Wednesday, July 6, 2016Stocktwits Gets $2M More, Names New CEOStocktwits, the stock-focused micro messaging service co-founded by San Diego angel investor Howard Lindzon, said on Wednesday that it has raised $2M in a new funding round, and named a new CEO. The funding came from Social Leverage. The company also has named Ian Rosen--formerly of Even Financial and Marketwatch--as CEO, with Lindzon shifting to Chairman. Rosen is based in New York, as is most of Stocktwits. Lindzon said he will focus on content and partnerships for the company from his San Die (More info...)
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goFlow Launches Outdoor Sports Booking In LANeed some surfing lessons, or help with stand up paddle boarding? Venice, California-based goFlow has launched a new, app-driven service to help users book trainers and professionals in the areas of surfing, wake boarding, paddle boarding and skateboarding . According to the company--founded by Roni Eschel--the feature is an expansion of its current app, which crowdsources weather, surf reports, and other information for surfing, boating, cycling, diving, fishing, golfing, kitesurfing, paddleboa (More info...)
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OpenMail Buys Infospace From BlucoraVenice, California-based OpenMail, a developer of data warehousing products used for marketing analytics and targeting, has acquired the Infospace business from owner Blucora. Blucora said that OpenMail is paying the company $45M in cash for Infospace. Blucora was advised by GCA Savvian Advisors in the sale. OpenMail is led by Chuck Ursini, former EVP, Platforms at Demand Media; Ursini also has served at Amazon, Morgan Stanley and UBS.
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Netki Gets $3.5M For Blockchain Identity SoftwareLos Angeles-based Netki, a startup which is developing blockchain identity management software, has raised $3.5M in a seed funding round. Netski said the funding was led by O'Reilly AlphaTech Ventures (OATV), and also included Donuts, Colle Capital, The Husseini Group, The Digital Currency Group, Tom Turney, Bitfinex, Plug and Play, and Base Ventures. Netki says it is developing standards based naming and identity solutions, which allow them to build blockchain-based applications and services. N (More info...)
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Homee Raises $5M For Interior Design AppLos Angeles-based Homee, a startup which helps connects consumers with interior designers, has raised $5M in a Series A funding, the company disclosed on Tuesday. The funding came from Founders Fund and Tinder's Sean Rad. Homee is led by Beatrice Fischel-Bock, and lets you chat with an interior designer about furniture and get other interior design help. The startup currently offers up an iPhone app to access it services. Homee is unrelated to another, very similarly named Los Angeles startup, H (More info...)
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Incipio Launches Tender Offer For SkullcandyIrvine-based Incipio, the manufacturer of mobile and consumer electronics accessories, announced this morning that it has tendered its offer to acquire Park City-based Skullcandy. Incipio is offering up $5.75 per share for Skullcandy, or approximately $177M, in a bid to combine the two mobile accessory makers and their pool of brands. Skullcandy is listed on the NASDAQ as SKUL. The two companies had announced the acquisition on June 23rd.
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Netflix, The CW In New Content Licensing DealNetflix, the television and movie-streaming service which has significant operations in Los Angeles, and The CW Network said last night that they are in a new, multi-year content licensing relationship. The two said that the new agreement between the two allows Netflix to remain the exclusive, U.S. subscription television service for previously seasons of scripted series broadcast on the network. Content covered by the series include 'Frequency', 'Supergirl', 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend', 'Arrow', 'Th (More info...)
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SGN Buys TinyCo For Mobile GamesLos Angeles-based SGN the mobile gaming company led by MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe, said late Tuesday that it has acquired TinyCo, a San Francisco-based mobile game developer. TinyCo is the developer of the Family Guy and Marvel Avengers mobile games, and was backed by Andreessen Horowitz. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. SGN said that the 125 person team at TinyCo will continue to be led by TinyCo CEO and co-founder Suli Ali. SGN said that TinyCo expects to earn $10 (More info...)
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Electricitybilling.com Debuts New SoftwareSanta Monica-based Electricitybilling.com said today that it has launched a new version of its software, which is used for electricity billing by utilities. According to the company, the new software features such features as HTML invoices, PayPal and Braintree payment integration, a new utility meter reading application for the iPad and iPhone, and third party APIs. Electricitybilling.com set up a new off ice in Santa Monica in March; the company was originally founded in Australia. Electricity (More info...)
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Ignyta Names General CounselSan Diego-based biotechnology developer Ignyta has named Dr. Christian V. Kuhlen as its new General Counsel and Secretary, the company said on Tuesday. Kuhlen was previously General Counsel, Vice President and Secretary of Genoptix, where he had been from its IPO until acquisition by Novartis. Kehlen also was previously an attorney at Cooley LLP. Kuhlen replaces Matt Onaitis. Ignyta is developing precision medicine products focused on treating cancer.
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Lytx Targets Trucking Market With New PartnershipSan Diego-based Lytx, which develops video-based, fleet- and driver- safety systems, says it has linked up with audio and electronics supplier Pana-Pacific. According to the company, Pana-Pacific is the nation's leading supplier of audio and electronics to commercial vehicle manufacturers, and particularly the heavy truck industry. Financial details of the partnership were not announced.
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