Thursday, October 10, 2013


Qualcomm Backs Lookout's Mobile Security Tools
San Diego-based Qualcomm is backing mobile security software maker Lookout, as part of a big, $55M funding round for Lookout which was announced Thursday. Lookout said it raised $55M in a funding from Deutsche Telekom, Qualcomm, Greylock Ventures and Mithril Capital Management, along with Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, and Khosla Ventures. Lookout develops mobile device and network security technology. The company's tools are aimed both at individual consumers as well as bu (More info...)
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How Chinese Startup Tradesparq Is Looking To Grow In SoCal
In what is a fairly unusual move, last week, Tradesparq (www.tradesparq.com), a Chinese startup in the area of B2B trade information, said it was planning on setting up its operations here in Southern California, as part of an expansion and scaling of the company. We caught up with co-founder Michael Kleist, to learn more about the startup, its roots in China and international trade, as well as learn more about the startup experience in China--and why having a presence in Southern California i (More info...)
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DogVacay Raises $15M
DogVacay, the online peer-to-peer marketplace for pet sitting services headed by Aaron Hirschhorn, has scored $15M in a Series B funding round, the company said this morning. The Los Angeles company said that the new round was led by Foundation Capital, and also included Benchmark and First Round Capital, along with new investors DAG Ventures and Sherpa Ventures. According to DogVacay, the new funding will help it invest in customer service offerings and to expand its pet care services. DogVacay (More info...)
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Sotera Wireless Gets FDA Clearance For Wireless Patient Monitoring
San Diego-based Sotera Wireless reports today that it has received FDA clearance for its continuous, patient blood pressure monitoring system. The venture backed startup said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared its ViSi Mobile wireless patient monitoring system, which lets clinicians continuously monitor patient vital signs without the use of a catheter or blood pressure cuff. Sotera's system uses a wrist monitor to measure heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, respiration, and blood pre (More info...)
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GreenWave Reality Raises $19M
GreenWave Reality, a startup developing a platform to help manage the "Internet of Things"--and which is headed by former Cisco executive Greg Memo--said this morning that it has raised $19M in a Series B funding round. The round was led by The Westly Group, and also included Craton Equity Partners. GreenWave Reality is developing a platform to help consumers manage their smartphones, TVs, routers and smart appliances. GreenWave Reality said the funding will go to accelerate the rollout of its p (More info...)
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eHarmony Names New Board Member
Santa Monica-based eHarmony.com, the online matchmaking site, said Wednesday that it has added William T. Weyerhauser to its board of directors. Weyerhauser is current a director at Clearwater Paper Company, and also Chairman of the board at Columbia Banking System, Inc., and Columbia State Bank. He also has served at EDEN Bioscience, Potlach Corporation, and Comerco. eHarmony said that Weyerhauser joins Dr. Neil Clark Warren and Madrone Capital Partners' Gregory Penner on eHarmony's board.
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KFx Medical Wins $29M In Patent Infringement Case
San Diego-based KFX Medical, the venture-backed developer of bone implant products, has scored a big win in a patent infringement case. The company said that it was awarded $29 million by a jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, in a patent infringement case against Arthrex Inc.. KFx Medical, which is venture backed by Alloy Ventures, Charter Life Sciences, Arboretum Ventures, Montreux Equity Partners, and MB Venture Partners, said the jury found that A (More info...)
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M-GO Dishes Up New Original Series
Culver City-based online video and movie streaming provider M-GO has expanded into original content for its site, saying late Wednesday evening that it is launching a new, original series on the site called Dinner & A Download. The new, celebrity chef series a promotion to encourage movie purchases on M-GO's website, which offers movie purchases and rentals. The new series--hosted by Jeffrey Saad--will feature celebrity chefs and recipes, cooking demonstrations, and tips. Each of the episodes of (More info...)
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