TechCrunch LA

JULY 2, 2020

When it comes to venture capital, Los Angeles is a city on the rise. In the past year, it’s seen one of the most profitable venture-backed exits of any tech ecosystem (with the $4 billion sale of Honey to PayPal) and investors are minting billion-dollar companies in the region at a torrid pace. It’s also the city where investors are spending the most money outside of venture capital’s big major hubs: San Francisco, Boston and New York.

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Los Angeles Venture Capital Capital Invest 277

L.A. Business Journal

JUNE 29, 2020

Mid-Wilshire-based 8minute Solar Energy has signed a contract to develop a 250-megawatt solar energy and storage project in Kern County.

Outsource Development 264

Outsource Development Develop Development 264

Berkonomics

JULY 2, 2020

At the MIT Center of Collective Intelligence, professors and graduate students are wrestling with an important opportunity – and gaining ground. With new collaborative tools available for use in the cloud, people are no longer isolated in their creative endeavors. Some label this “crowdsourcing,” a term used to describe one form of this new empowerment.

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Cloud Computing Tool IBM IBM 177

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

Los Angeles-based, low-cost e-commerce products site Hollar is no more, and will be swallowed up by new owner Five Below , six months after the acquisition of Hollar by Five Below. According to an email to current customers of Hollar--known for its "dollar store" style, grab bag of products--Hollar will "soon become Five Below" and continue to offer up its $1 to $5 products, and occasional products of up to $10.

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Sites Commerce Los Angeles Email 203

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

TechCrunch LA

JUNE 30, 2020

Two years and more than $17 million after it first began working on its robots for quality assurance, the Los Angeles-based Elementary Robotics has finally made its products commercially available. The company already boasts a few very large initial customers in the automotive industry, consumer packaged goods and aerospace and defense, including Toyota, according to chief executive Arye Barnehama.

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Artificial Inteligence Los Angeles Startup Customer 234

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 3, 2020

Every entrepreneur knows that good demand generation marketing is the key to growth these days, but very few have the discipline or know-how to measure return in a world of a thousand tools and techniques. Even those things that worked yesterday may not work tomorrow, as the market matures, the culture changes, and competitors appear with new solutions.

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Marketing Invest Demand Metrics 174

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

Hollywood-based Klio Studio , a new startup, said this week that it has launched a new, cloud-based production management solution aimed at the film, television, and commercial production market. The company--led by Adrienne Lunson--said it has developed a system to handle such aspects of production as development, fundraising, pre-production, production, post-production and even release.

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Xconomy

JUNE 29, 2020

A new version of a combination drug marketed by Roche for early-stage and metastatic breast cancer with a specific genetic signature received FDA approval Monday for a formulation that can be delivered in minutes rather than an hour or more. The antibody combo , delivered alongside IV chemotherapy, is intended for women with breast cancer that overexpresses a protein called HER2; each drug—both of which were developed by Roche subsidiary Genentech—is believed to attack tumors differe

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Marketing Technology Develop Development 114

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 29, 2020

Most of the young entrepreneurs I know are classic proof of the old adage that people tend to overestimate what they can do in a short period, and underestimate what they can do over a long period. They become frustrated when they are unable to build their startup over a weekend, and give up way too soon when the path to real success seems to be interminable.

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Startup Writing Blogging Ideas 173

L.A. Business Journal

JULY 1, 2020

SpaceX successfully launched the company's first mission for the U.S. Space Force.

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SpaceX Company Companies 147

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2020

Santa Monica-based startup studio Science Inc. has backed a new company, looking to incubate startups from the music industry. According to Heavy Sound Labs , it is a music technology company looking for "today's next emerging stars" and helps them to develop themselves into creative entrepreneurs. The new venture is led by Jason Geter, a music industry veteran who co-founded Grand Hustle Records.

Santa Monica 124

Santa Monica Incubator Tool Entrepreneur 124

Xconomy

JULY 2, 2020

MEI Pharma and its Swiss partner Helsinn are ending a Phase 3 study of an investigational cancer drug for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after an interim analysis indicated it was unlikely to meet the trial’s main goal of helping patients live longer. San Diego-based MEI (NASDAQ: MEIP ), licensed the compound, pracinostat, from a Singaporean biotech company in 2013.

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San Diego Study Help Company 86

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 27, 2020

Entrepreneurs inherently understand that they have to be the initial leader of their startup, but often they don’t have the experience or the training to know where their leadership competencies lie, or how to build a leadership team. For new entrepreneurs, leadership development efforts may be more valuable for achieving startup success than business skills development.

