SoCal CTO
OCTOBER 1, 2008
I went to a meetup yesterday that was on the topic of Internet Marketing / SEO / SEM. The meeting had a decent case study and some pretty good discussion around the room of different tools that you might consider using. Then the organizer went into a 20 minute sales pitch around his new training/coaching offering. It felt like a bad time share presentation.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 15, 2008
The X Prize Foundation, the Santa Monica nonprofit focused on encouraging innovation through prize-based competitions, has signed on a sponsor for a new prize focused on improving the nation's health care system. The group--which was behind the Ansari X Prize, which resulted in the first commercial space launch vehicle--said that it is in a collaboration with Wellpoint, Inc., and the WellPoint Foundation to develop a $10M or more competition to to generate new ways to address the nation's seriou
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SoCal Tech Calendar
OCTOBER 31, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008 -- Mixergy Meetup. Varien, the company behind Magento, is inviting their community from across the country for a meetup at their office. See [link] (more).
SoCal CTO
OCTOBER 1, 2008
As a follow-up to my last post on Meetups SEO / SEM , I was just booted from the group and any of my comments about issues I had with the way the group was handled along with my negative vote about the event were deleted from the group. It makes me wonder if Meetup is actually encouraging this kind of thing.
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socalTECH
OCTOBER 30, 2008
We're always interested in how technology is influencing the business of Hollywood, and recently ran across Los Angeles-based Scripped. Scripped (www.scripped.com) is applying the world of Web 2.0 to the business of script writing, and is looking to combine a free online tool for writing scripts with matching those scripts with content producers. We spoke with Sunil Rajaraman, CEO and co-founder of the firm, about the company.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 29, 2008
Los Angeles-based Gorilla Nation , which represents web publishers to advertising brands, has piled on yet another win in Canada, this time with Reuters. According to Gorilla Nation, the firm will handle advertising inventory for Retuers.ca, the international news agency's Canadian site, as well as inventory for traffic coming from Canada to Reuters main site, Reuters.com.
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 28, 2008
Carson, California-based U.S. Auto Parts, a online retailer of aftermarket auto parts and accessories, announced today that it has acquired the assets of AutoMD.com, an online auto diagnosis and repair web site. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to U.S. Auto Parts, AutoMD.com helps customers understand what is ailing their vehicles and guides them to solutions to those problems.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 27, 2008
Carlsbad-based ToutVirtual, which develops software used to manage virtualized servers, said Monday that the firm has extended its tools and now supports Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization software. According to ToutVirtual, its VirtualIQ products now support Microsoft Windows SErver 2008 Hyper-V, which is Microsoft's systems virtualization product.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 27, 2008
Fountain Valley-based D-Link, a developer of networking hardware and related products, has partnered with Unisys Corporation to add a new set of hardware maintenance services to its offerings. According to D-Link, Unisys will power its D-Link Care Support Packages, a new set of logistics and maintenance services for its customers in North America. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 24, 2008
Thousand Oaks-based Xirrus has rolled out a new Wi-Fi array, the firm said earlier this week, the Xirrux XN8. Xirrus develops switched wireless Wi-Fi hardware which combines multiple Wi-Fi access points in a single piece of hardware. The firm's products are targeted at providing higher bandwidth and coverage than standard Wi-Fi access points. According to Xirrus, its new Wi-Fi array provides 802.11abg+n, and includes 8 integrated access points, a multi-gigabit switch, full line-rate encryption,
socalTECH
OCTOBER 22, 2008
Lake Forest-based Reflexive Entertainment, a developer of computer games, has been acquired by Amazon.com, the firm's CEO, Lars Brubaker, has announced. Financial terms of the deal was not disclosed. Reflexive was founded in 1997 and develops games for the Mac, PC, and other platforms. No other details of the acquisition were announced.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 22, 2008
Los Angeles-based Advanced Modern Technologies (AMTC), a manufacturer and distributor of automatic washroom fixtures, said Tuesday that it has received an equity investment from a private investment group. Amount of the funding was not disclosed. According to the company, the group includes George Patrick Murphy, former President and CEO of Technical Concepts, who will join the firm's board of directors and serve as an advisor to the firm.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 21, 2008
Irvine-based WiSpry, a developer of programmable radio frequency semiconductors, said Monday that the firm has sampled its first products to what the firm described as one of the largest cellular handset manufacturers in the world. According to WiSpry, the product combines the firm's RF-MEMS digital capacitor technology based on an RF-CMOS manufacturing process.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 16, 2008
Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies said Thursday that it has acquired Cormon Limited and Cormon Technology Limited, a developer of subsea and surface sand and corrosion sensor systems used in oil and gas production. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Cormon's products are used in oil and gas production processes for hydrocarbon production monitoring.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 16, 2008
Santa Barbara-based QAD, a provider of manufacturing and supply chain management software, said this morning that the firm has re-hired Daniel Lender, the firm's former CFO. According to QAD, Lender will resume his duties as CFO at the firm on October 20th. Reason for the rapid return to QAD was not given; Lender had just resigned at the end of August to "pursue new business opportunities" after having served as EVP and CFO of the firm since July of 2003.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 15, 2008
Hollywood-based Buzznet, an online site focused on entertainment and pop culture, has linked up with entertainment site The Superficial, the firm said today. Buzznet said that The Superficial will become part of Celebuzz.com, the firm's entertainment focused and social media website. Buzznet will take over all advertising sales for The Superficial, along with providing engineering, design, and marketing support for The Superficial.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 13, 2008
Irvine-based Epicor Software, a developer of enterprise business software, said Monday afternoon that it has turned down an offer from Elliott Associates, L.P., to acquire the firm. According to Epicor, after thoroughly reviewing the proposal, it determined not to pursue the unsolicited proposal. Elliott Associates had approached Epicor with a buyout offer worth $9.50 per share on October 1st.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 13, 2008
San Diego-based KidZui, a venture-backed startup which develops a kid-safe Internet browser, said Monday that it has added new social networking features and homework help to the firm's suite of services. KidZui--which is venture backed by Maveron, Emergence Capital Partners and First Round Capital--said that it will let kids aged 3-12 keep up and connect with their friends, express feelings and opinions, and share content.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 13, 2008
Los Angeles-based live video streaming site Stickam.com said Monday that it has launched a new mobile offering called Stickam Mobile. According to Stickam, the new mobile version of the site allows members to stream live video to their Stickam players via their cell phone. The new service also provides information about number of viewers and chat activity about their broadcasts on user cell phones.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 10, 2008
Quest Software Inc., a publisher of enterprise systems management applications, reported Thursday that its board of directors has promoted Doug Garn to chief executive officer. Garn, the Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based company said, also joins the board as a director and will retain his preexisting role as president. Garn joined Quest in 1998 and has served as president since February 2005.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 9, 2008
San Diego-based Overland Storage, a provider of data storage products, said Thursday taht the firm has inked a strategic alliance with Mobotoix Vision Systems. According to the company, the move ties Mobotix's IP cameras in a bundle with the company's Snap Server network attached storage appliances. Mobotix develops products for the video security and surveillance market; Overland's Snap Server provides NAS storage.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2008
Irvine-based Broadcom has filed another lawsuit against San Diego-based Qualcomm, saying Wednesday that it has filed a complaint asserting that Qualcomm's sales and licensing practices amount to patent misuse. Broadcom is looking to have Qualcomm's patents and patent licenses as unenforceable. Broadcom said in a statement that Qualcomm's use of "exhausted" patents to control post-sale use of products in the wireless communications industry results in a double recovery of royalties for use of its
socalTECH
OCTOBER 8, 2008
Los Angeles-based Channel M, a venture backed provider of in-store TV networks, announced Wednesday that PLS Check Cashers, a check cashing chain, will use the firm's programming and advertising. According to Channel M, PLS Check Cashers will offer both English and Spanish content at 50 PLS Check Cashers locations nationwide. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 3, 2008
San Diego-based Solekai Systems Corporation, and engineering services firm focused on the digital video area, said yesterday that it has sold its operations in Boulder, Colorado, to enableTV. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Solekai Systems, which provides engineering services for digital video products, including design, development, integration, and test services, said its test lab is being combined with assets from Vidiom Systems to create enableTV.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 1, 2008
