Monday, December 21, 2009Metaplace To Shut Virtual Worlds ServiceSan Diego-based Metaplace, a developer of virtual world software, told its users Monday that it is shutting down its service, effective January 1st. The firm, which is headed by Raph Koster, told its users that its service is "not gaining enough traction to be a viable product." As a result, will close its online virtual worlds service. The firm said it will be continuing on with unspecified "big plans." Metaplace offered an online service which allowed anyone to create their own virtual world; (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Six Degrees Partners For Moderation SoftwareMarina Del Rey-based Six Degree Games, which runs the Action AllStars online virtual world for tweens and teens, said today that it is tapping a software product from Crisp Thinking to help moderate its online environment. Six Degree said the NetModerator product from Crisp Thinking can identify and block predators, bullies, and other threats to its online game. Financial details of the deal between the firms was not disclosed. Six Degrees is venture backed by Clearstone Venture Partners, Prism (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
WebVisible Names New VPIrvine-based WebVisible, which helps small and mid-sized businesses to place online advertising, said today that it has named Doug LaBahn as the firm's Vice President of Product. LaBahn has previously served as VP of Strategy and Innovation at Experian, and has also served at Dun & Bradstreet. The firm said the LaBahn will head up the firm's product team.
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
AeroVironment Gets $23.9M OrderMonrovia-based Aerovironment, a manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, reported Monday that it has received a $23.9M order from the Army and Marine Corps, covering upgrades to the firm's Raven Systems. The firm said the order cover upgrade of existing analog Raven systems being used by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, to upgrade those systems with use a more efficient digital data link. The contact also covers adding signal encryption to the UAVs--an area which has gained a fair amount of (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Ambit Deal With Astellas Pharma Worth As Much As $350MSan Diego-based Ambit Biosciences inked a deal Friday with Astellas Pharma Inc., where Astellas will pay the firm $40M in cash, and up to $350M in pre-commercialization milestones, in a joint partnership to develop and commercialize Ambit's FLT3 kinase inhibitors. According to Ambit and Astellas, the deal also includes post-approval milestones dependent on sales thresholds, as well as tiered, double-digit royalties on net sales of products based on Ambit's AC220 products. Ambit's compound is be (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Hulu Adds Captions SearchLos Angeles-based online video site Hulu announced today that the firm has added a new feature which allows users to search the captions of the shows on its service. According to the site, users can search from the captions on show, through a "captions" tab under any video with captioning. The new feature also shows a popular "heat map" of where people are going from those searches. Hulu is taking advantage of the fact that many of its shows--from TV networks--include closed captioning for the d (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Mobile Security Firms With Roots at USC Gets $5.5MLookout, a firm developing security software for mobile phones and started by two recent USC graduates, has raised $5.5M in a funding, the firm said Monday. According to firm, it raised the new round of funding this month from Khosla Ventures,Trilogy Partnership, and angel investors Phil Paul (Paul Capital Partners), Chris Sacca (Google), and Joseph Ansanelli (Vontu). Lookout, formerly known as Flexilis, was based in Los Angeles, however, apparently is now headquartered in San Francisco. The fir (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Passenger Links With Facebook, TwitterLos Angeles-based Passenger, a developer of online, private communities for brands, said today that it has linked its service with Facebook and Twitter. The firm said community members can now share activities within its communities on those two social networking services. Passenger operates online communities being used by brands to collect consumer feedback and information. The firm said the new integration features are optional, and can fully be controlled by brand community managers using it (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
California Stem Cell Raises Series BIrvine-based California Stem Cell, a manufacturer of human stem cells, said today that it has raised a Series B round of funding. Amount of funding, and the investors, was not disclosed by the company. The firm said the new funding will go to support the advancement of its products toward human clinical trials, plus towards generation and distribution of its tools. California Stem Cell is developing stem cell products for both research, as well as a product for treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy ( (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Inovio Biomedical Expands Scientific Advisory BoardSan Diego-based Inovio Biomedical announced this morning that it has added Iacob Mathiesen, Ph.D. to its Scientific Advisory Board. Mathiesen was previously managing director of Inovio's Norwegian subsidiary, Inovio AS. The firm said that Mathiesen is an expert in the field of electroporation delivery of biopharmaceuticals.
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Clearstone Portfolio Firm Meru Networks Files for IPOA portfolio firm of Santa Monica-based Clearstone Ventures, Meru Networks, filed for an IPO late Friday night, saying it is looking to go public on the NYSE. The Silicon Valley firm, which is 21.0% owned by Clearstone Ventures, said it would look to raise up to $86.25M in an IPO underwritten by BofA Merrill Lynch, Baird, Cowen and Company, JMP Securities LLC, and ThinkEquity LLC. Clearstone's William Quigley sits on Meru's board of directors. Meru develops enterprise wireless LAN networking prod (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Citysearch Rolls Android AppWest Hollywood-based Citysearch, the online local business guide operated by IAC, said this morning that it has rolled out a new mobile application fro Google Android. The firm said that its new Mobile by Citysearch app allows Android users to search for local business listings and post business reviews from their mobile device. The firm said the new, GPS-enabled app is available for free from the Android Market.
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)
Information Superbrand Names Tal Golan CEOIrvine-based Information Superbrand, an Internet marketing firm, is announcing this morning that it has named Tal Golan as the firm's CEO. Golan was most recently founder of Sendio, and has founded OpticNerve, as well as serving at the Multimedia and Digital Video Laboratory at Pixel Multimedia in Tel Aviv. The firm said that Golan remains on the board of directors of Sendio.
posted on Monday, December 21, 2009(Full story)