Sat.Jul 11, 2020 - Fri.Jul 17, 2020

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From bioprinting lab-grown meat in Russia to Beyond Meat in the US, KFC is embracing the future of food

TechCrunch LA

From a partnership with the Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to make chicken meat replacements using plant material and lab cultured chicken cells to an expansion of its Beyond Fried Chicken pilots to Southern California, KFC is aggressively pushing forward with its experiments around the future of food. In Russia, that means providing 3D Bioprinting with breading and spices to see if the company’s chicken replacements can match the KFC taste, according to a statement from the comp

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Innovative Companies Turn LA into an AI Hub

L.A. Business Journal

The idea of artificial intelligence may conjure up images of robots and mechanical automation, but for businesses, the technology’s applications are much more wide-ranging.

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An economics lesson for growing companies

Berkonomics

Catching up from past insights. Growing companies usually require more working capital during their periods of rapid growth. In past insights we have calculated the amount of additional capital needed for a business as it grows, and the additional capital required is often surprisingly large. In this insight, we need to speak of the sources of working capital and the implications to the future financial health of the choices made when selecting one financial resource.

Companies 156
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MomentFeed Rolls Out New Proximity Search Dashboard

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based MomentFeed , which develops software to help multi-location brands manage their reviews, location listings, and much more, says it has rolled out a new product. According to MomentFeed, its new Proximity Search Optimization Dashboard allows multi-location brands to easily monitor and manage how well their local marketing efforts are performing.

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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

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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Play the prologue of ‘Linda & Joan,’ a video game about the worst year of its creator’s life

TechCrunch LA

It’s not hard to see why Russell Quinn calls 2017 the worst year of his life. That was the year he moved back to the United Kingdom to take care of his mother, and the year in which both his mother and grandmother died within a month of each other. Quinn recalled returning to Los Angeles afterwards and “trying to unpack all of this trauma that had happened.” During that time, he said he was “reading a lot about how other creative people dealt with grief” and realize

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Video-Sharing App Triller Acquires Halogen Networks

L.A. Business Journal

Video-sharing platform Triller, which is owned by Century City-based Proxima Media, has completed the acquisition of Halogen Networks.

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Techstars LA Announces 2020 Class

socalTECH

Techstars LA , the startup accelerator run by Techstars in the Los Angeles area, announced its 2020 class on Monday, saying that it has selected 10 companies to participate this year in a "socially distanced" program. According to Anna Barber, the Managing Director of Techstars Los Angeles, the accelerator has selected "10 resilient companies that can grow in an economic downturn and thrive in a world where social distancing remains the reality".

Class 133
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Openpath’s security system for physical access gets a $36 million boost

TechCrunch LA

Openpath , the developer of software-based security systems for office access, has raised $36 million in new financing as businesses try to find ways to make employees feel more comfortable about coming back to work. The round was led by Greycroft, which had been following the company’s progress for years, and included participation from strategic investors like Okta Ventures, the venture capital investment arm of Lincoln Property Companies, Allegion Ventures and Sentre, and included follo

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Innovative Companies Turn LA into an AI Hub

L.A. Business Journal

The idea of artificial intelligence may conjure up images of robots and mechanical automation, but for businesses, the technology’s applications are much more wide-ranging.

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9 Stages to Building a Robust And Rewarding Business

Startup Professionals Musings

Many of the entrepreneurs like you that I have met in my role as a business advisor are really product creators versus business creators, convinced that a great product will generate a great business. Unfortunately, these two are rarely closely coupled, and navigating all the stages of building a business is typically the more challenging task. But I’m not one to rain on your parade.

Metrics 140
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Ingram Micro Sets Finalists In $1M Competition

socalTECH

Irvine-based Ingram Micro , a distributor of technology products, is getting close to awarding $1M to a business-to-business (B2B) software startup, saying it has named the finalists in its annual "Comet Competition". The company said it has selected Alsid (Paris, France), apoQlar (Hamburg, Germany) and Balbix (San Jose, California) as the global finalists for its competition, selected from over 4,000 applicants from over 20 countries.

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How Equity Crowdfunding helps achieve Success

SoCal Tech Calendar

Monday, July 20, 2020 -- How Equity Crowdfunding helps achieve Success. Join JJ Richa in a fireside chat with Bruce Virga to discuss how funding platforms connect everyday investors to growth-focused businesses, helping both parties to achieve success. We will further dive into what entrepreneurs need to know before embarking on a capital raise via equity crowdfunding and, conversely, best investment practices.

Equity 100
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Former Riot Exec Seavers Joins AppOnboard as CEO

L.A. Business Journal

Sawtelle-based AppOnboard Inc., a provider of codeless app and game-building tools, has named Riot Games Inc. veteran Mike Seavers as its new chief executive.

