Wednesday, April 18, 2012uSamp Raises $6.0MEncino-based uSamp, the online panel and sampling firm founded by Matthew Dusig and Gregg Lavin, has raised $6.0M as part of a new funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the firm this week. According to the filing, the funding is part of an ongoing, $7.0M fundraising effort by the company. Name of the new investors, and details of the funding, have not been announced yet by the company. The firm is venture backed by DFJ Frontier, Greycroft Partners, OpenView Venture Partners, and
We (More info...)
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iRise Adds iPad, Android Emulation To Prototyping SoftwareEl Segundo-based iRise, which develops enterprise prototyping software, used to help business users mock up visual software prototypes of applications, said Wednesday that it has added new support for iPads and Android phones. The company--which is backed by Morgan Stanley Venture Partners and Deutsche Bank--said its software now can create "ultra-realistic" visual simulations of apps running on the iPad an Android. iRise's software is used to help business users mock up how applications should (More info...)
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Insights: Some Thoughts on Branding Startups and Communities
In our Insights and Opinions section, we try to feature interesting thoughts, opinions, advice, and more from the local community. Earlier this week, Brad Feld, a venture capitalist who is well known for his work on TechStars, investments, and for his frequent blogging and speaking engagements, commented on the Los Angeles area using the term Silicon Beach. Mark Suster, a venture capitalist at GRP Partners, and frequent blogger and host of This Week In Venture Capital, added his own thoughts, (More info...)
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2tor Gets $10M Line Of Credit2tor, the provider of online, graduate program and courses which has strong links to the University of Southern California, has scored a $10M revolving line of credit, the firm said today. According to 2tor, the credit line comes from Comerica Bank, and will be used to fund growth and its strategic initiatives. 2tor--which maintains an office in Los Angeles near USC--is venture backed by The Hillman Company, SVB Capital, WestRiver Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Highland Capital, Redpoint Ve (More info...)
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OptionEase In Alliance With Stock Plan Administration FirmMission Viejo-based OptionEase, the developer of software-as-a-service applications which are used to track stock options accounting for companies, reported today that it has linked with a provider of stock plan administration and management services. The firm said that it is in a strategic alliance with Stock & Option Solutions (SOS), which provides its clients and partners with stock plan management services. Financial details of the deal were not announced, however, OptionEase said that SOS w (More info...)
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The Search Agency Opens Office In San FranciscoSearch optimization and marketing firm The Search Agency, which is based in Los Angeles, said today that it has expanded its operations and has opened up a new San Francisco client service office. The company said the new office will help support its Bay Area client base, plus provide it with local access to agency representatives at Google and Yahoo. The Search Agency is a provider of search marketing services to clients, providing paid search, SEO, and other services to help its clients. The f (More info...)
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Eucalyptus Systems Raises $30MSanta Barbara-based Eucalyptus Systems, the cloud computing software developer headed by Marten Mickos, has raised $30M in a Series C round of funding, the firm announced this morning. According to Eucalyptus, the round was led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), and also included existing investors Benchmark Capital, BV Capital, and New Enterprise Associates. IVP's Steve Harrick joins the company's board. Eucalpytus said it has now raised a total of $55.5M in capital. The firm will use the (More info...)
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Insights and Opinions: How to Decide if You Have a Business Or Just an IdeaDo you have a real business in front of you, or just an idea? That's the topic of today's Insights and Opinions article, from Matt Crowley, a Los Angeles author and business attorney, who shares an extract from his new book, Getting Into The Game.
The Right Question
Many entrepreneurs start thinking about how to launch their businesses by strolling down the "Business" aisle at Barnes & Noble or downloading an eBook. It’s easy to get excited just flipping through these books and (More info...)
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THQ Raises Q4 OutlookAgoura Hills-based THQ, the embattled videogame maker, is finally seeing some good news, reporting today that it is expecting to report non-GAAP net sales of $160 million to $170 million, above its previous outlook of $130 million to $150 million. The publicly held videogame maker said the results were boosted by strong net sales of its Saints Row: The Third title, plus slightly higher sales of its UFC Undisputed 3 title. The unexpectedly higher results are welcome news at the videogame maker, w (More info...)
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Slacker Integrates With Bing BarSan Diego-based streaming radio and music service Slacker has linked its service with MIcrosoft's Bing Bar, the company said Tuesday. According to Slacker, the new BIng Bar provides Slacker Radio access, allowing music fans to access bands and artists, as well as access to Slacker's catalog of live sports, news, and commentary stations. Slacker's music service competes against a number of online music streaming services, but also offers up distinct content such as ESPN Sports and ABC News, comed (More info...)
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CapLinked Adds Team AccountsManhattan Beach-based CapLinked, the developer of an online service to help companies manage their fundraising efforts, said this morning that it has launched a new type of account on the service. The company said its new TEAM subscription accounts are aimed at teams of people working together in an organization to handle deals, investor relations, and networking with private investors. The new account costs $199 per month. CapLinked develops a service which helps private companies manage their (More info...)
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Nirvanix Boosts Cloud Storage in TexasSan Diego-based Nirvanix reports today that it has doubled the amount of cloud storage capacity it has in its Dallas data center, through an agreement with data center colocation provider CyrusOne. Nirvanix did not say how much capacity it is adding in the location, but said that the data center is its second in the Dallas area for the firm, in addition to seven other data centers worldwide. Nirvanix operates a cloud storage service which allows companies to store and back up their data to the I (More info...)
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