Wednesday, April 6, 2016Verizon Buys Stake In AwesomenessTVVerizon said Wednesday that it will acquire a 24.5 percent stake in Los Angeles-based AwesomenessTV, paying approximately $159M in an equity stake which values AwesomenessTV at approximately $650M. Dreamworks Animation will continue to hold a 51%, majority stake in AwesomenessTV. As part of the deal, Verizon said it will enter into an agreement with AwesomenessTV to create a premium short-form mobile video service, which it will make part of its go90 offering. Verizon said it was advised by Lion (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016(Full story)
Anchore, Founded by Ansible, Eucalpytus Vet, Raises $2.5MSanta Barbara-based container software technology developer Anchore, which was founded by veterans of Ansible, has raised $2.5M in a funding round, the company disclosed today. The funding came from Menlo Ventures and e-ventures. Anchore is led by Said Ziouani, who was co-founder and CEO of AnsibleWorks, and also served at Eucalyptus Corp. Ansible was acquired by Red Hat for $150M in October of 2015. Eucalpytus was acquired by HP in September of 2014.
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 (More)(Full story)
Clapit Raises AU$2.57MLos Angeles- and Sydney, Australia-based Clapit, a startup developing a social media crowdsourcing app, said it has raised AU$2.57M ($1.94M US), to bring its mobile app to market. The seed funding came from Australia angels Mark Moran and Paul Siderovski. Clapit, which says it is based in Sydney and has its U.S. operations in Los Angeles, says it has created a social media app which crowdsources video, music, images, and rich media. The startup was founded by Paul J. Bedwell, Mary Jane Bulseco a (More info...)
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 (More)(Full story)
Thrive Market Rolls Out Android AppLos Angeles-based online healthy and natural foods retailer Thrive Market has rolled out a new Android app, to allow its customers to order its products directly from their phone. The fast growing startup--the company recently passed a $100M run rate--also offers up a similar, iPhone app. The new Thrive Market app requires that users be a current member of the subscription service, which costs $59.95 a year.
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016(Full story)
Qualcomm Signs Chinese Patent DealSan Diego-based Qualcomm said today that it has entered into a patent licensing deal with Chinese company Zhuhai Ewpe Information Technology Inc.. According to Qualcomm, the 3G and 4G Chinese patent license gives EWPE a royalty-bearing patent license to develop, manufacture and sell 3G WCDMA and CDMA2000 and 4G LTE subscriber units for use in China. Financial details of that license were not announced.
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016(Full story)
Sorrento Therapeutics Names New CFOSan Diego-based Sorrento Therapeutics said today that it has named Kevin M. Herde as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Herde was previously Vice President of Global Blood Screening and Alliance Management for Hologic, and also served at Gen-Probe, Gateway, and KPMG. Sorrento Therapeutics is a biopharmaceuticals firm developing treatments for cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
posted on Wednesday, April 6, 2016(Full story)