Wednesday, May 23, 2012Green Dot Might See More RegulationMonrovia-based Green Dot, the provider of prepaid credit cards, which allows people who are unlikely to qualify for a credit card or bank accounts to load up their credit cards with money, might be seeing more regulation soon, according to reports Wednesday. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is considering more regulations on cards like those provided by Green Dot, to better protect consumers. Green Dot is one of the most successful, venture backed st (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
MergeLocal Pays Users For CheckinsA new Los Angeles startup, MergeLocal, launched this week, releasing an iPhone app which pays users to check into their favorite places around town. The app--created by Michael Wong, Steven Elliott and Rusty Jenkins--allows users to check into restaurants, bars, spas, and alons, and receive points for checking into those locations. Those points can be exchanged for cash payments through PayPal. According to the firm, its free app is available in the Apple App store.
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
StockTwits Debuts New Social Signals FeaturesSan Diego-based StockTwits, the micro messaging site focused on stocks and stock trading run by Howard Lindzon, is tapping into its big database of messages today with a new feature. The site said that it has added two, Social Stock Signals which show what stocks and people are gaining popularity on the site. The tools highlight those stocks seeing the most discussion volume on the site, as well as which members are getting new followers on the site. StockTwits said that its Social Stock Signals (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
Fundable Takes On Crowdfunding For StartupsA new startup, headed by entrepreneur Wil Schroter, has launched this week, looking to make it easier for startups to raise funding. Santa Monica- and Columbus, Ohio-based Fundable said that it is looking to provide a crowdfunding platform for "serious startups". The site allow early stage startups to gain capital from anyone, using the new JOBS Act to raise money from anyone interested in a startup, and not just professional investors and banks. The site allows startups to list a description of (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
BetterWorks Shutting Down On May 31stIn what is a huge blow to Silicon Beach, Santa Monica-based BetterWorks, the software-and-technology-meets-employee-perks startup run by Paige Craig, told its users today that it is sunsetting its site on May 31st. According to an email from Craig, the company decided to close down the BettterWorks perk platform, and will not longer be active after next Thursday. Craig said that the shutdown came as a result of not being able to sustain a large enough market, relative to the high cost of custome (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
DocStoc Goes App Happy With 30 AppsSanta Monica-based Docstoc, the business document sharing and online small business site run by Jason Nazar, has gone app happy, saying today that it has launched 30, free iPhone and iPad apps aimed at the small business and entrepreneur market. The apps--which range from advice on how to get a job interview or venture capital, to sales techniques and HR advice--cover a wide range of small business topics. Docstoc said it actually quietly launched the various apps into the App store about three (More info...)
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Intelligent Optical Systems Gets SBIR GrantTorrance-based Intelligent Optical Systems, a developer of optical fiber sensors, has scored a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA said this week, to help support the firm's research to help protect groundwater resources. Amount of the grant was not disclosed, however, the EPA said the funding came from $2M it gave to 25 companies nationwide focused on technology development toward sustainable solutions for the environment. The E (More info...)
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RocketFrog Launches With $2M, MySpace's AndersonLos Angeles-based RocketFrog, a new startup developing casino games on Facebook, launched Tuesday, saying that it has raised $2M in angel funding, and also added MySpace co-founder Tom Anderson as an advisor. The startup, headed by Brett Calapp, allows Facebook users to play casino games like Blackjack and slots, and win real prizes. VentureWire reports that RocketFrog's investors include Brody Jenner, the son of Olympian Bruce Jenner.
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Blizzard: Diablo III Sets Launch RecordIrvine-based Blizzard Entertainment said today that its launch of Diablo III, its newest gaming title, has set a new record for the fastest selling, PC game, with 3.5 million copies sold in its first 24 hours. Blizzard said that 4.7 million gamers launched with the new title, which also include 1.2 million players who received Diablo III as part of its World of Warcraft Annual Pass promotion, and that the number has already grown to more than 6.3 million as of the first week of availability. Dia (More info...)
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Boingo Wireless Extends To Beijing InternationalLos Angeles-based Wi-Fi network provider Boingo Wireless is continuing to extend out its network of Wi-Fi access points in airports, reporting this morning that it has launched its managed Wi-Fi services at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Boingo said the deal, through and agreement with Newbridge Technologies, will allow it to broadcast its Boing_Hotspot SSID and control the user experience at the airport. Financial details of the deal with the airport were not disclosed. Boingo's A (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
CyberDefender Set For Huge LayoffsOnce high-flying security software firm CyberDefender, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, looks to be taking the axe to its employees, according to a regulatory filing by the firm. In a filing with the state, CyberDefender says it is laying off 307 employees on June 1st. CyberDefender provided Internet security software and remote technical services, and said in February that it had filed for Chapter 11 and would be sold to GR Match, LLC., one of its investors. CyberDefender had (More info...)
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Amonix Cuts StaffHeavily backed, concentrating solar photovoltaic technology developer Amonix, which is based in Seal Beach, is set to lay off 76 workers across its offices in California, according to regulatory filings with the state. The notices--which comes thank you to California's WARN laws--says that the Seal Beach company expects to lay off the 76 workers on June 30th. Amonix is heavily backed by Kleiner Perkins, Westly Group, and Angeleno Group, raising a huge, $129.4M round in 2010. The company also had (More info...)
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Fandango, Moviefone In Ticketing PartnershipLos Angeles-based Fandango and AOL's Moviefone, both of which provides movie information and tickets, announced today that the two are in a deal which will make Fandango the exclusive ticketing partner for Moviefone. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed. AOL said that the deal will give Moviefone users an "upgraded experience", by allowing them to buy tickets from twice as many theaters. Moviefone also said the deal will make it easier to make ticket purchases online and through (More info...)
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Interview with Tobi Bauckhage, MoviepilotHow do a bunch of German moviemakers end up in Los Angeles, running a site helping studios to market and promote their films via their venture backed startup? That's the story we got from Tobi Bauckhage, the co-founder and CEO of Moviepilot (www.moviepilot.com), a German firm which is setting up shop in Los Angeles. Moviepilot is starting to bring its movie recommendations and discovery site to the U.S., and has set up shop here to connect with the local entertainment industry. Bauckhage talks a (More info...)
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Rubicon Project Acquires Mobile Advertising Firm MobsmithLos Angeles-based Rubicon Project, the online advertising optimization company run by Frank Addante, has made another acquisition this morning. The firm said it has acquired Mobsmith, a provider of mobile advertising products. Details and size of the acquisition were not announced. Mobsmith was based in San Francisco, where Rubicon Project said it will add an office. The buy is the fourth ad technology acquisition by Rubicon Project in the past three years. Rubicon provides an online marketplace (More info...)
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Sony Online Entertainment Announces First Person ShooterSony Online Entertainment, the San Diego-based online and multiplayer game development arm of Sony, said today that it is launching a new, free-to-play, first-person-shooter game called Bullet Run. The new game focuses on team-based, multiplayer play where contestants are pitted in a virtual reality TV game show against each other. The theme--which is reminiscent of the "Hunger Games"--also revolves around characters' "style and attitude". Sony said the title will be available later this summer (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)
RealD Adds Chinese Film DistributorLos Angeles-based RealD announced this morning that it has signed a Chinese film distributor, Bona Film Group Limited. The provider of 3D movie projection technology said that Bona Film Group will install its 3D technology at 100 cinema screens across China. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. RealD said it currently has approximately 650 cinema screens in China, with commitments totaling approximately 1,400 screens in the territory. RealD develops 3D movie projection technology, whi (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2012(Full story)