Wednesday, September 4, 2013M-GO Updates Digital Entertainment ServiceCulver City-based M-GO, the online movie and television streaming service which is a joint venture of DreamWorks Animation and Technicolor, has rolled out the latest release of the service, adding a number of features aimed at making it easier for consumers to use the service. The updates include the ability to create collections of shows called "Cards", personalized show recommendations, easier links to users' favorite shows, and more. M-GO offers up a large library of television shows and movi (More info...)
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Clutter Launches In LA, Aims To Store Away Your MessIn the latest smartphone-driven service to launch in Los Angeles, a new startup, Clutter, debuted its service Wednesday, letting any iPhone user use their phone to pack up their mess into reusable boxes, and have them carted away to storage. The startup, led by Brian Thomas, lets users order up reusable storage boxes via iPhone, and lets users store those boxes away along with a smartphone photograph of the items packed into those boxes, for retrieval anytime. Clutter is charging $10 a box per m (More info...)
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Broadcom Buys LTE Assets From Renesas ElectronicsIrvine-based Broadcom is buying a collection of assets form Tokyo-based Renesas Electronics Corporation, in a deal worth approximately $164M, the firms said today. According to the two, Broadcom is acquiring assets and shares of Renesas Electronics' LTE modem technology subsidiaries and assets. The move came after Renesas said in June that it would stop development activities and sales of its LTE wireless modems, and work on selling the business.
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UC Irvine Ventures Into MOOCs With Zombie Lectures
How much can you learn from a TV series around a zombie apocalypse? A new, massive open online course (MOOC) from the University of California, Irvine, hopes to teach students all kinds of concepts from social science, public health, mathematics and physics--all based on material from AMC's television show, "The Walking Dead". According to UC Irvine, along with AMC and online course provider Instructure, they are launching a massive open online course which uses pop culture to talk about such (More info...)
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Triton Algae Innovations Snags $5MSan Diego-based Triton Algae Innovations, a new startup whose founders include the co-founders of Sapphire Energy, Dr. Steve Mayfield and Dr. Jason Pyle, is announcing today that it has raised $5M in a Series A funding round. The funding came from Heliae Technology Holdings. According to Triton Algae Innovations, the funding will go towards research and development programs and expansion and commercialization of its platform.
Triton Algae Innovations is using synthetic biology to create algae (More info...)
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Otonomy Lands $45.9MSan Diego-based biopharmaceuticals firm Otonomy announced this morning that it has raised $45.9M in a Series C, equity funding. According to the company, the funding was led by OrbiMed Advisors, and also included Aperture Venture Partners, Osage University Partners, as well as Avalon Ventures, Domain Associates, Novo Ventures, RiverVest Venture Partners and TPG Biotech. Otonomy is a biopharmaceuticals firm developing treatments for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear. The company (More info...)
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Digital Brand Architects Gets InvestmentOnline talent management agency Digital Brand Architects, a company focused on talent management of online influencers, has raised a round of funding from Azoff Music Management. Size of the funding was not announced. Digital Brand Architects, which has offices in Los Angelse and New York, says it represents fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food, shelter, and photography bloggers. As part of the funding, Azoff Music Management's Allison Statter will join DBA's management team.
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Demand Media Gets $225M Credit FacilitySanta Monica-based online publisher Demand Media said Tuesday afternoon that it has entered into a new, $225M credit facility, split between a $125M revolving credit facility and a $100M term loan. According to Demand Media, the new facility replaces an existing, $105M revolving credit facility. Demand Media said the new facility has an option to increase the amount to $250M. Demand Media said it would use the new funding with "additional flexibility and liquidity", and in particular to help pur (More info...)
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ReachLocal Partners With MerchantCircleWoodland Hills-based ReachLocal said late last night that it has tied with MerchantCicle.com, and will add MerchantCircle to its online booking network. ReachLocal said the link allows it customers to automatically integrate booking functionality into their MerchantCircle profiles. ReachLocal's latest push has been to enable the rest of the customer transaction--in this case, booking and scheduling appointments--for its small business customers. ReachLocal said the move will let MerchantCircle v (More info...)
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IIllumina Wins Genetic Testing CompanySan Diego-based life sciences equipment provier Illumina said this morning that it has entered into an agreement with Natera, a provider of genetic testing services, to supply sequencing instruments and consumables. Financial details of the win were not disclosed. Illumina said it will supply its HiSeq 2500 sequencing system and consumables for performing non-invasive, prenatal testing. Natera offers up a wide range of prenatal testing, ranging from genetic diagnosis, chromosomal anomaly screeni (More info...)
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