Thursday, December 16, 2010Virgin Galactic Aims At Orbital FlightsNot satisfied with the firm's plans to provide suborbital space tourism flights, Mojave-based Virgin Galactic said Thursday that it is now supporting work by Sierra Nevada Space Systems and Orbital Sciences, on commercial space vehicles to support orbital flights. Virgin Galactic said it is hoping to allow fare-paying passengers to experience safe, orbital space flight. Sierra Nevada Space Systems and Orbital Sciences are both working on reusable vehicles aimed at providing privately-operated, c (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
ScoreBig Finds $8.5MLos Angeles-based ScoreBig, an online, members-only service which provides discounts on sports, concert, and theater events, said Thursday that it has raised new funding for the firm. According to the company, the new round brings its total raised to $8.5M. The funding was led by Bain Capital Ventures. ScoreBig is headed by Adam Kanner, who was formerly at the National Basketball Association, along with Joel Milne, who was founder of SeasonTicket.com. In addition to Bain, the firm says its inves (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 (More)(Full story)
Specialists On Call Finds $11.73MWestlake Village-based Specialists On Call, a firm developing a service to provide physician specialists to urban, suburban, and other hospitals via videoconferencing, has raised around $11.73M in a series of fundings, according to regulatory filings by the firm this week. According to the firm, it raised $6.88M in a Series C funding, and $4.85M in a Series D convertible debt round over the last couple of years. Names of investors, and details on the funding have not been announced by the compan (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 (More)(Full story)
Chumby Launches On AndroidSan Diego-based Chumby Industries, the maker of Internet-enabled, application-capable devices, said this week that it has launched a new version of its product for Android. According to the firm, its app--available on the Android Market for $4.99--brings the firm's software to Android 2.2 devices. Chumby's software runs mini apps for viewing stock quotes, weather, video clips, slide show, and other information.
,/p>
Chumby said the addition of Android support is the first of many launches whi (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
CampusExplorer Gets $5MSanta Monica-based Campus Explorer, which provides an online resource on universities, colleges, student loans, housing, and more to students, has raised $5M in a Series C funding round, according to a source near the firm. The funding came from Vicente Capital Partners, OCA Venture Partners, and Origin Ventures. Klaus Koch led the investment for Vicente Capital. CampusExplorer is headed by Jerry Slavonia, who was previously part of the executive at Rent.com when it was acquired by eBay. CampusE (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 (More)(Full story)
TCA's Ralph Mayer Joins Angel Capital Association BoardRalph Mayer, most recently the chairman of angel group the Tech Coast Angels, has just been appointed to the Angel Capital Association's board of directors, the group said Thursday. Mayer heads up the TCA's San Diego network, and also sits on the board of Airsis. Mayer was one of five new board directors added to the ACA's board. The Angel Capital Association is an umbrella group organizing the many individual angel investment groups in the nation; the group has had a long association with the T (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
Mogreet: Verizon, iPhone Users Top On VideoVenice, California-based Mogreet, the mobile video and advertising firm headed by James Citron, reports today that its analysis finds that users on Verizon Wireless, and those using iPhones, are the top mobile video users. The firm found that 36.8 percent of the views of its mobile marketing campaigns were by Verizon Wireless users, followed by 31.4 percent on AT&T. In terms of handset type, it found 7.4 percent of the mobile video messages were viewed on the Apple iPhone, followed by LG's env3, (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
ReachLocal Launches ReachCastWoodland Hills-based ReachLocal, the provider of online marketing services for small and medium sized businesses, said today that it has launched a new product called ReachCast. According to the firm, the new product provides Web presence management to its customers, helping customers to drive their online search discovery, manage their reputation, and also manage social media marketing. ReachLocal said the new offering includes an expert professional to set up the solution, and will help busine (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
GotCast Launches Casting For Mercedes-BenzSanta Monica-based GotCast, the online casting site headed by Alec Shankman, said today that it has launched a new social media campaign with Mercedes-Benz. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mercedes-Benz posted the campaign today, saying it is looking for four teams of "Twitter-savvy" auto enthusiasts, who will race from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Tampa to the Super Bowl in Dallas, to win a Mercedez Benz 2012 C-Class Coupe. Calling it the "social-media-driven opportunity (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
Ondax Raises $2M MoreMonrovia-based Ondax, a developer of optical filters and laser sources based on research out of the California Institute of Technology, has raised $2M in a Series E investment. According to the Pasadena Angels, one of the investors in the firm, the round also included the Tech Coast Angels and un-named venture capital firms. The Pasadena Angels said the funding will go towards expanding and growing Ondax's optic solutions. Ondax develops laser solutions and volume holographic gratings used in de (More info...)
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 (More)(Full story)
MySpace, Google Renew Search, Advertising DealLos Angeles-based MySpace and search engine giant Google announced today that the two have renewed their search and advertising deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to the two, Google will continue to power MySpace's search and search advertising, and will also provide additional display advertising services for MySpace. The display ad deal includes participation in Google's Display Network and DoubleClick Ad Exchange.
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
Gen-Probe Buys GTI DiagnosticsSan Diego-based Gen-Probe has acquired GTI Diagnostics, a specialty diagnostics firm focused on the transplantation, blood bank and specialty coagulation markets, the firm said Wednesday. The deal was worth $53M in cash. GTI was owned by private equity firm Riverside Company and other investors.
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
MeLLmo Names Marketing VPSan Diego-based MeLLmo, the developer of the Roambi mobile software which allows users to view their business data from their iPhone or iPad, said today that it has named Kirk Cunningham as its Vice President of Marketing. Cunningham was most recently at Infommersion, and also has served at Estee Lauder, InterPacket Networks, and Crossfield Marketing.
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)
Shop.com Acquired By Market AmericaShop.com, an online comparison shopping website with operations in Pasadena, has been acquired. Market America, an Internet marketing firm based in Greensboro, N.C., announced the acquisition Wednesday, but did not reveal any financial terms. According to Market America, it will continue to maintain Shop.com's Pasadena offices, along with Shop.com's Monterey headquarters. Shop.com was backed by Oak Investment Partners, Bill Gates, and Amazon.com.
posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010(Full story)