Tuesday, April 26, 2011


ReachLocal Ties Into Google
Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal, the provider of local online marketing services to small and medium sized businesses, said Tuesday that it has become a global premier Google AdWords partner. The firm said the strategic partnership with Google will "accelerate the delivery" of Google's AdWords advertising to local businesses. Details of how the partnership works between the firms were not disclosed. ReachLocal specifically said the move will help drive growth and expansion into new international (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Interview with Paige Craig, Betterworks
Los Angeles area entrepreneurs, investors, and startups have gotten to know Paige Craig fairly well over the last few years, as he's made many investments in the local ecosystem. Craig has recently uncloaked his stealth startup, BetterWorks (www.betterworks.com), focused on helping companies to manage and offer fringe benefits to their employees. We sat down with Paige to get more details on what exactly BetterWorks is doing, and why--plus why he's focused in on the B2B area. Tell us the stor (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

TouchCommerce Teams With Brazilian Firm
Agoura Hills-based TouchCommerce, which provides services to help convert online buyers via online chat, product recommendations, and other help, said today that it has linked with a Brazilian firm, iFactory Solutions, in a strategic partnership and reseller agreement. The firm said the agreement allows iFactory to market and implement its conversion marketing solutions in Brazil. TouchCommerce uses a combination of automation and live assistance to provide recommendations, targeted offers, and (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Report: Mailroom Fund Demise Due To William Morris
News of the demise of Los Angeles venture capital fund The Mailroom Fund, the joint venture capital effort of Accel Partners, Venrock, the William Morris Agency and AT&T, is finally trickling out. According to a report today by Fortune, the fund's closure came due to loss of interest at William Morris after its merger with Endeavor. However, the fund--whose closure has been a not-so-well-kept secret in Southern California for the last year or so--has not made any investments since May of last ye (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Boingo Wireless Launches Nook App
Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, the operator of an international network of Wi-Fi hotspots, reported today that it has launched an application for the new Barnes & Noble NOOK Color reader. Barnes & Noble updated its device yesterday, extending its electronic book reader to support third party applications and web access. Boingo said it released a special version of its Wi-Fi app for Android, which is available for free on the NOOK Color. The app allows users of the NOOK to connect with Boingo (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Sorenson Media Expands In London
San Diego-based Sorenson Media, the developer of video enconding software, announced today that it has opened up a new office in London. The firm said the new office is its first in Europe, and will be used to establish a greater sales presence across Europe. The new office will be headed by Mark Lawson, who hwas previously served at DVBLogic, DivX, Civolution, HomeMedia Networks, Nortel, and others. Sorenson also has offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Salt Lake City.
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Broadcom Completes Provigent Buy
Irvine-based semiconductor maker Broadcom said Monday that it has completed its acquisition of Provigent, a developer of high performance, mixed signal semiconductors for microwave backhaul systems. The deal was worth approximately $313M in cash. Broadcom had originally announced the acquisition in March. Provigent was venture backed by Ascend Technology Ventures, Delta Ventures, Globespan Capital Partners, Lightspeed Ventures, Magnum Communications Fund, Pitango Venture Capital, Sequoia Capital (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Shopatron Wins Fly Fishing Equipment Provider
San Luis Obispo-based Shopatron, the developer of e-commerce software, reported today that it has signed on Hardy Fly Fishing, a fishing equipment provider, as a customer. Financial terms of the win were not disclosed. Shopatron said that Hardy is using the firm to launch an online store for its United Kingdom customers.
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)

Novacoast Buys Network Design & Integration
Santa Barbara-based Novacoast, a provider of IT professional services and product development, said Monday that it has acquired Network Design & Integration. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Both firms work extensively with Novell.
posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2011(Full story)