Thursday, June 7, 2012Rutkowski Gets New Platform on KFWBKen Rutkowski, the well connected Los Angeles founder of networking group METal International and KenRadio, has a new platform for his musings on technology and media, on a new show on KFWB. KFWB NEWS TALK 980 said that it is launching Business Rockstars, hosted by Rutkowski, on Monday, June 18th, weekdays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Rutkowski is a fixture around Southern California's technology industry, and had been involved in the Founders Institute's Los Angeles efforts. KWFB said that Business (More info...)
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Universal In Licensing Deal With HarkHark, the online service which lets users share sound bites from movies and films with their friends, and Universal are in a licensing deal, Hark said Thursday. The firm--which was co-founded by David Aronchick and Fouad ElNaggar, said the deal will give it access to nearly 100 films in Univesral's film library. The titles include Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and The Breakfast Club as well as Bridesmaids and Fast Five. Hark is based in Seattle but also is active in Los Angeles in business d (More info...)
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Fisker Automotive In Deal With Arizona's Penske Automotive GroupAnaheim-based electric vehicle maker Fisker Automotive has signed a deal to expand its dealer network, saying Thursday afternoon that it has signed a deal with Penske Automotive Group, the auto retailer founded by Roger Penske, to open up a new dealership in Arizona. Fisker said that Penske will operate a new franchise, Fisker of Scottsdale, which will carry its electric vehicles. Fisker said it now has 80 independent retail locations serving Fisker, with 48 of those in North America. Penske ope (More info...)
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VIZIO Licenses Patents To ON CorporationIrvine-based VIZIO has licensed its portfolio of patents to ON Corporation, which sells digital televisions under the RCA brand, the company said Thursday. VIZIO, which sells LCD HDTVs, had been pursuing an action against ON Corporation in the International Trade Commission and in U.S. District Court. Financial terms of the licensing deal were not disclosed. VIZIO said it would continue to "aggressively protect" its rights and expand its licensing program. VIZIO had earlier licensed its patents (More info...)
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YouMail Upgrades Android App, Trumpets User CountIrvine-based YouMail, which provides a cloud-based, replacement voicemail service packed with a number of big enhancements over the usual standard voicemail features, said today that it has just released a major upgrade of its Android app--and also released new customer numbers. The firm, which is headed by Alex Quilici, said the Android upgrade is available in Google Play, and now makes it much easier for users to assign personal greetings for their contacts. The new features make it a quick op (More info...)
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LoveIt Gets $6M For Photo Sharing, CollectingLook out, Pinterest -- Pasadena-based LoveIt is looking to unseat the popularity of the photo sharing site, with its new platform, and $6M in funding. LoveIt, headed by former PriceGrabber President Ron LaPierre, said today that it raised a Series A round from Juvo Capital and PG Ventures, to bolster its "visual curation and sharing platform." The firm said it allows individuals and groups to discovery, collect, organize, and share photos with their friends, and has already inked deal with major (More info...)
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Gumhouse, Linked with Science Inc., Raises $6MWhat's the latest startup to launch of out Santa Monica-based business "studio" Science Inc., run by former MySpace CEO Mike Jones? That would be appear to be Gumhouse, which just raised $6M in a funding round, from such venture firms as Polaris Ventures, Science Inc. and others. Gumhouse reported its funding via a regulatory filing, but has not yet detailed what the firm is up to otherwise. Gumhouse lists its Brian Lee (ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom), Mike Jones (Science Inc.), Peter Pham (also of Scie (More info...)
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Curious Minds Backs RingadocLos Angeles-based technology incubator Curious Minds is one of the firms backing Ringadoc, a new startup which offers up medical consultations via phone or computer. According to Ringadoc, it raised $750,000 in a seed funding round, led by FF Angel, and which also included Ryan Howard of Practice Fusion, and Los Angeles technology incubator Curious Minds. Ringadoc is based in San Francisco. Curious Minds, which is based in West Hollywood, Curious Minds says it has been incubating companies sinc (More info...)
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HipSwap Launches New Site, Adds DeliveryLos Angeles-based Hipswap, the online person-to-person shopping site headed by Rob Kramer, unveiled its new site today, which Kramer describes as a cross between Craigslist and Pinterest. Hipswap allows users to buy and sell both new and used goods, focused on fashion, via a highly visual interface. The firm--which curates both new and used items for sale from local sellers--also said that it has started offering door-to-door delivery in New York and Los Angeles. The new site allows users to bro (More info...)
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eHarmony Hit By LinkedIn Password HackerSanta Monica-based online dating and relationship site eHarmony has been hit by the same hacker which hit LinkedIn, it appears, after security experts discovered that the same hacker posting LinkedIn account data has also been posting passwords from eHarmony. eHarmony told its users that it has found a "small fraction" of its user base has been affected, and that it has reset affected members passwords. eHarmony did not say how many passwords its believe were affected on its site. LinkedIn's bre (More info...)
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CapLinked Ties With AcceleratorsLos Angeles-based CapLinked, the online service which helps startups manage their fundraising process, announced this morning that it has linked with half a dozen startup accelerators to help those firms' companies help raise their funding rounds. CapLinked said it has tied with Launchpad LA, Science, 500 Startups, Tech Wildcatters, Amplify, and LaunchBox Digital on its invitation-only program, which allows startups enrolled in those accelerators with access to the firm's premium TEAM accounts. (More info...)
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QAD Buys French Supply Chain Planning FirmSanta Barbara-based QAD, the provider of enterprise resource planning software, said this morning that it has acquired a French developer of supply chain planning software. QAD said it has acquired DynaSys S.A., which is based in Strasbourg, France, in a deal worth approximately $7.5M. THe firm said the move would help add talent and technology to the firm, as well as strengthen its current supply chain planning capabilities. DynaSys had approximately 40 employees and revenues of approximately $ (More info...)
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Astute Medical Raises $40.4MSan Diego-based Astute Medical, a provider of biomarker-based medical diagnostics technology, reports this morning that it has raised $40.4M in a Series C funding round. The round was led by MPM Capital, and also included new investor Kaiser Permanente Ventures. The firm's existing investors, De Novo Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Domain Associates and Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, also participated. Astute Medical said it will use the new funding to begin commercializing its first prod (More info...)
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