Thursday, December 8, 2016


KidGuard Launches Texting, Social, Cell Phone Monitoring Product For Parents
Los Angeles-based KidGuard.com, a startup backed by Lawrence Ng's OnRamp Fund, said this week that it has launched a new product which can help parents monitor their children's texting and cell phone usage. KidGuard.com said its new software allows parents to monitor sent, received, and deleted text messages on their children's cell phones; track where a child is at any moment in time; access call logs and call information; browse photos sent and received by your child, and even track all social (More info...)
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Procore Raises $50M More For Cloud Software
Carpinteria-based construction software developer Procore, which is led by Tooey Cortemanche, announced late Thursday that it has raised $50M in a new funding, led by ICONIQ Capital. According to Procore, the new funds will go towards expanding and extending its construction technology platform. The company's cloud-based construction software is used to manage construction projects. Procore says it now has close to 700 employees, spread across seven offices across the United States, and more tha (More info...)
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Honest Company Signs On To White House Effort On Equal Pay
Los Angeles-based Honest Company is one of 44 companies who are backing an effort this week by the current White House, to bolster equal pay efforts in the United States. The Honest Company joined such companies as Adobe, AT&T, Autodesk, eBay, Edison International, Estee Lauder, InterContinental Hotels Group, New Belgium Brewing, and many others in signing the pledge. Honest Company explained, as part of the announcement this week, that "Diversity and gender equity are strategic pillars for our (More info...)
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LA Investors Back Waggle For More Pet Videos
Waggle, a new media company which publishes pet and animal content on its own website, Facebook, and other channels, said Wednesday thatit has raised $2.3M in a seed funding--which included a number of Los Angeles investors, including Lowercase Capital, the United Talent Agency, and Allen Debevoise. Raine Ventures, which led the round, also has a presence in Los Angeles. The funding round also included Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Broadway Video Ventures, Ore Ventures, and angels. Waggle said it is (More info...)
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Crossover Health Gets $92M Investment
Aliso Viejo-based Crossover Health, a developer of employee health care centers, has raised $92M in a funding round from Gurnet Point Cpaital, the two said on Wednesday. Crossover Health develops on-site and near-site health centers for employers, to help address employer health are costs. The company said it currently provides health for approximately 50,000 employees of companies around the country. The two said the funding will help Crossover Health with expansion, as well as redemption of a (More info...)
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DTS Buys All In Media
Calabasas-based audio technology developer DTS--which is now owned by Tessera Holding Corporation--said this morning that it has acquired All In Media, a developer of smartphone apps and broadcast systems for the radio industry. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. All In Media has offices in London and Sydney, and was founded in 2007; the companies said its customers include Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Bauer Media Group, Nova Entertainment, NRK, Primedia, Radioplaye (More info...)
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Honest Company Cuts 80 Employees
Los Angeles-based Honest Company, the online provider of eco-friendly baby, personal care, and other household goods led by Brian Lee and co-founded by Jessica Alba, has quietly let go of 80 employees--or nearly 14% of the company--in what the company has billed as a "growth positioning". The report was first detailed by WWD. The report said cuts include its CFO and COO, David Parker, and co-founder Sean Kane, as well as a significant number of call center positions in Texas.
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AeroVironment Applies UAV To Study Water Stress In Almonds
Monrovia, California-based unmanned aerial vehicle maker AeroVironment is ramping up its efforts in developing more commercial applications for its drones, saying it has launched a new effort with California State University, Fresno on identifying water stress in almond production using its UAVs. According to AeroVironment, the year-long study will focus on how unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery and analytics could potentially detect varying levels of water stress in almond trees, and help dr (More info...)
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