Thursday, June 11, 2015FTC Cracks Down On Crowdfunding ScamThink that crowdfunding project that is getting so much hype is too good to be true? That might just be the case. The Federal Trade Commission just made its first move to crack down on fraudulent crowdfunding efforts, saying Thursday that it has taken legal action against a project creator, who raised money to produce a board game through Kickstarter--but ended up spending most of the money on rent, personal equipment, a move to Oregon, and more. According to the FTC, Erik Chevalier had advertis (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
Hulu Launches The Ultimate Seinfeld ExperienceLos Angeles-based Hulu is going to make some Seinfeld fans very, very happy this month, with the launch of "Seinfeld: The Apartment", an interactive exhibit it is opening in New York City on June 24th. Hulu scored the rights to stream all of the episodes of Seinfeld in a deal with Sony earlier this year. According to Hulu, the pop-up installation runs from June 24th through June 28th, and will include a recreation of the Seinfeld apartment set, a full Seinfeld gallery with props and memorabilia, (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
BioAtla Gets $30MSan Diego-based biotherapeutics developer BioAtla announced today that it has raised $30M in an equity investment, from an un-named Chinese investor group. BioAtla, which is led by Jay M. Short, said the funds will go towards developing its antibody drug pipeline, as well as collaboration with biopharmaceutical companies and institutions in China. Short was previously President and CEO of Diversa Corporation.
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
ViaSat Buys EngreenCarslbad-based satellite communications technology provider ViaSat said this morning that it has acquired Engreen, a developer of network virtualization technology. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. ViaSat said the buy helps it add network virtualization capabilities, which will make it easier to manage its satellite-ground system. The company also said it will add locations in San Jose and Bangalore as a result of the acquisition.
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
Ouya Near Sale, Says ReportsLos Angeles-based Android-based game console maker Ouya is nearing a sale of the company, most likely by game hardware maker Razer, according to reports. Those reports peg the sale price to be around $10M for Ouya, which had developed an Android-based game console to much acclaim, but then apparently triggered a debt covenant forcing the sale in April. Ouya had been venture backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and including Mayfield Fund, NVIDIA, Shasta Ventures, and Occam Partners, and (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
FreedomPop Extends Reach In UK Ahead Of LaunchLos Angeles-based free broadband service FreedomPop has expanded its reach in the UK, and has signed up a new mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA) in the country. FreedomPop said it has signed up MVNA X-Mobility, who will provide wholesale access to its network to help power FreedomPop's services. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. FreedomPop said it is planning to launch its services in the UK later this summer, and is already taking signups for a beta of the free broadband s (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)
Arcturus Therapeutics In Deal With Johnson & Johnson InnovationSan Diego-based RNA therapeutics developer Arcturus Therapeutics announced this morning that it is in a strategic collaboration deal, with Johnson & Johnson Innovation. The company said it has entered into a worldwide license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize RNA-based drug products for specified diseases, using Arcturus' platform and technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, Arcturus said it will receive an upfront payment, R&D suppor (More info...)
posted on Thursday, June 11, 2015(Full story)