Wednesday, May 2, 2012EdgeCast Launches Open Traffic Exchange ServiceSanta Monica-based content delivery network (CDN) provider Edgecast Networks said Wednesday that it has launched its OpenCDN federation platform, which allows independent content delivery network (CDN) providers to exchange production traffic. The new service allows CDNs to extend their network to other operators, allowing them to gain access to other regional networks who might have better coverage than their own for delivering Internet content. EdgeCast said its new service will allow first-ti (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Amazon Ramps Studio Efforts, Looks For Comedy, Children's SeriesAmazon Studios, the content creation effort which is part of Amazon.com and has major Southern California components, and which is headed by Joe Lewis, formerly of 20th Century Fox and Comedy Central, and Tara Sorenson, of National Geographic Kids, said Wednesday that it is looking to bolster the amount of comedy and children's content on its Amazon Instant Video service. Amazon Studios said it is looking for submissions for proposals for both categories of content, and is hoping that writers, a (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Demand Media Launches Pet Channel On YouTubeSanta Monica-based Demand Media is expanding out its original content efforts on YouTube, saying Wednesday that it has launched a new, eHow Pets Channel on YouTube. Demand Media said it will feature everything from animal-related news, dog training techniques, farm animals, and more from well-known personalities on the channel. Demand Media has been focusing its original content efforts recently on creating video for YouTube; it also operates eHow Home and LIVESTRONG Woman on YouTube. Demand Med (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Warner Bros. Launches Cartoon Universe Online WorldBurbank-based Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment said Wednesday that it has launched a new, free-to-play online world called Cartoon Universe. According to Warner Bros., the new online world is aimed at young kids, and features Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo! characters. The new world is being developed by the firm's WB Games Montreal studio. Warner said it will be launching the world in North America in fall of this year, and in select international markets in 2013. The game is currently in be (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
StageIt Gets Funding To Help Broadcast MusiciansLos Angeles-based startup StageIt, which operates an online web platform which lets musicians interact with their fans through live broadcasts from their laptop, has raised a round of funding. The funding came from DEV (Digital Entertainment Ventures), a newly launched New York investment firm headed by Alan McGlade and Michael Yang. The funding was announced by DEV as part of its launch. Financial details of the funding were not disclosed. StageIt, which was founded by Evan Lowenstein, allows a (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
upStart.LA Merges With Cross CampusLos Angeles business accelerator program upStart.LA, one of numerous startup acceleration and incubation efforts to start in the last year in Southern California, is merging with a startup in Santa Monica, Cross Campus. According to a note to supporters form upStart.LA founder Dan Dato, the accelerator has merged with Cross Campus, a yet-to-be launched startup building a "collaborative workspace and education platform" in Santa Monica. Dato said the merged group has closed a first round of fundi (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Hello Music Hits 225,000 MembersLos Angeles-based Hello Music, an online marketplace aimed at musicians, said this week that it now has over 225,000 members. The company, which helps hook up musicians with instruments, home recording gear, studio time, and other products and services, said it is seeing major growth via its social commerce efforts, particularly via Facebook and its Facebook page. The firm said it is seeing a 20 percent per month growth rate in members, having doubled from 100,000 members in November. Hello Musi (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Brand Affinity Technologies Raises $7.5MIrvine-based Brand Affinity Technologies, the startup headed by Ryan and Chad Steelberg which is focused on celebrity endorsements, said this morning that it has raised $7.5M in a Series D funding round. BAT said the new round was led by Matthew Pritzker Company, and also included existing investors Miramar Venture Partners, Newport Coast Investments, RimLight, LLC, Fulcrum Venture Capital, and ad pepper media International. Brand Affinity Technologies operates an online service which helps bran (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (More)(Full story)
Punchcard Rolls Out NationallyPasadena-based Punchcard, the mobile application developer which develops loyalty programs for retailers, said today that it is now available nationwide, after a debut in Southern California earlier this year. The startup, which is backed by Idealab, said it is aiming at specialty retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, and others with its software, which allows businesses to reward users for repeat visits to a location. Punchcard's mobile software works by letting users take pictu (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
GRP Re-Ups On DataSiftLos Angeles-based venture capital investor GRP Partners has re-upped its investment in social data analytics firm DataSift, in a Series A follow-on announced this morning. DataSift said that existing investors GRP Partners and IA Ventures invested $7.2M in the follow-on round for the company, which develops social data analytics services. GRP's investment in DataSift is managed by Mark Suster. DataSift applies its technology to analyze social interactions on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, online fo (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 (More)(Full story)
OpenGate Capital Buys South American ICT FirmLos Angeles private equity investor OpenGate Capital said this morning that it has acquired Getronics LATAM, a portfolio of Latin American businesses in the telecommunications and ICT provider space, from KPN. FInancial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. OpenGate said that Getronics LATAM employes more than 2,000, and generates more than $150M in revenues thorugh operations in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Getronics LATAM provides data center and consulting services, and other services (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Spokeo Appoints General Counsel, Privacy HeadPasadena-based Spokeo, the developer of an online people search engine, said today that it has named Angela Saverice-Rohan as its new General Counsel and Chief Privacy OFficer. Saverice-Rohan was previously associate general counsel for WellPoint, and also has served at Digital River and U.S. Bancorp.
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)
Surfware Adds International VARsCamarillo-based Surfware, which develops CAD/CAM systems used for the CNC milling market, said yesterday that it has added two VARs. The firm said it has appointed CAE Graph, in Chile, and Soft Engineering, in the Ukraine, to license and support industrial and educational end users of its CAD/CAM systems.
posted on Wednesday, May 2, 2012(Full story)