Monday, September 28, 2015Hulu Names Head of ExperienceLos Angeles-based Hulu said Monday afternoon that it has named Ben Smith as the company's new Senior Vice President, Head of Experience. According to Hulu, Smith heads up the company's product, user experience, customer support, and digital video production efforts, and reports to CEO Mike Hopkins. Smith was previously head of product management at Sonos, and also served at Microsoft, working on the company's Xbox 360 and Xbox One efforts.
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PhageTech Finds $2.4M For Biosensors For Disease DetectionIrvine-based PhageTech, a developer of disease detection sensors, said late Monday morning that it has raised $2.4M in a funding round. The Series A funding came from Mark IV Capital and Black River Investments. According to PhageTech it is developing biosensor technology which enables early detection of cancer and other diseases, using a one minute blood and urine test. PhageTech is led by Richard Henson. The company said the funds will go towards completing development and FDA clearance of its (More info...)
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Walker & Company Brands Finds Funding From Upfront Ventures, Magic JohnsonTwo, Los Angeles-area investors--Upfront Ventures, and basketball legend Magic Johnson, have backed the maker of a brand of razors and other health and beauty products aimed at people of color. Walker & Company Brands, the maker of the Bevel brand of razors said this morning that it has raised $24M in a Series B funding, which was led by Institutional Venture Partners, and also included Upfront Ventures, Magic Johnson, Andreessen Horowitz, Daher Capital, Collaborative Fund, Google Ventures, Feli (More info...)
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Qualcomm To Invest $150M In Startups In IndiaSan Diego-based Qualcomm is planning to invest $150M in startups in India, the company said this weekend in an event with India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. According to Qualcomm, the investment will be directed by Qualcomm Ventures. Qualcomm said the move is part of supporting Modi's vision "to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy." Qualcomm said it already has investments in more than 20 Indian companies, which it has made since 2007.
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GenomeDx Biosciences Receives Debt FinancingSan Diego-based GenomeDx Biosciences, a developer of annotated, genomics research information databases, has received an expansion financing from healthcare investor CRG, the company said this morning. Size of the funding was not announced. GenomeDx said the funding came in the form of a senior secured term loan. GenomeDx said the funding will go towards growth initiatives and commercial ansion of its Decipher genomic solutions. GenomeDx is led by Doug Dolginow.
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ZEFR Launches New ProductVenice, California-based ZEFR, which develops technology for helping movie studios, music labels, and others identify, claim, and manage content on YouTube, said today that it has launched a new product. ZEFR said its new BrandID Suite is aimed at brands, to help them better understand and harness the power of YouTube. ZEFR said the new product provides a "visualization" of YouTube, to allow brands to better target their digital advertising campaign. ZEFR said the product helps organize the vide (More info...)
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Cynvenio Partners With Korea's ATGen GlobalLos Angeles-based cancere diagnostics technology developer Cynvenio and Korean biotech ATGen Global announced this morning that they are in a strategic partnership, which will bring a test developed by ATGen Global to the U.S. Market. Financial details of the deal were not announced. The two said that they will bring ATGen's NK Vue test, which measures what it calls the "Natural Killer (NK) cell activity" in blood--a measure of the immune system--to the U.S., to help identify patients who have a (More info...)
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Insteon Connects With Amazon EchoIrvine-based home automation products developer Insteon said this morning that it has connected its device with Amazon's voice-controlled, living room device, the Amazon Echo. Insteon said that Amazon Echo can now take voice commands and control its Insteon Hub, its connected home device, to turn lights on and off, control other home automation devices, and more. The support for Insteon comes thanks to an active partnership Amazon has with manufacturers to add connectivity between Echo and other (More info...)
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AssetAvenue Names CTOLos Angeles-based online real estate investment marketplace AssetAvenue is announcing today that it has named Douglas Seller as its new Chief Technology Officer. Sellers was most recently CTO of Kumu Wellness, and also has served at Redline.cc and GOOD Worldwide. AssetAvenue said Sellers will lead the company's technology initiative, develop the product roadmap, and launch new products and features for the company. AssetAvenue helps connect real estate investors with projects; the company is led (More info...)
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