Monday, November 25, 2013Realtidbits Acquired By LivefyreSan Diego-based Realtidbits, a developer of social sharing software for publishers, has been acquired by Livefyre, the two companies announced Monday. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. As part of the funding, Livefyre said it will be opening up a new San Diego office, and all of Realtidbits' team will join the company as part of its product, engineering, and design teams. Livefyre will migrate users of Realtidbits' various software products to its own platform. Realtidbits h (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
The Honest Company Launches Designer ProductsSanta Monica-based e-commerce startup The Honest Company--whose co-founders include subscription e-commerce entrepreneur Brian Lee and celebrity Jessica Alba--said today that it has launched a new line of designer, limited edition products. The Honest Company said its new line of products--called The Collective--will include both products for babies and the home, and which will be "beautiful, safe (and) eco-conscious". The company said it is tapping specially curated artisans, entrepreneurs, and (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
FindTheBest.com Wins Patent Battle, Continues With War On Patent TrollsSanta Barbara-based FindTheBest, the online comparison and research site headed by Kevin O'Connor, scored a legal win Friday, saying that a judge has invalidated a software patent owned by Lumen View Technology, LLC, which is in the midst of a patent battle with the company. The company has been in a quest to take down Lumen View, which it has called a patent troll. The company has been in the midst of a civil RICO lawsuit against Lumen View, and has vowed to take a hard line on patent licensing (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
CheapAir.com Now Takes Bitcoins For Air TravelLooking for something to do with those Bitcoins burning a hole in your pocket? CheapAir.com, a Calabasas-based online travel agency, says that it has begun accepting Bitcoin payments for airplane flights. The company said it is the only place in the United States which currently lets customers purchase flights using Bitcoins. CheapAir, which is led by Jeff Klee, said it will accept Bitcoins for flight purchases on the company's website, and plans to extend Bitcoin support for flights and hotel r (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
CALIENT Technologies Sets COOSanta Barbara-based CALIENT Technologies said Friday that it has named Jag Setler as the company's Chief Operating Officer. Setlur will serve as COO in addition to his currently position as CFO. CALIENT Technologies develops optical circuit switching technology. The company said that Setlur will now manage all financial and operational functions at Calient. He previously served in a similar position at July Systems. CALIENT's optical switching technology is based on a semiconductor process for m (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
National Technical Systems Acquired By Private Equity FirmCalabasas-based National Technical Systems, a provider of testing laboratories, certification services, and related services, is now officially a private company, after the acquisition of the company by Los Angeles private equity company Aurora Capital Group. The companies said that they acquired NTS for $23.00 per share in cash, taking the Calabasas firm off the Nasdaq on Friday. The deal is worth approximately $267M.
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)
Microsemi Gets Early Antitrust Approval On Symmetricom BuyAliso Viejo-based semiconductor developer Microsemi said Friday that it has received early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust requirements for its planned acquisition of Symmetricom. Microsemi announced in October that it would pay approximately $230M for San Jose-based timing chip maker Symmetricom.
posted on Monday, November 25, 2013(Full story)