Monday, February 10, 2014


Transphorm Gets $15M More
Goleta-based Transphorm, the developer of high efficiency, power conversion devices which the company says are dramatically more efficient than current technology, has raised $15.0M in more funding, according to a regulatory filing from the firm. Details on the new funding have not yet been announced by the company. Transphorm has previously raised from such investors as Bright Capital, Foundation Capital, Google Ventures, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Bye (More info...)
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Semtech Backs Powervation In New Funding
Camarillo-based Semtech, the develope rof analog and mixed signal ICs, has backed an Irish maker of DC-to-DC power controllers in its latest funding round. According to Cork, Ireland-based Powervation, it raised $5.5M in a Series C1 funding. The funding came from existing investors, which include Semtech, along with SEP, Intel Capital, VentureTech Alliance, and Braemar Energy Ventures. The company said the funding will go towards growth and product development. Powervation's ICs are used for pow (More info...)
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Hulu Sets Sales VP
Los Angeles-based Hulu said today that it has named a new Senior Vice President of Sales. According to Hulu, it has named Peter Naylor--who was previously Executive Vice President of Ad Sales for NBC News Digital--to the position. Naylor also previously served at iVillage, and is on the boards of both the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Online Publishers Association (OPA). Hulu said that interim head of sales Jim O'Donnell remains at Hulu serving as VP, West Coast Sales & Advertisi (More info...)
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Three Southern California Startups Setting You Up For Valentine's Day
Valentine's day is coming up -- it's this Friday, February 14th -- and what better way to prepare for the holiday than taking a look at three local startups (and one established company) particularly appropriate for the occasion? The Bouqs, which is headed by John Tabis, has a modern, online and mobile service aimed at delivering flowers to your girlfriend, wife, or anyone else. The startup--backed by Quest Ventures, Siemer Ventures, Sienna Ventures, and others--not only will help (More info...)
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FreedomPop Dangles Unlimited Mobile Plans At $5 A Month
Wish you could get unlimited voice and text on your phone for less than $5 a month? Los Angeles-based FreedomPop is doing exactly that, saying this morning that it has launched a new plan which costs $4.58 per month and gives you unlimited, voice and text services, on all of its phones. The venture-backed startup, which has the high profile backing of the same companies which backed free voice-over-IP service Skype (Mangrove Capital, DCM and Atomico) said it will also continue to offer up its fr (More info...)
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j2 Global Buys LiveDrive
Los Angeles-based Internet services provider j2 Global continues to gobble up online businesses, saying this morning that it has acquired LiveDrive, a UK-based online backup and synchronization provider. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. According to J2, the acquisition grows its annualized, monthly revenue run rate for cloud backup services to over $40M. j2 Global said it will open up a new office in Paddington, UK--where LiveDrive was based--as part of the acquisition. j2 (More info...)
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Broadcom Debuts New LTE Platform
Irvine-based semiconductor manufacturer Broadcom has launched a new, LTE smartphone platform, which it says is targeted at the sub-$300 smartphone market. Broadcom said its new placeform--based on the Broadcom dual-core M320 LTE SoC--is specifically aimed at helping OEMs develop affordbale, 4G LTE mobile devices. The new chipset supports Android KitKat, and also is pin-compatible with prior Broadcom chips. Broadcom said the new SOC is in production now. Pricing on the new LTE system-on-a-chip wa (More info...)
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Mast Therapeutics Buys Aires Pharmaceuticals
San Diego-based biopharmaceuticals developer Mast Therapeutics announced this morning that it has acquired AIres Pharmaceuticals, a company developing therapies to treat pulmonary vascular disorders. Mast Therapeutics said the deal is an all-stock transaction, giving it ownership of Mast Therapeutics in exchange for what represents 6 percent of its outstanding common stock. At Mast's current market value the deal looks to be worth around $5.2M. Mast Therapeutics said the move is to its advantage (More info...)
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Hulu Inks Deal For Nashville
Los Angeles-based streaming television provider Hulu said last week that it has nabbed a deal to feature the TV show "Nashville" on its Hulu Plus subscription service. According to Hulu, the exclusive subscription, video-on-demand deal allows Hulu Plus subscribers to gain access to the full run of the country-music themed television show and all of its episodes. FInancial details of the deal were not announced.
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Warner Bros. Interactive Publishes LEGO Movie Videogame
Burbank-based Warner Bros. Interactive said last week, along with gane studio TT Games and The LEGO Group, that it is publishing a new game based ont he new LEGO Movie. Warner said The LEGO Movie Videogame began shipping for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Windows PC on Friday. Financial details of the game publishing deal were not announced by the companies. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is the videogame publishing arm of (More info...)
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