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6 Keys To Successfully Addressing Investor Questions

Startup Professionals Musings

Entrepreneurs looking for investor funding often fail to realize that all money comes with strings. For example, if you have watched the Shark Tank TV series, you probably noticed that the Sharks always ask the entrepreneurs for their intended “use of funds.” Those who respond with one of the wrong answers, such as “I want to pay myself a salary,” usually go home empty-handed.

Startup 134
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Openpath Adds $36M For Keyless Entry Systems

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Openpath , which is developing keyless door access systems--and which is headed by LA tech veterans James Segil and Alex Kazerani--said on Thursday that it has raised $36M in a new funding round. The new funding brings the company's raised to $63M. The new funding was led by Greycroft Partner. Segil and Kazerani are longtime veterans of the LA startup and technology industry, having previously founded Edgecast, which they sold to Verizon for approximately $400M.

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AltaSea, Milken Institute and Santa Monica College: Mobilizing an Ocean Economy Workforce in California

SoCal Tech Calendar

Friday, July 17, 2020 -- AltaSea, Milken Institute and Santa Monica College: Mobilizing an Ocean Economy Workforce in California. Join AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles for the second of back-to-back webinars focused on the blue economy. Panelists include: Tim McOsker, CEO of AltaSea; Matt Horton, Director of Public Policy for the Milken Institute; Dr.

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Rocket Lab Launches Probe After Failed Mission

L.A. Business Journal

Rocket Lab USA Inc., the Long Beach-based space systems company, has begun an investigation into a mission failure that occurred during a launch on July 4.

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5 Keys to Moving From Entrepreneur Thinking To Action

Startup Professionals Musings

As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m always surprised by the fact that some never seem to be able to that first startup going, while many others never seem to stop, starting their second or third initiative before the first one is fully hatched. I’m now convinced that serious entrepreneurs relish the startup process more than success. They enjoy the journey more than the destination.

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Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inks Deal With Lawrence Livermore

socalTECH

Irvine-based satellite developer Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announced a $2M deal this morning, where Tyvak will help develop a new telescope system for nanosatellites. According to the two, the $2M cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to develop innovative compact and robust telescopes for nanosatellites, combining LLNL's Monolithic Telescope (MonoTele) technology with Tyvak's expertise producing high-reliability spacecraft.

Research 124
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After Biologic COVID-19 Drug OK’d in India, Equillium Plans a US Test

Xconomy

The drug that Equillium licensed from India-based pharma giant Biocon has received authorization for emergency use in that country in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The treatment, itolizumab, reduced mortality in a 30-person open-label randomized controlled trial in which the goal was to avoid or address a dangerous inflammatory response to the virus called cytokine release syndrome.

San Diego 111
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Why Enterprises Should Leverage Business Ethernet

Southern California Edison Blog

As the business world continues to grow and enterprises push for greater innovation, they will require strong, reliable, and high-capacity networks to stay competitive and support mission-critical services. Business ethernet allows companies to stay agile to meet current and future bandwidth needs as they grow. Organizations are increasingly embracing the cloud to store data and host their applications.

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8 Team Member Types Test Your Entrepreneur Leadership

Startup Professionals Musings

The most valuable assets of a new startup are the people on the team, and the most challenging task of the entrepreneur and team leaders is to spend their leadership time and energy productively. Cash isn’t always the scarcest resource startups have to invest – more often it’s the leadership capital of under-experienced and over-stretched entrepreneurs and co-founders.

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EvoNexus Launches 5G Incubator

socalTECH

San Diego-based nonprofit startup and technology incubator operator EvoNexus announced this morning that it has launched a brand new, 5G startup incubator program, which is being sponsored by Qualcomm. According to the company, the new program will assist early-stage companies who are helping to build the wireless 5G ecosystem. EvoNexus and Qualcomm did not say how much Qualcomm will invest in the program, however, the two said that Qualcomm has been a longtime partner of EvoNexus, having direct

Incubator 124
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3 Biotech IPOs Together Rake In Over a Half Billion to Advance Treatments

Xconomy

Three biotech companies collectively raised $584 million in their initial public offerings last week, continuing a streak of IPOs that has the healthcare sector playing a leading role in the robust level of market activity this summer. Of the three companies, the one with investigational therapies that haven’t yet begun being tested in humans raised the most.

