Both Sides of the Table

MAY 21, 2019

Managing Your Startup Board?—?A Short Presentation I was invited to do a keynote presentation at the Khosla Ventures CEO Summit this week in Sausalito. It was an amazing gathering of some of the most ambitious early-stage CEO’s looking to make a dent in fields related to healthcare, biology, AI and other transformative fields. It’s encouraging to know that there are still great VC firms like KV that are looking to make these short of big bets on shaping the future.

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TechCrunch LA

MAY 23, 2019

When Ezra first launched about six months ago, the company was using magnetic resonance imaging machines to test for prostate cancer in men. But the company’s founder, Emi Gal, always had a larger goal. “One of the biggest problems in cancer is that there’s no accurate, fast, painless, way to scan for cancer anywhere in the body” Gal said at the time of his company’s debut.

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Artificial Inteligence Screening Startup Los Angeles 278

Xconomy

MAY 21, 2019

New medicines, devices, and diagnostics produced by the life sciences community in California are giving clinicians better tools to fight disease and improve quality of life for patients around the world. Emerging technologies, such as stem cell and gene therapies, are beginning to make their mark. According to the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)’s latest California Life Sciences Industry Report , California is home to more than 3,400 life sciences companies.

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Education Company Companies Tool 79

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2019

For our interview this morning, we talked with David Wood , the Founder and CEO of Eventene (www.eventene.com), an early stage startup, bootstrapped startup developing event management software. David--a veteran of Microsoft, having been the lead developer of Microsoft Exchange--tells us why he started his company. What does Eventene do? David Wood: We make event planning software for social organizations.

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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.

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Both Sides of the Table

MAY 19, 2019

My Commencement Speech?—?Life at Your Crossroads Photo by Justin Luebke on Unsplash Crossroads Cal Poly Pomona! What’s up!?! I’m so grateful to be up here addressing you today. Today you’re either here to graduate or support somebody graduating. A graduate is at his or her first major crossroad in life. You are faced with decisions about which road to take.

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TechCrunch LA

MAY 23, 2019

The Los Angeles ecosystem is $76 million stronger today as Fika Ventures , a seed-stage venture capital firm, announces its sophomore investment fund. Fika invests roughly half of its capital exclusively in startups headquartered in LA, with a particular fondness for B2B, enterprise and fintech companies. The firm was launched in 2017 by general partners Eva Ho and TX Zhuo, formerly of Susa Ventures and Karlin Ventures, respectively.

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Funding Startup Seed Funding Los Angeles 218

socalTECH

MAY 23, 2019

Los Angeles-based Boring Co. , the tunnel-and-transportation startup led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been selected to build a small transportation system using Boring Co.'s technology, which will span the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced the selection of The Boring Company on Wednesday, saying it hopes to have the tunnel built and transportation system running by the Consumer Electronics Show in January of 2021.

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Los Angeles Startup Technology Company 140

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 24, 2019

Audio sharing platform Soundcloud Inc. announced May 23 it will acquire Venice-based rights distribution company Repost Network.

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TechCrunch LA

MAY 21, 2019

For over 100 years entrepreneurs have come to Hollywood to try their luck in the dream factory and build an empire in the business of storytelling. Propelled by new technologies, new businessmen have been landing in Los Angeles since the invention of the nickelodeon to create a studio that would dominate popular entertainment. Over the past five years, virtual reality was the latest new thing to make or break fortunes, and the founding team behind the Korean company AmazeVR are the latest would-

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Chief Technology Officer Content Hollywood Netflix 211

Xconomy

MAY 24, 2019

The FDA today has made Zolgensma, a Novartis treatment for the rare genetic disease spinal muscular atrophy, the second approved gene therapy in the US. The news marks a milestone for SMA patients, who have only one other approved medicine available. But it comes with a cost: At $2.125 million, Zolgensma’s price tag creates a critical test for the economic viability of gene therapy as it goes head-to-head with an established treatment.

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News Pricing San Diego Blogging 107

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2019

Camarillo-based semiconductor maker Semtech has just joined an organization focused on advancing "smart home" technology, as it looks to push its low powered wireless technology (LoRa) into the smart home market. According to Semtech, it has joined the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) , an international non-profit industry association for the advancement of smart home and building technologies.

