socalTECH
JULY 2, 2019
San Diego-based Mercato , which provider online ordering and delivery services to independent grocery stores, has raised a round of funding from Greycroft, the company said this week. The funding also included prior investor Loeb Enterprises, an investment fund managed by Michael Loeb, best known for its funding and development of Priceline.com. Size of the investment was not announced.
TechCrunch LA
JULY 3, 2019
Upfront Ventures , a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm, has filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to raise its third growth-stage investment fund. Though the firm typically invests at the seed and Series A, capital from Upfront Growth III will be used for follow-on or late-stage deals. The firm, known for its investments in Bird, Goat, Ring, ThredUP and Parachute, plans to raise $250 million for the effort.
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socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Hawthorne-based SpaceX is hoping to launch the very first, commercial missions for its Starship spacecraft--designed to deliver passengers to Mars--in 2021, according to the company , and is currently in talks with three companies on those missions. All three of those customers would use the new platform to send satellites into orbit. Starship and its Super Heavy launch system are eventually aimed at delivering passengers into space and an eventual mission to Mars.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 1, 2019
Culver City-based social networking startup Sgrouples Inc., doing business as MeWe, announced it raised $4.5 million in a venture round, bringing its total funding to $15 million since launching in 2012.
Advertiser: Aggregage
Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.
Berkonomics
JULY 3, 2019
Here’s a puzzle where the answer come first. “Help me.”. Over the years I have heard many stories from entrepreneurs, students, news reporters, even my children, all telling me that they could not get someone’s attention they wanted or needed until they used the words, “Help me.” The simple request is disarming, enlarging the object of the request to a status of importance in respect to the questioner that is difficult to ignore.
Tech.Co
JULY 1, 2019
The e-scooter vandalism pandemic continues, as Portland authorities have reportedly hauled more than 50 e-scooters out of a Portland river last week. E-scooters have begun taking over US cities in recent months, with Chicago being the latest to implement the technology just last month. While the innovative two-wheeled vehicles have given thousands access to affordable means of transportation, as well as quite a bit of fun, many citizens believe they are dangerous, tedious, and generally just get
Southern California Tech Central brings together the best content for technical professionals in Southern California from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 5, 2019
Fullscreen, Snap, UTA highlight conference lineup
SoCal Tech Calendar
JULY 3, 2019
Tuesday, July 9, 2019 -- USC Viterbi Data Analytics Boot Camp Demo Day. The USC Viterbi Data Analytics Boot Camp is the latest non-degree continuing education offering for the Viterbi School, training working professionals on key skills in the field of data analytics. This program is offered through the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, in affiliation with Trilogy Education Services, a Continuing Education Program Manager (CEPM) whose mission is to prepare students with the technical skills and
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 5, 2019
Don’t you wish you were better at saying “no” to all those extraneous requests for a bit of help at work? Every business owner and professional I know is struggling with their own workload, yet they let themselves get signed up for other people’s work, either out of frustration that things aren’t getting done, or guilt, or just plain sympathy. It’s time to stop jeopardizing your own future.
socalTECH
JULY 2, 2019
For our video interview this morning, we have Andy Wilson, the Executive Director of the Alliance for SoCal Innovation (www.alliancesocal.org), a new nonprofit which is trying to bring together Southern California's technology industry, universities, and others in the local ecosystem. READ MORE>>.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 3, 2019
EVConnect Backs Australian Charging Network; Riot Games Finalist for IBC Award; Faraday Future Employees Flee to Rivian
Xconomy
JULY 2, 2019
[ Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50 , an event exploring the internet’s past and future. ] The internet nearly came with built-in caller ID. The year was 1972: three years after the first messages were firing across the US military-funded research network ARPANET, the precursor to the internet, but still more than a decade before the i
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 30, 2019
The “valley of death” is a common term in the startup world, referring to the difficulty of covering the negative cash flow in the early stages of a startup, before their new product or service is bringing in revenue from real customers. I often get asked about the real alternatives to bridge this valley, and there are some good ones I will outline here.
socalTECH
JULY 2, 2019
Los Angeles-based j2 Global , and its subsidiary, j2 Cloud Services , is taking aim at the healthcare documentation and medical data market, with a new service called MyHealth Inbox. According to j2 Cloud Services, the new, free service lets patients securely receive their medical information into a cloud-based account, using its cloud faxing technology.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 5, 2019
AUTOS: Aftermarket parts seller projects solid growth
Xconomy
JULY 3, 2019
[ Editor’s note: This is part of a series examining the internet’s first 50 years and predicting the next half century. Join Xconomy and World Frontiers Forum on July 16 for Net@50 , an event exploring the internet’s past and future. ] No one has done more than Donald Norman to teach us that every piece of hardware and software—in fact, every human-made object, including the internet—embodies design decisions that aren’t always made with the best interests of users
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 1, 2019
Many entrepreneurs think that adapting to the new technologies, like smart phones and Internet commerce, are the key to attracting new customers. In fact, businesses need to adapt even more completely to the changes in the buying and social behavior of consumers. High-technology product startups, without customers, don’t make a business. Today’s customer buying dynamics are all about “user experience,” according to Brian Solis, in his classic book “ What’s the Future of Business?
