Wednesday, October 21, 2009Ixia Buys Agilent Product Line For $44MCalabasas-based Ixia said Wednesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to buy a product line from Agilent Technologies, in a deal worth $44M in cash. According to Ixia, it will acquire Agilent's N2X Data Networks Product Line, as part of a move to accelerate the firm's growth. The firm said it was advised by Moelis & Company and Bryan Cave LLP in the deal. Agilent's N2X Data Networks product line is used for testing and validating next generation networking equipment, including voice-over (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Geni Hit By DowntimeLos Angeles-based Geni, the online family tree and genealogy web site started by David Sacks, was hit by unexpected downtime Tuesday and today, the firm told its users Wednesday afternoon. According to Geni, it had "network difficulties" starting the morning of Tuesday, October 20th, with the firm taking the site down at 3:45PM to investigate. The company said it managed to get the service back online at 4:30am Wednesday. No reason for the downtime was given, however, the downtime at Geni parall (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
SpaceX Test Fires Falcon 9 RocketHawthorne-based SpaceX, the space rocket startup headed by former PayPal founder Elon Musk, and backed by Founders Fund and Draper Fisher Jurvetson, disclosed Wednesday that it has completed two successful test firings of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The firm said the testing was conducted twice this month, and are the first part of acceptance testing before launch in Cape Canaveral. Falcon 9 is SpaceX's newest rocket, and is part of an effort to meet a NASA contract to transport supplies to and (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Pathology Inc. Gets Debt FundingTorrance-based Pathology Inc., a provider of pathology and molecular diagnostics services, has scored both a term loan and revolving line of credit from ORIX Venture Finance, ORIX said Wednesday. Terms and amount of the funding were not disclosed. According to ORIX, the financing was used as a part of the recapitalization of the company by ABS Capital. ABS Capital announced the recap deal last Tuesday, although no financial details were released. Pathology Inc. provides pathology services to pri (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Orqis Medical Assets Go On The BlockThe physical assets of Lake Forest-based Orqis Medical, a venture backed firm which was developing treatments for congestive heart failure, are slated to go up for auction next week, according to auctioneer CowanAlexander. According to CowanAlexander, it is putting up the firm's lab equipment, lab furniture, machine shop, tools, servers, PCs, and other assets up for sale on October 27th. Orqis failed to receive FDA approval on its treatments in August. The firm was backed by Boston Scientific, C (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
U.S. Dermatology Gets InvestmentIrvine-based U.S. Dermatology Medical Management, a provider of healthcare services for skin cancer treatment and other dermatological conditions, has scored an investment from Los Angeles-based Vicente Capital Partners, Vicente said today. Amount of the investment was not disclosed. According to Vicente Capital Partners, the investment is the third out of the firm's current, $165M fund. Jay Ferguson, Alain Rothstein, and David Casares of Vicente Capital all join U.S. Dermatology's board as part (More info...)
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RightSignature Launches Redesigned SiteSanta Barbara-based RightSignature, a startup providing an online, software-as-a-service offering for tracking signatures on documents, is launching a complete redesign of the firm's site today. According to RightSignature, the firm has created a new user interface, including the ability to fill out a form and capture handwritten signatures within a document online. The firm said its new, RightSignature 2.0 features the ability to embed real handwritten signatures within documents, allows users (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Demand Media Offering Health Care Benefits To FreelancersSanta Monica-based Demand Media, the new media venture of former MySpace chairman Richard Rosenblatt, said today that it has just published its one millionth piece of original content, and is launching an effort to extend health care benefits to freelancers creating that content for the firm. The firm claims that it is now one of the largest producers of content on the Web, distributing that to an audience of more than 80 million people. According to Demand Media, it now has more than 6,000 free (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Insights and Opinions: In the Midst of the Nuclear WinterFor our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Andy Wilson Managing Director and Founder of Momentum Venture Management (www.mvmpartners.com), a firm which helps early-stage companies achieve early business results in order to attract funding and create sustainable, successful businesses. He was also previously SVP of Global Product Management & General Manager of New Ventures at Overture Services before it was acquired by Yahoo! for $1.7 billion, and was President & COO of (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Interview with Gil Elbaz, FactualThis morning's interview is with Gil Elbaz, founder of Factual (www.factual.com), a new startup based here in Los Angeles focused on open data sharing and accuracy. Gil is one of the founders of Applied Semantics, the firm acquired by Google for its AdSense technology. We spoke with Gil about the purpose of Factual, and what it's trying to do.
What's your new startup all about, and why did you start the company?
Gil Elbaz: What we have been working on, and what we offer now, is a platform wh (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)
Buy.com Goes InternationalAliso Viejo-based online retailer Buy.com has made a major move into the international market today, and has opened up stores in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The e-commerce retailer said that the firm will also sell its items through eBay in those four countries, and has plans to open up sites in Italy and Spain--and eventually, worldwide. According to Buy.com, it has established local, in-country warehouses, and is providing localized product information and local currency s (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009(Full story)