Thursday, August 6, 2015


Uber Has A Bad Week In LA: LAX, Crime, and More Crime
It's been a bad week for drivers for ride service provider Uber this week, as they were not only shut out of LAX by pressure on the LA City Council from the taxi industry--but also because one of their drivers was shot in Venice, in gang crossfire. In the Venice shooting incident, an Uber driver was shot and wounded, after suspected gang members took a shot at the driver's passengers--who themselves were arrested, after police found they were armed and also suspected of being gang members. Plus, (More info...)
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Rinse Opens On-Demand Dry Cleaning In LA
Rinse, a San Francisco-based on-demand dry cleaning and laundry service, said Thursday that it is expanding it service to Los Angeles, after raising a $3.5M funding round . Rinse said this week that it will let users of its iOS and Android apps request dry cleaning, laundering, leather care, clothing repairs, and more in Los Angeles, serving the Palms, Culver City, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Culver West, Venice, Santa Monica, Baldwin Hills, Pico-Roberts/Beverlywood, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Mir (More info...)
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Clutter Raises $1.3M, Expands To Bay Area
Los Angeles-based Clutter, the on-demand storage startup which is aiming to make it almost effortless to store your extra stuff, has raised $1.3M in a funding round. Source of the new funding was not disclosed. Clutter also said it has expanded its services into the Bay Area. Clutter has previously raised funding from Resolute Ventures, AmplifyLA, plus angels such as Matt Coffin, David Sacks, and Joanne Wilson. The startup offers up a website where you can request a pick up of your items, whi (More info...)
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GovX Gets $11.5M For E-Commerce Efforts
San Diego-based GovX, which operates an online, e-commerce site specifically serving active, reserve and veteran U.S. Military, law enforcement, fire, emergency rescue, and government employees, has raised $11.5M in combined Series A and B funding. The funding was led by Alestra Ltd. annd Arbor Group, along with Star Avenue Capital, Seth Hamot (SPY Optic and Roark, Rearden & Hamot Capital Management), and Philip McConkey. The company says it has now raised $21M in funding. GovX offers up specia (More info...)
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MediaPlatform Picks Up $12M
Los Angeles-based MediaPlatform, a startup developing enterprise video and webcasting software aimed at corporate customers, has raised $12M in a growth equity funding. The funding was led by TVC Capital, and also included Barshop Ventures and the company's CEO. MediaPlatform said that Jeb Spencer and Mykel Sprinkles of TVC Capital will join the company's board of directors. MediaPlatform is led by Jim McGovern. The startup offers up its webcasting platform specifically for corporate communicati (More info...)
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Elon Musk Tops Tech Billionaires In Southern California
Forbes Magazine has released a list of the top technology billionaires in the world, with six Southern California technology moguls listed. Topping the list at #15 was Elon Musk, who splits his time between Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, with a net worth of $13.9 billion; David Sun and John Tu, the co-founders of Fountain Valley-based Kingston Technology, shared the spot at #41, with a net worth of $4.5 billion each. At #71, Jack Dangermond founder of Redlands-based GIS software giant ESRI, ha (More info...)
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Metacrine Raises $36M
San Diego-based Metacrine, a biotechnology company which is targeting the treatment of metabolic disease, says it has raised $36M in a Series A funding. The funding came from Arch Venture Partners, EcoR1 Capital, Polaris Partners and venBio. Metacrine has licensed technology from Evans and the howard Hughes Medical Institute. As part of the funding, Metacrine said it has named Neil McDonnell as its CEO; McDonnell was previously Senior Vice President and therapeutic area leader for cardiovascular (More info...)
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Qualcomm Buys Ikanos
San Diego-based Qualcomm announced this morning that it is buying xDSL networking technology provider Ikanos, in a deal worth approximately $47.0M. Qualcomm said it would pay $2.75 per share in cash for Ikanos, which trades on the NASDAQ as IKAN. Ikanos had closed yesterday at $1.75 per share. Qualcomm made the acquisition via its subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros. Qualcomm said the acquisition will add high performance broadband access and modem technologies to its products. Ikanos is based in Fremo (More info...)
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Pluto TV Names Spotify's Parks As Chairman
Los Angeles-based Pluto TV, the Internet television service startup backed by USVP, Sky, United Talent Agency, Terry Semel, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Chicago Ventures, Luminari Capital, said Wednesday that it has named Ken Parks as Executive Chairman. Parks was the Chief Content Officer at Spotify. According to Pluto TV, Parks will also take on full time duties leading its content, distribution and monetization efforts. Pluto TV said that Parks will remain as a special advisor to Spotify found (More info...)
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D-Link Debuts Wi-Fi Water Sensor
Fountain Valley-based D-Link is making a further move into the home automation space, saying this morning that it has launched a new, Wi-Fi enabled water sensor product. D-Link says its sensor plugs into any open power outlet, and alerts users with a siren--and push notifications--if the sensor comes into contact with water. The new device is designed to detect water leaks from washing machines, water heaters, sinks, dishwashers, or other locations. D-Link said its Wi-Fi Water Sensor (DCH-S160) (More info...)
posted on Thursday, August 6, 2015(Full story)