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How To Ensure Reliable Internet For School Use

Southern California Edison Blog

An academic institution’s ability to set their students up for success in a modern world relies heavily on hosting reliable internet for school use. Today’s education providers put a larger emphasis on internet-based learning styles to help diversify their education, which requires ever-increasing network bandwidth for schools and their students. As teachers continue to rely on the cloud to host their class content and tools, schools should continue to explore ways to upgrade or replace their ne

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Qualcomm Invests $97M In India's Jio

socalTECH

San Diego-based Qualcomm has just taken a $97M stake in Indian telecom provider Jio , via its Qualcomm Ventures venture arm, Qualcomm said on Sunday. Qualcomm said its investment gives it a 0.15% equity stake in Jio Platforms. Qualcomm said the investment will go towards the buildout of 5G infrastructure and services for Jio's customers in India. Jio has recently raised a total of $15.7 billion in funding.

Invest 124
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NASA Plans Return Trip For SpaceX Dragon On August 2nd

socalTECH

NASA is planning the return trip for the first commercial crew flight on a SpaceX spacecraft to the International Space Station on August 2nd, according to CNBC. The Crew Dragon will return NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to earth, the first time astronauts will have traveled to and from the ISS on the Dragon. The launch of Behnken and Hurley into space on May 30th was the first launch of astronauts to space from U.S. soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.

SpaceX 113
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Cornerstone OnDemand Loses CFO

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Cornerstone OnDemand , which develops software and services used for employee development and training, says that its CFO, Brian Swartz, is leaving the company. According to Cornerstone OnDemand, Swartz is leaving on August 14th to "pursue another opportunity". The company said that, in the meantime, its Chief Accounting Officer, Trish Coughlin, will serve as interim CFO, as the company launches a search for a new CFO.

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Jukin Media Names Essner Co-CEO

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Jukin Media , the viral- and user-generated content company, has promoted Lee Essner to the post of Co-CEO, the company said late Thursday. Essner--who has been President and Chief Operating Officer at the company since 2013, will share the CEO post with Jukin Media founder Jonathan Skogmo. Jukin said that Essner helped the company grow from a 20-person startup to more than 200 people with offices in LA, New York, London, and New Delhi.

Media 113
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Snapchat Expands Efforts At Yellow Accelerator

socalTECH

Venice-based Snapchat says it is expanding the outreach efforts it has been running as part of its Yellow Accelerator. Snapchat said it is expanding Yellow to introduce a new program to support Snapchat integration, in addition to its annual programs. As part of the expansion, Snap said that it has launched a new, remote 13-week program called Yellow Collabs , which is aimed at companies that want to work closely with the Snap Team to integrate with specific parts of the Snap Platform.

Snapchat 113
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Survey: Americans Spending More Time In Their Cars, For Sanity

socalTECH

More Americans are spending time in their cars--not to drive, but for sanity--according to Santa Monica-based subscription vehicle service Fair. According to the company, it ran a survey which found that nearly 3 out of 4 people have been turning to their cars for mental health breaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said it found that of those surveyed, 30% said they used their car to take a mini-break by driving around their neighborhood, with another 24% reported taking a long drive

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Creator Connect Looks To Connect Users With Artists, Designers

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Creator Connect announced this morning that it has launched a brand new service, which allows artists and designers to offer their services up to others. The new service said it lets users hire an artist to create your painting, sculpture, artifact or outfit of your dreams at your own budget. The new marketplace is available via both the company's website as well as an iOS app.

Design 113
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iList Debuts New Home Sales Website

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based iList , a new startup in the residential real estate market, said on Wednesday that it has launched a new interactive service to help home sellers value, list, and market their homes. According to the company, its platform allows users to market their home on MLS and other channels, accept and review offers, complete paperwork and track milestones from an online dashboard.

Sales 113
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PocketList Raises $2.8M In Seed Funding For Rental Info

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based PocketList , a new startup which is starting up a rental marketplace driven by feedback from current and past tenants, announced on Wednesday that it has raised $2.8M in a seed funding round, and officially launched. The company said the funding was led by Craft Ventures, the venture firm founded by David Sacks, and also included Abstract VC and Wonder Ventures, as well as other angels, including Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff.

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Whistle Wins Lark Hotels

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Whistle , which develops tools to allow hotels to message their guests, says it has signed up Lark Hotels, a collection of boutique hotels in New England. Financial impact of the win were not announced. According to Whistle, guests at Lark Hotels can now use its messaging tools to manage their stay and order services. Lark has properties in Martha's Vineyard, Provincetown, and Kennebunkport.

Tool 113
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Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Publishes Industry Safety Guidelines

socalTECH

Playa Vista-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies , one of the local developers of high tech, futuristic "hyperloop" transportation systems, says it has helpeds to publish the industry's first set of safety guidelines. According to the company, the guidelines--published along with industry testing group TUV SUD Group--provides key safety standards for Hyperloop systems including design, construction and operation.