Friday, July 31, 2015Jukin Media Snags $2M From SamsungLos Angeles-based Jukin Media, the viral, user-generated video clearing house, has raised $2M in a funding round from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, according to the company. Jukin said it will use the funding to give it "financial flexibility" and growth. Jukin's other investors are BDMI, Maker Studios, Karlin Ventures, Peter Guber, Allen DeBevoise, Richard Wolpert, Brad Zions, Canyon Creek Capital, Kombo Ventures, and Launchpad LA. Lee Essner, the President and COO of Jukin Media, sai (More info...)
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WEVR Gets $10M From HTC For Virtual Reality ToolsLos Angeles-based WEVR, which is developing virtual reality capture tools, has raised $10M in funding from HTC, HTC said Thursday. HTC said the investment vies it 15 percent of WEVR. HTC said that it paid $5.7782 per share for 1,730,642 shares of WEVR's Series B preferred stock. WEVR is led by Neville Spiteri, who previously was CEO of online interactive digital studio Wemo Labs, which was behind the online interactive title TheBlu.
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Thrive Market Finds $30M For Online Healthy, Natural Food and ProductsLos Angeles-based Thrive Market, which operates an online, membership-only health food service, has raised $30M in a funding round, the company said this week. The funding was led by Greycroft Partners, and also included Scripps Network, Powerplant Ventures, and angels. Thrive Market offers up health food, bath and body products, kids and baby products, home goods and more on its online e-commerce site, with a focus on healthy and natural products. The company's selection is similar to what you' (More info...)
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FreedomPop Finds $10M More For Free Wireless ServiceLos Angeles-based FreedomPop, the free broadband wireless and cellular services provider led by Stephen Stokols, disclosed Thursday that it has raised $10M more in a funding round. The funding came from Asian mobile carrier Axiata, as well as an un-named technology investor here in the U.S. The funding deal with Axiata includes an agreement to expand FreedomPop's services into Asia. Axiata is based in Malaysia, and also serves Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. Free (More info...)
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Sayer Raises $1.1M, Launches Social Polling, Predictions AppLos Angeles-based Sayer, a new mobile app startup, said Thursday that it has launched its social polling and predictions app, backed by $1.1M in seed funding. Sayer said its iOS app lets people share their opinions and make their own predictions on topical questions, and weigh in on different topics. Sayer is led by Patrick Davis. Source of the seed funding, which was received earlier in the year, was not announced. The new app runs on iOS.
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Boingo Wins Deal At University Of HoustonLos Angeles-based Boingo Wireless is extending its coverage into Houston's TDECO Stadium, in a deal with the University of Houston Department of Athletics. According to the University of Houston Department of Athletics, it has reached an agreement with Boingo to enhance the wireless service at TDECO Stadium, by using Boingo's Distributed Antenna System (DAS). Boingo's system will provide both cellular phone coverage and data to the 40,000 seat stadium, and also extend T-mobile's cellular data ne (More info...)
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Xencor Adds Board MemberMonrovia-based biopharmaceuticals developer Xencor announced this morning that it has appointed Yujiro S. Hata to its board of directors. Hata is currently the Chief Operating Officer at FLX Bio, and he previously was Chief Operating Officer at Flexuss Biosciences. Hata has also served at Onyx Pharmaceukticals, Enata Pharmaceuticals, Gneome Therapeutics Corporation, McKinsey and Company, and ImClone Systems.
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Amgen Names Warburg Pincus Exec to BoardThousand Oaks-based Amgen announced on Thursday that it has added Fred Hassan, Partner and Managing Director at private equity investor Warburg Pincus, to its board. Hassan also was Chairman of the Board and CEO of Schering-Plough Corporation, and had served at Pharmacia Corporation, Ubjohn, Wyeth, and Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Hassan also sits on the board of Time Warner, and has been on the boards of Avon, Bausch & Lomb, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
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