Tuesday, September 13, 2016DEFY Media Snags $70MLos Angeles-based DEFY Media, a developer of YouTube channels and digital content, said on Tuesday that it has raised $70M in a Series B funding. The funding was led by Wellington Management Company LLP, and also included ABS Capital, Lionsgate, Viacom and ZMC (Zelnick Media Capital). DEFY Media is led by Matt Diamond, and owns such brands as SMOSH, Clevver, Screen Junkies, AWEme, Break, and Made Man. The company said it produces over 72 original weekly series across all of its brands, and now r (More info...)
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Philz Coffee Looks Beyond California With $45M FundingPhilz Coffee, the Silicon Valley coffee chain which has been in a massive expansion in Southern California in the last few months, announced on Tuesday a $45M Series C funding round. The company said the big investment round was led by TPG Growth. As part of the funding, Jim COulter and Sanjay Banker, both of TPG, join the company's board. Philz Coffee is about to open its first location in Glendale this week, just opened a location in Huntington Beach, and opened a location in Hollywood in June (More info...)
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SpaceX Hopes To Restart Flights In NovemberHawthorne-based space rocket developer SpaceX is hoping to get back to flights in November, in an optimistic statement at an aerospace event in Paris on Tuesday. According to multiple reports, Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said SpaceX anticipates getting back to flights in three months, in the November time frame, despite the catastrophic loss of a Falcon 9 and its payload last month. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said that the loss was the "most difficult and complex" failure the company h (More info...)
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DealerPeople Names New CEOIrvine-based DealerPeople, which runs a free, web- and mobile-based site that aims to recruit and train employees in the auto dealership industry, says it has named Jay R. Mortensen as its new CEO. The company said Mortensen has held "nearly every position" in the sales department and worked with nearly every make of car since 1989, but did not detail his prior experience. DealerPeople offers up a website specifically aimed at the auto dealership market, letting job seekers search for jobs, post (More info...)
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SaaS Funding Targets Software Companies With New Santa Monica OfficeSaaS Funding, a new provider of debt funding to software-as-a-service companies, said it has set up an office in Santa Monica. The company, which provides senior and junior debt capital, says it is targeting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), digital media and tech enabled service companies who are bootstrapped or backed by angels. The company said it offers up loans from between $250,000 to $3 million and terms ranging from 12 months to 36 months. As part of the expansion to Santa Monica, the firm s (More info...)
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Tastemade, Jaunt Tap Ryan Seacrest, Conan O'Brien For Tour Through LASanta Monica-based virtual reality content developre Jaunt, and Santa Monica-based online food and travel lifestyle content provider Tastemade said today that the two have tied together for a new, virtual-reality trip through Los Angeles, featuring Ryan Seacrest and Conan O'Brien, along with a host of others. According to the two, A Perfect Day in Los Angeles is a virtual reality travel experience which takes viewers through a tour of LA's most iconic sites (Stan's Donuts, Universal Studios Holl (More info...)
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JibJab Launches New Text Messaging Apps For iMessageLos Angeles-based JibJab Bros. Studios, which provides animated, personalized greeting cards and similar products, has rolled out two new apps which connect into Apple's iMessage. According to JibJab, its new Gomoji and Slicker Stickers apps both are aimed at helping consumers express themselves, with animated avatars (via Gomoji) and animated stickers (Slicker Stickers). Both of the apps are available on iOS. JibJab's Gomoji app lets users create their own, personalized avatars, created from a (More info...)
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Zadara Storage Expands In EuropeIrvine-based enterprise storage-as-a-service provider Zadara Storage said today that it has expanded its footprint in Europe, and has named Oksana Braune as Sales Director for Central and Eastern Europe. Braune was previously at Panzura, and also served at Oracle and LSI Engenio. Braune reports to Dani Naor, Zadar's Vice President of International Sales. Zadara provides a combination of storage hardware and cloud services aimed at the enterprise market.
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Zenvoy: Connecting Business Users With One-On-One Connections, With Bill Webster
Most professionals know that networking is the key to building their business and finding new opportunities, but don't necessarily know how to go about doing so effectively. A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Zenvoy (www.zenvoy.com) is looking to change that, with a service that helps match professionals with one-on-one networking. We spoke with Bill Webster, Founder and COO of Zenvoy, to learn more about the company.
What is Zenvoy?
Bill Webster: Zenvoy, is the go-to, one-on-one network (More info...)
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TP-Link Launches Line Of Wi-Fi Connected Light BulbsSan Dimas-based TP-Link, which develops networking products, has rolled out a new line of Wi-Fi connected, "smart" light bulbs. According to TP-Link, the new lightbulbs install like a standard light bulb, and do not require a smart hub or bridge to work, and are compatible with Amazon Alexa. The light bulbs--which are fully dimmable, and used LEDs--range from 50 watts to 60 watts, and connect into an iOS or Android app via a consumer's home Wi-Fi router. The bulbs start at $19.99, and are avail (More info...)
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VizExplorer Snags Strategic Investment From Stanley Black & DeckerSan Diego-based VizExplorer, which developers business intelligence software, has raised round of strategic investment from tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker. Financial terms of the investment were not announced. According to the two, the investment also includes a technology development agreement, which will help Stanley Black & Decker accelerate development of new products for its customers. The two said they will collaborate on developing products to "move the industry forward" and hel (More info...)
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Cornerstone OnDemand Sponsors Los Angeles RamsSanta Monica-based talent management software developer Cornerstone OnDemand and the Los Angeles Rams said on Monday that the Rams will use Cornerstone OnDemand's cloud-bsaed software for its front office and operations personnel. As part of the deal, Cornerstone becomes a "Homecoming Partner" and the "Official Talent Management Partner" of the LA Rams. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Cornerstone OnDemand and the Los Angeles Rams said the sponsorship deal includes postgame bran (More info...)
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Applied Merchant Systems and BlueSquare Resolutions MergeCalabasas-based payment processing operator Applied Merchant Systems announced late Monday that it has merged with BlueSquare Resolutions, and raised a round of debt funding. The funding came via a senior credit facility from Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group and Business Development Corporation of America. Financial details of the merger and financing transaction were not announced. Applied Merchant Systems says it has over $4 billion in annual processing volume. The company is led by Jonat (More info...)
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