Thursday, November 3, 2011Vantage Media Backers Disclosed For BrokersWeb DealEl Segundo-based Vantage Media, the provider of performance marketing and online advertising services, was backed by BIA Digital Partners II LP, a private equity investment firm, as part of its acquisition of BrokersWeb, BIA announced Thursday. Vantage Media had announced the deal in September, without any financing details. BIA said that Patriot Capital II, L.P., also participated in the financing. Size of the financing round was not disclosed.
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Confidence DeclinesA new report today monitoring the outlook of Silicon Valley venture capital investors, said that its latest survey finds VCs less confident about the future. The Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist Confidence Index is authored by University of San Francisco (USF) School of Management professor Mark Cannice. The report cited troublesome macro conditions, an uncertain exit environment, high valuations, and regulatory burdens as impacting confidence of VCs in the third quarter. The report also pointe (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
RPost Updates Microsoft Outlook SoftwareLos Angeles-based RPost, the developer of a service to electronically encrypt, capture, and electronically sign documents, said this morning that it has upgraded its software for Microsoft Outlook. The firm said its RPost for Outlook 2000-2010 adds support for Outlook 2010 32-bit and 64-bit, new security features, better configuration options, and more. The software is used to send encrypted emails, as well as capture proof of email delivery and content for legal reasons. Rpost targets the insur (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
RealD Deal With Samsung At StandstillA deal announced in May by Los Angeles-based RealD, to develop full resolution, 3D panels for the PC and TV market, appears to have come to a standstill. According to RealD's latest quarterly filing, the deal--which was jointly announced by the companies in May--is "not currently being pursued" by Samsung. No reasons for the shutdown of the project was announced. A report from Engadget was the first to note the issue, noting management changes at Samsung.
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
MeFeedia Expands To Android TabletsBurbank-based online video guide startup MeFeedia, which is run by Frank Sinton, is continuing to expand its platform support, saying Thursday that it has launched a new Android Tablet version of its software. The app is free. MeFeedia already offers Android and iPhone versions of its video viewing and discovery apps.
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
THQ Expects Big Holiday QuarterAgoura Hills-based videogame maker THQ said Thursday that it expects to see the "biggest quarter in company history" due to holiday sales this season, as it reported nearly doubling its net sales in the three months ended September 30th. The company said it had net sales of $146.0 million, compared with $77.1M in the prior year period. The sales were well above analyst estimates of $99.0M in the quarter. THQ also predicted a huge Q3 for the company, due to the release of Saints Row: The Third, t (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
Study: Clean Technology Investments Up In Q3Investments in U.S., clean technology deals were up in Q3 of 2011, according to a new analysis published by Ernst & Young this week. According to an analysis of data from Dow Jones VentureSource, Ernst & Young found that U.S. venture capital investment in cleantech companies increased by 73%, to $1.1 billion nationally, compared to 2010. The study found that clean technology investments were up compared with an overall venture capital trend of more dollars up, but deals down. California led the (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
Prolacta Lands Series DMonrovia, California-based Prolatca Bioscience, which supplies human milk-based fortifiers for premature infants, said today that it has closed a Series D funding round. The round came from Health Evolution Partners. Size of the round was not announced by the company, however, a regulatory filing by the firm yesterday indicates the equity funding was worth $15.0M. As part of the funding, Joshua Saipe and Ned Brown, both of Health Evolution Partners, have joined the company's board of directors. (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011 (More)(Full story)
San Diego Startups Band Together For Job FairHighlighting the continued growth in demand for technical talent, a group of ten San Diego startup is banding together to attract job seekers to their companies, According to San Diego's SweetLabs, the software developer behind Pokki and OpenCandy, it and another nine startups will run an event December 1st called 10 Startups, $100 Million in Funding, 100 New Jobs. The group said that the event will feature Michael Robertson (MP3, Linspire, Gizmo5) and Joe Kraus (Excite, Jotspot, Google Ventures (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
ViaSat Satellite Reaches Geosynch OrbitCarlsbad-based ViaSat, the provider of remote communications and network access satellite service operator, said this morning that its recently launched ViaSat-1 satellite has reached geosynchronous orbit. The firm launched its high capacity, communications satellite on October 19th. ViaSat said it expects the satellite to enter service in December. the satellite will provide multimedia Internet access via satellite, including high speed broadband services for satellite Internet firm WildBlue, a (More info...)
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)
Arrowhead Research Names Chief Business OfficerPasadena-based Arrowhead Research has named a new Chief Business Officer, the company announced this morning. Arrowhead said it hs named Brendan P. Rae, Ph.D., J.D, to the position, to lead the firm's licensing and business development efforts. Rae joins from Vivaldi Biosciences, and also had served at VIA Pharmaceuticals, Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Purdue Pharma L.P, and the law firm of Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein, LLP.
posted on Thursday, November 3, 2011(Full story)