Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Los Angeles has long been in San Francisco’s shadow when it comes to life sciences investment. But a new venture capital firm led by industry veterans is trying to cast the City of Angels in a new light. Westlake Village BioPartners is launching today with $350 million in committed capital. The Los Angeles-based firm is led by managing directors Beth Seidenberg, a former general partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and Sean Harper, the outgoing executive vice president of research an

Westlake Village 73

Westlake Village Los Angeles Angel Venture Capital 73

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Alex Canter knows the restaurant business. The scion of Los Angeles’ famous first family of the deli business — the owners of the eponymous Canters restaurant — Canter has been in the food business longer than many seasoned restauranteurs twice his age. While some people had a Bar Mitzvah party, the thirteen year old Canter had section four of his family’s restaurant.

Services 165

Services Los Angeles Startup Capital 165

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Century City-based geolocation data provider Factual Inc. announced Sept. 5 it raised $42 million in a financing round led by Upfront Ventures and Felicis Ventures. This most recent round brings the company’s total funding to $104 million, according to a company press release.

Century City 113

Century City Funding Press Companies 113

InfoChachkie

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

A version of this article previously appeared in The Wall Street Journal. What would you do if you opened a UPS envelope and there was nothing inside? A scrappy startup inadvertently answered this question when they accidentally mailed several hundred empty UPS envelopes. Note: the company has asked to remain anonymous, as they don’t want to alert their competitors to the success of their Stealth Campaign.

Marketing 154

Marketing Sales Startup Journal 154

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

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Each decision you make to commit resources – your money or your use of corporate or personal time – affects the future value of your business. Minor decisions, such as replacing employees who have left the company or replacing equipment needing updating, are usually considered operational in nature, and unless the business is changing direction, not relevant to this test.

Companies 120

Companies Company Acquisition Resource 120

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

People like to say that brick-and-mortar retail is dead, but direct-to-consumer businesses continue to dabble with physical stores all the same. Why? Because brick-and-mortar retail provides businesses with benefits an online shopping platform can’t , namely consumer experiences that create and sustain shopper’s relationships with brands. .

Help 135

Help Startup Los Angeles Venture Capital 135

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

It appears the puff of marijuana inhaled by Elon Musk last night on a podcast has drawn in Los Angeles-based SpaceX and one of its big customers--the U.S. Air Force--according to reports on Friday. Sources said that the U.S. Air Force has launched an inquiry into the highly public drug usage. Even though recreational and medicinal use of marijuana is legal in some states--including California--the U.S. prohibits the use of marijuana by a current U.S.

SpaceX 100

SpaceX Los Angeles Report Custom 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Thursday, September 13, 2018 --.

Mobile 100

Mobile 100

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Entertainment has changed. New platforms led by YouTube have emerged to change the dynamic of broadcast media — once dominated by the rigid programming of TV — while the internet has enabled new media stars to engage with their audiences in new, high-touch ways. Developments like live streaming, social media and more have made the stars of today more relatable and more easily reachable than those of yesteryear.

Help 115

Help Startup Activision Media 115

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Wilshire-based NantWorks, a diversified holding company run by Patrick Soon-Shiong, announced Sept. 6 it invested an undisclosed sum into Daybreak Game Co., creating through the investment a joint venture titled NantG Mobile.

Invest 188

Invest Mobile Companies Company 188

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Elon Musk , the technology mogul behind Los Angeles-based SpaceX and The Boring Company --already under fire by investors at Tesla Motors for his recent inconsistent, public statements--boldly took a puff of marijuana on a YouTube broadcast on the Joe Rogan Experience on Thursday evening. The controversial move follows what has been a tumultuous time for Musk's public company, Tesla Motors, after a continuing controversey over Musk's public fued with one of the divers in the Thai soccer team res

SpaceX 100

SpaceX Los Angeles Funding Marketing 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 --.

Mobile 100

Mobile 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. This process costs money, which professional investors are not willing to contribute, since their interest is in scaling a proven product and business model into a growth business. Investors want potential for a large and timely return, with reduced risk.

Funding 90

Funding Technical Review Startup Research 90

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Snap's stock sinks below $10; DDN acquires Tintri at auction; Pipeliner introduces cloud CRM software.

Report 113

Report Software 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Irvine-based Quality Systems announced early Friday morning that it has officially changed its name to NextGen Healthcare , and also wil change its current symbol on the Nasdaq from QSII to NXGN. The change will go into effect on September 10th. NextGen Healthcare, which develops electronic health records software, was previously a subsidiary of Quality Systems.

Software 100

Software Develop Development 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 -- Beers with Peers. ACG LA. Craft beer tasting with colleagues.

