Wednesday, September 14, 2011Chill Rolls Out Music Lounges, Streams TC DisruptLos Angeles-based Chill, the social video viewing site founded by Brian Norgard and Dan Gould, said Wednesday that it has launched a new "music lounge" experience on the service, plus is also streaming the finals of TechCrunch Disrupt. Chill--which is part of Namesake--allows users to interact in real time while watching videos, via a real time chat and interactive avatar interface. Chill said the its new "Bounce" music video lounges provide a club-like environment, rather than the site's prior (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
LifeCrowd Launches Activity Discovery ServiceLooking for something fun to do around town? Los Angeles-based LifeCrowd launched Wednesday, saying that it is looking to help users connect with others on fun activities led by experts. The new startup--funded by Bullpen Capital, Baroda Ventures, and Prism VentureWorks, and headed by Bong Koh--is one of the companies debuting today at the DEMO Fall 2011 conference in Silicon Valley. LifeCrowd, which currently is offering its services only in Los Angeles, currently is offering things like sushi (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Evolution Robotics Launches New Mint Plus RobotPasadena-based Evolution Robotics, the maker of the Mint floor cleaning robot, told its users today that it has launched a new product, the Mint Plus Automatic Floor Cleaner. The new version of Evolution's hard floor cleaning product robot includes longer run times, faster charging, better wet cleaning features, and larger coverage area, according to an email from the company. Evolution's Mint uses popular dry and wet floor cleaning cloths--plus vision recognition and navigation technology--to c (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
DealBird.com Takes On Group BuyingSanta Monica-based DealBird.com, a new startup focused on group buying, has launched this week, among the slew of startups clamoring for attention at TechCrunch Disrupt. The firm, whose CEO is Chad Billmyer, said it is looking to help buyers and sellers in enthusiast web communities to start, mangae, and complete group buys. DealBird's suggested that its site is particularly useful for automotive, outdoor, home, school, and fitness enthusiasts, who want to organize group buys or have products to (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Rustic Canyon Backs Social Shopping SiteLos Angeles-based venture capital firm Rustic Canyon is the lead investor in a round of funding from a social shopping site out of Y Combinator. According to Mertado, a social shopping service which links users with home and kitchen products via Facebook said Wednesday that it has raised $2.3M in a Series A round. The round came from new investor Rustic Canyon Partners, and also included prior investors Blumberg Capital and Redpoint Ventures. Mertado is based in Redwood City. A key part of Merta (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 (More)(Full story)
DOE Approves $1.2 Billion Loan For Mojave Solar Power PlantThe U.S. Department of Energy has approved another loan guarantee, this one worth $1.2 billion, for a Southern California solar power project, the department said Tuesday. According to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, the Energy Department has finalized a $1.2 billion loan guarantee to Mojave Solar LLC, for a 250MW solar generation project in San Bernardino County. The concentrating solar power plant, being installed by Abengoa Solar, is expected to increase the amount of installed concentratin (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
MindJolt Sees Boost From Virtual GoodsLos Angeles-based MindJolt, the online and mobile games developer headed by former MySpace founder Chris DeWolfe, reports today that it is now seeing about a third of the company's total revenues coming from the sale of virtual goods. The firm also said that it has released a new game called Bubble Atlantis, a bubble-popping puzzle game set in the underwater world of Atlantis. MindJolt is venture backed by Austin Ventures, and acquired SGN, a mobile games developer, in April, along with online g (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
EdgeCast, PeerApp Join For Caching EffortSanta Monica-based Edgecast, the content delivery network (CDN) operator, said today along with partner PeerApp that they have linked on a new content caching solution for network operators. The two said they are linking EdgeCast's CDN software, along with PeerApp's caching platform, to help operators cache all content on their networks. The two said the link will help operators improve quality of service and reduce costs. The new effort will cache un-managed Internet data -- those not engaged w (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Mobile Roadie Launches In ChinaLos Angeles-based Mobile Roadie, the developer of branded, mobile apps for celebrities and brands, said last night that it has launched in China. The firm said that it is developing a localized, Chinese version of its platform via local partner FabriQate, a mobile service agency with offices in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Mumbai and London. Mobile Roadie's mobile software is being used by brands to easily create their own, custom mobile apps. Mobile Roadie said one of the first apps for the Chinese ma (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Mefeedia Adds VevoBurbank-based MeFeedia, the online video guide suite, said today that it has added video site Vevo as its newest content provider. MeFeedia did not disclose any business terms between the companies, but said that Vevo's music videos and news will be featured in a "Vevo channel" on the site. MeFeedia is run by Frank Sinton.
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
RRKidz Gets Funding, Plans Children's Mobile Book ServiceLos Angeles-based RRKidz, a new online startup focused on offering children's books via subscription, and headlined by Reading Rainbow and former Star Trek star LeVar Burton, said it has scored a round of funding today. The firm said it received a first investment round from Raymonds Capital, along with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Size of the funding was not announced. The company said that it will be offering up a free app on iPad and select Android devices to offer "hundreds of books (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Shopatron Adds Italian SupportSan Luis Obispo-based Shopatron, the developer of e-commerce software, announced this morning that it has launched into Italy, and is now supporting its product in that country. Shopatron said the support includes online support and call center support in Italian. Shopatron says it now supports French, English, German, and Italian in its software. Shopatron's customers include such brands as Suzuki, Polaroid, K2, and Ducati.
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
HitFix Partners With Entertainment BlogLos Angeles-based HitFix, the entertainment news site headed by Jennifer Sargent and backed by angel groups the Tech Coast Angels and Golden Seeds, said today that it is in a strategic partnership with film and awards blog In Contention. Exact financial details of the link were not disclosed, however, the two said that InContention will provide its content to HitFix, and that In Content will be "powered by HitFix." The two did not explain the details of that effort.
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)
Patagonia Names E-Commerce VPVentura-based Patagonia, the outdoor clothing maker, said today that it has named a new, Vice President of Global E-Commerce. The firm said it has named Dmitri Siegel to the new position, directing its e-commerce strategices and international markets. Siegel was most recently at Urban Outfitters, and also has served at the Sundance Channel and Bravo. At Urban outfitters, Siegel headed up that firm's mobile site, iPhone applications, and social media efforts.
posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011(Full story)