Thursday, November 8, 2012Row 44 Acquired In $430M DealLos Angeles-based Row 44, the developer of in-flight wireless access and entertainment systems, has been acquired in a deal worth approximately $430M, according to Global Eagle Acquisition Corp.,. Global Eagle said that it will acquired Row 44, along with Advanced Inflight Alliance AG, a German developer of entertainment and connectivity products for the airline industry. The exact amount paid for Row 44 was not announced, however, the backer of Advanced Inflight Alliance AG is PAR Investment Pa (More info...)
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Latest LA Hackathon Centers Around PetsIn the last year, Los Angeles has become a favorite location for conducting "hackathons"--those challenges which encourage developers to create new applications and products around different themes. The latest? A hackathon focused on pets. The Petcentric Hackathon, which is being held on the Amplify campus in Venice, said Thursday that it will offer up a top prize of $3,000 to the top team which comes up with the top ideas and products that help people engage with their pets. In a unique first, (More info...)
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Call Of Duty: Black Ops II Includes Live YouTube StreamingPlayers of the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops II title being released next week by Activision Blizzard will be able to stream their games directly to YouTube, according to Activision. Activision Publishing said Thursday that Xbox 360 and PlayStatoin 3 game players will be able to stream their live gameplay on YouTube, in parallel with webcam and audio commentary from users. The new feature will require both a verified YouTube account and a Call of Duty Elite registration. Call of Duty: Black O (More info...)
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Silicon Valley VC's New LPs: Hollywood?Looking for some funding for your new Menlo Park venture capital fund? Apparently, according to Variety, that source is increasingly Hollywood, and its stars and executives. In an article talking about where Hollywood's elite is putting its money, variety said that business managers who handle the financial affairs of Hollywood's stars and execs are eagerly looking to place a "significant portion" of their portfolios in the tech sector, often through buying into venture capital funds on Sand Hi (More info...)
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VIRURL Launches New Ad WidgetSanta Monica-based VIRURL, which is headed by Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, said today that it has launched a new widget aimed at web publishers. The firm said its new "Slideout" widget helps provide unobtrusive advertising to help publishers monetize site visitors. VIRURL said its widget lets users click on a "recommended content" link which links users to extra, sponsored content that might be relevant to the content on a page. VIRURL says it is looking to "kill of the banner ad", which the company s (More info...)
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Munchery Takes On Pop-Up Pantry, Plans LA ExpansionA Silicon Valley startup is looking to take on Pop Up Pantry in its home market of Los Angeles, saying today that it has raised a funding round which will go towards expanding in Los Angeles, as well as Seattle and New York City. Munchery, which features new menus from local chefs, and delivers those to users for between $10 and $15 a meal, with the user finishing off those meals at home or work in a microwave or oven. Munchery said it raised $4M in a Series A from e.ventures for the effort. The (More info...)
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MiFi Liberate To Ship November 16thThe new, mobile hotspot product from Novatel Wireless, the MiFi Liberate, is shipping on November 16th, according to AT&T. AT&T said it will begin offering up its new AT&T Mobile Hotspot MiFi Liberate for $49.99 with a two year agreement. The new hotspot, developed by San Diego's Novatel Wireless, allows users to connect up to 10 Wi-Fi devices to AT&T's LTE, 4G network. Novatel is a developer of wireless modems, which connect PCs, laptops, and other devices to 4G, wireless networks, and most rec (More info...)
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Stubbs Alderton & Markiles Launches Co-Working, Pre-Accelerator ProgramOne of the major tech focused, legal firms in Los Angeles, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP, announced today that it has launched a new co-working and "pre-accelerator" program, which will offer up access to legal services, reviews of business plans, office space, and more to companies looking to enter one of the local accelerators. The firm--which also just officially opened an office on the Third Street promenade in Santa Monica--said the new "Precellerator" will offer 5-6 entrepeneur groups ro (More info...)
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Causecast Ties With White House Effort Around Inspiring Girls In STEMCausecast, the corporate philanthropy firm headed by Ryan Scott, said this week that it has partnered with the White House campaign to inspire girls in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Causecast said that it is one of a number of private sector organizations working in the Equal Futures Partnership, organized by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The group is looking to help advance women in STEM fields, with Causecast helping its clients suppor (More info...)
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Hulu Launches Kids Section, Hulu KidsHulu, the online television and video streaming service based here in Los Angeles, has just rolled out a new section entirely devoted to children's shows, the company announced this morning. Hulu said its new Hulu Kids section showcases the kids shows available on the site, including such titles as Thomas & Friends, SpongeBob SquarePants, Caillou, Arthur, Dinosaur Train, and more. The titles include shows form Nickelodeon, PBS, and Lionsgate. Hulu said the new section makes it easier for kids to (More info...)
