Wednesday, September 26, 2012ViSalus, With LA Tech Founder, Drops IPO PlansViSalus, the nutritional supplements firm headed by former Los Angeles technology entrepreneur Ryan Blair, has withdrawn its IPO, according to a filing with the SEC. The firm did not say why it is withdrawing its IPO, only saying that it has decided not to proceed with the initial public offering of its securities at this time. ViSalus had filed for an IPO in August. Blair was the founder of PathConnect, SkyPipeline, and 24x7 Tech; Blair documented his path from the technology world to health su (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
HotOutlines.com Looks To Cut Class Time, Earn Students MoneyA new, Los Angeles startup, HotOutlines.com has debuted its service, which lets students and colleges and universities upload their class notes, outlines, and study guides, and sell them for a commission. The new startup--founded by Jonathan Roven and Ricky Yu--lets students browse for their school, and then download study guides other users might have made available for their classes. The startup said it will allow students who took a course in a prior year upload an outline in exchange for ano (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
BUZZMEDIA Ties For Brand, Influence ResearchLos Angeles-based content publisher BUZZMEDIA said this morning that it has tied with a research firm, to help mine its network of properties to help brands understand influencers and consumers. According to BUZZMEDIA, the partnership with Translation LLC will work on research that will explore the "interplay between influencers and consumers." The two said its joint research will measure various aspects of how consumers interact with brands, content, and influencers, and how consumers turn to i (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals Sets IPO Pricing RangeCalabasas-based KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, a venture-backed developer of aesthetic medicine products, has set its IPO pricing range, saying earlier this week that it is expectings its IPO price to be between $14.00 and $16.00 per share. KYTHERA is looking to list on the NASDAQ Global Market as KYTH. Kythera is venture backed by Versant Ventures, ARCH Ventures, Prospect Venture Partners, JAFCO, Fidelity, and others. KYTHERA is offering up 4M shares of its common stock in the offering. The pricin (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
How Wedge Buster is Building A Sports Gaming Empire, With Scott PhilpHow do you convince guys to start playing social games? For Wedge Buster (www.wedgebuster.com), you do it by pulling together a huge collection of sports-related social and mobile games. Wedge Buster just raised a $2.2M round from the NFL's Drew Brees, skating's Rob Dyrdek, and a number of local venture and angel investors to create what the company hopes is the dominant provider of social and mobile sports game. We spoke with Scott Philp, the company's CEO and Founder, to learn about its plans. (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
Fisker Karma Panned In Consumer ReportsThe latest review of the Fisker Karma, the plug-in hybrid of Irvine's Fisker Automotive, is not good news for the already embattled firm. Consumer Reports said in a release that the Fisker Karma is "full of flaws", including a dash that is an "ergonomic disaster". Consumer Reports called attention to the Fisker Karma Tuesday, saying that despite a range of 38 miles on a full charge without going to the engine, and "first-class" interior materials, the Karma does not compare well with other luxur (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
Movie Hackathon Combines Film, Technology, PrizesIn the latest "hackathon" to hit Southern California, the Film Independent Forum has just announced a new Movie Hackathon, hosted by Zach James' ZEFR, which will look to spur programmers to create new, engagement experiences and tools for filmmakers and film lovers. The group is hosting an all night hackathon starting Friday, October 19th which will put up to fifty programmers against each other to create new web, mobile, or desktop apps on the theme of film and technology. The group is offering (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
Insights and Opinions: How To Position Your Company For A SaleFor today's Insights and Opinions section--where we share useful advice, opinions, and more from the community--we have an article from attorney Jonathan Hodes, of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP. Hodes talks about how you might position your company for a sale, and some of the things you need to do as part of that process.
In times of recession there is pent-up demand by entrepreneurs to sell their companies. Even in good times investment bankers will tell a seller that the company must b (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
Xirrus Snags $23.5M For Wireless NetworkingThousand Oaks-based Xirrus, the developer of high speed, high performance wireless networking hardware, has raised another big chunk of financing, saying today that it has raised $23.5M in a Series E funding round. The round came from its existing investors, including August Capital, Canaan Partners, InterWest Partners, QuestMark Partners, and US Venture Partners. Xirrus said the funding will go towards sales growth and its product. Xirrus develops high performance wireless networking equipment, (More info...)
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Gamefly Signs Blake Griffin As SpokespersonLos Angeles-based video game rental service GameFly hsa tapped Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin as its new spokesperson, the company said Tuesday. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. GameFly said that Griffin is an "avid gamer" who appeals to the firm's demographic of core gamers. As part of the move, GameFly said it is launching a sweepstakes and promotion for its 10th anniversary, centered around getting a chance to play NBA 2K13 with Griffin in Los Angeles. GameFly operates a (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
Quest Software Stockholders Give Nod To Dell AcquisitionThe $2.4 billion acquisition of Aliso Viejo-based Quest Software has been approved by Quest's stockholders, the firm said Tuesday afternoon, after a meeting of the company's stockholders. The approval is one more step along a lengthy approval process for the acquisition, which was originally announced in July. Quest said the closing of the transaction is still subject to the satisfaction and waiver of remaining closing conditions. Dell acquired Quest Software after a bidding war with private equ (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)
OpenX Names Idealab's McPherson As Chief Legal OfficerLos Angeles-based online advertising technology provider OpenX announced this morning that it has appointed Douglas McPherson, the former General Counsel of Idealab, as its new Chief Legal Officer. OpenX said that McPherson will oversee its worldwide legal affairs, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and intellectual property efforts. McPherson had been General Counsel and VP of Corporate Development at Idealab for more than ten years; he also has served at Chief Legal Of (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, September 26, 2012(Full story)