Tuesday, September 25, 2012


ParkMe To Provide TomTom With Parking Info
ParkMe, the provider of parking information and mobile applications founded by Sam Friedman and Alex Israel, has inked a deal to provide its parking database information to navigation provider TomTom. TomTom announced the deal Tuesday, saying the information will be used to provide location information for parking garages and lots, as well as contact information in its map products. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. TomTom said the move wil provide it with data on over 16,000 par (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

GameSalad Expands To Windows Store
Los Angeles-based GameSalad, which develops software which makes it easy to create iOS, Android and web games without programming, said today that it is now allowing its users to publish to the Windows Store. GameSalad said that its Mac and Windows Pro developers can now publish games to Windows 8 desktops, tablets, laptops, and more, including support for such things like Windows 8 Snap Pause, time-based trials, and more. GameSalad's game creation software allows users to develop games by drag (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Qualcomm QPrize Winner Gets New Funding
One of the companies recognized in Qualcomm's QPrize annual business plan competition has scored a series A funding, four years after being named a finalist in the Qualcomm effort. Singapore-based Capillary Technologies, a developer of mobile customer relationship management (CRM) tools, said it has raised $15.5M in a Series A venture financing round. The round was led by Norwest Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital, and also included Qualcomm Ventures, an existing investor in the company. Capil (More info...)
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Miramar Backs SwiftTest For IT Testing Tools
Corona del Mar-based venture investor Miramar Venture Partners has backed portfolio firm SwiftTest in its Series B funding, according to SwiftTest. SwiftTest said it raised $7.25M in its Series B, led by Azure Capital Partners, and also included Kinetic Venture Partner, Benhamou Global Ventures, Miramar Venture Partners, Core Capital Partners and Columbus Nova. SwiftTest is based in Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara, and develops IT testing and quality assurance (SQA) tools, using software to simul (More info...)
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YouMail Adds Push-to-Talk
Irvine-based YouMail, the developer of communications and advanced voicemail applications, has updated its iPhone app, saying today that it has added push-to-talk capabilities, which allows users to leave voice messages to other YouMail users without having to dial a number. The feature--similar to such push-to-talk apps like Voxer and Zellow--lets users trade voice messages on the app, in addition to using it for providing advanced, visual features for voicemail, caller ID, customized greetings (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Boingo To Provide Wi-Fi Offload To Wireless Carriers
Santa Monica-based Boingo Wireless has inked a deal with a telecom organization to help provide its members with Wi-Fi offloading. According to the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), it is in a strategic partnership with Boingo to offer up offload for its members, to help reduce demand and strain on their networks due to cellular data use. The two said that Boingo will white label Wi-Fi solutions to CCA carriers as part of the deal. Financial details of the link were not announced by either (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

SmartDrive Scores Venture Debt Financing
San Diego-based SmartDrive Systems, the developer of video-based, driver safety systems, has scored a venture debt financing, according to finance firm Wellington Financial. Size and terms of that debt financing were not announced. Wellington Financial said the debt will go towards growth capital, and came in conjunction with the recent, $47M round of equity funding for SmartDrive. SmartDrive is venture backed by Oak Investment Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and Stanford University, and is (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Deal Current Gets Backing From Private Equity Firm
DealCurrent, a developer of software used for managing local coupons and daily deals offers, has scored private equity funding from a private equity firm. Canal Partners, an Arizona private equity company, is funding Deal Current, to help the company accelerate growth, boost sales and marketing, and for developing its technology. Todd Belfer of Canal Partners joins Deal Current's board as part of the funding. Financial details of the funding were not announced. Deal Current's founders are Jimmy (More info...)
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In Venice Beach, A Coming Out for Silicon Beach
These days, it's not unusual for a handful of tech and startup mixers and events to be going down on the westside. Still, there was something special about the Nextspace @ Amplify Grand opening on Wednesday night. Something very, established about it. I've lived in Los Angeles for ten years now. And when you live in a city that long, you're bound to find yourself at a Hollywood, celebrity-driven party. These parties are always the same. High-end hors d'oeuvres, an open bar with top-shelf liq (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Wedge Buster Gets $2.2M For Social, Mobile Sports Apps
Los Angeles-based Wedge Buster said this morning that it has launched its new, social sports gaming and mobile company, focused on developing a wide portfolio of sports games on both platforms. The firm said it has raised $2.2M in a Series A round, including such investors as Drew Brees (Super Bowl MVP), Rob Dyrdek (pro skater), 37 Technology Ventures, as well as other angels. The new company is headed by Scott Philp, and has already acquired and developed over 100 sports focused games. Wedge Bu (More info...)
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EverySignal Looks To Filter Social Noise, With Backing From Science
In a world where we are overwhelmed with social updates ("had a turkey sandwich for lunch", "just went for a walk"), how do you cut through all that noise and actually learn about important things going on in your personal networks without spending 100 percent of your time on Facebook or other sites? A new, Los Angeles startup, EverySignal looks to be tackling that problem with its new service. EverySignal said its service notifies you of important moments and conversations in your personal netw (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

ACTIVE Network Refreshes Plancast
San Diego-based Active Network said this morning that it has spiffed up Plancast, its newly acquired social event sharing site. Active Network said it has added a number of enhanced features to Plancast, and plans on such features as an intelligent event recommendation engine to suggest events based on location, interests, and social graph. The firm also said it is expanding the tool to support Japanese and German. Active Network acquired Plancast in August, retrieving the company from a very p (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

EQAL Acquired By Everyday Health
Los Angeles-based EQAL, the digital media and content developer founded by Miles Beckett and Greg Goodfried, has been acquired by Everyday Health, Everyday Health said this morning. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Everyday Health said that EQAL will be integrated into its Lifestyle Division, and will remain headquartered in Los Angeles, headed by Beckett and Goodfried. EQAL--which came onto the scene with lonelygirl15--has since been managing digital media properties for brand and (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Mobile Roadie Adds Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles mobile app developer Mobile Roadie said over the weekend that it has added NBA team the Sacramento Kings to its sports roster. The Kings are using Mobile Roadie's software to power its official Sacramento Kings app, which provides fans with news, photos, schedule, and more. Mobile Roadie is a developer of software which makes it easy for companies to publish their own mobile apps, without having to invest in a major development project. The new app runs on both Android and iOS.
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Paragon Biomedical Acquired By Clinipace
Irvine-based Paragon Biomedical, a contract research organization (CRO), has been acquired by Clinipace, the two announced today. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The two companies said the acquisition will "significantly expand" Clinipace's expertise, site management capabilities, and clinical operations. The move doubles Clinipace's size to more than 430 employees. Both firms provide clinical research services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device firms. Pa (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)

Quality Systems Names Morefield COO
Irvine-based Quality Systems, the developer of practice management, electronic health record, and other software for medical and dental groups and small hospitals, has named Daniel J. Morefield as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Morefield was most recently President and CEO of LEADS360, and also previously served as Chief Operations Officer at Experian Consumer Direct. Prior to that, he was CIO at Overture Services. Quality Systems said Morefield will oversee all of the (More info...)
posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012(Full story)