Monday, March 21, 2011Open Angel Forum Heads Back To SeattleThe Open Angel Forum, the angel investor group started by Jason Calacanis, said Monday that it is heading back to Seattle for an investment meeting. Calacanis started the Open Angel Forum last year in an attempt to offer entrepreneurs an not-for-fee way to connect with high quality angel investors. The group also has been running meetings in Los Angeles, Boston, Boulder, New York, London, and Silicon Valley, among other locations.
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
BeachMint Looks To Groupon For JewelMint PromoSanta Monica-based BeachMint, the new startup from MySpace co-founder Josh Berman, is looking to drum up interest for its jewelry site, JewelMint, via a Groupon deal in LA. JewelMint, which BeachMint runs in conjunction with Kate Bosworth and celebrity stylist Cher Coulter, offers up a personalized jewelry shopping site, and is the first in a series of planned celebrity co-branded sites from BeachMint. As of Monday afternoon, only about 228 people had taken advantage of the offer, which is for $ (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
Specific Media Expands UK OfficeIrvine-based Specific Media, which operates an Internet advertising network, said Monday that it has expanded its UK office staff. According to the company, it has added Daniel Stephenson as Senior Director of Category Development. Stephenson joins from the UK government's Central Office of Information (COI).
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
MaxLinear Adds Board MemberCarlsbad-based MaxLinear, the developer of radio frequency and mixed signal integrated circuits, said this morning that it has named Steven C. Craddock to its board of directors. Craddock has previously been at Comcast and a Senior Vice President, and also has been on the boards of Microtune and a number of other unnamed privately held firms. Craddock replaces venture capitalist Ken Lawler of Battery Ventures, who was the lead of MaxLinear's final round of venture capital back in 2006.
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
Former Monty Banker Kevin Covert Launches Investment BankKevin Covert, one of the co-founders of investment bank Montgomery & Co., said today that he has officially launched his Los Angeles-based investment bank Covert & Co.. Covert was previously head of Montgomery's Technology and Media Groups. Covert said that his new firm will provide premium M&A and financing services to Internet, media, and technology companies in the U.S. and internationally. Covert was involved in such deals as MySpace's acquisition by News Corp., the acquisition of Club Pengu (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
Interview with Gordon Gould, SmartyPants VitaminsWhat do children's vitamins and social media have to do with one another? In the case of SmartyPants Vitamins (www.wearesmartypants.com), it's at the core of the company. Gordon Gould, the co-founder of SmartPants, talks about the company and how it's applying what he learned founding ThisNext and from a long experience in the social media market to the consumer products goods area--what he describes as Brands 2.0.
First, talk about what SmartPants Vitamins are?
Gordon Gould: SmartPants i (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
Broadcom Buys Provigent For $313MIrvine-based Broadcom said today that it has acquired Provigent, a developer of high performance mixed signal semiconductors for the microwave backhaul systems market. Provigent was based in Israel and Santa Clara. Broadcom said it will pay approximately $313M, net of cash assumed, to acquire Provigent. The company said that the acquisition will expand its portfolio to more thoroughly address the microwave backhaul equipment market. Provigent was venture backed by Ascend Technology Ventures, Del (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
QAD Names Two VPsSanta Barbara-based QAD, which develops manufacturing resource management software, said today that it has named two VPs. The company appointed Anton Chilton as Senior Vice President Global Services, and Michael Blough to Senior Vice President Global Strategic Accounts. Chilton has been at QAD since 2004, most recently preceding Blough as SVP Global Strategic Accounts. Blough was most recently at SAP America, and also served at i2 Technologies and Nexiant.
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
TowerJazz Expands CMOS Image Sensors SupportNewport Beach-based TowerJazz, the provider of semiconductor foundry and related services, said this morning that its Aerospace and Defense Business Unit has added CMOS image sensors to its multi-project wafer services. TowerJazz said the addition will help in prototype and manufacturing of advanced semiconductors for the US Department of Defense, as well as the broader aerospace and defense community. TowerJazz said the new services will be available in its Newport Beach facility, for customers (More info...)
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)
Powerwave Technologies Names Board MemberSanta Ana-based Powerwave Technologies, a provider of wireless antenna, base station, and other related products, said this morning that it has added Richard Burns as a member of its board. Burns is currently a senior advisor for McKinsey & Co., and was previously President of Network Services at AT&T. He has also served at BellSouth.
posted on Monday, March 21, 2011(Full story)