Tuesday, April 7, 2015


Dreamhost, Rincon Back Akanda's OpenStack Efforts
A couple of Southern California investors--Los Angeles-based DreamHost and Rincon Venture Partners--have backed a new OpenStack software startup called Akanda. Akanda announced Monday that it has raised a round of seed funding, from New Dream Network (Dreamhost), The Fabric, Double M Partners, Rincon Venture Partners, Simon Anderson (CEO of Dreamhost), and Matt Ocko. Dreamhost and Rincon are based in LA, and Double M Partners is among one of the more active investors in Southern California start (More info...)
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TEN Buys TORQUE.TV
Los Angeles-based automotive video publisher TEN: The Enthusiast Network, said Monday that it has acquired TORQUE.TV, and launched a new channel called Motor Trend OnDemand. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. As part of the deal, Roger Werner--who had been the major backer behind TorqueTV, and had founded the Speed Channel cable TV network--will join TEN's board of directors. TorqueTV featured covered major automobile racing events, auto shows, and other related content. TEN is led b (More info...)
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Kyriba Gets $21M For Treasury Management Software
San Diego-based Kyriba, which develops cloud-base financial software used by companies to manage their cash, has raised $21M in a Series C funding round. The funding came from HSBC, and also included BRED Banque Populaire, Daher Capital, Iris Capital and Upfront Ventures. Kyriba said the funds will go towards its global expansion. Kyriba is led by Jean-Luc Robert. The company's software is used for risk and treasury management, particularly for multi-national corporations.
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aTyr Pharma Files For IPO
San Diego-based biopharmacetuicals firm aTyr Pharma has filed for an IPO, saying in a filing with the SEC that it is looking to raise up to $86.25M in an public offering on the NASDAQ Global Market as LIFE. The company's IPO is being underwritten by J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, BMO Capital Markets, and William Blair. The company is venture backed by CHP, Polaris Venture Management, Alta Partners, Domain PArtners, Fidelity, Sofinnova Ventures, Baker Brothers Life Sciences, and others. aTyr Pharma is d (More info...)
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USC Marshall Launches Online MBA Program
The USC Marshall School of Business said Monday that it is launching itself into the online world, with a new, online MBA program. USC said the new program will focus on emerging online business topics such as internet analytics, social media, virtual teams, and entrepreneurial thinking. USC said the program runs for 21 months, and will primarily be conducted online, with seminars via webcam, plus a one-time, one-week on-campus event. USC did not announce the estimated cost of the new MBA progra (More info...)
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UCSD Gets $100M For Business School
The University of California San Diego said today that it has received a commitment for a $100M donation, to benefit its business school, the Rady School of Management, from the Ernst Rady and the Rady Family Foundation. Rady is a billionaire who made his fortune in auto finance. Rady had been behind the establishment of UCSD's business school in 2004.
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