Tuesday, September 8, 2009SpaceX Lands Satellite ContractHawthorne-based SpaceX, the space rocket venture headed by Elon Musk, reported Tuesday afternoon that it has gained a contract to launch an Earth observation satellite from Astrium. Financial details of the contract were not announced. SpaceX said that the launch will occur on its Falcon 1e launch vehicle, with the satellite payload coming from either Astrium or subsidiary Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL). Planned launch date for the satellite was not disclosed. SpaceX is funded by the Founder (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009(Full story)
EduFire Heads North, Gains FundingeduFire, an startup which offers online video classes, apparently has relocated to Menlo Park from Santa Monica, after raising $1.3M in a Series A funding. The firm's web site now lists Menlo Park as its headquarters, after it raised funding from Battery Ventures, Western Technology Investment, and angel Gokul Rajaram. The firm's CEO, Jon Bischke, did not respond to emails for comment.
posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009(Full story)
Kofax Buys Software FirmIrvine-based Kofax, a developer of document management software, said over the weekend that it has acquired 170 Systems, a venture backed provider of financial process automation software. The deal was worth $32.9M. 170 Systems is based in Boston, Mass., and has about 140 employees; the firm was venture backed by Polaris Venture Partners.
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Novatel Deploys MiFi In SingaporeSan Diego-based Novatel Wireless has deployed the firm's mobile hotspot product, MiFi, in Singapore, the firm said over the weekend. Novatel said that MobileOne, a mobile operator based in Singapore and associated with Vodafone, is offerings its mobile hotspot product to consumers in the country. Novatel's MiFi--which is being heavily promoted by Verizon--allows users to create their own, personal Wi-Fi hotspots using a cell phone connection. Novatel said the new product will be available from M (More info...)
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Disney Interactive Buys Game StudioBurbank-based Disney Interactive Studios said today that it has acquired Wideload Games, a Chicago-based developer of interactive entertainment. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. As part of the buy, Disney said that Wideload's founder and CEO, Alexander Seropian, has joined the firm as Vice President of Creative, and will relocate to Glendale. Seropian is known for founding Bungie Software, and creating the firm's Halo series. Disney said that Seropian also negotiated the ac (More info...)
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Interview with Lee Essner, AccessDNALast month, AccessDNA (www.accessdna.com) announced it had raised an angel round of funding for the firm's shopping engine for genetic tests. We sat down with Lee Essner, the firm's CEO and founder, to chat about the company. Essner was most recently EVP at WeddingChannel.com, and he tells us why he thinks now is the right time for the firm's services.
What is AccessDNA all about?
Lee Essner: At AccessDNA, we like to think of ourselves as the WebMD of genetics. We've got a built-in shoppin (More info...)
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ValenTx Raises $22M In Series BCarpinteria-based ValenTx, a developer of medical devices for addressing morbid obesity, announced today that it has raised $22M in a Series B financing round. The round was led by SV Life Sciences, and also included Covidien Ventures, Sapient Capital, EDF Ventures, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Affinity Capital Partners, and TGAP Ventures. The firm said the funding would go towards clinical and regulatory development and commercialization. Paul LaViolette of SV Life Sciences joins the firm's boar (More info...)
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Ixia Rolls Out Wireless Network Testing For LTECalabasas-based network testing equipment firm Ixia said today that the firm has begun to offer a combined, large scale wireless network testing solution for long term evolution (LTE) networks, out of the firm's June acquisition of Catapult Communications. The firm said its products now offer wireless testing for large scale LTE (long term evolution), UMTS, IMS, and CPRS/EDGE networks. Ixia claims it is first to market with a solution which can provide network, device, and traffic emulation for (More info...)
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WiSpry Expands BoardIrvine-based WiSpry, a developer of RF CMOS chips for the wireless market, announced today that it has added Kari-Pekka "K.P." Wilska to its board. Wilska is the former President of Nokia North America. Wilska also serves on the boards of BlackSand, Brightpoint, 724 Solutions, and Mavenir Systems.
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DivX Loses Board MemberSan Diego-based DivX said late Friday that board member Jerry Murdock has resigned. Murdock is a managing director at Insight Venture Partners, and joined the firm's board of directors in 2005. Murdock will leave the company's board effective December 31st. Murdock joined the DivX board as part of a financing round, prior to the firm's IPO.
posted on Tuesday, September 8, 2009(Full story)