Thursday, April 14, 2011Venture Capitalists Invest $493.2M In Southern California In Q1The latest venture capital numbers from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data provided by Thomson Reuters, was released tonight, showing that Southern California had $493.2M in investments in Q1 of the year, across 54 deals. Investments were down from $625.4M invested in Q1 of 2010. The largest investment was $111.92M invested in Irvine-based Fisker Automotive, followed by $76.4M invested in Santa Monica-based Coda Automotive.
Nat (More info...)
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Altasens Raises $15.1MWestlake Village-based Altasens, a developer of CMOS image sensors, has raised $15.1M out of a $20.1M funding round, according to a regulatory filing from the firm Thursday. Details on the funding have not been announced by the company. Altasens makes high definition image sensors used for HDTV, and is a spinout of the former Rockwell Scientific Center. Source of the new funding was not disclosed, however, the firm previously raised funding from ITX International Equity.
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YouTube Sensation Annoying Orange Goes HollywoodThe Annoying Orange, the animated YouTube series, is the latest YouTube sensation to go mainstream in Hollywood, according to a report today.
According to Deadline.com, the animated series is being financed by management/production company The Collective.
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MarketShare Gets $32M From ElevationLos Angeles-based MarketShare, the provider of marketing analytics software headed by Wes Nichols and Jon Vein, announced today that it has raised $32M in a follow on investment from private equity firm Elevation Partners. According to MarketShare, the investment will go to support its organic growth, strategic acquisitions, Asia-Pacific and EMEA expansion, plus its products. MarketShare's software helps companies adjust their marketing mix, to better drive sales. Elevation Partners is the $1.9 (More info...)
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Boingo Wireless Sets IPO Pricing RangeSanta Monica-based WiFi network operator Boingo Wireless has set its pricing range for its IPO, saying in a filing late Wednesday evening that it is selling 5,770,000 shares of its stock at between $12.00 and $14.00 per share. Boingo has applied to list on the NASDAQ Global Market as WIFI. Boingo's IPO is being underwritten by Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Pacific Crest Securities, and William Blair & Company. The firm is venture backed by New Enterprise Associates, Mitsui & Co, Steel (More info...)
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Interview with Howard Lindzon, StockTwitsHoward Lindzon is CEO and Co-founder of StockTwits (www.stocktwits.com), the financial micro-messaging service. He was also the founder of Wallstrip, which he sold to CBS back in 2007, is an investor in a significant number of web and social media companies. Through Howard’s investment in betaworks, he also owns early shares in Twitter. Howard is based in San Diego, and spoke to us about StockTwits.
First of all, what's the idea behind StockTwits, for people who haven't used the service?
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UberMedia Planning Twitter Competitor, Says ReportIt looks like executives at Pasadena-based UberMedia, the Twitter client application provider started by Idealab's Bill Gross, may finally be fed up with the firm's constant battles with Twitter. According to reports, it is planning to launch its own, competing microblogging service. The news comes via a report last night from CNN. UberMedia--which has been in a running battle with Twitter over its various Twitter clients for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry--apparently is looking to launch i (More info...)
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Conatus Pharmaceuticals Adds $7.5MSan Diego-based Conatus Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceuticals firm working on treatments for hepatitis C, said this week that it has closed on an additional $7.5M in its Series B funding round. The round came from MPM Capital. The new funding brings the total raised in the round to $32.5M. As part of the funding, MPM's Jim Scopa joins the company's board. The firm said the funds will go toward clinical development of its CTS-1027 drug candidate.
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SRS Wins Customer In IndiaSanta Ana-based SRS Labs, the developer of audio signal processing technology, reported today that it has signed a partnership with a firm in India. the firm said it has linked with LAVA International, Ltd., which will incorporate its SRS WOW HD technology within a line of mobile phones. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed. The firm said the deal is its first mobile phone partnership in the country.
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