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Startup Entertainment Entrepreneur Coach 173

SoCal Tech Calendar

JULY 3, 2020

Thursday, July 9, 2020 --.

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TCVN 100

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2020

Los Angeles-based Scalefast , a developer of direct-to-consumer, e-commerce software, has raised $22M in a Series B funding round. The funding came from Xplorer Capital, Stereo Capital, FJLabs, Benhamou Global Venture and Credit Mutuel Equity. According to Scalefast, it will use the new funding to expand its team, footprint, and product offering. Scalefast's software is specifically used by brands to scale direct-to-consumer sales.

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Tool Commerce Equity Los Angeles 124

Xconomy

JUNE 29, 2020

Heron Therapeutics revealed Monday that its investigational non-opioid drug for treating postoperative pain has again been rejected by the FDA. The San Diego company’s HTX-011 is an extended-release solution of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, and meloxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Heron (NASDAQ: HRTX ) positioned it as a pain management option that could contribute to a needed reduction in the use of opioid-based medications, which have a high potential for addiction.

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San Diego Company Companies Blogging 63

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 28, 2020

I’ve noticed that most young entrepreneurs are more socially conscious today than ever before, which is a great trend. Unfortunately, some are so focused on this principle that they forget that every business, even nonprofits, have to practice the basic principles of capitalism (build a business model to make money) to cover their costs to do good things another day.

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Guide Capital Entrepreneur Course 128

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

Santa Ana-based Aegis Technology , a developer of materials technology, has been selected for a $125,000 grant from NASA , to help develop low cost lithium-ion batteries with more desirable performance, including longer lifespans, NASA said on Tuesday. Aegis--one of a large number of companies selected for NASA SBIR and STTR grants this week--was highlighted as part of the announcement of $51M in awards for US small businesses.

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Technology Help Develop Development 124

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Order For Me , says it has launched a new, mobile platform aimed at helping restaurant customers order from menus in a "completely touchless" way. According to the startup, it has launched a new product which uses QR technology or designated restaurant codes, to let diners view menus, place their orders, and which goes directly to restaurants.

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Mobile Los Angeles Design Platform 124

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

Irvine-based NetObjex , which is developing products in the AI, IoT, and Blockchain area, said today that it has acquired VitalGrid , a provider of business technology and management consulting. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced. According to NetObjex, the acquisition will help it expand capabilities in a number of vertical markets, including manufacturing, supply chain, smart cities, fintech, and others.

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Acquisition Help Marketing Technology 124

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2020

Culver City-based Airvet , which operates a pet telehealth service that lets veterinarians run virtual visits, has raised $14M in a Series A funding, the company said late last week. According to the company, the round was led by Canvas Ventures, and also included e.ventures, Burst Capital, Starting Line, TrueSight Ventures, Hawke Ventures, Bracket Capital, Michael Stoppelman, and others.

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Culver City Platform Demand Capital 124

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

Irvine-based property information provider CoreLogic says it has rolled out a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool today, which it says helps real estate agents and their clients looking to buy, sell, or make improvements to their home. According to the company, its new product, OneHome, currently has launched in Ohio, and eventually will launch nationwide.

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Artificial Inteligence Tool Guide Help 113

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

Irvine-based cloud software developer Mavenlink has named a new CFO, saying this week that it has appointed Steve DeSantis to the position. DeSantis previously served at such companies as DATAllegro, Predixion Software, Cloudvirga, and Nexiant, and the company said DeSantis took ShiftPixy public in 2017, and TCI Solutions in 2004. Mavenlink develops cloud software aimed at helping services company with things like resource management, project management, collaboration, project accounting, and bu

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Resource Software Development Software Capital 113

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

El Segundo-based Stamps.com was behind the successful fundraising effort run by John Oliver on Last Week Tonight , saying it has so far generated sales of over $4M to help support the U.S. Postal Service. According to Stamps.com -- which lets people print custom postage, and usually focuses on business customers--its custom stamps were part of an effort launched by John Oliver on May 10th, creating and selling a custom sheet of 20 postage stamps featuring images of "fan favorite mascots" that ha

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El Segundo Customer Custom Sales 113

socalTECH

JULY 2, 2020

Los Angeles-based Outstanding Foods , a developer of plant-based snacks--known for its PigOut Pigless Pork Rinds--said the funding was led by SternAegis Ventures, and also included LA lakers player JaVale McGee. The company said it will roll out new products with the funding round, and also use the capital for faster R&D, nationwide marketing, retail expansion, and hiring.

