Tuesday, December 18, 2012SoCal's Instagram Startups Duck Impact, As Users RebelIt looks like all of the flap over Instagram's change in its terms of service--which some had interpreted as giving Instagram the right to sell users' photos--has missed impacting a number of Southern California's startups. Instagram clarified its position on ownership of photos Tuesday, saying its intent was not to sell user photos, or use them in advertising. Instagram--which operates a popular, mobile photo sharing service--had made a change which would legally give the unit of Facebook abili (More info...)
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Fruition Gets $12M For ServiceNow Implementation ServicesA company whose primary business is implementing ServiceNow for clients, Fruition Partners, said it has raised $12.0M in funding, in an interesting indication of the growing ecosystem around San Diego-based ServiceNow. Fruition--based in Chicago--said the Series A funding for the firm was led by Trident Capital, and specifically comes due to "rapid expansion and market demand" for ServiceNow's product. Fruition said it is the "premier implementation partner" for ServiceNow, whose software is use (More info...)
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Appmob Takes On Mobile EngagementWhat's the best way to help mobile developers encourage engagement on their applications? The former team behind TweetPhoto--who sold their firm to Lockerz 18 months ago--is looking to solve that problem, through a new startup called APPMOB. The San Diego company just launched beta invitations for the company, which its co-founders billed the "pickaxes, shovels, and sluice boxes" for mobile developers. The company said it is hoping to launch in spring with a solution that helps developers engage (More info...)
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Music Mastermind Taps Muve Music, Napster Vet As CTOMusic Mastermind, which develops software which combines music creation, social gaming, celebrity musicians, and others in its games, said this morning that it has tapped a veteran of Muve Music and Napster as its new CTO. The company said James Mitchell has been named Chief Technology Officer, joining from Muve Music, where he was Vice President of Technology and Engineering. Mitchell also has served at CTO of Napster. Music Mastermind said Mitchell will oversee development and cross-platform e (More info...)
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SocialVibe Ties with Placecast for GeofencingSocialVibe, the online advertising provider provided engagement advertising technology to brands, said today that it has tapped Placecast for geofencing technology. Geofencing is the use of a consumer's location to target and tune specific advertisements and offers. Business details of the link between Placecast and SocialVibe were not announced. SocialVibe said the move will allow it to deliver virtual currency via SMS to users who have completed one of SocialVibe's brand engagements and are no (More info...)
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Tapiture Raises $450,000Venice-based Tapiture, an online, male-focused site which bills itself a "Pinterest for Men", has raised $450,000 in what looks like a convertible debt funding. The funding came via an SEC filing. Tapiture has not yet announced the funding, which has a target of $1.0M and looks to be still in progress. Tapiture is led by John Ellis. Tapiture launched in October, with a male-focused site which lets uers "tap" things they like. The company is a spinout of Resignation Media.
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SGN Launches Cross-Platform Development ToolLos Angeles-based social and mobile game development firm, SGN, said today that it has launched a new tool called MasterKey, which it says can be used to develop cross-platform titles. The firm said the proprietary technology allows its to reduce the time, effort, and cost to publish across multiple platforms, allowing it to publish a game across Facebook, iOS, and Android. The company said it has been using the tool internally, for such games as Panda Jam and Bingo Blingo; SGN also said it plan (More info...)
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Bluebeam Wins SkanskaPasadena-based Bluebeam Software, said this morning that it has signed project development and construction company Skanska as a customer. Skanska is the world's largest project development and construction group, according to Bluebeam. Bluebeam's PDF-based software is used for for creating interactive, complex PDF-based files for the architectural, engineering and construction firms, oil and gas, and other industries, Financial terms of the deal were not announced. Bluebeam's software includes (More info...)
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AtheroNova Sets Chief Medical OfficerIrvine-based AtheroNova, the biotech working on treating atherosclerotic plaque, reported this morning that it has named Dr. Mark K. Wedel as its Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer. Wedel has previously served at such companies as Santaris A/S, ISIS Pharmaceuticals, and Alliance Pharmaceuticals, among others. AtheroNova said it hired Wedel as part of a plan to transition to clinical stage operations in the coming months.
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CraveOnline Names Executive EditorLos Angeles-based online male-focused publisher CraveOnline Media, which is a unit of Evolve Media, said today that it has named Jason Kobely as Executive Editor. Kobely previously served as News Director at KNSI Radio in St. Cloud, MN, and also served at KXTV News 10 (Sacramento) and NewsTalk 1530 KFBK (Sacramento). CraveOline said that Kobely will oversee all facets of its editorial content.
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