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Vessix Vascular Acquired By Boston Scientific For $425MLaguna Hills-based Vessix Vascular, a deveveloper of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) balloon catheter technology being targeted at treating hypertension, has been acquired by Boston Scientific Corporation, the two said this morning. The deal is worth an aggregate value of $425M, and includes $125M in an upfront playment plus up to $300M tied to clinical and sales-based milestones. Vessix becomes part of Boston Scientific's Peripheral Interventions business. Vessix Vascular was venture backed by (More info...)
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TVC Capital Backs Wellness Software FirmSan Diego's TVC Capital has made another investment in a growing software firm, this time in Washington State. Limeade, a developer of software-as-a-service tools to manage employee wellness programs, said today that it has raised $5M in a funding round from TVC, which it will use for innovation and servicing its customers. Steven Hammerslag of TVC has joined Limeade's board of directors. Limeade's software-as-a-service is used by employers to run health and wellness programs. The company is ba (More info...)
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Transonic Combustion Takes $32M For Fuel Injection TechnologyCamarillo-based Transonic Combustion, which is developing high efficiency, fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, said today that it has raised $32M in a Series D funding round. The firm said the round will go towards expanding development of its product and meeting customer commitments. Transonic Combusion is venture backed by Venrock, Khosla Ventures, Rustic Canyon and Saints Capital. The firm has now raised around $53.5M in funding for its efforts.
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How Go Trexx is Making Travel More Rewarding, with Samantha LureyHow do you make travel a more rewarding experience--particularly if you're traveling with kids? Go Trexx (www.gotrexx.com), which is based in Mission Viejo, think it's by engaging kids with mobile applications which provide background information, helps to build excitement, and gets kids involved in traveling to different destinations. We spoke with founder and CEO Samantha Lurey on how her startup is trying to make travel with kids--and eventually, adults--more fun, by providing location-based (More info...)
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NuORDER Nabs $3M For Fashion E-CommerceNuORDER, a developer of e-commerce software for fashion brands and retailers, has scored a round of funding led by GRP Partners, the company said this morning. The Los Angeles software provider said the $3M, Series A financing round was led by GRP Partners, and also included Greycroft Partners, Aileen Lee, David Tisch, Creative Artists Agency, Brian Spaly, Mortimer Singer and Rachel Zoe Inc. NuORDER's software is used by fashion brands to manage and conduct wholesale transactions online, working (More info...)
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Silicon Beach Fest Fall Kicks Off FridayThe second Silicon Beach Fest, the celebration of all things Silicon Beach, kicks off tomorrow, for a full day of speakers and startup itches. The event--the brainchild of DigitalLA's Kevin Winston--is being held this time at accelerator io/LA, and features sessions on startup accelerators, venture capital, advertising, student startups, and much more. The event also has been paired with the TechZulu Tech Crawl, the startups-and-technology-meets-beer event which lets people tour different compan (More info...)
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Genoa Pharmaceuticals Finds $1.2MSan Diego-based biotechnology company Genoa Pharma announced this morning that it has raised $1.2M in a finacing round, to help advance its treatments for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Source of the seed funding was not announced. IPF is a fatal lung disease which the company says affects approximately 200,000 Americans and 135,000 Europeans. Genoa Pharmaceuticals was founded by Mark SUrber, Ph.D., who has formerly served at Mpex and Aires Pharmaceuticals. The company said that the only t (More info...)
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Auspex Pharmaceuticals Raises $25M For Phase 3 TrialsSan Diego-based Auspex Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that it has raised $25M in a funding round, a Series D financing for the company. The round was led by Panorama Capital, and also included Thomas, McNerney & Partners, CMEA Capital, and Sloan Biotech Fund. The firm said the funding will go towards a Phase 3 clinical trail of its lead compound. The firm is working on a treatment for movement disorder (Chorea) due to Huntington's Disease, Tourette syndrome and tardive dyskinesia.
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Boingo Expands Network In BrazilBoingo, the Wi-Fi network operator, said today that it has inked a deal with a Brazilian Wi-Fi provider to extend its network in that country. The Los Angeles company said that it has tied with Linktel, the operator of a network of Wi-Fi hotspots in Brazil, to add more than 1,400 hotspots throughout Brazil. Financial details of the link were not announced. Boingo said it now has nearly 3,000 hotspots in Brazil. Boingo operates a network of Wi-Fi hotspots, managed through partnerships with other (More info...)
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Qualcomm Labs Unveils First Incubator CompaniesQualcomm Labs, the incubator subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, has announced the first set of companies funded through its new QualcommLabs@EvoNexus program today, saying that it has funded three companies with a round of seed funding. Qualcomm Labs said that Arynga, FatSkunk, and Breadcrumbs all have joined the EvoNexus incubator, and with Arynga and FatSkunk receiving $250,000 each from Qualcomm, and Breadcrumbs receiving $50,000. Arynga is developing software to help management of connecte (More info...)
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