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Santa Monica-based Upfront Ventures has launched an effort to raise a new fund, worth $250M, according to a regulatory filing by the firm. According to that filing, Upfront's new fund, Upfront Growth III, L.P. , does not yet have any committed investors, and is led by Mark Suster and Yves Sisteron. Upfront has not detailed any information about the fund, as is usual for venture investors in the midst of fundraising.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 5, 2019
TECH: Startup MeWe sees 30 million users by year end
Xconomy
JULY 1, 2019
Legendary rock musician and longtime internet evangelist Peter Gabriel has joined the all-star cast of speakers for Net@50 , a historic event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first net message—while also looking ahead to the internet’s next 50 years. The event, put on by the non-profit World Frontiers Forum in association with Xconomy, takes place the afternoon of July 16 at the MIT Media Lab and will be followed by a gala dinner at Café ArtScience in Kendall Square.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 3, 2019
I know some entrepreneurs with successful businesses, and others who seem to have a great relationship with their family, but I can’t think of many who have both. Some people would argue that these two successes are mutually exclusive, but I’m not convinced. Individually, they both take focus, commitment, and a variety of skills, all the strengths of a good entrepreneur.
socalTECH
JULY 3, 2019
Los Angeles-based electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator EV Connnect has put its backing behind a new, Australian startup, Evie Networks , which is looking to create its own network of ultra-fast EV chargers down under. According to EV Connect, it is joining the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund to back Evie Networks, to create an ultra-fast highway charging network in Australia.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 5, 2019
Health care accelerator includes local startups
Xconomy
JULY 5, 2019
As we pause to celebrate the 4th of July, another birthday is top of mind: A third baby whose embryonic DNA was edited by Chinese scientist He Jiankui. As Xconomy reported in November, He hinted about a second pregnancy after his infamous revelation of twins altered with CRISPR gene editing tools. That second pregnancy—a third CRISPR’d child—might already have arrived, MIT Technology Review reports.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 29, 2019
The entrepreneur’s challenge is to effectively communicate their value proposition, not only to customers, but also to vendors, partners, investors, and their own team. Especially for technical founders, this is normally all about presenting impressive facts. But in reality facts only go so far. Stories often work better, because humans don’t always make rational decisions.
socalTECH
JULY 2, 2019
Newport Beach-based startup HelpJess announced on Monday that it has launched a new service, which combines video chat with retail shopping. The company said its tool allows shoppers to live, video chat with brick-and-mortar retail stores through an app, connecting shoppers to in-store staff at retailers. According to the new service--owned by open4sale USA--it is initially offering up its service to designer stores in Los Angeles, New York, Milan, Paris, and Hong Kong, as well as Singapore.
L.A. Business Journal
JULY 1, 2019
MeWe raises $4.
Xconomy
JULY 2, 2019
San Diego is one of two metropolitan areas in which ride-hailing giant Uber has reformatted its mobile app to make it simpler for users to rent an electric bicycle or scooter. With the previous version of Uber’s (NYSE: UBER ) app, users had to navigate from the main menu to another part of the app to book nearby e-bikes and e-scooters from Uber’s Jump brand.
socalTECH
JULY 2, 2019
The Boring Company , the Los Angeles company working on advanced transportation systems, which is led by technology mogul Elon Musk, says it is ramping up efforts in Las Vegas, and is actively hiring for a significiant number of positions in Las Vegas, as well as Hawthorne. According to The Boring Company, the jobs include positions in everything from Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering to Security Guards and more.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Inside Secure , the French company which acquired San Diego-based Verimatrix in March, has renamed itself as Verimatrix , the company announced this morning. The combined company trades on the Euronext Paris as VMX. Inside Secure paid $147M, mostly in cash, for Verimatrix as part of the acquisition deal in March. The two rolled out a new logo and tagline as part of the renaming of Inside Secure to Verimatrix.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
The Cedars-Sinai Accelerator , the startup accelerator associated with Cedars-Sinai, has announced its next class, saying it has added 11 new health-tech companies into its newest accelerator class. According to the accelerator, whichi s managed by Anne Wellington, the teams will spend three months in the Cedars-Sinai Innovation Space, which is immediately across the street from the Cedars-Sinai medical center; all of the startups will received $100,000 in an investment, and present at the accel
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Los Angeles is boosting its ever growing presence in the e-sports industry, with a brand new competitive team for Call of Duty , Activision announced on Monday. According to Activision, it has added two new teams to its Call of Duty league, including one in Los Angeles from the Immortals Gaming Club , and one in Minnesota, operated by WISE Ventures.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
RealWear , a developer of helmet-mounted, wearable Android computers, has scored backing from San Diego-based Qualcomm Ventures , in a $80M funding, the company said this morning. RealWear--which is based in Vancouver, Washington--said it raised $80M in a Series B financing round, which included both equity and debt, and came from JPMorgan Chase & Co., Teradyne, Bose Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures LLC (QCOM), Kopin Corporation (KOPN), and investors from JPMorgan's (JPM) Private Bank.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Los Angeles-based Gemelli Biotech , a startup focused on discovery of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for the human microbiome, has raised $1.85M, as part of an ongoing $3.0M fundraising effort for the startup, according to a regulatory filing from the firm. Details on the funding have not yet been announced by the company. It's unclear who is backing the company, however, James Laur, Vice President of Intellectual Property at Cedars-Sinai, is listed as a member of the company's board of dire
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
San Diego-based Illumina said it has filed three more, patent infringement suits, related to its fight against BGI , this time in Switzerland, Turkey, and the US. According to Illumina, it filed suit against Complete Genomics, Inc. and other BGI entities in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of U.S.
socalTECH
JULY 1, 2019
Los Angeles-based Verifi , a developer of financial software tools used to reduce chargebacks for merchants, has been acquired by Visa , in order to boost Visa's tools for reducing chargebacks. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. Verifi develops dispute resolution tools used to help buyers and sellers resolve disputes. Visa said it will integrate Verifi's chargeback tools with its own risk management services, including its service delivered by CardinalCommerce and CyberSour
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