L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Los Angeles is cementing its status as a hotspot for the tech industry.

Entertainment 290

Entertainment Media Los Angeles Angel 290

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 1, 2021

The best part of being an entrepreneur is having the independence to make your own decisions, the flexibility for a better work/life balance, and personal satisfaction from driving change. But nobody said it would be easy. The road to business success is filled with challenges and frustrations that most aspiring entrepreneurs never even imagined. In my role as advisor to many startups, I try to prepare them for the inevitable bumps in the road ahead, as well as to provide practical guidance on h

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Search Engine Optimization Satisfaction Social Media 174

Berkonomics

AUGUST 5, 2021

When do most companies communicate? Early stage company investors as a group have a common gripe – almost universal. Information flows from the company irregularly, in fact most often when the company is urgently in need of more money. How these investors try to solve the problem. Investment documents usually call for quarterly reporting by the company to the investors.

Invest 156

Invest Study Email Activity 156

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2021

San Diego-based Aardvark Therapeutics, a biopharmaceuticals company focused on metabolic diseases, said this morning that it has raised $29M in its Series B funding round. The funding was led by Sorrento Therapeutics, and also included Vickers Venture Partners, Premier Partners, BNH Investment, and Korea Omega, along with The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research.

San Diego 140

San Diego Research Funding Invest 140

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.

Company

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 4, 2021

Ryff Inc., an advertising technology startup, has raised $11.7 million in funding.

Advertising 278

Advertising Funding Startup Technology 278

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 2, 2021

New entrepreneurs routinely jump into a startup with a full charge of passion and energy, but often find themselves drained of both after a few months by the workload and challenges. As a result, burnout and loss of passion are consistently listed among the top causes of startup failure, according to many experts. The challenge is find ways to continually recharge along the way.

Entrepreneur 174

Entrepreneur Startup Press Study 174

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

The final major construction push for the long-awaited $1.8 billion Metro Regional Connector Transit Project through downtown has finally arrived.

264

264

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Sawtelle-based gaming studio That’s No Moon Entertainment Inc. launched July 28 with a $100 million investment from Smilegate Entertainment, a global game development company based in Seoul, South Korea.

Invest 264

Invest Entertainment Develop Development 264

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Culver City-based mobile gaming company Jam City Inc., which canceled plans for a SPAC merger last week, will continue to pursue a public offering.

Culver City 264

Culver City Mobile Company Companies 264

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Last month saw several significant milestones on different fronts in the $14.5 billion effort to modernize Los Angeles International Airport.

Los Angeles 246

Los Angeles Angel 246

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

It’s quite an ironic company exit.

Company 246

Company Companies 246

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2021

Most business managers preach that the key to success is holding employees accountable for actions, but I have found that successful entrepreneurs are all about holding themselves accountable. They skip the blame and complain game, and make things happen despite major obstacles. As a startup investor, I view any evidence of a victim mentality as the kiss of death.

Startup 164

Startup Class Entrepreneur Coach 164

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 6, 2021

I have always assumed that strong work relationships are the key to productivity, as well as you feeling good and having fun at work. Yet, in my role as advisor to small businesses, I find many people who still believe some old myths that work should never be fun, and create a self-fulfilling prophecy that takes down their sense of well-being , as well as their company results.

Companies 162

Companies Company Summary Coach 162

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 4, 2021

Most of you now agree that hiring and maintaining a diverse team, with a variety of ethnic backgrounds and experiences, is a good thing. Yet, in my experience as a business advisor, I find that many of you business leaders still aren’t sure how to deal effectively with diversity, and may actually negate the benefits and lose their respect by not communicating with them correctly.

Examples 152

Examples Ideas Product Activity 152

L.A. Business Journal

AUGUST 2, 2021

Pasadena-based consulting and engineering firm Tetra Tech Inc. has added to its British collection.

Pasadena 130

Pasadena 130

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2021

San Diego-based private equity investor HCAP Partners said this week that it has scored an exit at one of its portfolio companies, 8ebar, a provider of patient education for the clinical trial and other areas. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. According to HCAP Partners, HealthQuest Capital made an equity investment in 83bar to support the company's ongoing expansion.

