Monday, February 9, 2009QAD Sees Slowdown, Revises EstimatesSanta Barbara-based QAD, which develops enterprise resource planning software for the manufacturing industry, said late Monday evening that it is revising its fiscal 2009 estimates, as it sees a weakening global economy. The firm said that it expects its fiscal 2009 revenues to be between $261M to $263M, down from a prior expectation of $274M to $278M, because of a slowdown in the manufacturing sector. The firm said that global manufacturing companies--its customers--face "significant challenges (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
AeroVironment Gains $16.8M OrderMonrovia, California-based AeroVironment, which develops unmanned aircraft systems for the military, disclosed Monday that the firm has raised $16.8M in a contract with the U.S. Army. AeroVironment said that the $16,758,776 order came for fifty of its Raven unmanned aircraft systems. The firm said the order also includes digital data retrofit kits for 206 existing Raven systems. The firm's Raven is a 4.2 pound, unmanned aircraft which is used for battlefield surveillance.
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
PowerGenix Hires New CFOSan Diego-based PowerGenix, which develops rechargeable, Nickel-Zinc batteries, said today that it has added John Creelman as the firm's Chief Financial Officer. Creel joins the firm from ID Analytics, where he was also CFO. He has also served at Copper Mountain Networks, Western Digital, and MTI Technology. PowerGenix is venture backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Advent International, Angeleno Group, Braemar Energy Ventures, Granite Ventures, OnPoint Technologies and Technology Partners.
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
Insights & Opinions: Frank Peters, Screening For SuccessToday's insights & opinion column comes from Frank Peters, Chairman
Emeritus of the Tech Coast Angels, and podcaster at the Frank Peters Show
(www.frankpetersshow.com). Frank takes a look at the angel investing
process, and thinks about how to make it better:
There must be a better way. I've been an angel investor for more than 10
years now; clobbered by the Internet Bubble and now this. If I claimed I'd
lost 40% of my net worth no one would be surprised, I'd be in good
company. To he (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
Interview: Venture Capitalists On PitchingFor this morning's interview, we thought we'd try something different, and put together a virtual panel of venture capitalists to give us a few tips on pitching your company. We brought together Peter Cowen of Groundwork Equity, Mark Suster of GRP Partners, Rick Smith of Crosscut Ventures, and Richard Yen of Saban Ventures -- all of who will be on the judging panel for the Tech Coast Angel's Fast Pitch on February 24th, to give us a their hints and tips about pitching to venture capitalists. Th (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
FatTail Launches Online Advertising SoftwareWoodland Hills-based FatTail, the online advertising firm venture backed by Velocity Interactive Group, announced this morning that the firm has rolled out PageGage, a new product which helps to optimize online ad sales operations for publishers. According to FatTail, the new software provides yield management, automated inventory forecasting and sales proposal generation for publishers. The new software expands FatTail's target market beyond the top tier publishers who are using the firm's exis (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
Continous Computing Launches Services BusinessSan Diego-based Continuous Computing, a provider of telecom and wireless software, disclosed today that the firm is launching a new solutions and services business. The firm said the new solutions-focused business will help deliver customized, fully-integrated applications to network equipment providers. Continuous Computing previously licensed its software to wireless hardware firms, who would implement it in their products. The firm said the new service comes as it finds that network equipment (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
Break Taps Quantcast For Demographic DataLos Angeles-based Break Media, which operates a online network of web properties focused on men, announced this morning that it is teaming up with Quantcast to collect demographic information about its sites. Financial arrangements of the deal were not disclosed, however Break said it will implement Quantcast's Publisher service across its video distribution network. The service will collect demographic data about who is viewing the firm's web videos. Break's male-oriented content web sites incl (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009(Full story)
Sendio Raises $3MIrvine-based Sendio, which develops email spam filtering appliances, announced this morning that it has raised $3M in a Series B funding round. The round was led by Athenian Venture Partners, and also included Vicente Capital Partners (formerly Kline Hawkes), Shepherd Ventures and Momentum Venture Management. Francois Helou of Athenian Venture Partners joins the company's board as part of the funding. Sendio said the new investment will go towards expanding sales and marketing for the firm. Send (More info...)
posted on Monday, February 9, 2009 (More)(Full story)