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L.A. Business Journal

MAY 23, 2019

West Los Angeles-based investor Fika Ventures announced May 23 it completed the raise of a $76 million fund, the VC’s second since its 2017 launch.

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West Los Angeles Los Angeles Funding Angel 113

TechCrunch LA

MAY 20, 2019

A conference dedicated to transportation and mobility wouldn’t be complete without hearing from Ford, the U.S. automaker with a storied 116-year history. We’re excited to announce that Ford CTO Ken Washington will participate in TechCrunch’s inaugural TC Sessions: Mobility , a one-day event on July 10, 2019 in San Jose, Calif., that’s bringing the best and brightest minds — founders, investors and technologists — who are determined to invent a future Henry Ford might neve

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Mobile Research Los Angeles Conference 170

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 18, 2019

Elon Musk via Flickr by TED Conference To be successful as an entrepreneur, you don’t have to be a fabulous person, but it helps. Some people, and some entrepreneurs, have that something extra that you can’t quite put your finger on, like Ryan Seacrest is searching for on American Idol. But the entrepreneurs that have it, including Elon Musk and Richard Branson, seem to be able to effortlessly get team members, investors, and customers to follow them anywhere.

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socalTECH

MAY 24, 2019

Carlsbad-based Viasat , which develops satellites communications equipment, reported a win this week with the U.S. Air Force. According to Viasat, it has been contracted to deliver a "Link 16" capable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft for the USAF, which will be used to prototype and test space-based Link 16 capabilities. Link 16 is being used by the U.S.

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Outsource Development Report Sites Networking 133

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 20, 2019

Tetra Tech acquires WYG; Riot Games employees unsatisfied with walkout results; Snap finds new executives

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Riot Games Report 113

Xconomy

MAY 20, 2019

Yet another new biotech company has been founded in San Diego by serial entrepreneur Mike Grey and other alumni of rare disease startup Lumena Pharmaceuticals. Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which has offices in San Diego and in the UK, announced Monday it has raised $50 million to advance a compound it is testing as a therapy for diseases that hamper the performance of mitochondria—the parts of our cells that turn what we eat into energy, among other life-sustaining tasks.

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San Diego Acquisition Entrepreneur Startup 88

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2019

Not so long ago, training to meet the press and television reporters was a realm reserved for top business executives only. Now, even the earliest stage startup can rise to visibility or be forever lost by their first media spotlight, so it behooves us all to know the rules early. Most entrepreneurs I know admit to a poor first media interaction, and many are still waiting for the instant replay.

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Press Entrepreneur Social Media Training 96

socalTECH

MAY 23, 2019

Los Angeles-based XPRIZE , the organization which launches prize-based competitions to spur the development of advancements in technology, says it is trying something new in its prize efforts--a new, $25,000 prize open to any individual who refers someone who ultimately goes on to win a grand prize in an XPRIZE competition. According to the foundation, its new "Find a Winner" program is open to the public.

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L.A. Business Journal

MAY 21, 2019

Snapchat links with Naughty America; Aerojet Rocketdyne explores battery storage market; Tyffon raises nearly $8 million

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Snapchat Report Marketing 100

Xconomy

MAY 21, 2019

Sebastian Thrun first made his mark on autonomous vehicle development at the dawn of that industry, when he led a Stanford team whose robot car Stanley won the $2 million DARPA Grand Challenge in 2005 by racing driverless through the Mojave Desert for 132 miles. These days, Thrun seems just as excited by another imprint he’s made on the still-forming AV industry—not as a researcher, but as an entrepreneur in online education.

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Education Software Engineering Training Research 87

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2019

Change is hard. But these days it’s required and inevitable. Yet, in my daily role as an advisor to entrepreneurs and small business owners, struggling to boost revenues, profits, and earnings, I still see too many managers falling back on command-and-control, a focus on weaknesses, and not enough time for people. The result is lost productivity and a poorly engaged work force.

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Coach Technical Review Satisfaction Examples 95

socalTECH

MAY 23, 2019

A new, Los Angeles-based startup, BiasSync , has launched a tool aimed at helping corporations and government agencies measure unconscious bias in the workplace, in an attempt to help foster a "more fair and respectful workplace". According to BiasSync, the company was co-founded by former broadcast journalist and entrepreneur Michele Ruiz, former Tinder VP of Technology Dan Gould, and serial tech entrepreneur Robin Richards.

