300 Million DSL PortsNewport Beach-based Conexant, a manufacturer of communications semiconductors, revealed this morning that the firm has surpassed 300 million DSL port shipments. The firm said that the shipment totals are cumulative, starting from its first DSL chipset in 1989; the company claims it was the first to develop a DSL chipset. Conexant is a developer of a number of semiconductors for the imaging, video, audio, and networking market.
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