ACG 100

ACG 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

The critical success factors for a product business are well known, starting with selling every unit with a gross margin of 50 percent or more, building a patent and other intellectual property, and continuous product improvement. If your forte is a service, like consulting or web site design, it’s harder to find guidance on what will get you funded, and how you can scale your business.

Services 72

Services Startup Training Writing 72

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Santa Monica-based Headspace Inc., a developer of a meditation app used by millions, has acquired Alpine Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence conversation platforms based in San Francisco.

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Artificial Inteligence Platform Develop 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Santa Monica-based GumGum Sports , the arm of GumGum which develops technology to measure the social media value of sponsorships for sports teams, says it has just signed the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets as a new customer. According to GumGumSports, they are in a multi-year partnership where the Blue Jackets will use its full valuation suite. Financial details of the win were not announced.

Social Media 100

Social Media Santa Monica Advertising Media 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 --.

100

100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 3, 2018

It may not be as sexy, but starting a new business which builds on an existing technology or business model is usually less risky than introducing that ultimate new disruptive technology. There are many levels of innovation that go beyond copying someone else’s idea, but stop short of pushing the leading edge (bleeding edge). Many of the major business successes started this way.

Startup 65

Startup Social Media Study Research 65

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

AeroVironment Inc. beat Wall Street estimates on earnings and revenue for the fiscal first quarter.

Report 113

Report 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Los Angeles-based NantWorks , the investment arm of billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong, said on Thursday afternoon that it has made a strategic investment in San Diego-based multiplayer online games developer Daybreak Game Company. Size of the investment was not announced. As part of that investment, NantWorks said it has created a new joint venture called NantG Mobile , which will develop and publish mobile version of Daybreak's current games.

Invest 100

Invest Companies Company San Diego 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 --.

Mobile 100

Mobile 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Every entrepreneur I meet in my role as a small business advisor dreams of making the business run like clockwork, even without them. You are all frustrated when that never happens, even after years of 16-hour days, repeated efforts to hire the right people, and multiple campaigns to delegate more and sign up for less. There is no time for fun, and vacations never happen.

Resource 60

Resource Examples Design Entrepreneur 60

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Meditation app Headspace acquires artificial intelligence conversation developer; geolocation data company Factual raises $42 million; Netflix hires former Disney executive as head of global products

Artificial Inteligence 113

Artificial Inteligence Netflix Report Product 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged a North Korean programmer with coordinating the devastating, 2014 attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment , along with a whole host of other cyber-attacks across the world. According to criminal charges announced by the Justice Department , Park Jin Hyok (a/k/a Jin Hyok Park and Pak Jin Hek) coordinated the efforts of a North Korean hacking team, which not only was respondible for the devastating attack on Sony Pictures, but also the WannaCry 2.0 ransomwa

Entertainment 100

Entertainment Resource Networking 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Monday, September 10, 2018 --.

Design 100

Design 100

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Entrepreneurs seem to have blinders on when looking at competitors. Generally they are so focused on killing competitors that they fail to see the positive potential of a strategic partnership or some other type of collaborative relationship. Sometimes you have to put aside the emotion and the passion, and just look at what is best for your business.

Startup 59

Startup Outsource Competition Acquisition 59

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Shamrock sells RBMedia sold to KKR; new rules for Netflix and other streamers in the E.U.

Netflix 113

Netflix Capital Report Product 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Santa Monica-based Ordermark , a developer of online ordering management software and systems for the restaurant industry, has raised $9.5M in a Series A funding. The funding was led by Nosara Capital, and also included Vertical Venture Partners, Techstars Ventures, Riverpark Ventures, and Matchstick Ventures plus prior investors TenOneTen, Mucker Capital, Act One Ventures and AARD Capital.

Technology 100

Technology Santa Monica Software Capital 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Saturday, September 8, 2018 --.

100

100

Xconomy

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

If you’re still recovering from a Labor Day hangover or busy searching for the identity of the anonymous writer of the anti-Trump op-ed for the New York Times, you may have missed a few biomedical firsts. This week brought the first sliver of human data from an in-body gene editing procedure, and the results were decidedly undecided (more on that below).

Westlake Village 55

Westlake Village Develop Development San Diego 55

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Hello Sunshine Expands Podcast Program; Scooters Granted Passage in Los Angeles; GumGum Signs Blue Jackets

Report 100

Report Los Angeles Angel 100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

Santa Monica-based Surf Air , the startup, membership-based airline, has raised $9.1M more in the first part of an ongoing funding round, according to a regulatory filing by the company on Thursday. The filing said that the company has raised $9.14M in a targeted $25.0M funding round, with at least four investors participating in the new funding round.

Funding 100

Funding Santa Monica Startup Los Angeles 100

SoCal Tech Calendar

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

Friday, September 7, 2018 --.

Pasadena 100

Pasadena Funding 100