Monday, May 21, 2012StyleSaint's Other Backers: Andreessen Horowitz, General CatalystVenice, California-based StyleSaint, the new fashion-meets-Pinterest startup headed by Crosscut Ventures' Brian Garrett, has been fairly mum about its recent funding. However, the firm revealed today at TechCrunch Disrupt that its other venture backers are Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Crosscut Ventures, as well as a number of local angels. StyleSaint closed a round somewhere in early April. The firm's co-founder is Allison Beal. StyleSaint's web site allows users to create their own co (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Machinima Raises $35MLos Angeles-based Machinima, the online video entertainment firm focused on computer gamers, said Monday that it has raised $35M in a financing round. The round was led by Google, along with prior investors Redpoint Ventures and MK Capital. Machinima said the new funding will go towards content and global sales operations, international expansion, distribution strategies, and product and technology initiatives. Machinima is led by Allen DeBevoise, and provides original content on YouTube and els (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012 (More)(Full story)
Adconion Taps Sullivan As CTOOnline advertising network Adconion is tapping a Los Angeles technology vet as its Global Chief Technology Officer, the company said Monday. Adconion said that it has appointed Scott Sullivan to the CTO position, recruiting him away from Everbridge Communications, where he was also CTO. Sullivan also was previously CTO of Tribune Company's Innovations/Interactive Technologies group, CIO at Edmunds.com, and a VP at Yahoo/Oerture Services, in addition to serving in executive roles at HomeStore.com (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Fastpoint Games Acquired By WeplaySanta Monica-based Fastpoint Games, the developer of virtual fantasy sports games which was headed by Kelly Perdew, has been sold to Los Angeles-based WePlay, Weplay announced Monday. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. WePlay, which is headed by Lane Soelberg, said the deal will launch it into the fantasy sports sector, allowing users of its site to create their own teams and play in fantasy leagues. Fastpoint Games was venture backed by Allen & Co., Mission Ventures, DFJ Dragon an (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Disney Merchandises Mobile Game Where's My WaterBurbank-based Disney Mobile and Disney Consumer Products announced this morning that they are merchandising products from its mobile game, Where's My Water?. Disney said it will take Swampy, the main character of the game, to licensees and retailers. The deal includes links with Hasbro, JAKKS Pacific/CDI, and Toys "R" Us. Where's My Water runs on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android, and features Swampy the alligator, challenging users to direct water to help him get a bath. None of the financi (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
SpaceX Confirms Tuesday Launch WindowHawthorne-based SpaceX, the commercial rocket and spacecraft firm headed by technology mogul Elon Musk, is getting set for another attempt to launch its historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The firm--which has seen a number of delays in its attempt to launch the mission--said it will begin webcasting the launch at 3:00 A.M. Eastern time on Tuesday, May 22nd. The launch is set for liftoff at 3:44 A.M. Eastern time. SpaceX scrubbed its launch on Saturday due to an equipment i (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Xfire Gets $3M MoreSanta Monica-based Xfire, the online communications and sharing app aimed at video game enthusiasts, said today that it has raised $3M in additional funding. The firm said the new funding came from IDM Venture Capital, and is expected to be part of a larger funding round. Xfire said the funding will go to fund its expansion into Asia. Xfire is headed by Malcom CasSelle. The company said the new funds bring its total raised to $7M, including a 2011 round from Intel Capital.
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Qualcomm Launches Third QPrize CompetitionSan Diego-based Qualcomm has launched its third annual QPrize competition, the competition where the firm looks to vet and fund early stage technology companies from around the world. Qualcomm said it has increased its total prize pool to $1M for the year, and also added Brazil and Eastern Europe as regions covered by the competition. Qualcomm has divided the world into different regions, awarding $100,000 in convertible note financing from Qualcomm to winners in each region. The Grand Prize win (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Hulu Announces Summer SeriesLos Angeles-based Hulu announced late Sunday evening that it will launch a full slate of new original and exclusive TV shows on the site. The online video site said it will debut the ten shows on June 4th. The new shows include "Spoilers", hosted by filmmaker Kevin Smith; other titles are "We Got Next", "The Booth At The End" plus international titles "Rev.," "The Yard," "Pramface," "Derren Brown: Inside Your Mind," "Little Mosque" and "The Promise". A number of those shows are now in their seco (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Makucell Names Pasadena Angels' Scanlon To BoardMakucell, a life sciences company developing anti-aging skin products, said this morning that it has appointed Kevin J. Scanlon, Ph.D., to its board of advisors. Scanlon is Chairman of the Pasadena Angels and also an active member of the Tech Coast Angels. Makucell did not say if it received an investment from either group as part of the appointment. Makucell is a spinout of the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine; the firm's co-founder and Chairman is Dr. Michael Kahn, a (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
SpaceX Launch Aborted, New Try On TuesdayHawthorne-based SpaceX aborted its launch Saturday of its mission to the International Space Station, and said it will try against early Tuesday morning to get its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft into orbit. SpaceX aborted its launch on Saturday morning two seconds before launch, in what SpaceX said was a "slightly high pressure in the engine 5 combustion chamber". SpaceX said repairs are underway on its engine, and a faulty check valve on its engine. If SpaceX is able to launch and dock w (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
Mindspeed In Deal With China MobileNewport Beach-based semiconductor maker Mindspeed said this morning that it is in a joint development agreement with China Mobile Communications Corporation. Mindspeed said the two will form a joint development lab, to support the deployment of Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) femtocells by China Mobile. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. China Mobile is using Mindspeed's chips in its design of its femtocells.
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
SpotlightTMS Adds AdvisorCalabasas-based SpotlightTMS, the developer of software-as-a-service to help companies manage their corporate suites and sports and event tickets, reports today that it has added Jimmy Lynn to its advisory board. The firm said that Lynn is a sport marketing consultant, who previously helped develop AOL Sports. The company said Lynn spent 14 years as AOL's Vice President, Strategic Development and Partnership, managing relationships with the NFL, NBA, NASCAR, Major League Baseball, NHL, PGA Tour, (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)
WD Launches Stock Repurchase Program, Shifts To NASDAQIrvine-based Western Digital, the maker of disk drives, said today that it has authorized a $1.5 billion stock repurchase program, and will also shift its exchange listing to the NASDAQ Global Select market. WD said the shift to the NASDAQ represents a "new beginning" for the company following its acquisition of Hitachi Global Storage Technology (HGST); the shift occurs on June 1st. The company explained the share repurchase program will "create additional value for our customers and shareholder (More info...)
posted on Monday, May 21, 2012(Full story)