Monday, April 4, 2011Insights: Turning Soft on Social EntrepreneurshipIn our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Frank Peters, angel investor and podcaster at the Frank Peters Show, who talks about how he's suddenly taking another look at social entrepreneurship and ventures in a new light.
"It's another social entrepreneurship deal; I'll never get my money back." That's what I thought 3 years ago when the Tech Coast Angels screened BikeStation. I was impressed nonetheless; the deal had attracted a couple of distinguished members, p (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Nelson Nameplate, Miller Dial Combine, Get FundingTwo Los Angeles area companies focused on membrane switches and other products for the electronics, healthcare, industrial, and aerospace market, have combined and gained private equity funding. Los Angels-based Nelson Nameplate and Miller Dial have received an undisclosed amount of private equity funding from Superior Capital Partners, a Detroit private equity firm. Superior Capital announced the investment Monday. Both companies design and manufacture customized membrane switches, graphic over (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
LIVESTRONG.COM Inks Video Series Deal With MichelobSanta Monica-based LIVESTRONG.COM and beer brand Michelob, owned by Anheuser-Busch, said Monday that Michelob ULTRA has teamed with LIVESTRONG.COM on a new, original five-part video series. According to the two, the new series will feature Lance Armstrong and the winner of a contest which was hosted on LIVESTRONG.COM featuring the Michelob ULTRA brand. That contest was a promotion to boost the number of fans on the official Michelob ULTRA Facebook page. Financial details behind the various promo (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Katzenberg Joins Board At ZyngaJeffrey Katzenberg, the CEO of Glendale-based DreamWorks Animation, has joined social game maker Zynga's board of directors, Zynga said Monday. Zynga is the maker of Farmville, the very popular Facebook game, along with many other titles.
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Ranker Raises $1.3MLos Angeles-based Ranker, the startup headed by Clark Benson which allows users to rank anything they want in a list, has raised $1.3M in a Series A funding. The funding was led by Tim Draper of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and also included Rincon Venture Partners, Newport Coast Investments, Gil Elbax of Factual, the Pasadena Angels, and Siemer Venture Capital. Ranker is a website which allows consumers to rank lists of their favorite TV shows, books, products, or anything else. The firm said it is (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011 (More)(Full story)
StockTwits Hires TwoSan Diego- and New York-based StockTwits, the online social media site focused on stocks and finance, announced today that it has hired two VPs. The firm said it has hired Chris Bullock as Vice President of Corporate Services, and David Putnam as Vice President of Product Development. Bullock was most recently Director of Product Development for Global Investor Relations Solutions at The NASDAQ OMX Group, Putnam was most recently Senior Director of Product Management at Yahoo!. StockTwits is hea (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
AnaBios Raises $800KSan Diego-based AnaBios, a contract research organization focused on drug safety, said today that it has raised $800,000 as part of a Series A funding round. The funding was led by the Tech Coast Angels, including the Tech Coast Angels Angel Capital Entrepreneur (ACE) fund. The firm said the new funding will go towards funding a new laboratory in San Diego. Anabios said the investment is part of a Series A investment which is targeted at $2M. AnaBios is headed by Dr. Jack A. Reynolds. As part of (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011 (More)(Full story)
Libya Domain Startups Face Uncertain RenewalThe popular .ly domain name, used by such services as Los Angeles-based Twitter ad service Ad.ly, URL shortening service bit.ly, and a slew of other Web services, appear to be under threat from the war in Libya. Although names to the domains are still resolving, it appears that for domain name owners looking to renew or extend their registrations to .ly addresses, they may be unable to do so. At least one .ly domain name -- letter.ly, an online newsletter service started by Drop.io founder Sam L (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Interview with Clark Landry, GraphEffectFor today's interview, we caught up with Clark Landry, the chairman of GraphEffect (www.grapheffect.com), a Santa Monica company which is helping other companies to hone their advertising on Facebook. Landry is a serial entrepreneur, and active investor, having been co-founder of TagWorld.
Thanks for the time today! First of all, talk about GraphEffect and what you are doing?
Clark Landry: GraphEffect is a company that helps other companies advertise effectively on Facebook. We're one of (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Epicor Acquired By Apax For $976MIrvine-based Epicor Software, the developer of enterprise business software, said today that it has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm apax Partners, in a deal worth approximately $976M. Epicor said Apax will acquire all of its common stock for $12.50 per share in cash. The offer is a premium of 11.2 percent over Friday's close of Epicor stock. As part of the acquisition, Epicor said it is acquiring Activant Solutions, a provider of business management software whichi s backed by Hellm (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
THQ Ties With Random House PublishingAgoura-based THQ, the videogame maker, reported today that it has linked with publisher Random House Publishing Group, where the two will co-develop intellectual property. No financial details of the deal were announced. Random House and THQ said the two will develop a collection of games and books, as well as other media. The deal includes a prequel novel to THQ's recently released HOMEFRONT video game, as well as other efforts.
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Vitesse Eyes VideoCamarillo-based chip maker Vitesse Semiconductor said today that it has launched a new technology aimed at the digital video market, with new chips providing real-time signal monitoring for broadcast video. The firm said it has launched a new technology called HDVScope, which it says is aimed at broadcast video applications. The company said the technology allows for embedded waveform viewing of real-time signals and diagnostics in video systems. The new series of devices all include ability to (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
Continuous Computing Gets 3G Femtocell WinSan Diego-based Continuous Computing, which develops embedded software for developing voice and broadband applications, said today that it has been selected by wireless technology provider Juni. The firm's software will be used for a 3G femtocell and picocell product. Continuous Computing did not detail finances behind the win, but said it was its 28th 3G femtocell customer win.
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
ViaSat Wins JetBlueCarlsbad-based ViaSat, which provides satellite communications and broadband services, said today that it has reached a deal with JetBlue Airways, to provide high-speed, in-flight Internet access. ViaSat said the contract calls for an initial equipment and services order for over $30M, to outfit JetBlue's fleet of 170 aircraft with Ka-band airborne terminals and services. ViaSat and JetBlue had already been working together to develop an in-flight broadband services with higher transmission spee (More info...)
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)
ValueClick Names New GM For MediaplexWestlake Village-based ValueClick, the online advertising firm, said today that it has named David A. Yovanno as its new General Manager for its Mediaplex division. Yovanno was most recently CEO of Gigya. Yovanna had previously been at ValueClick, having served at the company from 2000 to October 2008, prior to his time as CEO of Gigya. Yovanno will report to CEO Jim Zarley. Mediaplex is ValueClick's technology division.
posted on Monday, April 4, 2011(Full story)