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Los Angeles Capital Funding Product 113

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2020

Santa Ana-based Arqlite SPC , a company which has developed a way to processes unrecyclable plastic waste into artificial gravel, has received an investment from CEMEX Ventures , the corporate venturing arm of the building materials giant. Size of the investment were not announced. According to CEMEX Ventures and Arqlite, Arqlite's artificial gravel avoids the use of natural quarry aggregates and boulders in the production of light concrete with a low CO2 footprint, and installs drainage beds fo

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Invest Technology Product Develop 113

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2020

Los Angeles-based J2 Global , which operates a variety of Internet information and services businesses, appears to be the target of a short seller, saying late Wednesday night that a short seller has issued "false claims and distortions" about its business. J2 Global said that Hindenburg Research included the company in a short selling communications.

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Report Research Los Angeles Invest 113

socalTECH

JULY 1, 2020

Google appears to be pulling back on plans to reopen its offices after the July 4th weekend, after it has become apparent there is an ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States. According to Bloomberg, Google is now planning on keeping its offices closed until at least September 7th, at the earliest--a big change from plans to open them up in July.

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Google Los Angeles Angel 113

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

Los Angeles-based Jukin Media says it has surpassed $25M in total royalty payments to video creators which it represents, with $1M in royalty payments alone in Q1 of 2020. The company--best known for finding and representing the creators of viral videos--says it is seeing an uptick in interest from TV shows and commercials, as the global pandemic has slowed the entertainment industry to a halt.

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Media Advertising Entertainment Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

Los Angeles-based Elementary Robotics , a new startup led by startup veteran Arye Barnehama, said on Tuesday that it has raised $12.7M in funding for its industrial robotics company. The funding was led by Threshold Ventures, and also included Fika Ventures, Fathom Capital, and Toyota AI Ventures. According to the company, it has now raised $15M in total.

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Los Angeles Funding Startup Capital 113

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

San Diego-based EDF Renewables North America reports that it has been selected by Cox Communications , to install both onsite solar as well as battery energy storage at a site in San Diego. Financial details of the deal were not announced, however, EDF Renewables said that Cox will install a 360 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic and 560 kW / 1,360 kilowatt hour (kWh) onsite behind-the-meter battery storage solution at its corporate office on Federal Blvd.

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San Diego Report Sites 113

socalTECH

JUNE 30, 2020

Los Angeles-based Rubicon Project is no more, and has become Magnite , the company said this morning, after the completion of the merger between Rubicon Project and Telaria in April. According to Magnite, the newly named firm also will change its Nasdaq ticker symbol from RUBI to MGNI tomorrow, on July 1st. The company says it is now the "largest independent sell-side advertising platform".

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Advertising Platform Los Angeles Mobile 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2020

Los Angeles-based LiveXLive , the livestreaming and on-demand live event operator, says that--despite the pandemic--it is seeing record pay-per-view concert ticket sales. The company says it has live streamed 59 live music events and over 1,200 artists since January of 2020, and now has 873,000 paid subscribers. The company said that is pay-per-view and digital touring efforts, announced in May, has resulted in the sale of over 17,000 PPV tickets in over 96 countries, at an average price of $27.

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Demand Sales Los Angeles Pricing 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2020

How is Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard navigating the pandemic--and how is another local company, Heal , a part of those efforts? A report , from VentureBeat, talks about how the videogame maker is navigating the pandemic, employees with COVID-19, and plans for reopening--and how CEO Bobby Kotick has been personally involved in the effort. READ MORE>>.

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Activision Report Santa Monica Company 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2020

San Diego-based Kyriba , which develops cloud-based finance software for treasury and cash management, says it is now helping construction giant Fluor Corporation. Kyriba did not say how much the win was worth, but says it is helping Fluor to optimize payment terms and manage cash flow, as part of Fluor's supply chain finance efforts. Kyriba says it is helping Fluor to optimize payments terms and accelerate free cash flow, while offering early payments to suppliers.

San Diego 113

San Diego Software Help Develop 113

socalTECH

JUNE 29, 2020

Hawthorne-based SpaceX scrubbed its plans for a launch of another 57 Starlink communications satellites on Friday, saying its team needed additional time for pre-launch checkouts. SpaceX did not announced a new target launch date for the mission--part of an ongoing set of missions designed to send thousands of its Starlink satellites into low earth orbit.

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SpaceX Hawthorne Design 113