Monday, December 7, 2015Fuhu Files For BankruptcyEl Segundo-based children's tablet maker Fuhu has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in surprising news from what had been one of LA's fastest growing technology companies. The filing was made in the U.s. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware. Fuhu is reportedly in a deal to be acquired by Mattel for $9.5M as a part of that filing. The filing is very surprising, given that the company was named to both the Deloitte Fast 500 in 2014, nationally, last year for its growth rate, and was also In (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
GreatCall Acquires LivelySan Diego-based phone service provider GreatCall, which focuses its phone service on older senior adults, has acquired the assets of a developer of a wearable device to help monitor that same customer base. GreatCall said late last week that it has acquired San Francisco-based Lively, a developer of platforms to help monitor the safety of older family members. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. Lively's wearable, watch like devices let older seniors press a button to summon (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
Ashton Kutcher, Sound Ventures Back Gigster In $10M FundingAshton Kutcher and his Los Angeles-based venture firm, Sound Ventures, are one of the backers of a new startup which says it can offer up on-demand, software development and design services. San Francisco-based Gigster said this morning that it has raised $10M in a Series A funding, which came from Andreessen Horowitz, along with Ashton Kutcher and Sound Ventures; Y Combinator; SV Angel and Ron Conway; and Jason Calacanis and Launch Fund. Gigster says its online service it targeted at both enter (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015 (More)(Full story)
Shoes Of Prey Raises $15M, Sets Up Shop In Santa MonicaShoes Of Prey, a fashion startup which allows women to custom order shoes to their specifications, has raised $15M in a Series B funding, and set up shop in Santa Monica, according to the company. The startup--which was started in Australia--said the funding came from Blue Sky Capital, Greycroft Partners, Nordstrom, and Khosla Ventures. The company was founded by Michael Fox, Mike Knapp and Jodie Fox in Sydney in 2009.
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015 (More)(Full story)
LegalZoom Plans Expansion In UK, Buys UK Law FirmGlendale-based legal information and filings service LegalZoom is planning a launch into the United Kingdom, saying today that it has acquired UK law firm Beaumont Legal. Legalzoom said its UK arm, LegalZoom Legal Services Ltd., has agreed to acquire Wakefield, Yorkshire-based Beaumont Legal, as part of the preparation for a launch into the UK in 2016. LegalZoom said Beaumont Legal offers a range of legal services to individuals and businesses, particularly in the area of conveyancing.
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
VolJet: Creating An Online Booking System For Private Jet Charters
The idea of creating a technology enabled marketplace is one of the biggest trends among startups today. However, how does that work for something like the highly fragmented, negotiation heavy business of charter jets? Los Angeles-based VolJet (www.voljet.com) is looking to solve that puzzle, with its online system for booking charter jets, just as you would a commercial flight. We caught up with CEO Susan Sloan to learn more.
What is VolJet?
Susan Sloan: It's very similar to a commercia (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
DNAe Moves US Operations To San DiegoDNAe, a UK-based developer of semiconductor-based DNA sequencing technology, said Friday that it has moved its U.S. operations to San Diego. The company had previously had its US operations in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to DNAe, the relocation will allow the company to double its headcount and build a clinical diagnostic manufacturing facility, clinical testing laboratories and a commercial team. The company cited San Diego's position as a global hub for life sciences and technology, and (More info...)
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
Ignyta Sets Chief Business OfficerSan Diego-based Ignyta, a developer of oncology biotechnology products, said today that it has named William McCarthy as its new Chief Business Officer. McCarthy was most recently Vice President, Corporate and Business Development at Foundation Medicine (FMI), and also has served at Halozyme Therapeutics, Biogen Idec, Neurocrine Biosciences, IMS Consulting Group, Deloitte Consulting, and Cambridge Pharma Consultancy.
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
Regulus Sets Hagan As COOLa Jolla-based microRNA biopharmaceuticals developer Regulkus Therapeutics said today that it has named Joseph P. "Jay" Hagan as its Chief Operating Officer, and also as Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accouting Officer. Hagan previously was Managing Director of Amgen Ventures, and also served as head of corporate development for Amgen, as CFO and Chief Business Officer at Orexigen Therapeutics, as well as Genzyme and Advanced Tissue Sciences.
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)
MRV Deploys In AustriaChatsworth-based optical networking equipment maker MRV Communications has deployed its products in the country of Austria, saying that its equipment is being used for an expanded deal with regional carrier network company Citynet. Financial details of the expanded partnership were not announced. The two said that Citynet has been using MRV's products for more than 10 years. The new deal is part of a new deployment and network extension, using MRV's OptiDriver product.
posted on Monday, December 7, 2015(Full story)