Monday, September 22, 2014Activision Taps Rudy Giuliani To Fight Former Dictator NoriegaIn a bid to stave off a lawsuit from former Panamanian dictator Manual Noriega, Santa Monica-based Activision has hired former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to fight Noriega's claim that the company misappropriate Noriega's likeness in developing the game "Call of Duty: Black Ops II". Noriega had sued Activision in Julyover the use of his name and likeness in the game. Guiliani is a partner at legal firm Bracewell & Giuliani LLP. Giuliani called Noriega's lawsuit "absurd", saying that Activisoin (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Fullscreen Acquired By Chernin Group, AT&TLos Angeles-based Fullscreen Network is being acquired by Otter Media, a joint venture of AT&T and The Chernin Group, in a deal which is reportedly worth between $200M and $300M. Exact terms of the buy were not announced. Fullscreen, which is led by George Strompolos, operates a giant YouTube network. The companies said that Fullscreen CEO Strompolos will continue in that position, and maintain a "material ownership stake" in the company. Fullscreen was founded in January of 2011.
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Kin Lands $12M For Women's Lifestyle ChannelsSanta Monica-based KIN, which operates a female-focused lifestyle YouTube network, has raised $12M in a funding round, the company said last week. The funding came from Corus Entertainment, Emil Capital, Mayfield Fund, General Catalyst Partners and Rustic Canyon Partners. KIN develops YouTube content in the areas of food, fashion, beauty, home, and the DIY areas, and is completely focused on female viewers. The company said i thas had more than 200M collective views from 25 million unique visito (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014 (More)(Full story)
Club W Gets $9.5MLos Angeles-based subscription wine delivery company Club W announced this morning that it has raised $9.5M in a Series A funding, for the company's service which provides monthly delivery of wins to members. The startup said the funding was led by Bessemer Venture partners. The startup is led by Xander Oxman. According to Club W, the new funding will go towards product development, integration of its supply chain, and marketing initiatives. Club W has previously raised funding from Crosscut Ven (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014 (More)(Full story)
Realty Mogul Scores $73M Investment PartnershipBeverly Hills-based real estate crowdfunding site Realty Mogul disclosed this morning that it has inked a $73M funding commitment with company Direct Lending Investments. The two said that the funding will go towards funding residential rehab loans through Realty Mogul's platform. Realty Mogul operates an online crowdfunding site, which lets people invest in real estate projects aroudn the U.S. The company is led by Jilliene Helman. The company is venture backed by Canaan Partners. Direct Lendin (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Shopzilla Becomes ConnexityLos Angeles-based marketing technology provider Shopzilla said this morning that it has officially chanced its company named to Connexity, to help highlight the shift of the company from comparison shopping to technology driven marketing solutions. Shopzilla said the change comes as it looks to highlight the range of marketing capabilities it has for retailers and brands, which are now a majority of its revenues. Shopzilla had been best known for its comparison shopping websites, such as Shopzil (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
CurbStand Raises $3M For Valet Parking AppLos Angeles-based CurbStand, a startup which develops an iOS app to help users find and pay for valet parking, has raised $3M in a funding round, the company said this morning. The startup--led by Serge Gojkovich--said the funding came from an un-named, private investor. The company said the funding will go to expand its executive staff, launch its operations outside of Los Angeles, and further develop its product. CurbStand's app lets users find valet parking at restaurants, nightclubs, and oth (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014 (More)(Full story)
j2 Global Acquires Australian Web Hosting Firm Web24Los Angeles-based internet services giant j2 Global is continuing to build out its vast empire of Internet services, saying this morning that it has acquired Australian web hosting company Web24 Group Pty Ltd.. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Web24 was based in Melbourne, Australia, and offers up domain name, web hosting, dedicated and share servers, and more to the small and mid-sized business market. j2 Global said the acquisition moves the company into the web hosting arena. j2 (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Sientra Files For IPOSanta Barbara-based medical aesthetics company Sientra has filed for an IPO, saying Friday that it is looking to raise up to $86.25M in an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. The company said it has proposed listing under the symbol SIEN. The IPO is being underwritten by Piper Jaffray, Stifel, Leerink Partners, and William Blair. Sientra is venture backed by Abingworth Bioventures, OrbiMed, Clarus Lifesciences, Private Equity Managers Healthcare, and TIAA. Sientra develops breast implants.
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Adaptive Medias Raises $5.2MIrvine-based Adaptive Medias, the provider of programmatic advertising technology, said this morning that it has raised $5.2M in a private placement. The publicly held company did not say where the new funding came from. Adative Medias said it will use the funding for sales and marketing, as well as general corporate purposes. Adaptive Medias is led by Qayed Shareef. Adaptive Medias is backed by Los Angeles technology veteran and investor Ben Padnos.
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)
Cytori Therapeutics Chops Staff, ExecutivesSan Diego-based Cytori Therapeutics has chopped its staff and executives, and has plunged into arestructuring effort to reduce costs, the company said this morning, after a safety hold on one of its clinical trials. According to Cytori, it has cut its employees by roughly 42 employees, down from 119 employees earlier in the year to approximately 77 employees, to reduce costs. The company also said that its EVP of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Claude Shores--as well as other, un-named employees--have (More info...)
posted on Monday, September 22, 2014(Full story)