Tuesday, May 3, 2011Boingo Wireless Prices IPO, To Trade WednesdayLos Angeles-based Boingo Wireless, the operator of a international network of Wi-Fi hotspots, has priced its IPO. The firm said it will offer 5,770,000 shares of its common stock at $13.50 per share. The shares will trade under the symbol WIFI starting tomorrow on the NASDAQ Global Market. The shares priced on the higher side of its earlier, $12.00 to $14.00 per share initial pricing estimates. The IPO was underwritten by Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Pacific Crest Securities and Will (More info...)
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FindTheBest Rolling Out BadgesSanta Barbara-based FindTheBest.com, the online search and ranking site headed by former DoubleClick founder Kevin O'Connor, is launching a new "badge" program on the site Wednesday, which it says will help show the best products and services rated by its experts. The site said that it will allow companies to show a badge when they are ranked among the top 10 highest rated products and services on the site. The badges include the best ski resorts, luxury resorts, motorcycles, airports, headphone (More info...)
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DIRECTV, Panasonic Fund 3D FilmsEl Segundo-based satellite TV operator DIRECTV and consumer electronics firm Panasonic said Tuesday that the two will be funding six 3D films, as part of an effort to train filmmakers on 3D equipment. According to the two, they will fund six filmmakers, plus award several prizes, as part of its 2011 DIRECTV n3D Film Invitational presented by Panasonic. The companies said they will provide filmmakers with Panasonic 3D cameras, 3D monitors, storage, access to DIRECTV's post production facilities, (More info...)
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UberMedia Launches New ChannelsPasadena-based UberMedia, the Twitter client application firm headed by Bill Gross, has launched a "wave" of channels around a number of groups, the firm said today. According to UberMedia, it has created new channels for The Hollywood Reporter, The Case Foundation, Twackle, University of Michigan Athletics and The National Wildlife Federation. The new channels are available from UberSocial and Twidroyd. The different channels allow users of those apps to filter out tweets from those various con (More info...)
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Sony Online Entertainment: 24.6 Million Accounts StolenSan Diego-based Sony Online Entertainment has tallied the number of accounts which have been compromised by hackers on the firm's online game service, saying that it has found that personal information from approximately 24.6 million SOE accounts may have been stolen. The updated numbers were released by Sony late Monday after a hectic day of updates from the firm, which unexpectedly shut down its web site and game services after discovery of an intrusion. The firm had earlier disclosed the loss (More info...)
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Leads360 Names Hedges CEOLos Angeles-based Leads360, the developer of sales lead management software, said today that it has named Nick Hedges and President and Chief Executive Officer. Hedges has been at Leads360 since 2008. According to the firm, Hedges replaces Dan Morefield, who has stepped down in order to spend more time supporting a family member's health issues. Morefield will remain an advisor to the firm. Hedges was previously President at Leads360, and previously served as Chief Revenue Officer, Head of Sales (More info...)
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Local Angels Fund Troopswap.comA set of three, well known Los Angeles investors with military connections are funding a new startup, Troopswap.com, focused on providing daily deals to the military community. According to Troopswap.com, based in Hampton Road, Virginia, it has scored $585,000 in private funding from investors that include Frank Monestere, President/COO of Legalzoom.com, Paige Craig, CEO of BetterWorks.com, and Kelly Perdew, CEO of FastPointGames. All three have a background in the U.S. military. Monestere is a (More info...)
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ShowUhow Launches On AndroidSan Diego-based ShowUHow, the startup headed by Kim Folsom developing video-based product guides for e-commerce sites and manufacturers, has rolled out an Android version of its platform. The firm said the Android mo bile application gives users access to its content via the mob ile platform. ShowUhow already provides a iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch version of the software. The firm said the app allows consumers to scan a QR code or barcode on product packaging at point of sale, to pull up videos (More info...)
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TCA Backs Cancer Testing FirmThe Tech Coast Angels, the largest and most active angel investment group in Southern California, is backing a firm developing testing for cervical cancer. According to fellow investor the Sand Hill Angels, OncoHealth Corporation has raised $1.6M in an oversubscribed, Series A funding round. The round included the Tech Coast Angels, Sand Hill Angels, Band of Angels, Emergent Medical Partners, Halo Fund, The Angels Forum, and Wilmington Investor Network. OncoHealth's technology is focused on prop (More info...)
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TrueCar Buys Honk.comSanta Monica-based TrueCar, the automotive pricing site run by Scott Painter, said today that it has acquired Honk.com, an automotive social media website. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to TrueCar, News Corporation, an early investor in Honk.com, will retain an equity stake in TrueCar as part of the acquisition, and TrueCar will operate and manage the consumer auto-buying content and programs for a number of un-named, news Corporation online properties.
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CraveOnline Launches Comedy ChannelLos Angeles-based CraveOnline, an online site focused on male lifestyles, said today that it has launched a new comedy channel. the site said that the comedy channel will provide funny lists, reviews, and interviews, as well as comedy related podcasts and other content. CraveOnline said it is tapping partners FMyLife, Something Awful, and CrazyThingsParentsTEXT for humorous content on the new channel. Financial details of those deals were not disclosed. CraveOnline is part of AtomicOnline, itsel (More info...)
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Gorilla Nation Targets Kids, Tweens, TeensLos Angeles-based Gorilla Nation Media, the division of Evolve Media which provides advertising representation services to websites, said this morning that it has launched a new kids, tweens, and teens vertical. The firm said the new "Youthology" vertical will help advertisers specifically engage with tweens. Among the first sites in the vertical is Sherman Oaks-based SodaHead, the discussion and polling site co-founded by former MySpace exec Jason Feffer. Other sites in the new vertical include (More info...)
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OSI Systems Gets $6M OrderHawthorne-based OSI Systems, a provider of electronics products for the security and healthcare industry, said today that it has received a $6M order for optoelectronic sub-assemblies. The firm said the order came from a renewable energy equipment provider. No other details on the win were announced.
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