Wednesday, January 4, 2012MindJolt Teams With Humane Society On GameLos Angeles-based MindJolt SGN, the online game publisher headed by former MySpace founder Chris DeWolfe, launched a new game Wednesday with The Humane Society, which links a social game with social goods which benefit the society. The new game--Fluff Friends Rescue--challenges players to rescue pets and nurse them back to health, while running an animal shelter. The game allows users to buy Humane Society branded items, of which one hundred percent of net proceeds will go to fund The Humane Soc (More info...)
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Online Holiday Shopping Hits $37.2 BillionTotal online holiday shopping for the November to December 2011 season totaled $37.2 billion, according to numbers released by comScore Wednesday. comScore said the amount is an all-time record, and is a 15 percent increase from last year. Among milestones hit by the industry this year are ten, individual days where consumers spent more than $1 billion online, with the most dollars--$1.25 billion--being spent on Cyber Monday. The online sales far outpaced spending at traditional brick-and-mortar (More info...)
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MyLife.com Launches Android App, Has Big TV Ad PlansLos Angeles-based MyLife.com, the online contact and personal relationship management service headed by Jeff Tinsley, said today that it has launched a new mobile app for Android. The firm said its new app provides access to the firm's services, including tools to help users better connect and share across multiple social networks. MyLife also disclosed that it is planning to spend $35M this year on nationwide, television commercials to promote its new Personal Relationship Manager services, whi (More info...)
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Entropic Acquiring Set-Top Box Business From Trident MicrosystemsSan Diego-based Entropic Communications, the developer of home networking semiconductors, is in the process of acquiring the set top box business of Trident Microsystems, a beleaguered maker of semiconductor products. According to Trident Microsystems, the deal comes as its has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Trident said it has filed a motion with the court to approve the sale of its set top box business operations to Entropic. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Trident sai (More info...)
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NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Scores InvestmentSan Diego-based NeuroGentic Pharmaceuticals, a firm development treatments for Alzheimer's disease, said today that it has scored an investment round from Abbot Biotech Ventures. Size of the round was not announced. NeuroGenetic said the investment will go towards expediting development of its lead candidate. The firm's is developing a molecule it hope will help prevent Alzheimer disease, by preventing the deposition of amyloid plaques, a feature of the disease.
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Seismic Games Gains $2MLos Angeles-based Seismic Games disclosed today that it has raised $2.0M in a first round of funding. The funding came from DFJ Frontier and venture capitalist Tom Matlack. Seismic Games was co-founded by Greg Borrud, Eric Gewirtz, and Chris Miller. Borrud was a co-founder of Pandemic Studios; Gewritz was formerly a game designer at Activision; and Miller has served at Vivendi Games and Little Quake Games.
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Elevation Pharmaceuticals Raises $30MSan Diego-based Elevation Pharmaceuticals, which is developing treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said this morning that it has closed on a $30M, Series B funding round. The round was led by Novo Ventures, and also included prior investors Canaan Partners, TPG Biotech, Care Capital and Mesa Verde Venture Partners. Novo's Heath Lukatch, Ph.D., joins the company's board with the funding. Elevation is in enrollment for a Phase 2b clinical trial on its lead pro (More info...)
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FitOrbit Upgrades Food Logging SystemLos Angeles-based FitOrbit, the online fitness and health site started by Jake Steinfeld of "Body by Jake", said yesterday that it has launched a new version of the firm's services, adding a new nutrition and meal tracking system. THe firm said its new USDA food logging system provides a simple way for users to track their meals as part of their personal fitness program. The paid service says it now has more than 10,000 clients. FitOrbit's site ties online tracking tools with a personal trainer (More info...)
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SolarReserve Names Operations VPSanta Monica-based SolarReserve, the developer of utility-scale solar power projects, said Tuesday that it has named Stephen Mullennix as Senior Vice President of Operations. Mullennix was most recently a managing director at US Renewables Group, which is a major investor in SolarReserve. Mullennix has previously served at AECOM, among other companies. Mullenix has been involved with SolarReserve since 2007 as a board member.
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NTS Wins Contract In VirginiaCalabasas-based National Technical Systems, a provider of test and engineering services, reported this morning that its supply chain division, Unitek Technical Services, has scored a $500,000 contract in Virginia. The win was with Alliant Techsystems Inc., supporting that firm's efforts at the Radford Army Ammunitions Plant in Radford, VA. NTS said it will provide technical and quality management services at the location.
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Levine Leichtman Promotes TwoLos Angeles-based private equity firm b>Levine Leichtman Capital Partners said yesterday that it has promoted Kimberly Pollock and Aaron Perlmutter to General Partners of the firm. The firm focuses on middle market investments. Pollock has been at the company since 2001, having previously been at Allied Capital Corporation and First Chicago Corporation. Perlmutter has been at the firm since 2003, previously serving at One Equity Partners.
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