Monday, June 13, 2011Car Town Links With NASCARCar Town, the automotive-themed, Facebook social game developed by Long Beach-based Cie Games, has inked a deal with NASCAR, where NASCAR will launch the NASCAR Pro Championship presented by Sprint, a social gaming event within Car Town. According to NASCAR, the game will be free to play, and will allow users to compete against othres in challenges and activities, racing against virtual drivers within the social networking game. Financial details of the deal between NASCAR and Cie Games were not (More info...)
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DOE Gives $36M For Biofuels DevelopmentThe Department of Energy said Friday that it is providing $36M in grants to six biofuels projects, including two in San Diego. According to U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, the DOE is providing $2.0M to San Diego-based General Atomics for an algal biofuels and fermentation project, and $5.0M to San Diego-based Genomatica, for an optimized fermentation process to enable the conversion of cellulosic sugars to 1,4-butanediol (BDO), an industrial chemical. Other recipients of the grant money are (More info...)
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Southern California Edison: Re-engineering Grid For SolarSouthern California Edison said today that it's in the middle of a major "re-engineering" of its power distribution network, due to the increase in solar power generation in its market. According to the power utility, it has been reworking neighborhood power circuits, to accept large amount of fluctuating, solar generation capability now on the grid. The utility said the changes are the first change "in more than 100 years" in the design of traditional circuits to carry electricity into neighbor (More info...)
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Cornerstone OnDemand Names VPSanta Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand, the developer of talent management and employee training software, said today that it has named Jason Corsello as its Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy. Cornerstone OnDemand said that Corsello joins from HR consulting firm Infusion, and also has served at research firm Yankee Group, along with Flextronics. Corsello will report directly to CEO Adam Miller.
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Edmunds.com Jumps On Daily Deal BandwagonProving that you can apply the "daily deal" phenomenon to just about any transaction, Santa Monica-based Edmunds.com said today that it has launched its own, deal service it says was inspired by Groupon and LivingSocial. Edumunds said its "Edmunds Exclusives" will provide exclusive offers from car dealers and automakers, and will also include offers for dealer repairs and parts, maintenance and body shops, aftermarket audio dealers and auto broker services. Edmunds is tapping Group Commerce Inc. (More info...)
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ReachLocal Expands To 54 OfficesWoodland Hills-based ReachLocal, the provider of online advertising and marketing services to small and medium-sized businesses, said today that it has opened up several new local sales offices, bringing its total to 54 offices. The firm said the new offices are in Adelaide, Australia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; and Parsippany, N.J. ReachLocal, which is headed by Zorik Gordon, said the new offices is part of an expansion into new markets for the company. The firm uses on-the-ground, lo (More info...)
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Interview with Jonathan Lehmann and James Chung, KarmaGoatHave you ever wondered what to do with that last generation iPhone you have in the closet, or those shoes you bought and never wore, or other unwanted items you might have--but didn't want to bother selling on Craiglist, because it just wasn't worth it for the money you would earn? Well, Los Angeles-based KarmaGoat (www.karmagoat.com) has figured out a way to help people get rid of those unwanted items they have--and provide those proceeds to charity. We spoke with Jonathan Lehmann, CEO and foun (More info...)
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OpenX Launches In JapanLos Angeles-based OpenX, the developer of ad serving software and operator of an online advertising marketplace, has expanded into Japan, the firm said today. OpenX said it has launched the OpenX Market Japan, in a deal with Japanese media rep firm Cyber communications inc (cci). OpenX said the new marketplace will provide online ad exchange services to publishers and advertisers in Japan. OpenX, which is headed by Tim Cadogan, said the launch is the first time real time bidding will be availabl (More info...)
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Hulu Debuts Three UK ShowsLos Angeles-based Hulu said this morning that it has launched three, exclusive shows, all popular UK TV series, which have never been seen in the U.S. Hulu said it will premiere Misfits, The Booth and the End, and Whites on Hulu.com and Hulu Plus. Financial details of the multi-year, distribution deals with the content companies behind the shows was not announced. Misfits is produced by Clerkenwell Films and distributed by BBC Worldwide; The Booth at the End is produced by Vuguru; Whites is pro (More info...)
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CitzenHawk Names Pullen ChairmanAliso Viejo-based CitizenHawk, a provider of brand and online reputation protection services, said this morning that it has named Jeffrey A. Pullen as Chairman of its Board. Pullen is the CEO of AudienceScience, a provider of audience targeting and online marketing and advertising technology. Pullen has also served at US Search, Commission Junction, ValueClick, ChemConnect, and Coopers & Lybrand.
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TowerJazz Signs Argentine CustomerNewport Beach-based semiconductor foundry TowerJazz announced this morning that it has inked a deal with a research and technology group in Argentina. The firm said it has signed an agreement with the Public and Private Consortium Tecnopolis del Sur (Tecnopolis del Sur), to further research and technology development in Argentina. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. TowerJazz will provide its process design kits, technology, and sicounted multi-project wafer space from its fabs. Te (More info...)
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Somaxon Gets $5M In PIPESan Diego-based Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceuticals firm working on insomnia on other drugs, said today that it has raised $5M in a private placement. The firm said it raised the $5M from Paladin Labs, Inc., and comes in conjunction with an exclusive collaboration deal with Paladin. Paladin is commercializing Somaxon's Silenor compound for treating insomnia in Canada, South America, and Africa.
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