Wednesday, December 8, 2010Factual Pulls In $25MSanta Monica-based Factual, the open dataset and API provider started by Gil Elbaz, announced this evening that it has raised $25M in a first round of funding. The funding was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Index Ventures, and also included Michael Ovitz and Ron Conway's SV Angel fund. As part of the funding, Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz, and Danny Rimer of Index Ventures have joined the company's board of directors. Factual said the new funding will accelerate its rate of growth, expa (More info...)
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TechForward Raises Another $800KLos Angeles-based TechForward, the provider of guaranteed buyback plans for consumer electronics which is headed by Jade Van Doren, has raised $800,000 in a debt financing, according to a recent regulatory filing by the firm. According to one of the firm's investors, the funding came from its existing investors. TechForward is backed by New Enterprise Associates and First Round Capital. TechForward provides a guaranteed buyback price to consumer electronics when users purchase new products from (More info...)
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Xfire Launches Game WageringLos Angeles-based Xfire, the online gaming site headed by John Maffei, said Wednesday that it has launched a beta of Xfire Arcade, the firm's virtual game wagering service today. Xfire--which is owned by Titan Gaming--said the Xfire Arcade will allow users to compete head to head in casual games, and wager virtual currency on match outcomes. Xfire said the new service awards prizes on a daily and weekly basis to users, and also allows users to use gWallet to earn virtual currency to enter tourna (More info...)
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SpaceX Dragon Returns To Earth, After Successful FlightHawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket firm run by technology mogul Elon Musk, said that its Dragon module has successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The return of the module completes the first, demonstration flight of the firm's technology for NASA, and makes it the first commercial company to return a spacecraft from low-earth orbit. SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral at 10:43 A.M. EST, and landed shortly after 2:00 P.M. EST off the coast of (More info...)
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SG Biofuels Names VPSan Diego-based SG Biofuels, the developer of bioenergy crops based on Jatropha, said today that it has named Miguel Motta as its Vice President of Marketing and Strategy. Motta was most recently at Monsanto Company, and also has served at Seminis. SG Biofuels is venture backed by Flint Hills Resources, Life Technologies, and others. The firm raised $9.4M for its technology in September.
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SpaceX Successfully LaunchesHawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, has had a successful launch of its Falcon 9 rocket, according to NASA this morning. NASA said that the Falcon 9 successfully launched at 10:43 a.m. EST, from the Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. The flight is the first demonstration flight for the Falcon 9 for NASA, which is looking to use the Falcon and its corresponding Dragon capsule to resupply the International Space Station. NASA said that the Drag (More info...)
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BlackLine Adds PartnerCalabasas-based BlackLine Systems, the developer of financial close software headed by Therese Tucker, reports today that it has signed on Outsource Partners International (OPI) as a partner. OPI is a provider of outsourcing services for finance and accounting firms. BlackLine said OPI will bring its automated account reconciliation and financial close software to its global client base, and also use the software itself for internal account reconciliation. OPI has offices in the US, India, UK, B (More info...)
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Boingo Wireless Extends To Chicago's Soldier FieldLos Angeles-based Wi-Fi provider Boingo Wireless said this morning that it is launching Wi-Fi service at Chicago's Soldier Field, in a deal with entertainment and venue management SMG and the Chicago Park District. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Boingo said it will provide its Wi-Fi service throughout Soldier Field, including in restaurants, seating areas, premium suites, and other areas. Boingo said it will offer up hourly, daily, and monthly subscriptions to users at the loc (More info...)
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AeroVironment Gets $4.9M OrderMonrovia-based AeroVironment, the developer of unmanned aerial vehicles and electric vehicle charging technology, said today that it has received a $4.9M order from the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation. According to Aerovironment, the contract is for the firm's Raven small unmanned aircraft systems, spares, training services, and logistics support. The Raven is AeroVironment's 4.2-pound surveillance and reconnaissance system, which is being used for base security, route reconnaissance, m (More info...)
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Netflix, Disney-ABC TV In Streaming DealNetflix and Disney-ABC Television Group announced this morning that the two are in a new, licensing agreement, which will allow Netflix to stream episodes from the ABC Television Network, Disney Channel, and ABC Family over the Internet. According to the firms, episodes will be made available on Netflix no earlier than 15 days after initial telecast. Titles include "Grey's Anatomy", "Desperate Housewives", "Brothers & Sisters", "Lost", "Ugly Betty", "Phinease and Ferb", "Good Luck Charlie", "The (More info...)
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Sofie Biosciences Gets $2MCulver City-based Sofie Biosciences, a firm developing agents and devices for molecular imaging, said today that it has raised $2M in funding. The round came from Cycad Group and other investors. Sofie Biosciences technology is being applied to new imaging agents for PET. The firm said the new funding is its first institutional and large corporate financing for the firm. Sofie Biosciences' founders include Dr. Michael Phelps, Chairman of the Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at UCL (More info...)
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Cramster Acquired By CheggPasadena-based Cramster, the online homework help site started by Aaron Hawkey, Robert Angarita and Kaveh Golabi, has been acquired by Chegg, Chegg announced today. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Chegg said the acquisition will add to Chegg's textbook rental and course planning services. Cramster is an online community of users interested in discussing homework; getting homework help; and practicing for tests. The firm had raised around $9M in funding, from Primera Capital and Sh (More info...)
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DivX TV Launches On LGSan Diego-based DivX, which is now owned by Sonic Solutions, said today that it has launched DivX TV, a new entertainment service, on Blue-ray Disc players and home theater systems from LG. DivX TV offers a library of video content, including Internet videos, original web programming, and other content, for playback on consumer electronic devices. DivX said it is offering up content from such sites as Howcast, Funny or Die, Video Detective, and other online sites via its service.
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