Thursday, August 1, 2013Maker Studios Launches Network Focused On Geeks, GamersMaker Studios, the Los Angeles-based YouTube network, has launched a brand new network focused on gaming and geek culture, the firm said Thursday. According to Maker Studios, the new network, Polaris, will feature everything from 8-bit nostaliga to e-sports enthusiasts, and such stars as PewDiePie, Yogscast and Dodger Plus. Maker said the new network is focused on videos, culture, movies, comics and all-things-geek. The new network is being managed by Dar Nothaft, who is serving as VP and GM of (More info...)
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Lootsie Links Gamers With RewardsLos Angeles-based Lootsie said Thursday that it has launched a new, mobile rewards program aimed at casual game players, which will provide rewards to iOs and Android game players for in-game achievements. According to Lotsie, the company's new reward program lets players cash out those points for gift cards, prizes, special offers, and more. Lootsie said the company's rewards program is aimed at helping advertisers better connect with game players, bypassing banners and pop-ups which are dislik (More info...)
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LA Investor Backs Mobile App Developer Helping Taxis Fight StartupsThere's been a lot of back and forth in the past few months between ridesharing and transportation startups like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, and local taxi companies--who are not happy at all that those companies are moving in on their turf. To help those taxi companies, a Los Angeles investor--Craton Equity Partners--has backed a mobile app developer called Flywheel, which is helping taxi companies arm themselves for the fight against those startups.
San Francisco-based Flywheel said this week (More info...)
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SlimSurveys Looks To Connect With Developers With New APISlimSurveys, the new startup headed by former TweetPhoto founder Sean Callahan, has just released a new development platform and API, the company is announcing today. The company--which lets developers easily poll their users via their own mobile apps--said that its Developer Program and API lets developers, publishers, and other partners add survey functionality to any web app or mobile platform, including both iOS and Android. The tool lets developers run "micro-surveys" of their users, on any (More info...)
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Monoprice Acquired By Blucora In $180M DealRancho Cucamonga-based Monoprice, an online retailer selling home theater components, speakers, and related consumer electronics products, has been acquired for $180M in cash by Internet company Bluecora. According to Blucora, Monoprice was founded in 2002, and sells its own, name-brand items on its website. Monoprice had revenues of $131.1M for the twelve months ending June 30, 2013. Monoprice is headed by Ajay Kumar. Blucora said it will continue its operations in Rancho Cucamonga. Rancho Cuca (More info...)
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Albumatic Raises $4.2M For Photo Sharing AppLos Angeles-based Albumatic, a developer of an iOS photo sharing application, has raised $4.2M in a funding round, the firm disclosed this week. The funding came from RRE Ventures, Thrive Capital, SV Angel, CrunchFund, Highline Venture Partners, Betaworks, and Box Group. Albumatic was founded by Adam Ludwin and Devon Gundry. A regulatory filing indicates the round actually had a first close back in April.
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PEAR Takes On Fitness Tracking, WorkoutsIrvine-based PEAR Sports announced this morning that it has launched a new product that uses a heart rate monitor and your smartphone to provide customized coaching and fitness training. The firm announced a system which uses heart rate-based training to customize workouts for users, via their smartphone. The company explains that it lets users "download workouts"--ranging from yoga, to strength training or running--similar to how you download music or movies from iTunes. The combination of app (More info...)
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Quarterly Co. Adds Food, Fitness, Health ContributorsHollywood-based Quarterly Co., the startup which delivers a curated set of gifts, via subscription, to customers every quarter, is expanding into the food, health, and fitness category. According to the company, it has added MizzFIT.com founder Bianca Jade, author and star of FitLife.TV Drew Canole and meal kit service HelloFresh as contributors to its service. Quarterly Co. allows customers to sign up for special gift deliveries curated by various influencers and bloggers. MizzFIT combines fas (More info...)
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Kofax Buys Kapow TechnologiesIrvine-based Kofax has acquired Kapow Technologies, a provider of data integration software, the firm announced Wednesday. Kofax said it will acquire Kapow for $47.5M in cash, minus around $1.4M in cash held by Kapow. Kofax said the acquisition will help grow its sales organization and accelerate its software revenue growth. Kofax said that Kapow's customers include such companies as Astra Zeneca, Audi, Commerzbank, Deutsche Telekom, Fiserv, Thomson Reuters and Zurich Insurance Group. Kapow has (More info...)
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ReachLocal Expands In Southeast AsiaWoodland Hills-based ReachLocal, the provider of online marketing services for small and medium-sized businesses, is expanding its reach in Southeast Asia. The company said today that it has linked up with Southeast Asian firm Webnatics in a reseller agreement, which will provide its online advertising and marketing services to local businesses in Singapore. ReachLocal said that Webnatics will provide a trained, dedicated sales force focused on offering up its SMB products and services to local (More info...)
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Cytori Divests Product LineSan Diego-based biopharmaceuticals firm Cytori Therapeutics said yesterday that it is in a deal to divest pieces of the company, with Bimini Technologies and two affiliates, Puregraft Technologies and Kerastem Technologies. Cytori said it has sold its manufacturing and commercialization rights for its Puregraft product line to Bimini, in a deal worth $5M upfront and up to $10M in additional milestone payments. Bimini has also acquired global, exclusive rights to commercialize Cytori's Celution S (More info...)
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