Equity 113

Equity San Diego Education Acquisition 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2021

Los Angeles-based electric automaker Fisker, Inc.--the latest incarnation of Fisker Automotive--says it expects to have operating expenses of between $490M and $530M this year, as it looks to deliver its first product to market. The company said the spending is due to R&D spending on prototypes for its Ocean SUV. Fisker recently hit the public markets via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), even as it has yet to start shipping its vehicles.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Acquisition Marketing Product 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2021

Los Angeles-based J2 Global said it had record, second quarter 2021 results, and is raising its full year guidance, the company said on Thursday, as revenues in its Digital Media area surged. According to J2 Global, it saw its Q2 201 quarterly revenues increase to $429.0 million, compared to $331.0M for Q2 of 202, a 29.6 percent increase. The company's Digital Media revenues were up 54.8%, growing to $253.8M from $163.9M a year ago.

Media 113

Media Los Angeles Acquisition Invest 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2021

Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company headed by Sir Richard Branson, started selling seats to space again, after successfully launching Branson and a number of others in its first fully crewed spaceflight. The company--which developed its vehicles and technology in Mojave, California--is selling seats on its spacecraft for $450,000 per flight. The company is also offering up multi-seat packages, in addition to letting customers book entire flights.

Startup 113

Startup Custom Customer Services 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 6, 2021

In further fallout from the controversy over claims of sexual harassment at Activision Blizzard, Coca-Cola and State Farm are reportedly "revisiting" their sponsorship of the Overwatch League and Call of Duty League, Activision Blizzard's e-sports leagues. According to the Washington Post, the two sponsors are "re-evaluating their support" of the competition as a result of a lawsuit from regulators.

Activision 113

Activision Competition Mobile Report 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2021

San Diego-based RebateKey, an online marketplace for rebates and coupons, says it paid out $5.2 million in cashback rebates on its site in June. The company offers up an app that connects consumers with cashback rebates on a variety of products. According to the company, it currently has more than 10,000 active users. The company also says it owns Pixelfy.Me, a link tracking and analytics tools for e-commerce sellers and affiliate marketers.

San Diego 113

San Diego Commerce Tool Activity 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2021

San Diego-based Qualcomm said this morning that it has made an offer to acquire Veoneer, a developer of automotive technology. According to Qualcomm, it has offered to pay $37 per share in cash for Veoneer, which is publicly traded on the NYSE as VNE. Based on the shares outstanding of Veoneer, the deal would be worth approximately $4.1 billion. According to Qualcomm, its offer is an 18 percent premium to an existing offer from another company, Magna, to acquired Veoneer.

San Diego 113

San Diego Technology Develop Development 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2021

Santa Monica-based TigerConnect, which develops communications tools for the healthcare industry, says it has launched an expanded product suite. According to the company, it has rolled out a suite of new and enhanced products, including clinical collaboration tools, alarm management and event notifications, patient engagement tools, physician scheduling, and more.

Product 113

Product Santa Monica Tool Develop 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 5, 2021

Santa Monica-based micromobility provider Bird says that it has rolled out a new feature, "Bird Community Safety Zones", in an attempt to provide better protection for pedestrian encounters with its scooters. According to Bird, the new zones will automatically reduce maximum allowable speeds of its scooters to 8 MPH, and trigger an in-app message to explain the reason for deceleration.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Activity 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

San Diego-based Lawn Love, an on-demand lawn and outdoor care company which is led by Jeremy Yamaguchi, has been acquired by Austin-based Lawn Starter, according to the companies this week. Financial terms of the cash-and-stock deal were not announced. Lawn Love was backed by Bullpen Capital, Y Combinator, Alexis Ohanian, Joe Montana and Barbara Corcoran, and had raised $6.7M in total funding.

San Diego 113

San Diego Demand Capital Funding 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

Irvine-based ThoughtWorld, a new market research and social media platform, says it has raised $2M in an angel investment round. The company, led by CEO Robert Ming, says the round gave it a valuation of $10M. ThoughtWorld said the new funding will used to build critical infrastructure and its 3D technology, and establish an active user base. The company says it launched the Alpha version of its platform on July 21st.

