Thursday, August 21, 2014Insights: Two Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know
Today's Insights and Opinions article comes from longtime socalTECH reader Frank Addante--who recently took Rubicon Project public. He talks about his strategy for how to build a company: the 'find out' and the 'roll out'.
When you're looking to disrupt any industry—advertising, yogurt, VoIP technology, or whatever—begin with learning everything you can.
Who else is in the market? Do they have a solution? I have always forced myself to ask three very basic, but very important question (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
Nervana Nabs $3.3M For Machine Learning HardwareSan Diego-based Nervana System has raised $3.3M for its hardware-based, machine learning tools, according to the company. Nervana said the Series A funding was led by DFJ, and also included Allen & Co., AME Cloud Ventures, and Fuel Capital. As part of the funding, Steve Jurvetson of DFJ will join the company's board of directors. Nervana is developing machine learning technology--including software and hardware--which is being targeted at a wide range of areas. The company also said it has added (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014 (More)(Full story)
Ez Texting Takes On Free Texting For BusinessesIn today's mobile phone driven world, most consumers now take texting for granted. However, businesses have been notoriously behind the curve when it comes to using the communications medium for their customer outreach and marketing. In an effort to make it easier for businesses to tap into the popularity of texting, Ez Texting--part of Santa Monica-based CallFire--said this week that it has launched a free product which lets businesses send out everything from coupons, appointment reminders, bi (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
BookingPal Snags Execs from Mindspeed, Homes.comIrvine-based Bookingpal, which develops vacation rental distribution technology, has named a new COO and VP, the company said this week. According to the comapny, it has named Stephen Ananias as Chief Operating Officer and Brian Brown as Vice President of Business Development. Ananias was most recently SVP and CFO of Mindspeed Technologies, and also spent more than 11 years at Broadcom. Brown was most recently VP Business Development for Homes.com and Forrent.com, and also served at Dominion Ent (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
Agent Ace Powers Service For U.S. News & World ReportSanta Monica-based real estate agent recommendation service Agent Ace, which is led by Mazen Fawaz, has scored a win with the U.S. News & World Report. The two companies said that Agent Ace is powering a new, consumer web portal, Best Agents, to help connect readers with real estate agents. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Agent Ace uses home sales history and other data points to help match home buyers and sellers with real estate agents.
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
INSTEON Rolls Out At RadioShackIrvine-based home automation and control technology provider INSTEON has rolled out its products at RadioShack's newly remodeled stores, the company reported this morning, as well as on RadioShack's online store. INSTEON said its home automation offerings are rolling out at all of RadioShack's 85 new "Interactive" remodeled stores, which feature a wall dedicated to home automation. INSTEON offers a line of home automation products, ranging from wireless motion sensors, to light dimmers, and othe (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
ViaSat Rolls Out Satellite Internet In Alaska, Hawaii, FloridaCarlsbad-based satellite and wireless technology and services developer ViaSat is rolling out its satellite Internet service in Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida, the firm said yesterday, in an expansion of the company's Exede high speed satellite service. According to ViaSat, its "virtually unlimited" satellite Internet service provides at least 150 GBs of monthly data, and is aimed at rural and remote areas that have limited Internet options. ViaSat offers up the plans at $69.99 a month via a promot (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
JMI Equity Raises $1 Billion FundSan Diego-based private equity investor JMI Equity said Wednesday that it has closed on a new, $1 billion growth equity fund, JMI Equity Fund VIII. According to JMI, the new fund brings its total raised to over $3.1 billion since 1992. JMI Equity said the new funds will go towards investments in rapidly growing, high quality software businesses. The fund is the largest raised so far by JMI, the firm said, and most of the funds came from existing investors. JMI's prior investments include such co (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)
Rubicon Project Wins Business InsiderLos Angeles-based online advertising technology provider Rubicon Project has signed up publisher the Business Insider, the company said yesterday, to power a private advertising exchange for the publication. Financial details of the win were not announced. According to Rubicon Project, it will provide advertising automation technology to power an advertising exchange for the Business Insider's premium desktop, mobile, and high impact ad inventory.
posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014(Full story)