Thursday, October 9, 2014


President Obama Stresses Jobs, Education In First Silicon Beach Visit
In the first time that President Barack Obama has paid a special visit to the epicenter of Southern California's high tech industry, the President spoke for over an hour to an audience of entrepreneurs at Cross Campus, the Santa Monica coworking space, touching on topics around providing an infrastructure for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Obama also walked around talking with entrepreneurs at Cross Campus about their startups--at times, pitching those startups' businesses better than the (More info...)
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Obama Set To Take Stage At Cross Campus
In his first official visit to Southern California's "Silicon Beach", President Obama is set to speak soon from Santa Monica-based Cross Campus coworking space. The White House is live streaming Obama's visit at Cross Campus this afternoon. According to the White House, Obama will deliver remarks and answer questions about the important economic progress the country has made and how one generation in particular - Millennials - who will shape our economy for decades to come. (embed below). (More info...)
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Citrix Online's Brett Caine Named CEO At Urban Airship
Brett Caine, who grew Santa Barbara-based Citrix Online from $40M to $600M in revenues with over 10 years at the company, has taken the helm at startup Urban Airship. Urban Airship said that Caine also joins the company's board with the appointment. Caine was, at last check, in Santa Barbara; it's unclear if he is moving to Portland or will be commuting. Caine took over from Citrix Online's Andreas von Blottnitz back in July of 2004, shortly after Citrix acquired ExpertCity. Urban Airship develo (More info...)
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Snapchat Planning First Ads
Venice, California-based messaging app developer Snapchat is planning to roll out its first advertising effort soon, according to CEO Evan Spiegel, who said this week at the Vanity Fair New Establishment summit. Spiegel disclosed the company's plans in a conversation on stage with Michael Bloomberg and Katie Couric. The new ads apparently will first appear around the companies "Stories" product.
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Mandalay Digital Group Buys App Discovery Engine Developer Xyo
Los Angeles-based Mandalay Digital said today that it has acquired the mobile app discovery engine from Xyo. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Xyo develops an app search engine and contextual advertising technology used by mobile operators, including Verizon, Voadafone Australia, Deutsche Telekom Europe, and T-Mobile USA. Mandalay Digital said that Xyo co-founders Zoe Adamovicz and Marcin Rudolf will join its Digital Turbine team. Xyo's app discovery engine are used to help smartpho (More info...)
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Channel Technologies Group Buys Materials Systems Inc.
Santa Barbara-based Channel Technologies Group, which manufacturers sonar and navigation systems, piezoelectric ceramics, transducers, and other products used in the defense and other industries, said this morning that it has acquired Materials Systems Inc., a manufacturer of piezecomposite sonar transducers and arrays for defense and commercial customers. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. CTG is backed by Blue Wolf Capital Fund II, LP. Materials Systems is based in Littleton, Mass (More info...)
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socalTECH: Nominations Close For The socalTECH 50 Tomorrow!
Reminder: Tomorrow is the last day for nominations for the socalTECH 50, our annual list of the top 50, up-and-coming individuals in Southern California's technology! We're looking to identify the individuals here in the technology industry, across all sectors, who are most likely to create the next big thing, produce the next big exit or to influence the industry in a significant way. If you'd like to nominate an individual (not company) for this award, we've just started collecting your nomin (More info...)
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President Obama To Visit Cross Campus Today
In a sign of how far and wide the growth of Southern California's high tech industry has traveled, it appears that President Barack Obama will be speaking at Santa Monica's Cross Campus on Thursday--in the heart of Silicon Beach. According to the White House, President Obama will be visiting Los Angeles starting on Thursday afternoon, with plans to visit the coworking space sometime before attending a political fundraiser at the home of Gwyneth Paltrow. In a schedule released from the White Hous (More info...)
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Raw Science Takes On Science, Tech Video
Los Angeles-based Raw Science, a new startup in the content area, said that it has launched a new online network aimed at content in the areas of science and technology. The startup said it is offering up on-demand videos, pay-per-view films, news, and original programming specifically focused on scientific discoveries and technological achievements. The startup was founded by Keri Kukral and Raj Singh.
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Myspace Ties With Vevo, Enhances Mobile Support
Irvine-based Myspace, now an online site focused on music and musicians, said Wednesday that it has linked up with Vevo in a new music distribution partnership, and also enhanced its mobile support. According to Myspace and Vevo, the deal brings Vevo's music videos, live concert events, and original shows to Myspace's website and apps. Financial details of that new partnership were not announced. In a related move, Myspace said it has enhanced its mobile support, to let users stream their music (More info...)
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Donuts Names New Marketing Chief
Donuts Inc., the generic, top-level domain registrar which has offices and operations in Los Angeles, said this week that it has named Jeffrey Davidoff--the former CMO of Orbitz Worldwide--as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Davidoff was most recently CMO at ONE, the group which campaigns against extreme poverty and preventable disease. He also served at Whirpool Corporation and marketing firm UPSHOT. Donuts offers up registrar services for the new, generic top-level domains (gTLDs).
posted on Thursday, October 9, 2014(Full story)