Friday, August 23, 2013Insights: The Perils of Shiny New ObjectsFor this afternoon's Insights and Opinions section, we're sharing a recent blog post from Mark Suster of Upfront Ventures. Mark writes about The Perils of Shiny New Objects.
I have a saying that I employ as a powerful metaphor at every startup with whom I work - "beware of shiny new objects."
It is one of the easiest pieces of advice to give as it is almost always valuable if entrepreneurs follow it as a guideline. Yet sadly most startups have "shiny object" obsessions. In today's uber-conn (More info...)
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)
Friday Infographic: LA Accelerators and Incubators
Confused about the myriad of incubators and accelerators in the Los Angeles area? A new infographic, released this week, has summarized some of the local startup incubators and accelerators in Los Angeles, plus detailed some of the terms of their investments in companies. We've reprinted it below.
The infographic was created by local high tech video production creative and strategy, and content syndication company 4WT Media, along with partner Fresh Development.
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)
Qualcomm Sells Omnitracs To Vista Equity Partners For $800MSan Diego-based wireless communications developer Qualcomm is selling off Omnitracs, its North and Latin American transportation and logistics business, to private equity firm Vista Equity. According to Qualcomm, Vista Equity Partners will pay $800M in cash for Omnitracs, which provides commercial vehicle telematics services. Qualcomm said the deal includes all of Omnitracs' operations in the United States, Canada and Latin America, and also includes Sylectus and FleetRisk Advisors, which Omnitr (More info...)
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XIFIN Buys PathCentralSan Diego-based XIFIN, which develops cloud-based financial software for the healthcare industry, has acquired Irvine-based PathCentral, a developer of software for the pathology community, the company announced Thursday afternoon. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. According to XIFIN, it acquired the product and service assets and related intellectual property of PathCentral in the deal. PathCentral had been venture backed by Arboretum Ventures, Baird Venture Partners, and (More info...)
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)
Applied Proteomics Gets $28M For Molecular Diagnostics ToolsSan Diego-based Applied Proteomics, which develops molecular diagnostics technology, said earlier this week that it has raised $28.0M in a Series C funding round. The company said the financing was led by Genting Berhad, and also included Domain Associates and Vulcan Capital. Genting's Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay has joined the company's board along with the funding. Applied Proteomics said it will use the funding to commercialize its diagnostics tools.
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The Trade Desk Launches New SoftwareVentura-based The Trade Desk, the real-time bidding and advertising company led by industry veteran Jeff Green, has launched a new version of its platform, the company said this week. The Trade Desk said its new Data Management Platform (DMP) platform includes new features, a new user interface, and integration with other platforms. The Trade Desk's software is used to manage display, social, and video advertising campaigns. Jeff Green is an ad industry vet, who founded ad exchange AdECN; Green (More info...)
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)
TigerText Claims Record Growth In First HalfSanta Monica-based TigerText, the developer of the enterprise, secure messaging apps, claims it had "record growth" in the first half of the year. The company did not disclose any financials, but said it quadrupled the number of paid users of its products. TigerText offers up its software to enterprise and healthcare companies, who need a way to send secure messages via mobile devices, but can't use things like SMS and text messaging due to regulatory requirements. The company said it now has mo (More info...)
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)
Vantage Oncology Buys Radiation Oncology Services of AmericaManhattan Beach-based Vantage Oncology, which operates a network of radiation oncology centers, said this morning that it has acquired Radiation Oncology Services of America (ROSA). Financial terms of the deal were not announced. Vantage Oncology said that ROSA owns, operates, and managed 17 radiation oncology centers spread across Georgia, Alabama, Texas, New Jersey and Florida.
posted on Friday, August 23, 2013(Full story)