Irvine-based Epicor Software has been sent an unsolicited buyout offer from a major shareholder of the firm, Elliott Associates, L.P. According to Elliott Associates, it collectively owns 10.2% of the common stock and $28.7M of convertible notes of Epicor Software, and is offering this morning to pay $9.50 per share for Epicor. The move comes after Epicor's board rejected Elloitt's request that the company explore strategic alternatives.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 30, 2008
Los Angeles-based SolarReserve, a developer of utility scale renewable energy solar power plants, has scored an investment from Argonaut Private Equity. Argonaut said Thursday it is expanding its stake in SolarReserve, but did not detail the amount of the additional investment in the firm. SolarReserve is developing thermal solar energy plants based on molten salt and heliostats.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 30, 2008
Los Angeles-based Ciena Solutions LLC, a provider of SAP integration management services, has been acquired by NetSol Technologies. NetSol, which provides business outsourcing and enterprise application development, did not disclose financial terms of the buy. According to NetSol Technologies, the buy was a combination of cash and restricted stock. NetSol said the acquisition will allow it to launch a global SAP practice; Ciena's customers include such firms as Southern California Edison and Tic
socalTECH
OCTOBER 24, 2008
Marina Del Rey-based CADFORCE, a venture-backed provider of CAD support services, has been acquired by Puna, India-based Neilsoft Ltd. CADFORCE co-founder James Katz told socalTECH.com that the firm will remain in Marina Del Rey, with the whole team staying on. CADFORCE has about 30 employees in California, while Neilsoft has 850 employees split between India, Chicago, and Frankfurt, Germany.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 24, 2008
Carlsbad-based BasePoint Analytics, a developer of software for risk management and scoring, said earlier this week that it has rolled out a pattern recognition fraud product targeted at the UK mortgage business. According to BasePoint Analytics, its FraudMark for Origination UK helps lenders detect fraud in mortgage applications in the UK. Pricing of the product was not disclosed.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 23, 2008
San Luis Obispo-based Xcelaero, which is developing high efficiency fans for the computer cooling market, has quietly raised $11.1M in an investment round. Details on the funding have not been released. Xcelaero's products are targeted at the communications, computer, consumer, automotive, military, aerospace, and medical electronics markets. According to the firm, its cooling products for the rackmount computing market operate at approximately twice the efficiency of competing fans.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 23, 2008
Los Angeles-based Shopit, a developer of online shopping widget software, said today that it has raised $2.5M in a Series B funding. The funding came from Toronto, Canada-based Emerson Ventures and Propulsion Ventures. ShopIt said that the round is the first tranche of a $7M capital raise planned for the firm. Shopit develops software which can be embedded in social networking profiles, blog pages, and on other web pages for selling products.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 21, 2008
Venture funded Port Logistics Group, a new rollup focused on the transportation, logistics, and distribution industry, said today that it has acquired Rancho Dominguez-based Transport Express, and City of Industry-based 3rd Party Enterprise/Operon, two logistics providers based in Southern California. The firm--which launched itself today with a undisclosed amount of funding from Austin Ventures--did not disclose financial terms of the buys.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 21, 2008
San Luis Obispo-based Shopatron, which develops ecommerce software for the consumer goods market, has signed on American Suzuki Motor Corporation as a customer. Shopatron said that Suzuki is using the firm's software to assign online orders of motorcycle and ATV accessories to local stores. According to the firm, Suzuki will initially deploy Shopatron's products in participating Motorcycle/ATV dealerships throughout the US.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 20, 2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association released their Q3 2008 venture capital numbers over the weekend, finding that Southern California companies raised nearly $751 in funding during the quarter. According to the MoneyTree Report, based on data from Thomson Reuters, Los Angeles companies led the region with $385.6M in deals, followed by Orange County with $186.9M, then San Diego with $178.4M invested.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 14, 2008
Los Angeles-based Shopit, which develops a platform to allow users to buy and sell products on social networks, announced support for Ning this morning. Shopit said that it will support Ning, a social networking site, through its support of the OpenSocial API. Shopit creates software widgets which allow users to sell products from their profile pages and other web pages.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 13, 2008
Irvine-based SmartReply, a provider of voice and mobile marketing services, is in a deal with Experian Marketing Services, Experian said today. According to Experian, the two are in an alliance where SmartReply's mobile, voice, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) marketing products will be added to Experian's marketing services. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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