Monday, June 11, 2012Acacia Makes Patent BuyAcacia Research, the patent and licensing firm which aggressively licenses its portfolio of patents to technology companies, said Monday that it has acquired 7 medtech patent portfolios, comprising over 150 patents and pending applications. The firm said the patents are related to medical devices, biologics and diagnostic techniques. Acacia owns a wide range of patents, and regularly pursues companies for licensing terms covering those patents. The firm has offices in Newport Beach, but now loo (More info...)
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Qualcomm Re-Ups On AliveCorSan Diego-based Qualcomm has re-upped its investment in a maker of an electriocardiogram (ECG) device which connects into iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. According to AliveCor, which is based in San Francisco, it has raised $10.5M in a series B round, which was led by Burrill & Company and Khosla Ventures,
and also included Qualcomm, via its Qualcomm Ventures investment arm and Qualcomm Life Fund. Oklahoma Life Sciences Fund also participated. AliveCor said the funds will go to launch and co (More info...)
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Row 44 Raises $45MWestlake Village-based Row 44, the provider of inflight Wi-Fi and entertainment services headed by John LaValle, announced today that it has raised $45M more in financing. The round came from Advanced Inflight Alliance AG (AIA) and prior investor PAR Capital Management. Row 44 said the funding will go towards broadening the firm's offerings and expand its infrastructure. Advanced Inflight Alliance is a provider of content for in-flight entertainment. Row 44 explained that part of the investment (More info...)
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GRP Portfolio Firm Qualys Files For IPOOne of the portfolio companies of Los Angeles-based venture capital firm GRP Partners has filed for an IPO, according to a filing with the SEC late Friday. Silicon Valley based enterprise security and compliance software firm Qualys said it is looking to raise up to $100M in its IPO, trading as QYLS. GRP Partners owns around 10.94 percent of Qualys before the IPO; the firm's other co-investor in the company, Trident Capital, owns 27.41 percent. GRP's Yves Sisteron leads the investment in Qualys, (More info...)
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United Online Buys schoolFeedWoodland Hills-based United Online said this morning that it has acquired schoolFeed, a startup developing a Facebook app which connects people via their high school graduating class. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. United Online said that schoolFeed and its team become part of its Classmates business, and its Memory Lane subsidiary. schoolFeed was venture backed by First Round Capital, Crosslink Capital, InterWest, and SK Telecom, and just raised its first round of funding and l (More info...)
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Interview with Tony Adam, EventUpHow do you cut out all of the effort required to discover, find, and book venues for your event, wedding, or conference? That's what Santa Monica-based EventUp (www.eventup.com), one of the first companies to emerge out of Santa Monica-based Science Inc., is trying to figure out. The firm just announced its seed funding round, from the founders of Groupon as other last week, and has launched into Chicago as its latest market. We spoke with Tony Adam, the firm's CEO, about the company's new fun (More info...)
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JMI, Apax Buys Oil and Gas Software Firm For $1 BillionSan Diego-based private eqity firm JMI Equity and fellow private equity investor Apax Partners said this morning that they have agreed to acquire Paradigm ltd., a developer of software for the oil and gas exploration and production industry. The deal was worth approximately $1 billion in cash. Paradigm provides software used for analysis of drilling and production of oil wells. The companies said that Apax was advised by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Simmons & Co., and Paradigm was advised b (More info...)
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Demand Media Eyes Top Level Domain ExpansionSanta Monica-based Demand Media announced this morning that it will be pursuing 26, new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs), as the ICANN opens up expansion of the Internet domain name space. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, handles the allocation of domain names and management of domain name registrars. The group has decided to open up new gTLDs, beyond the common .com and .net and other extensions, to practically dot-anything. Demand Media said it has applied for 2 (More info...)
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Autobytel to Provide Auto Content For ScrippsIrvine-based automotive information provider Autobytel said this morning that it has signed a deal with publisher The E.W. Scripps Company, to provide its automotive content on the web sites of Scripps' television stations across thirteen major markets. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The two said that Autobytel's in-depth automotive information will be added to the websites of the various stations, none of which had automotive sections before the deal. The deal also calls for (More info...)
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ReVision Optics Enters Phase 3 Clinical TrialsLake Forest-based ReVision Optics, the venture backed developer of a implantable lens which reduces the need for reading glasses i patients with presbyopia, said it has advanced into its Phase 3, clinical trials with its corneal inlays. The company said the final phase of its U.S. clinical trials will be held at ophthalmology centers across the United States. The firm's lens microscopically changes the shape of the surface of a single eye, allowing them to reduce or eliminate the need for readin (More info...)
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Novatel Wireless Adds Board MemberSan Diego-based Novatel Wireless, the developer of wireless modems and hotspots, said this morning that it has named Sue Swenson to its board of directors. Swenson is the former President and COE of Sage Software, and now sits on the boards of Wells Fargo, Spirent Communications, and Harmonic, Inc. She also has served on the boards of Leap Wireless International, mBlox and Palm. Sweson also previously held positions at Altrinsic, Amp'd Mobile, Leap Wireless International, and Cellular One.
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LuxeYard Expands To IndiaLos Angeles-based LuxeYard, which operates a flash sales site focused on home furnishings, decor, and fashion, said last week that it is expanding into India. The firm, headed by Braden Richter, said the expansion comes via a deal with Indian entrepreneur Sashi Chimala. Financial details of the venture were not disclosed.
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