Wednesday, May 5, 2010Transphorm Takes $20.2M From KCPBGoleta-based Transphorm, a stealth-mode firm developing hydrogen generating technology for the clean energy market, has raised $20.2M in a venture funding, according to a regulatory filing by the firm today. Source and details of the funding have not been released, however, Randy Komisar of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers is now listed as a board member at the firm. Transphorm is headed by Umesh Mishra, who is a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara Electrical & Computer Engi (More info...)
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Fisker Funding Target Up To $174.9MIrvine-based electric vehicle maker Fisker Automotive has now pulled in $100.7M in its latest funding round, now targeted at $174.9M, according to a regulatory filing from the firm today. The firm announced commitments for $115.3M in private equity funding in January. No details have been released by the firm. Fisker is backed by A123 Systems, Ace Investments, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. The firm said the investors were putting $115.3M into the company in January. At that time, the fir (More info...)
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BUZZMEDIA Further Boosts Sales TeamHollywood-based BUZZMEDIA, the parent company of Buzznet, Celebuzz, Stereogum, and a network of other sites, is in the midst of expansion, saying this week that it has hired on four new additions to the firm's advertising team. According to the firm, it has named Aisling McDonagh as Senior Sales Director, Todd Dufour as Head of Influencer Marketing & Talent Relations, and Judith Heimowitz and Mary Michael Marlo as Directors of Integrated Marketing. McDonagh joins from Prevention Magazine at Roda (More info...)
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ReachLocal Sets IPO Pricing RangeWoodland Hills-based ReachLocal has updated its IPO pricing range, indicating this week in an updated S-1 that it expects the initial pricing of its IPO to be between $17.00 and $19.00 per share. The firm is looking to IPO on the Nasdaq Global Market as RLOC. At $19.00 per share and 4,166,667 shares the offering would reap the firm around $91.0M in funds. ReachLocal's IPO is being underwritten by J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Piper Jaffray, Needham & Company LLC, and Gleacher & Company. (More info...)
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EcoMom Launches Green Shopping Site With Backing From Dave McClureLos Angeles-based EcoMom.com, a new site focused on "green" parenting and shopping, launched this morning, saying it will offer environmentally friendly products, community resources, and expert advice. The firm--which was originally known as Sprout Baby--said it is backed by angel investor Dave McClure. The company's founders are Jody Sherman and Kimberly Danek Pinkson. The firm said it counts pediatrician and author Dr. Alan Greene among its advisors.
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GoTV Networks Buys Division From Hands-On MobileLos Angeles-based GoTV Networks, a developer of mobile applications, said today that it has acquired the HOMBRE (Hands-On Mobile Binary Runtime Environment) division of Hands-On Mobile Inc. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. GoTV Networks said it will acquire the library of HOMBRE applications, client and server technologies, and patents, and will also hire HOMBRE's employees in San Francisco and San Diego. HOMBRE develops mobile titles that include Oprah Mobile, NASCAR Sprint Mobile (More info...)
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Interview with Yossi Vardi
It's our pleasure today to feature an interview with Yossi Vardi, one of Israel's best known high tech entrepreneurs. Yossi is much sought out by entrepreneurs both here, in Silicon Valley, and the rest of the world for his insights into startups, having backed Mirabilis (ICQ, sold to AOL), Answers.com (IPO), Tucows (IPO), and dozens of other successful startups. Yossi, who is co-chairing the upcoming Israel Conference (www.theisraelconference.org) here in Los Angeles next month, recently sat (More info...)
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Quantitative Micro Software Acquired By IHS For $40MIrvine-based Quantitative Micro Software, a developer of software used for economic forecasting, has been acquired by information provider IHS Inc. in a deal worth $40M. According to IHS, it will use the acquisition of Quantitative Micro Software (QMS) to give its customers access to a more comprehensive set of solutions. QMS develops a software package used for statistics, forecasting, and modeling by corporates, government agencies, researchers, and academics. The firm was founded in 1984 by D (More info...)
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Kofax Names CFOIrvine-based Kofax, a developer of document capture solutions, said today that it has appointed James ("Jamie") Arnold, Jr., as its new CFO. Arnold was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Nuance Communications, and also served at VP and Corporate Controller at Cadence Design Systems. Arnold also has held positions at Informix Software, Centura Software Corporation, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Arnold replaces Stefan Gaiser, who the firm said will stay on until the e (More info...)
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