Monday, June 14, 2010Amonix Names CFO, DirectorsSeal Beach-based Amonix, the heavily backed manufacturer of concentrated photovoltaic solar power systems, said today that it has named a new CFO and two independent directors. The firm--which recently scored a huge, $129.4M funding round from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and others--said it has named Patrick McCullough as its Chief Financial Officer, and named Matthew Ryan and Michael Skelly as directors. McCullough was most recently at IMI Severe Service Division, and also served at Berksh (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 14, 2010(Full story)
Activision Turns To Name Brand MusiciansSanta Monica-based Activision said today that it is turning to a number of well known recording artists for the soundtracks to its upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops, DJ Hero 2, Guitar Hero: Warrior of Rock, and True Crime: Hong Kong. The firm said it will tap music from Usher, Eminem, Soundgarden, Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Jane's Addiction, Deadmau5 and Z-Trip as part of its fall title line. David Guetta, DeadMau5, and Z-Trip will all be featured on DJ Hero 2. Soundgarden will debut an unr (More info...)
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Insights and Opinions: Returns from Southern California IT IPO's 1995-2009For our latest Insights and Opinions
column, we have the second part of Jon Funk's analysis of the return on Southern California IT startups, and how they have created value for investors. Funk has been an early stage venture capitalist at Allegis Capital, and was an investor in Sandpiper Networks, Rent.com and Shopzilla.
Earlier this year, socalTECH.com profiled a study of the financial outcomes of 700+ southern California IT startups from 1995-2009, and how they have created value fo (More info...)
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Paciolan Renews UNLVIrvine-based online ticketing system firm Paciolan reported today that it has extended a long-term contract with UNLVtickets of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. UNLV has been using the firm to manage in-house sales at the Thomas and Mack Center, Sam Boyd Stadium, Cox Pavilion, and other regional venues. Financial terms of the contract extension were not disclosed. Paciolan is a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor.
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Cytori Gets $20M In Loan FacilitySan Diego-based Cytori Therapeutics, a developer of medical devices and instruments for the cosmetic and reconstructive surgery market, announced today that it has received $20M in a loan facility. The facility came from GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services, Oxford Finance Corporation, and Silicon Valley Bank. The firm said the funding will go towards commercialization and clinical development activities in Europe, Asia and the United States.
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Starbucks To Open Wi-Fi AccessCoffee chain Starbucks, the second home of startup entrepreneurs and frequent makeshift offices of many a startup or technology professional in town, is going to open up free Wi-Fi for its customers. According to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the firm has recognized its customers desire for a better, in-store Wi-Fi experience, and will offer one-click, free Wi-Fi as of July 1st in its U.S. stores. The free wireless will be available from AT&T. Previously, Starbucks customers were required to hav (More info...)
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MP Biomedicals Buys New Zealand FirmSanta Ana-based MP Biomedicals, a diversified manufacturer of life sciences products, said this morning that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire New Zealand firm ICPbio International LTD, in an asset deal. ICPbio is a manufacturer of protein biologics. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed.
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Factual Partners With NewsweekLos Angeles-based Factual, the open data startup headed by former Google engineering director Gil Elbaz, said this weekend it has partnered with Newsweek on a "America's Best Public High School" initiative. The firm said that Newsweek and Factual will enhance Newsweek's list with a mix of proprietary and open data. Newsweek said that the partnership with Factual will allow students and faculty of individual schools can comment and contribute information about their schools. Financial details of (More info...)
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THQ Drastically Lowers Sales GuidanceAgoura Hills-based videogame maker THQ has drastically lowered its sales guidance, saying early this morning that it has updated fiscal guidance for its fiscal first quarter ending June 30th and fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, due to "lower than anticipated sales" of its title UFC Undisputed 2010, plus a strengthening US dollar. THQ said that it now expects its non-GAAP net sales for its fiscal first quarter to be between $155M and $165M, well below the previously expected $190M to $200M in f (More info...)
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SpaceX Wins Satellite ContractHawthorne-based SpaceX, on the heels of the firm's successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, announced over the weekend that it has signed a contract with the National Space Organization (NSPO) to launch an Earth Observation Satellite, Formosat-5. Financial scope of the launch contract was not announced. Space Exploration Technologies said that the Formosat-5 satellite will be used for an image data service for civilian users, and also for space research and scientific experiment instruments. Fo (More info...)
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Ixia Links With Deutsche TelekomCalabasas-based telecom test equipment provider Ixia reported today that it is assisting Deutsche Telekom in the testing of a new, 100 Gbps network. Ixia said that the telecom firm is using its products to test interoperability, performance, and features of 100Gbps networking equipment. Size of the win was not announced.
posted on Monday, June 14, 2010(Full story)
Occam Deploys In FloridaSanta Barbara-based Occam Networks, a developer of broadband telecom equipment, said today that it has signed Hardee County, Florida, as a customer. Occam said that the county will deploy its Occam BLC 6000 products to bring broadband to 2,800 homes and 800 businesses in the county, as part of the Hardee County Broadband Project. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Occam's equipment is used by rural telecom firms to extend broadband to their customers.
posted on Monday, June 14, 2010(Full story)