Thursday, March 13, 2014iStoryTime Maker Zuuka Acquired By New York CompanySanta Barbara-based Zuuka, the parent firm of the kids' iOS storybook brand iStoryTime, has been acquired by New York-based Cupcake Digital. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to Cupcake, the acquisition will expands its entertainment license portfolio. Zuuka--which was founded by Graham Farra and Woody Sears--will join Cupcake Digital as part of the acquisition. Zuuka was backed by Corporate Finance Partners (CFP). Zuuka had a long line of children's storybooks fro (More info...)
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Brighter Expands Dental Care Marketplace Into Orange CountyBrighter.com, the online marketplace for dentists which is looking to bring upfront pricing to the dental market, said Thursday that it has expanded beyond Los Angeles and into Orange County. The venture backed startup--led by serial entrepreneur Jake Winebaum and based in Los Angeles--said that Orange County is the first part of a statewide expansion for the company. Brighter.com provides group buying and collective pricing power to consumers, so that individuals without dental insurance plans (More info...)
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Airpush: $98M In Annual Revenues, 200 EmployeesLos Angeles-based mobile advertising firm Airpush--which is reportedly in acquisition talks with Perion--delivered $98M in annual revenues, according to the Forbes 2013 ranking of its most promising companies. Forbes said that Airpush now has 200 employees, saw 96 percent revenue growth between 2012 and 2013--and has yet to raise any outside funding. Airpush is led by Asher Delug.
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INSTEON Plugs Into NestIrvine-based INSTEON, a developer of electronically connected, home automation products, said today that it has connected its smartphone controlled home automation hub to the popular Nest Learning Thermostat. Nest--now owned by Google--develops high tech thermostats which automatically adjust to optimize a home's temperature for users, and can also be remotely monitored and adjusted. INSTEON's home automation hub can control things like electronically controlled lights and appliances; LED bulbs; (More info...)
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Two Bit Circus Sets STEAM Carnival DatesLos Angeles-based high tech education and amusement company Two Bit Circus, which was founded by Brent Bushnell, said it has set the date for its S.T.E.A.M. Carnival, the company's crowdfunded entertainment event which it has been describing as a varnival reimagined with "lasers, fire, and robots". The event is aimed at inspiring kids to learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Two Bit Circus said it plans to run the first event on October 25th to 26th at the Port of Los Ange (More info...)
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AnaptysBio Gets $17M in Licensing DealSan Diego-based AnaptysBio, a biopharmaceuticals firm focused on the development of therapeutic antibodies, announced a deal today with TESARO. According to AnaptysBio, it will receive an upfront license fee of $17M from TESARO, plus receive funding of costs incurred in related development programs, as part of an antibody program. In addition, AnaptysBio said it is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $18M for meeting certain research and development milestones, as well as an addition (More info...)
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uSamp Rolls Out New API, PlatformLos Angeles-based online survey and sampling services and technology provider uSamp said Wednesday that it has rolled out a new, fully open Application programming interface (API). The new API is part of its new SampleCORE platform, which it says helps automate sampling for its customers. uSamp's sampling technology helps marketers conduct polling and sampling of consumers in an automated fashion. The company is venture backed by DFJ Frontier, Dupont Capital, Greycroft Partners, OpenView Venture (More info...)
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ScanMyPhotos.com Eyes Business MarketIrvine-based ScanMyPhotos.com, a provider of photo scanning services, said today that it has launched a new, business focused service, which it says is aimed at large volume, commercial orders. ScanMyPhotos.com said the new service---ScanMyPhotos.com Enterprise for Business--is intended for used by celebrities and large organizations, such as companies in the entertainment industry, motion picture studios, celebrities, governments, and academic insitutions. The company said the new service came (More info...)
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