Tuesday, April 12, 2011BetterWorks Expands VendorsSanta Monica-based BetterWorks, the employee benefit and perks startup headed by angel investor Paige Craig, said Tuesday that it has added a slew of new vendors to its service. BetterWorks, which provides pre-negotiated local deals, discounts, and savings on gyms, restaurants, and services to employees of companies, said it added six health and wellness vendors, and half a dozen food and restaurants to its list of vendors. Most of those vendors are in the Santa Monica and Westside of Los Angele (More info...)
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Insights and Opinions: Every Day I Try and Get RejectedFor our Insights and Opinions section today, Ryan Born, entrepreneur and CEO of AudioMicro, talks about why he tries every day to get rejected:
Being an entrepreneur isn't easy. You get rejected a lot. Whether it's trying to chase down a new customer, pitching investors, recruiting new content providers, sending cold emails / cold calls to partners, journalists, and colleagues, there are just so many times when you'll be rejected. Rejection itself can take many forms...
It's certainly (More info...)
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Monet Software Gets Debt FinancingLos Angeles-based Monet Software, a developer of workforce management software for managing call centers, has raised a round of debt financing. The funding came from Agility Capital. Amount of the funding was not disclosed. According to Agility Capital, the debt facility will go towards working capital at Monet Software. Monet's products are available as a software-as-a-service offering, and is used to schedule personnel in call centers.
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LA To Get Space Shuttle EndeavorNASA, which is in the process of retiring the Space Shuttle, announced the final destination of the space shuttle fleet Tuesday, saying that the Space Shuttle Endeavor will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Endeavor, which is set to have its final flight at the end of the month, is one of four Space Shuttles which are going to museums after the shutdown of the Space Shuttle program. In an announcement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, NASA said that Shuttle Enterprise (More info...)
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Looking At LA's Technology Future with Derek NortonDerek Norton is head of Los Angeles-based Watertower Group (www.watertowergroup.com), a firm which helps companies raise funding, one of the rare companies which has a track record and good reputation helping companies with fundraising, and also runs its own investment fund. Watertower has been involved in a number of high visibility exits and fundings in recent months, including Riot Games (rumored to be $400M+), Machinima, and ExtendMedia. Norton spent some time talking about his vision of whe (More info...)
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3ality Digital Gets FundingBurbank-based 3ality Digital, a developer of 3D production technology and services, has scored a new funding from Clearlake Capital Group. According to Clearlake, it led and sponsored a recapitalization of 3ality, acquiring the majority of newly issued preferred stock of the company. 3ality said it now owns a majority of the voting shares of the company. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 3ality develops 3D camera rigs and other associated products used by the film and TV industry f (More info...)
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Specific Media Gets IAB CertIrvine-based Specific Media, the online advertising network headed by Tim Vanderhook, said today that it has received the new IAB Quality Assurance certification. The Interactive Advertising Bureau certification covers training, audit, and compliance requirements for brand-safe advertising. Specific Media said it is one of the first companies to meet the requirements of the new certification, which gives advertisers control over the placement and context of their ads.
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VMIX Launches iPhone App For Video SharingSan Diego-based VMIX, the provider of online video management services, said today that it has launched a new iPhone App, Vidcinity, which will allow users to capture and share videos. According to VMIX, the new app is aimed at allowing users to upload and pin videos to a precise geographic location, and to share that video with others. VMIX said the idea behind the app is to allow users to share videos of where they live and travel with others. The company is planning to released iPad 2 and An (More info...)
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AML Communications Agrees To Microsemi BidCamarillo-based AML Communications, the manufacturer of microelectronic and microwave assemblies, said this morning that it has signed a definitive agreement and plan of merger with Microsemi Corporation. AML said Microsemi has agreed to pay $2.50 per share in cash for the company. Microsemi beat out Anaren in its bid for AML. Anaren had earlier offered $2.15 per share in cash to acquire AML.
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MRV Names Sales, Marketing VPChatsworth-based MRV Communications, the developer of optical communications and networking equipment, said today that it has name David Stehlin as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of its Optical Communications System Division. Stehlin has previously served as CEO and President of Ceterus Networks, was President of Overture Networks, and also has been at Valo, OnePath Networks, Keptel, and other firms.
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LiveOffice Names CFOTorrance-based LiveOffice, the provider of cloud-based email archiving and compliance services, said today that it has named Matt Hardy as the firm's new Chief Financial Officer. Hardy has previously served at Digital Insight and Credit Suisse, among other companies. LiveOffice is headed by Nick Mehta, and backed by private equity firm Summit Partners.
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Clean Diesel Technologies Raises $3MVentura-based Clean Diesel Technologies, a developer of emissions control systems for the heavy duty diesel and light duty vehicle markets, said today that it has raised $3M in a convertible note financing. The publicly held firm did not disclose the name of the investor providing the financing. Clean Diesel Technologies is a developer of catalytic converter technology.
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