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Tool Los Angeles Organization Content 133

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 22, 2019

Precellerator takes new applications; Snapchat backpedals from x-rated lenses, WarnerMedia co-hosts esports tournament

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Class Snapchat Report 100

Xconomy

MAY 24, 2019

Patients, doctors, family members, and drug-price watchdogs continued to wait for the expected approval of Zolgensma , a Novartis (NYSE: NVS ) gene therapy for the rare inherited disease spinal muscular atrophy. Originally developed at a children’s hospital in Ohio , Zolgensma will be a litmus test for the nascent field. If approved this week or next, it would be just the second gene therapy to come to market in the US.

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Pricing Marketing Develop Development 86

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 19, 2019

Image via Flickr by jardenberg Your marketing launch is the most important element of startup success these days, to get customer attention in this world of information overload. Yet it is the one element that too many entrepreneurs focus on only as an afterthought. Everyone assumes their product or service is so great that “word-of-mouth” will carry the day for them.

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Customer Custom Marketing Tips 93

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2019

San Diego-based Sotera Wireless , which develops vital signs monitoring products for the healthcare industry, has named Younes Achkire, PhD, as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Achkire was most recently Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Foxconn Health Technology Business Group, and also was co-founder, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Zap Surgical Systems.

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Chief Technology Officer San Diego Organization Technology 133

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 24, 2019

PeerStreet hires new sales manager; SpaceX successfully deploys 60 Starlink satellites; Snap gains new diversity lead

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SpaceX Report Sales 100

Xconomy

MAY 24, 2019

Inhibrx, developer of protein drugs targeting cancer and other diseases, has raised $40 million from the hedge fund Viking Global Investors as the biotech steers several programs through early-stage clinical trials. The La Jolla, CA-based company was founded in 2010 by Mark Lappe, Brendan Eckelman, and Quinn Deveraux. Eckelman is the company’s chief scientific officer and executive vice president of strategy; Deveraux is its executive vice president of early research.

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Press Research Funding Invest 67

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 20, 2019

Image via Good Free Photos It’s time for more entrepreneurs to reset their focus, and shift their thinking to completely different ways of doing things. Everyone talks about innovation, but the majority of business plans I see still reflect linear thinking – one more social network with improved usability, one more wind-farm energy generator with a few more blades, or one more dating site with a new dimension of compatibility.

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Organization Social Media Entrepreneur Social Network 85

socalTECH

MAY 22, 2019

San Diego-based Locana , a developer of RNA-targeting gene therapy technology, announced Wednesday morning that it has raised $55M in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by ARCH Venture Partners, and also included Temasek and Lightstone Ventures, along with new investors UCB Ventures and GV (formerly Google Ventures). According to Locana, the funding will go to advance and expand its pipeline of RNA-targeting gene therapy programs, as well as to bolster its leadership team and technolo

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San Diego Google Funding Technology 133

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 23, 2019

Riot Games creates gaming association; Simran Sethi vacates Netflix post; Boring Co.

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Riot Games Netflix Report 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

MAY 23, 2019

Wednesday, May 29, 2019 --.

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Startup 100

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 22, 2019

Announcing Projector?—?A Startup I’ve Been Excited to Tell You About for Years A few years ago I spent time in prison with Trevor O’Brien , the founder of Projector. Yes, I always imagined announcing the company that way. We were of course there to work with incarcerated men on developing entrepreneurial skills on behalf of Defy Ventures. We had met previously when Trevor was a product manager at YouTube and Upfront had funded the largest video producer on YouTube, Maker Studios.

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Startup Social Media Slides Design 191

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2019

How do small hotel chains and boutique hotels keep up with all the advancements going on in technology? Los Angeles-based Runtriz (www.runtriz.com) has developed mobile software which helps those hotels keep up with the giants in the market. We spoke with co-founder and CTO, Alonso Vargas about the company. READ MORE>>.

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Los Angeles Mobile Software Help 133

socalTECH

MAY 21, 2019

The Precellerator , the Santa Monica-based startup incubation and accelerator effort with ties to local technology law firm Stubbs, Alderton, and Markiles LLP, has opened up applications for its next class of startups, the accelerator said on Tuesday. According to the Precellerator, deadlines for applications for its next class, the 13th class, is July 15th.

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