Monday, January 26, 2009


Sequenom Buys SensiGen
San Diego-based Sequenom, a developer of genetic analysis products, said Monday afternoon that it has acquired SensiGen LLC, a biotechnology firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sequenom said it paid $8.7M for SensiGen, including earn-out milestone payments. SenSiGen develops gene-based molecular tests, to detect and monitor human papillomavirus (HPV), systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus), chronic kidney disease (CKD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and other conditions. Sequenom said it acquir (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Webb Alert Shuts Down
Webb Alert, the high tech news focused video podcasting venture of G4 X-Play host Morgan Webb, is going offline, according to host Webb. According to Webb in a post on the site, the video blog is going offline after X-Play went to taping five episodes a week at the beginning of the year. Webb started the project in August of 2007, featuring on-site ads and a "tip jar" for viewers to contribute toward the show. Webb is based in Los Angeles.
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Edmunds.com Adds New Car Inventory
Santa Monica-based automotive information site Edmunds.com is adding new car inventory to its web site, after brokering a deal with AutoTrader.com, the firm reported today. Edmunds.com did not disclose the financial deals of the deal, but said it will provide new car inventory on new car dealer lots on its web site. Edmunds.com operates an online site which allows consumers to find information about various automobiles. AutoTrade.com is an aggregator of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicle (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Emulex Taps Hoogenboom For Sales Post
Costa Mesa-based storage equipment maker Emulex has tapped Jeff Hoogenboom as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, the firm disclosed Monday morning. Hoogenboom joins the firm from Cadence, where he headed the firm's software-as-a-service business. He has also served at LSI Corporation, Intel, IBM, and Lenovo. Emulex is a manufacturer of storage area networking hardware, including host bus adapters (HBAs), switches, and other equipment.
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

TheWrap Takes On Hollywood News
Hollywood-based TheWrap.com, a new online news site focused on entertainment and media, said it launched today, backed by venture capital firm Maveron. Maveron is a Seattle-based venture capital firm headed by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Dan Levitan. According to the firm, it will feature original reporting, "curated news", and contributions from insiders in the entertainment industry. Amount of the financing from Maveron was not disclosed. The firm is headed by Sharon Waxman, former Hollyw (More info...)
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iRise: Economy Driving Growth
El Segundo-based iRise is among a number of Southern California companies which are reporting that the bad economy is actually driving growth at the firm. iRise said this morning that its software revenue for Q4 2008, just surpassed the "entire fiscal year 2007 total" at the company. iRise's CEO and co-founder, Emmet B. Keeffe III, said today in a statement that the current economic climate is "actually fueling our dramatic growth." The firm explained that organizations are using the firm's prod (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Sequenom Hires Chief Medical Officer
San Diego-based Sequenom Inc. reported this morning that it has hired Dr. Allan T. Bombard, M.D., as chief medical officer. In this newly created role, Sequenom explained, Bombard will oversee its clinical and medical affairs, including clinical advocacy, strategy and operations. Prior to joining Sequenom, Bombard was chief executive officer at Lenetix Medical Laboratory of Mineola, N.Y. Before that, Sequenom said, he was chief medical officer for San Diego's Sharp Mary Birch Hospital. He has al (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Xirrus Deploys At Russian University
Thousand Oaks-based Xirrus, a developer of Wi-Fi network hardware, announced today that the firm's products have been deployed at a university in Russia. Xirrus said its products have been deployed at Tambov State University in the Central Chernozyom Region of Russia. Financial impact of the new customer was not disclosed by the firm. The install covers 10 auditoriums as well as student dormitories, according to Xirrus. Xirrus is backed by August Capital, Canaan Partners, QuestMark Partners, and (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Skweezer: Growth, Profitability In Q4
Irvine-based Skweezer, which operates a mobile advertising network and tools to translate web pages to mobile format, is reporting today that the firm saw its first quarter of profitability in Q4. The privately held company--which did not release details of its finances--claimed that the quarter was also its seventh consecutive quarter of growth. Skweezer said the growth is coming from its mobile ad product, Skweezer ads, which delivers advertising to people surfing the mobile versions of web s (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

Network Hardware Resale Signs Wisconsin County
Santa Barbara-based Network Hardware Resale, a supplier of pre-owned and new networking equipment, disclosed Monday that the firm has signed on Jefferson County, Wisconsin, as a customer. Financial impact of the new customer was not announced. Network Hardware Resale said the county is using its bundled equipment procurement and equipment maintenance and support offerings. The firm procures and installs previously owned electronics equipment for companies; the firm has been around since 1986.
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

EdgeCast Partners With Deutsche Telekom
Los Angeles-based content delivery network (CDN) EdgeCast has scored a big win, with Deutsche Telekom, the firms are set to announce today. Deutsche Telekom ICSS, which is the wholesale division of Deutsche Telekom, is announcing today that it will launch a new content delivery solution which it has developed in partnership with EdgeCast Networks. The new CDN service is targeted at video, audio, content publishers, gaming companies, advertisers and others with need for streaming video delivery o (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)

X1 Takes On eDiscovery
Pasadena-based X1 Technologies, a developer of desktop and enterprise search software, is setting its sights on the eDiscovery market, saying this morning that it has created a new offering specifically aimed at the eDiscovery market. X1 said it has built a solution, based on its X1 enterprise search technology and professional services, called X1 eDiscovery Search Suite. The new tool is focused on helping companies who need to produce electronic documents, due to lawsuits. Cost of the new softw (More info...)
posted on Monday, January 26, 2009(Full story)