Social Media 113

Social Media Platform Research Media 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

A number of Southern California music and entertainment names are backing a Silicon Valley prediction startup, VersusGame, in a $3M funding. According to VersusGame--which lets users make popculture predictions through its mobile games--said the seed funding came from Mark Pincus, comedian Kevin Hart, Will.i.am, Jeffrey Katzenberg, TV reality show producer Mark Burnett, along with rappers Nas and Mack Maine, music managers Gee Robertson, Polo, Anthony Saleh, and others.

Entertainment 113

Entertainment Southern California Seed Funding Mobile 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

El Segundo-based e-commerce marketing agency Wpromote announced today it has acquired Visiture, an e-commerce agency based in the Southeast. Financial terms of the buy were not announced. Visiture serves the Atlanta and Charleston areas. According to Wpromote the buy will help it establish a larger footprint in the Southeast. Wpromote said that Visiture's clients include Gerber Childrenswear, Case-Mate, and Pelican Products.

El Segundo 113

El Segundo Commerce Marketing Help 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 4, 2021

Los Angeles-based Ryff, a developer of brand integration and advertising tools, has raised $11.7M in a funding round for its efforts, according to the company's investors. The funding round was led by Audent Global Asset Management, and also included Vulcan and Mac Ventures. Ryff is led by founder and CEO Roy Taylor. The company develops real-time brand integration technology which integrates virtual products into previously developed content, including edited content and library content on over

Content 113

Content Los Angeles Advertising Equity 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 3, 2021

Rialto, California-based Plant Prefab, which develops sustainable, prefabricated homes, has scored $30M in a venture capital investment round. The Series B funding was led by Asahi Kasei Corporation and Paris Ventures, the corporate venture capital program of Brazilian steel producer Gerdau, and also included Amazon Alexa Fund, Ferguson Ventures, and Obvious Ventures.

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Capital Invest Funding 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 3, 2021

Aliso Viejo-based cloud migration tools developer Corent Technology says it has linked its cloud migration tools to the HPE Greenlake Cloud Services ecosystem. According to Corent, its migration tools and technologies brings Microsoft Windows "Migration-as-a-Service" to the HPE ecosystem. Corent's tools are used to migrate Microsoft Windows software to "software-as-a-service" environments.

Tool 113

Tool Cloud Computing Platform Software 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 3, 2021

Laguna Hills-based biotech developer PharmaCyte Biotech said late Monday that the company is shifting to the Nasdaq Capital Market, having been approved to list on the exchange as PMCB. The company, which currently trades OTCQB, is focused on developing cellular therapies for cancer and diabetes. the company said, in addition to the upgrade to the Nasdaq, the company is planning a public offering, which will be run by H.C.

.Net 113

.Net Activity Capital Marketing 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 3, 2021

San Diego-based pharmaceuticals startup Engrail Therapeutics, which is focused on neuroscience pharmaceuticals, said today that it has raised an additional $32M in its Series A funding round, bringing its total raised in the Series A to $64M. The new funding was led by Nan Fung Life Sciences (NFLS). According to the company, the new funding will go towards advancing its pipeline, including lead assets ENX-101, ENX-102 and internal preclinical programs.

Funding 113

Funding San Diego Startup Companies 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 3, 2021

The president of Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment, J. Allen Brack, is out, and will be replaced by two executives, who will co-lead the company, following an employee walkout over the company's handling of sexual harassment issues. According to Blizzard, Brack is stepping down and will be replaced by co-leaders Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra. Oneal has been at Blizzard since January, serving as Executive Vice President of Development, and was previously head of Vicarious Visions; Ybarra has been a

Entertainment 113

Entertainment Platform Technology Develop 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 2, 2021

Goleta-based gallium nitride (GaN) power conversion device maker Transphorm says it has acquired a wafer fabrication operation in Japan. According to Transphorm, the acquisition of 100% interest in the Company's AFSW wafer-fab facility is by GaNovation, Transphorm's recent joint venture with Palo Alto-based JCP Capital, a new strategic-financial partner.

Acquisition 113

Acquisition Capital Companies Company 113

socalTECH

AUGUST 2, 2021

Irvine-based analytics software developer Alteryx says it has linked up with Snowflake, the developer of cloud data software. According to Alteryx, it has become an "Elite Technology Partner" in Snowflake's partner program. Alteryx is a developer of analytics, data, and business process automation software.

Software Development 113

Software Development Software Technology Develop 113