Monday, May 2, 2011Quigley: Venture Capital Revival ComingWilliam Quigley, a venture capitalist at Clearstone Venture Partners, is making the argument that venture capital returns are set to return superior returns in the coming years, due to the disinterest of institutional investors. In a report being released this evening, the State of Venture Capital in America, Quigley makes the argument that because venture capital has been "largely abandoned" by institutional investors, the sector is actually due to return "superior performance" to private inves (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Sony Online Entertainment: Customer Data StolenSan Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment, the developer of massively multiplayer online games, has provided details of the intrusion on the firm's systems, saying that hackers may have stolen its customer information. Sony--which shut down its web site today--said that it discovered yesterday that hackers may have stolen information from the firm on April 16th and 17th. Sony said the information included name, address (city, state, zip, country), email address, gender, birthdate, phone number, (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Sony Online Entertainment Offline Due To HackingThe web site of San Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment, the developer of massively multiplayer online games, was shut down today, along with Station.com, another Sony site, due to continued issues with hacking of the firm's systems. According to a notice on Sony Online Entertainment's website today, the site has been shut down due to the investigation into the hacking of its Qriocity and Playstation Network video game service last week. Sony, in a terse statement on the site, said it discover (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Fallbrook Technologies Pulls IPOSan Diego-based Fallbrook Technologies, the developer of electrical transmission technology for the automotive industry, has pulled its IPO, according to a filing from the firm. Fallbrook said in the filing that it has decided to pull its initial offering "because of unfavorable market conditions." Fallbrook had originally filed for an IPO in February of 2010. Fallbrook is venture backed by NGEN, Mtion Systems, and others.
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
CapLinked Adds BadgeManhattan Beach-based CapLinked, the developer of software for managing fundraising by startups, which is headed by early PayPal employee Eric M. Jackson, said over the weekend that it has debuted a new feature which lets companies embed a "raising capital" badge on their website or blog. The badge links back to CapLinked's site and a company's profile. The firm said the new link would make it easier for potential advisors, investors, and others to contact a company. CapLinked is backed by angel (More info...)
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GotCast Plans Spinoff Website For Social Media ContestsSanta Monica-based GotCast, the online casting site run by Alec Shankman, told its users today that it is gearing up to launch a new, spin-off website for its social media contest platform. GotCast said the platform--MediaBlastr--is the softare it uses to power its casting community on GotCast, as well as its various social media contests it has been running for TV networks and brand clients. No other details of the new effort were announced by the company. GotCast allows casting agents to post (More info...)
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Interview with Wes Brodsky, SaveFansIn recent weeks, online ticketing has seen a surge in interest and funding. Los Angeles-based SaveFans (www.savefans.com) recently raised some funding for its take on secondary ticketing, so we thought we'd speak with founder Wes Brodsky about the company and where it's going.
Describe SaveFans and what it does?
Wes Brodsky: SaveFans is a negotiation model for the ticketing space. We are an offer-based platform that allows users to negotiate the price they buy and sell tickets for, on the (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Triptrotting Looks To Connect Travelers, LocalsPasadena-based Triptrotting, a new startup funded by Idealab, is launching its service today, to help match travelers to like-minded local hosts. Triptrotting uses an algorithm to match travelers and locals, to help them on their trips. The firm said the algorithm was developed with the help and expertise of former eHarmony Chief Scientist Galen Buckwalter. Triptrotting's founders are Aigerim Duiseneyeva and Shana Zheng. Troptrotting said it matches travelers and local hosts based on personality (More info...)
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Local.com Takes On Daily DealsIrvine-based Local.com is entering the daily deals market, saying this morning it has launched a new service, Spreebird, delivering daily deals across hundreds of markets nationwide. Local.com said the site will launch in Denver, Philadelphia, and Orange County at first, with 17 additional markets planned by the end of the year. Local.com said it will start directly sourcing deals in May, giving local merchants and national retailers a way to offer daily deals to consumers via email. Local.com s (More info...)
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Nirvanix Names VPSan Diego-based Nirvanix, the provider of cloud storage services, said this morning that it has appointed Karen Sigman as its new Vice President, OEM and Alliances. Sigman joins the firm from QLogic, and has also served at Hitachi Data Systems, DataDomain, and IBM. Nirvanix said Sigman will be responsible for both partner relationships, as well as OEM and strategic alliances in the enterprise storage market.
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Local.com Buys KrillionIrvine-based Local.com announced this morning that it has acquired Krillion, a location-based product search startup. Local.com said it paid $3.5M in cash for all of the outstanding capital stock of Krillion. Krillion aggregates product information from retailer websites, and allows users to search for in-stock products at local retailers. Krillion was venture backed by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Leapfrog Ventures, and had raised at least $9.55M in funding. Local.com said it was advised (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)
Life Technologies Adds Board MemberCarlsbad-based Life Technologies, the developer of life sciences analysis equipment, said last week that it has named Dr. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz to its board of directors. Pescovitz is Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Health System Chief Executive Officer at the University of Michigan. Pscovitz replaces Dr. W. Ann Reynolds Ph.D., who is retiring from the company's board.
posted on Monday, May 2, 2011(Full story)