Wednesday, October 19, 2011


Docstoc Inks Syndication Deal With Businessweek
Santa Monica-based Docstoc, the online document sharing and marketplace firm headed by Jason Nazar, has just inked a syndication deal with Businessweek. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. On a new, Small Business Resource section--which is live now--Businessweek is offering up small business forms, contracts, worksheets, and more focused on small businesses, all using Docstoc's library of over 10,000 forms and legal contracts. The effort includes both free, as well as premium docu (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011(Full story)

Emulex Impacted By Floods In Thailand
Costa Mesa-based Emulex has joined the growing list of electronics manufacturers who are seeing fallout from record flooding in Thailand, saying late Wednesday that one of its subcontracted manufacturing facilities in that country has been damaged by flooding. Emulex said one of its subcontracted facilities at the Hi-Tech Industrial Estate in Ayudhaya, Thailand, sustained damage from flooding, and has suspended operations. Emulex said all production and test equipment, as well as raw materials a (More info...)
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Amgen Chops Staff In Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks-based Amgen said Wednesday afternoon that it is cutting 380 jobs from the firm, as part of a corporate restructuring. The firm said it is cutting 226 people in its Thousand Oaks headquarters. The firm said most of the positions are in its research and development division, and that it is notifying its employees today.
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LinkedIn's Classmates Tempts Trademark Battle
Mountain View-based business networking service LinkedIn appears to be tempting some trademark confusion--and maybe, a lawsuit-- with the launch Wednesday of a new service it bills Classmates, to help its users connect with former classmates via the service. The name of the firm's new feature goes head to head with a trove of trademarks owned by Classmates Online, the subsidiary of Woodland Hills-based United Online. LinkedIn's new service helps connect its users with fellow college alumni. The (More info...)
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San Diego Firm To Auction Off Solyndra Assets
A San Diego-based auction firm, Heritage Global Partners, said today that it will be selling off the surplus assets of bankrupt solar panel manufacturer Solyndra. Heritage Global Partners said it will sell of Solyndra's assets at an auction beginning November 2nd, and going through November 3rd. The auction includes solar panels, manufacturing and assembly equipment, computers, office equipment, and more. Solyndra's bankruptcy -- and over half a billion in federal government loans -- has spawned (More info...)
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Stocktwits Updates iPhone App
San Diego-based Stocktwits, the real-time, stock focused discussion and micro messaging service, said today that it has launched an updated version of its iPhone app. According to the firm, the updated app now includes real time stock prices for the NYSE and NASDAQ, allows access to its real-time "idea stream", and more. Stocktwits is headed by Howard Lindzon, and provides a Twitter-like environment for sharing and discussing stock trades and information.
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HipGeo Targets Travelers With iPhone App
Fullerton-based Hipgeo, the developers of iPhone apps for tracking and logging your travels, said today that it has launched a new version of its product which is specifically aimed at travelers. The firm said its new "Trips" feature helps iPhone users to take pictures and track their travels, allowing them to share those travels and locations with their friends. The firm said the updated app helps users record and share those trips with friends via Facebook, Twitter, email, text, or within a bl (More info...)
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Border Stylo Launches Trivia Game
Los Angeles-based Border Stylo is extending its lineup of mobile apps, with its first social gaming title, the firm announced this morning. The firm said its new game, Trivia Together, a trivia game for the iPhone which integrates Facebook, Twitter, and email into the game, pitting players with their friends on time trivia questions. The game is free. The game is the third product for Border Stylo, which also makes Glass, a browser add-on for sharing information on web pages, and Retrollect, a m (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011(Full story)

Los Angeles Fast 500 Winners Announced
The Los Angeles winners of the Deloitte Fast 500 ranking of fastest growing companies was announced last night at an event at Santa Monica's Shutters on the Beach, with 26 companies recognized in the overall 2011 Technology Fast 500, and three "Technology Rising Stars" recognized in the Los Angeles area. In the private award event, Deloitte announced the local companies who made the national list of fastest growing companies. The highest ranking firms on the overall Technology Fast 500 from the (More info...)
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GRP Invests In Treehouse
Los Angeles-based GRP Partners, has invested in UK-based TreeHouse, an online, video-focused site for helping users learn web design and development. Other investors in the firm include Kevin Rose, Reid Hoffman, David Sze, Josh Elman, and Chamath Palihapitiya. The deal was worth $600,000. GRP's investment was led by Mark Suster, who announced the deal on his blog.
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Shopatron Powers Sabian e-Commerce Efforts
San Luis Obispo-based Shopatron, the developer of e-commerce software and storefronts, reported today that it is powering a new, e-commerce site for cymbal manufacturer Sabian. Shopatron said that its software is being used to provide online sales for the manufacturer, where orders placed on Sabian's site will be transferred and fulfilled by a local Sabian dealer. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed. Shopatron said that it has added 10 new music instruments brands so far this year, and (More info...)
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MeLLmo Expands In China
San Diego-based MeLLmo, the developer of the Roambi mobile business analytics software, said today that it has opened up an office in Shanghai, to support the Greater China market. MellMo said the office will serve its customers in the region in the retail, automotive, pharmaceuticals and consumer technology industries. MeLLmo's Roambi Analytics and Roambi Visualizer App products are both now available in Chinese. Roambi said the new office will be headed by Sean Luangrath, who has previously se (More info...)
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RealD Names Operations VP
Los Angeles-based RealD, the developer of 3D movie projection technology, said today that it has named Leo Bannon as its Executive Vice President, Global Operations. Bannon was most recently at Arisawa Manufacturing Co., and had previously been President and CEO of ColorLink, a firm which was acquired by RealD in 2007. He left ColorLink in 2008. Bannon also has served at Moxtek and the Balzers Thin Films Divisions of Balzers AG.
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Irvine Sensors To Sell Thermal Imaging Business
Costa Mesa-based Irvine Sensors, a developer of a wide variety of electronics, software, defense, and other products, said Tuesday that it is in a definitive agreement to sell its thermal imaging business unit. Irvine Sensors said it is selling the business to Vetronic, Inc., a subsidiary of Vectronix A.G., which is owned by Sagem. Financial details of the cash deal were not disclosed.
posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011(Full story)