Thursday, January 15, 2015SERVIZ Expands To San DiegoSherman Oaks-based home services marketplace SERVIZ, the startup led by former ReachLocal founder Zorik Gordon, said Thursday that it has expanded its services to San Diego. SERVIZ helps homeowners book home services on-demand, including finding plumbers, handymen, and other home service providers. The app provides upfront, all-inclusive prices, charging between $45 and $60 an hour for home services. SERVIZ says it background checks all of its service providers. SERVIZ is backed by Groupon, Poi (More info...)
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SpaceX's Elon Musk Puts Up $10M To Fend Off Killer Robot ArmiesTechnology mogul and visionary Elon Musk has publicly stated that he doesn't like the idea of runaway artificial intelligence--and has just donated $10M of his own money to a group aimed at fending off unfriendly AI. According to reserach group the Future of Life Institute, Musk's donation will go to run a global research program aimed at keeping AI beneficial to humanity. Musk said in October that AI can be likened to "summoning the demon" and that it might just be mankind's biggest threat. The (More info...)
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Luxury Link Partners With Gilt.comLos Angeles-based Luxury Link said today that it is in a partnership with Gilt.com, the online luxury shopping site, to feature luxury travel. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed. The two companies said that Gilt has added a new "Travel" tab on its site, which will give Gilt members access to Luxury Link's collection of travel experiences. Luxury Link offers up access to upscale hotels and resorts across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia, with a (More info...)
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Sense360 Gets $2.75M To Unlock Mobile SensorsLos Angeles-based Sense360 said this morning that it has raised $2.75M in a funding round, to go towards its development of a platform to help developers pull together information and make sense of all the data being generated by smart phone sensors. The funding came from FirstMark Capital, Founder Collective, TeleNav, Qualcomm, as well as angels. Sense360 is led by Eli Portnoy, who was the founder of ThinkNear--a company he took from accelerator to exit in only 14 months. Portnoy says that Sens (More info...)
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Maker Studios, Vimeo Team On VOD ContentMaker Studios will be producing content for distribution exclusively on Vimeo, the two said this morning, as part of a new, on-demand deal between Walt Disney a IAC. Maker Studios is owned by Disney, and Vimeo is owned by IAC. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal will be through Vimeo On Demand, Vimeo's pay-per-view service, and apparently is aimed at allowing creators at Maker Studios to boost their revenues through direct sales.
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Semtech Buys EnVervCamarillo-based Semtech said this morning that it has acquired the assets of EnVerv, a developer of power line communication and smart grid products. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. Semtech said that EnVerv's team of employees has joined the company with the acquisition. EnVerve develops low- and medium-voltage, power line communications technology, which has been used in smart metering and telecom applications.
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Ciphrex Gets $500K For Bitcoin WalletSan Diego-based Ciphrex announced this morning that it has raised $500,000 in a Series A round, for the company's Bitcoin wallet software. Ciphrex--which was founded by Enrique and Eric Lombrozo, says it is developing a multisignature, Bitcoin wallet application aimed at both individuals and for application development in the enterprise. The company said the funds will go towards advancing, promoting, and expanding its line of products. Source of the funding was not announced.
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NantHealth Names PresidentLos Angeles-based healthcare IT company NantHealth said today that it has named Robert (Bob) E. Watson as its new President. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong continues as CEO of the company. According to NantHealth, Watson was most recently President, CEO, an Director of Streamline Health Solutions; he also served at DocuSys, Concuity/Trintech, and IQHealth, in addition to serving on the baords of Streamline, Satori Labs, and Interpoint Partners. NantHealth is focused on applying cloud-based, information (More info...)
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TigerText Wins Hospice OperatorSanta Monica-based secure messaging software developer TigerText announced a win this morning, with a hospice operator in Arizona. TigerText said that Casa de la Luz Hospice has selected the company as its secure messaging provider. Financial impact of the deal were not disclosed. TigerText said Cas de la Luz sends nearly 32,000 TigerText messages per month, with more than 150 physicians and nurses using the app. TigerText is led by Brad Brooks; the company's secure messaging services allow hea (More info...)
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