Friday, January 4, 2013LaunchpadLA Opens Spring Applications, Bumps Investment DollarsSanta Monica-based startup accelerator LaunchpadLA has just opened up its spring 2013 class applications, and bumped the amount it invests in startups. The accelerator--run by Sam Teller--is one of a crop of startup accelerators which have been the driving force behind the Silicon Beach startup community over the last year. As part of the new class, the group said it is now offering up $100,000 in investments along with free office space for four months, as well as connections to mentors, invest (More info...)
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Hulu Losing CEO Jason Kilar, CTO Rich TomLos Angeles-based Hulu announced on its blog Friday afternoon that Jason Kilar, the firm's CEO, has decided to depart the company, along with CTO Rich Tom. Reason for the move was not given, however, Kilar said that the two will be working with the company's board to ensure "ample runway" in the transition. Although surprising, Kilar has been a top prospect in CEO and other top positions at Facebook and Yahoo, among other high profile technology companies. It's unclear if Kilar and Tom are headi (More info...)
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Wonderware Founder Dennis Morin Passes AwayDennis Morin, co-founder of software firm Wonderware, passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer, reports the OCBJ. Morin started Wonderware in 1987 with Phil Huber. Wonderware was acquired in 1998 by Invensys PLC, after becoming one of the biggest software providers in the industrial automation. The firm's software is widely used in controlling industrial equipment and in monitoring manufacturing, factory, and other industrial operations.
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How Frequency Wants To Bring You Internet Video, with Blair HarrisonJust before the holidays, we caught up with Blair Harrison, founder of Frequency (www.frequency.com), a personal video service which lets consumers watch video from the Internet on any of their devices. Harrison created one of the Internet's first video search sites, FastTV, and also ran IFILM, which he sold to Viacom in 2006. We caught up with Blair to learn more about his new startup, and why he thinks we need Frequency.
What is Frequency?
Blair Harrison: Frequency is an Internet video s (More info...)
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Rovi Plans To Sell Former CinemaNow TechnologyThe long, turbulent history of the video-on-demand technology developed by former Marina Del Rey-based CinemaNow continues today, after current owner Rovi Corporation said Thursday afternoon that it plans to pursue a sale of its Rovi Entertainment Stores business--the remains of CinemaNow. Rovi said it has retained GCA Savvian Advisors, LLC, to advise it in the sale. Rovi said the move comes as part of an effort to focus on growth opportunities in its core business. CinemaNow was acquired by Rov (More info...)
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Baboo Sets Sights On Digital MarketingA new, Los Angeles-based startup, Baboo is looking to help brands and marketers in the entertainment space reach consumers, and recently launched an alpha of its services. The startup, headed by Drake Sutton-Shearer, is offering up media content in exchange for micro-survey answers, to help bolster music, film, TV, sports, and gaming brands. Co-founder Sutton-Shearer previously co-founded Movie Song Vault and The Gift App, and is a former entertainment industry executive.
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ADVENTRX Sets New CFOSan Diego-based ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals announced this morning that it has named Brandi L. Roberts as its Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President. Roberts has been VP, Finance at the company since March of 2011, and also has served at such firms as Alphatec Spine, Pfizer/Agouron, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. ADVENTRX's lead compound is aimed at treating complications arising from sickle cell disease.
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Anametrix Names New CEOSan Diego-based Anametrix, the venture-backed developer of marketing analytics software, said today that it has named Pelin Thorogood as its new CEO. Thorogood was previously CMO at the company. Thorogood also joins the company's board. She succeeds co-founder and Chairman Blaise Barrelet, who the company said will remain as Chairman. Barrelet also has started a new, investment firm called Analytics Ventures, which the company said will help extend the Anametrix analytics platform to new markets (More info...)
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Xirrus Ties With Sales Software ProviderThousand Oaks-based Xirrus, the developer of high performance wireless networking equipment, is tapping into Relayware, a provider of collaboration and communicaitons software as part of its sales efforts, the firms said Thursday. According to the two, Xirrus has deployed Relayware to manage and optimize its global indirect sales channels. The companies said Xirrus is using Relayware to send emails, operate portals, communicate across social media, and more. Financial details of the link were no (More info...)
posted on Friday, January 4, 2013(Full story)