Wednesday, August 14, 2013Google Users Shouldn't Expect Privacy In Gmail, Says GroupA local consumer watchdog group has uncovered a court filing from Internet giant Google, which says that the firm doesn't believe users should expect privacy when they use Gmail. According to Consumer Watchdog, a local Santa Monica consumer group, it has found a legal brief from Google saying that users should not expect privacy using its web-based email. Consumer Watchdog said that users who care about email privacy should not use Gmail. The filing came in a lawsuit which accuses Google of viol (More info...)
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ParkMe Enhances Android App, Adds On-Street ParkingParking apps developer ParkMe has steadily been adding features to its mobile apps, to make it easier for consumers to find hard-to-locate parking spots across major markets. The firm recently updated its Android application to make it even easier to find parking--helping drivers avoid endless circling around the block--by adding on-street parking information in most of the major cities it supports. The Santa Monica-based startup said that on-street parking information is available in San Franci (More info...)
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NextSpace Expands Beyond California With New Funding, Chicago AcquisitionThe coworking trend--which started in part in Southern California and its high tech startup ecosystem--looks to be spreading East, with news this week that NextSpace has raised $500,000 and acquired a Chicago company, to establish its first coworking site outside of California. NextSpace operates two locations in Southern California, including NextSpace @ Amplify along Venice Beach, and NextSpace Los Angeles. According to NextSpace, its first expansion outside California comes via the acquisitio (More info...)
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Riot Games Gets Big Win With American ExpressCash back? Airline miles? How about armor and weapons? Los Angeles-based Riot Games, the maker of the online videogame League of Legends, has scored a big win this week, with a new strategic partnership with American Express. American Express said it will let users earn in-game rewards, by using an American Express prepaid card for both in-game and out of game purchases. The new American Express card also features one of four popular characters from the game, and bonus points for purchase activi (More info...)
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StyleSaint Gets $4.3M More For Collaborative FashionLos Angeles-based fashion website StyleSaint has raised $4.3M more in a funding round, the company disclosed Wednesday, from General Catalyst Partners and e.Ventures. The startup, which was co-founded by venture capitalist Brian Garrett of Crosscut Ventures and fashion vet Allison Beal, uses input from users on the website to develop limited quantity fashions it sells back to users. The company, which bills itself as a collaborative fashion brand, also is backed by Andreesen Horowitz and Crosscu (More info...)
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TrueVision Systems Gets Debt FundingGoleta-based TrueVision Systems has raised a debt funding round, according to funder Agility Capital. Size and terms of the senior secured growth capital loan were not announced. TrueVision develops 3D visualization and guidance systems for microsurgery. Agility Capital is a provider of debt to emerging growth private and small cap public companies.
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Guthy Renker Sells Off Solar Marketing SubsidiarySanta Monica-based direct marketing company Guther-Renker has sold off one of its subsidiaries,
Paramount Energy Solutions, to solar energy firm SolarCity. The deal was worth approximately $120M, split between $116.3M in stock with the remainder in cash. Paramount Energy Solutions was based in Sacramento. As part of the deal, Ben Van de Bunt, CEO of Guthy Renker will join SolarCity's board of directors.
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The Trade Desk Opens New Office In EuropeVentura-based Internet advertising and real time bidding provider The Trade Desk has opened up a new European office in Hamburg, Germany. According to the company, the new, Central European headquarters for the firm will serve as a sales and business center for clients based in Europe. The Trade Desk already has an office in London. The Trade Desk is headed by online advertising vet Jeff Green, and provides demand side, real-time bidding software for advertising agencies.
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WD Founds New Storage GroupIrvine-based disk drive manufacturer WD has banded together with HGST, Seagate, and Toshiba to create a brand new storage association, the companies said Tuesday. According to the companies, the new group will focused on rotating magnetic storage technologies, and focus on making consumers and professionals aware of "how critical hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state hybrid drives (SSHDs) are to their digital lives." The new group announced its formation at a conference for one of the main, ne (More info...)
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Yardi Wins REITSanta Barbara-based Yardi, which develops property management software, has signed up a new customer. The firm said that real estate investment trust (REIT) Gramercy Property Trust Inc. will use the company's flagship software, Yardi Voyager, as part of its business strategy. Financial impact of the win was not announced. Gramercy owns 106 buildings totaling 4 million square feet of office and 1.8 million square feet of industrial space. Yardi develops real estate investment and property manage (More info...)
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