Thursday, January 9, 2014Snapchat Rolls Out Security UpdatesVenice-based instant photo messaging service Snapchat has released an update to the company's software for both Android and iOS, in response to the major security breach over the holidays resulting from the abuse of its "Find Friends" feature. According to Snapchat, the update improves the "Find Friends" functionality--including allowing its users to opt-out of linking a phone number to their account--and also requires phone number verification before using the service. Snapchat had announced pl (More info...)
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ChowNow Gets $708KLos Angeles-based mobile food ordering startup ChowNow has raised $708,414 as part of a new funding round, according to regulatory filing by the firm this week. Details on the funding have not yet been announced by the company. ChowNow has previously raised funding from Daher Capital, Double M Partners, GRP Partners, Karlin Ventures and Velos Partners, and was part of LaunchpadLA. The filing indicates the round is not yet closed, and is targeted at $1.32M.
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Avelas Biosciences Raises $6.85MSan Diego-based Avelas Biosciences announced today that it has raised $6.85M in a Series B funding round, for the company's technology for illuminating cancer cells. The company said the funding came from Avalon Ventures, and also included Torrey Pines Investment, WuXi AppTec, and an additional, un-named investor. Avelas Biosciences is developing a flourecent peptide which helps surgeons highlight cancer cells during surgery, specifically for breast cancer. As part of the funding, the company na (More info...)
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How Chippmunk Hopes To Use UX To Rise Above The Coupon Crowd
The online coupon search industry is very crowded, with dozens of sites, players large and small, and is a very confusing landscape for consumers. Is there an opportunity to rise above the crowd, and become a leading player in the industry for a startup? One local startup, Chippmunk (www.chippmunk.com), hopes so, and believes that focusing on user interface design will help it win over its competitors. The company recently raised a $750,000 seed round of funding. We spoke to CEO Brian Nickerso (More info...)
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Upfront Ventures Promotes Hudson To PrincipalLos Angeles-based venture capital investor Upfront Ventures has promoted Jordan Hudson to Principal, the firm said Wednesday. Hudson has previously served at such firms as Fox Filmed Entertainment and GCA Savvian. Upfront said that Hudson will work on deal sourcing, deal screening, deal support, portfolio analysis, and other similar activities. Hudson had previously been an Associate at the firm. Upfront Ventures was previously known as GRP Partners.
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Activision Offers Up $1M In Prizes In Latest Call of Duty CompetitionSanta Monica-based videogame publishing firm Activision announced this morning that it is offering up $1 million in prizes at its upcoming Call of Duty Championship, a live video gaming competition which is now in its second year. Activision said the prizes will be awarded to the winning Call of Duty teams who are converging in Los Angeles in March, after selection in live, regional finals being held in February and March. Activision said the competition is open to all qualified Call of Duty pla (More info...)
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Illumina Licenses Technology To Quest DiagnosticsSan Diego-based life sciences equipment maker Illumina said today that it has licensed its next generation sequencing technology to Quest Diagnostics, a provider of diagnostic information services. Financial impact of the deal was not announced by the companies. The two said that Quest will gain "broad rights" to Illumina's sequencing and genotyping technology for use in developing, validating, and offering up molecular laboratory-developed tests for diseases. Quest Diagnostics is a major provid (More info...)
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Lytx Hits $100M Mark For Second YearSan Diego-based Lytx, the provider of driver safety and fleet management products which until recently was known as DriveCam, reported today that it had more than $100M in orders for its second consecutive year, adding more than 140 new clients. The company says it now has more than 950 clients using its products and services. Lytx builds video-based driver monitoring systems, and now also offers up fleet compliance services and other related services and products to truck carriers, utilities, f (More info...)
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Zadara Extends Private Cloud Storage To SingaporeIrvine-based private cloud storage provider Zadara Storage said this morning that it is expanding its international presence, and will begin offering up its services in Singapore. According to Zadara, the expansion comes via a relationship with VIVAVO, an Infrastrucutre-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider which serves the country. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Zadara offers up private data storage on an hourly basis for enterprise customers. Zadara is led by storage veteran Nelson N (More info...)
posted on Thursday, January 9, 2014(Full story)