Wednesday, May 11, 2016


uBeam Gets Unwelcome Focus From Technology Doubters
Los Angeles-based wireless power charging startup uBeam--which says it has been working on wireless phone chargers that use sound waves to transmit energy--is the focus of technology doubters, who say the company's products are a sham, according to reports. According to TechCrunch, the accusations come from the company's former of VP of Engineering. uBeam has previously raised funding from Upfront Ventures, Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, CrunchFund, and Ludlow Ventures.
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CSM Software Acquired By SOLIZE
CSM Software, and engineering and high tech services outsourcer whose founder and chairman is based in Westlake Village, has been acquired by Japanese company SOLIZE Group, acording to the companies. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. CSM Group was founded in 1992, and had major operations in Bangalore, India, although its Founder and Chairman, Dr. Ramakrishna Narayanaswami, is based in the Los Angeles area. Narayanaswami is a serial entrepreneur, and had founded CSAR Corpo (More info...)
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Green Charge Networks Acquired By ENGIE
Green Charge Networks, a battery storage technology developer with offices in San Diego, has been majority acquired by energy giant ENGIE (formerly GDF Suez), the two said yesterday. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced by the companies. Green Charge's battery storage systems were deployed in the commercial, industrial, and public sector areas. One of the company's largest projects was in San Diego, where it announced in March that Grossmont Union High School District in San D (More info...)
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The Trade Desk Raises $125M In Credit Facility
Ventura, California-based The Trade Desk, the advertising technology developer led by Jeff Green, has raised $125M in a credit facility, according to the company. The revolving credit facility was led by Citibank N.A., and also included US Bancorp, East west Bancorp, and City National Bank. The companysaid that it will use the new funding for global expansion initiatives and for working capital. The new debt funding comes on top of $60M in equity raised from Wellington Management Company earlier (More info...)
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GrubHub Acquires LAbite For $65M
Los Angeles-based restaurant delivery service LAbite was acquired last week by GrubHub, in a deal reportedly worth $65M. LAbite had been founded in 2001, and said it has 2,087 Southern California restaurants it services, with hundreds of local drivers delivering meals for the service.
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SpaceX Dragon Departs ISS This Morning
The latest mission launched by Hawthorne-based SpaceX--the NASA CRS-8 mission to resupply the International Space Station--is getting set to return to earth this morning, as the SpaceX Dragon separates from the ISS and returns to earth. NASA is streaming the departure live this morning starting at 9 a.m. EDT. The Dragon is expected to separate from the ISS at 9:18, and splash down in the Pacific Ocean around 2:55 p.m. NASA said the SpaceX vehicle will return more than 3,700 pounds of return carg (More info...)
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Amgen Teams With Joe Montana On Heart Health Outreach
Thousand Oaks-based biotech giant Amgen said this morning that it has launched a new campaign to encourage heart-healthy exercise and cycling with Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer. According to Amgen, it has launched a new effort called Breakaway from Heart Disease, which will encourage Americans to get active through cycling and learn more about their family history of heart disease. The company said the new campaign includes Joe Montana--the Hall of Fame quarterback--the American Heart Assoc (More info...)
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Crosscut Ventures Backs Blockchain Startup
Los Angeles-based venture investor Crosscut Ventures is one of the backers of a new startup, Fluent, developing blockchain technology for the financial markets. According to Fluent, which is based in Lexington, Kentucky, it raised $1.65M in a seed funding which came from Digital Currency Group, Crosscut Ventures, Draper Associates, Fenbushi Capital, Lindberg Tech Fund and the St. Louis Arch Angels.
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Aira Expands Board Of Directors
San Diego-based Aira, the startup which is developing assistive technology for the blind, has named venture investor Scott Minick as its Executive Chairman, the company said Tuesday. Minick is currently Venture Partner at ARCH Venture Partners. ARCH is one of the company's venture backers. Aira also said it has expanded its technical board advisors, adding Oscar Salazar, a co-founder of Uber, and Troy Otillio to help the firm with its efforts. Aira's product use a combination of smart glasses, l (More info...)
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OneRoof Energy Loses CFO
San Diego-based solar services provider OneRoof Energy says that its CFO, Dan Halvorson, has resigned. According to the company, Halvorson has resigned to "pursue other opportunities". The company said it has appointed John Bunnel as its interim Chief Financial officer, while it conducts a search for a permanent CFO. Bunnel is President and CFO of Fractional CFO, and has served as interim CFO for a number of companies, including Stearns Lending, American Advisors Group and First Financial Credi (More info...)
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