Monday, March 8, 2010Image Metrics Releases Facial Animation SoftwareLos Angeles-based Image Metrics said Monday that it has launched its facial animation technology product, FACEWARE. The new software is based on existing services the firm offers to game developers. The company also said the new package is being used in-house by game developer Bungie, the developer of HALO. Pricing on the new facial animation software was not released, and the firm did not say what the impact of the Bungie win was to the firm. Image Metrics' FACEWARE works with existing 3D soft (More info...)
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Counterpoint Systems Expands In Los AngelesCounterpoint Systems, a developer of software for rights management, royalty accounting, and product licensing, said today that it is expanding its U.S. operations, which are headquartered in Los Angeles. The firm said it is both moving into larger offices, and adding staff, though it did not say how many people it expects to hire in the new office. The company said the Los Angeles expansion comes because of "strong sales" in its music, media, and consumer products/brand licensing divisions. Cou (More info...)
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Testronic Labs Targets Casual, Social GamingBurbank-based Testronic Labs, a provider of provider of quality assurance services for the video game, home entertainment, and other industries, has launched a new division specifically focused on casual and social games. According to an executive at the firm, its new division, which is based in Burbank, will focus on testing game content, functionality, usability, browser compatibility, and other aspects of casual and social gaming. The firm also said it will offer QA script authoring, performa (More info...)
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MaxLinear Sets IPO RangeCarlsbad-based MaxLinear, a developer of radio frequency analog and mixed signal semiconductors, set its pricing range on its IPO Friday, saying that it will offer 5.43 million shares of its stock at between $11 and $13 per share. The firm is looking to trade on the NYSE as MXL. The IPO is being underwritten by Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank Securities, UBS Investment Bank, Thomas Weisel Partners, and Needham & Company. MaxLinear is venture backed by USVP, Battery Ventures, Mission Ventures, UM (More info...)
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Verimatrix Snags Motorola Vet As CTOSan Diego-based Verimatrix has snagged a Motorola vet as its new Chief Technology Officer, the firm said today. The firm said it has named Petr Peterka, formerly a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff in the CTO's office at Motorola's Home and Networks Mobility Team to the position. Peterka is active in the DECE, DLNA CPS, ATIS, SMPTE, Coral, DVB, ITU-T and other standards organizations, specifically working on digital rights management (DRM0 systems. Verimatrix is a developer of DRM sof (More info...)
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Broadcom Invests In TileraIrvine-based Broadcom has invested in Tilera, a developer of high performance, multicore processors. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. According to Tilera, Broadcom Senior Vice president of Infrastructure Technologies, Nariman Yousefi, has joined the company's board. Tilera develops RISC-based, multicore processors for networking, wireless, and multimedia infrastructure.
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US Renewables Group Launches Wind Power FirmSanta Monica-based US Renewables Group, a private equity firm focused on renewable power, biofuels, and clean technology, said this morning it has created a new company, Westerly Wind LLC, to provide capital and expertise to developers of wind power systems. The firm said the new company will be headed by Joe Cofelice, who has previously served as President of Catamount Energy Corporate and CEO of American National Power, Inc. US Renewables Group did not say how it has capitalized Westerly Wind. (More info...)
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Sendio Wins Nigerian BankNewport Beach-based Sendio, a provider of an appliance and software used to prevent unwanted spam and email messages, said today that it has signed Access Bank, Nigeria's seventh largest bank by assets, as a client. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Sendio said Access Bank will use the firm from email system protection. Sendio's email appliance uses a technique called sender address verification, which requires that users either approve the email senders they would like to receive m (More info...)
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Rubicon Project Extends Into Mobile AdsLos Angeles-based Rubicon Project is extending into mobile advertising, the firm said today, with a new mobile ad optimization product. According to Rubicon Project, its new REVV for Mobile (RFM) product will provide mobile ad serving, campaign management, and ad network optimization on mobile ad impressions. The firm said the new mobile offering comes from a partnership with mOcean Mobile. Rubicon's new product provides automation of mobile advertising, based on eCPM, click through rates, and f (More info...)
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Citysearch Invests In OrangeSoda, Launches Online Local Advertising ServiceWest Hollywood-based Citysearch, the online local business guide owned by IAC, announced today that it has launched a new online advertising service for local businesses called CityGrid Complete. According to Citysearch, it made an investment in OrangeSoda to build the new service. OrangeSoda is a provider of online search marketing services and search engine optimization. Financial terms of the strategic investment were not disclosed. The new offering will provide SEO services and content adver (More info...)
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Broadcom Completes Teknovus BuyIrvine-based Broadcom announced this morning it has completed its $123M acquisition of Teknovus, a supplier of Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) chipsets and software. The all-cash deal had originally been announced February 3rd.
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AeroVironment Names CTO, VPMonrovia-based AeroVironment, a developer of unamnned aerial vehicles and energy products, said late Friday that it has named Tom Herring as its Senior Vice President and General Manager of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) businesss, and also named John Grabowsky as its Chief Technology Officer. Grabowsky was previously GM of the UAS segment. Herring was most recently at BAE Systems, where he was VP and GM of BAE Systems Integrated Solutions unit; Herring had been at BAE Systems for 27 years.
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Isis Gets $6M From Bristol-Myers SquibbCarlsbad-based Isis Pharmaceuticals, a firm developing antisense drugs for treating cardiovascular, metabolic and severe neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer, said this morning it has earned $6M in a milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The firm said the payment came due to acceptance of initial regulatory filings to begin Phase I clinical studies for a drug targeted at lowering LDL cholesterol. The firm's BMS-PCSK9Rx drug is a collaboration between Isis and Bristol-Myers Squib (More info...)
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Active Network Names CFOSan Diego-based The Active Network has named a new Chief Financial Officer, Scott Mendel. The firm announced today that Mendel has joined the firm from General Electric, where he had served for over 20 years. Mendel was most recently Chief Financial Officer of GE's Healthcare IT division. Active Network is an operator of a wide range of marketing and events management, sports community sites, and local event registration web sites.
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