Tuesday, November 29, 2016


Former Maker Studios CEO Kreiz Bids $2 Billion For Time Inc.
Ynon Kreiz, the former CEO of Maker Studios, has made a bid for publisher Time Inc., in conjunction with Access industries and Edgar Bronfman Jr., according to Bloomberg. The bid was reportedly rejected by the magazine publisher. The report said Access Industries (run by Len Blavatnik), Bronfman, and Kreiz offered to pay $18 to $20 per share in cash for New York-based time, which also publishes Fortune and Sports Illustrated. Kreiz led Maker Studios' acquisition by Disney in 2014, and left last (More info...)
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Zillow Pays $6M To Settle Overtime Lawsuit Stemming From Irvine Office
Online real estate site Zillow said it has paid $6M, to settle a suit over claims that the company did not follow wage and hour laws with the inside sales consultants it employed in Irvine and elsewhere. Zillow said it has not admitted liability with either a class action lawsuit (Ian Freeman vs. Zillow, Inc.) or a related Department of Labor review. Zillow had been sued in 2014 claiming the company failed to provide meal and rest breaks, failed to pay overtime, and failed to keep accurate recor (More info...)
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TicketSauce Takes $2.5M For Live Event Management Software
San Diego-based TicketSauce, a developer of private label event management software, has raised $2.5M in a Series A funding, the company announced this morning. The funding was led by Draper Frontier Opp & Tech Fund. The company said the funding goes towards sales and marketing. TicketSace is led by Travis Fisher, who serves as President and CEO of the company. TicketSauce sells its software to media organizations, associations, and event organizers.
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Younity Launches New Home Media Server Software
San Diego-based Younity, the developer of file sharing software led by Erik Caso, said today that it has launched a new, desktop-to-desktop home media server product. The company said its updated software lets user access all of their file and media content from any device, via a simple user interface. The company's software previously had only supported accessing media files from mobile devices; the new update now allows users to access media files from desktop to desktop. Younity said its new (More info...)
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Email Copilot Acquired By Return Path
San Diego-based Email Copilot, which develops visualization, monitoring, reporting, and analysis of email deliverability data, has been acquired by Return Path, a New York-based developer of email data software. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. Return Path said it acquired all of Email Copilot, including technical ssets and existing book of business. Al Bsharah, was co-founder and CEO of Email Copilot. Email Copilot was formerly known as Embarke, and had been venture backed (More info...)
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Pritzker Group Boosts Focus On Los Angeles Startups, Moves Partner To LA
Chicago-based venture capital investor Pritzker Group Venture Capital announced this morning that it is expanding its efforts to invest in early stage companies in Los Angeles, and has moved partner Gabe Greenbaum to Los Angeles. Greenbaum had been based at Pritzker's home office in Chicago. ACcording to Pritzker Group, it is targeting investments in early stage companies in enterprise, emerging technology, consumer and health care IT, including companies workin on artificial intelligence, inter (More info...)
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Sorrento Therapeutics Gets $75M Term Loan
San Diego-based biopharmaceuticals developer Sorrento Therapeutics announced on Monday that it has secured a $75 million term loan facility. Terms of the loan were not announced. The funding came from Hercules Capital (HTGC). The publicly held company said the proceeds of the loan--available in three tranches--will go towards general corporate purposes. The first tranche, which was funded with the announcement, is worth $50M. Sorrento is developing treatments for cancer, inflammation and autoimm (More info...)
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General Atomics Tests New Predator Drone
San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on Monday that it has completed its first flight test of its Type-Certifiable Predator B (TCPB) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The company said the new Predator is aimed at use for a number of missions, including unweaponized border patrol, coast guard, and disaster relief missions. The company said the test was completed at its flight facility near Palmdale on November 17th. The company said the new Predator is compliance w (More info...)
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Yardi Selected By Canadian Company
Santa Barbara-based property management software developer Yardi says it has signed on a new customer in Canada, Canadian senior living provider peopleCare. Financial details of the win were not announced. Yardi said peopleCare has adopted its Yardi Senior CRM and Yardi Voyager Senior Housing products, both part of its suite of products for the senior living industry. peopleCare says it owns and manages seven long term care homes in Southwestern Ontario.
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