SoCal CTO

JANUARY 6, 2008

I've never been able to walk into a large group of people and feel like I can "work the room." Sure, I've read various articles on this stuff, but honestly, I still struggle with meeting interesting people. I seem to be very adept at meeting financial planners, attorneys, accountants, etc. - and after 10 seconds of conversation, I'm at a loss. I can make small talk with them, but unless I'm going to see this person a few times or unless they have a tech specialization, ummm, not the best use of

Networking 191

Networking Startup Organization Company 191

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Jan Zands is the founders of Los Angeles-based phonesheet.com (www.phonesheet.com), a startup which is developing web-based software for tracking phone messages and action items. We ran into Jan and thought it would be interesting to talk to him about the story behind the firm and its software. What is Phonesheet.com? Jan Zands: It's a web based phone message manager.

Web 2.0 147

Web 2.0 Web Entertainment Hollywood 147

SoCal Tech Calendar

DECEMBER 12, 2008

Thursday, December 18, 2008 -- Mindshare. Mindshare is a monthly event that was created to serve as a platform for networking and the sharing of ideas across a wide range of fields. See [link] (more).

Platform 100

Platform Ideas Networking 100

Jason Nazar

NOVEMBER 23, 2008

Is there a difference between tech startups in Silicon Valley vs. Los Angeles? Most emphatically, Yes ! I’ve spent the last year running a tech company based in Santa Monica , CA and I’ve spent countless weeks in the Bay meeting with hundreds of tech founders. As unreliable as stereotypes may be, these are my generalizations. Bay area founders are amazing technologists.

Los Angeles 107

Los Angeles Angel Web 2.0 Web 107

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

Frank Addante

DECEMBER 16, 2008

My (now former) assistant, Mallory Portillo, was the very first employee outside of the founding team at the Rubicon Project. We’ve grown quite a bit since she started just over a year ago. With our strong commitment to team development and culture, Mallory is now moving on to a new role. She’s going to be responsible for culture, training and communication (see our Cultural Values.

Develop 58

Develop Development Training 58

The Quigley Report

FEBRUARY 23, 2008

There was a time when pre-IPO companies didn't have bonus plans. Generally, such businesses are still unprofitable and no one is interested in increasing the burn rate through bonus payouts. No more. Most of my pre-IPO companies today offer bonus plans to at least some of the management team. I have even warmed to this idea - having previoulsy been alarmed at the thought of paying bonuses while the company burned cash.

Design 49

Design Offshore Tool Activity 49

AeA Los Angeles Council

JULY 7, 2008

Approximately 50 executives from the worlds of technology & venture capital piled into the dining hall on June 30th to listen to Dr. Mark Drapeau speak about "innovation" and its sister topic, "STEM education." With Dr. Drapeau's permission, the AeA Los Angeles Council is furnishing this insightful speech below: I'm sure that all of you understand that what I'm going to talk about today is my own informed opinion, and not the official position nor policy of the U.S. government.

Education 45

Education Technical Review Research Web 2.0 45

CEO Flow

DECEMBER 23, 2008

Spend any time with me talking about lead generation or sales, and the term “layers of the onion&# or “onion layers&# will come up - a lot. I’ve found that this concept is a great analogy to help teams think through laying out their products and offers. The goal is to make it easier for prospects to “choose their own adventure&# in how they get to know a company and its products, step-by-step.

Sales 40

Sales Customer Custom Blogging 40

SoCal Delicious

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

Futuristic Play by @Andrew_Chen. Analysis on viral marketing, user experience, game design, and online ads. As featured in technology and news publications: Are you new? Heres 5 steps to start exploring: View the "Best Of" list with 50+ essays on viral marketing, gaming, and ads » Get introduced: About this blog, why entrepreneurs and marketers recommend it » Receive updates by email or RSS feed or Twitter.

Startup 29

Startup IP Email Report 29

socalTECH

OCTOBER 15, 2008

The X Prize Foundation, the Santa Monica nonprofit focused on encouraging innovation through prize-based competitions, has signed on a sponsor for a new prize focused on improving the nation's health care system. The group--which was behind the Ansari X Prize, which resulted in the first commercial space launch vehicle--said that it is in a collaboration with Wellpoint, Inc., and the WellPoint Foundation to develop a $10M or more competition to to generate new ways to address the nation's seriou

Competition 140

Competition Santa Monica Google Develop 140

socalTECH

DECEMBER 3, 2008

Irvine-based Fisker Automotive has announced that the plug-in hybrid vehicle maker will show a production vehicle from the firm in January, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the first time the company will have showed a production vehicle. Fisker, which is venture backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, Palo Alto Investors and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, showed a prototype of its KARMA vehicle in January, and is scheduled to begin delivery of its vehicles in Novem

Product 138

Product Invest Company Companies 138

socalTECH

OCTOBER 30, 2008

We're always interested in how technology is influencing the business of Hollywood, and recently ran across Los Angeles-based Scripped. Scripped (www.scripped.com) is applying the world of Web 2.0 to the business of script writing, and is looking to combine a free online tool for writing scripts with matching those scripts with content producers. We spoke with Sunil Rajaraman, CEO and co-founder of the firm, about the company.

Content 138

Content Writing Software Review Hollywood 138

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

Los Angeles-based MySpace and PayPal announced this morning that the two companies are teaming to help people collection donations for non-profit organizations. According to the firms, they have create a fundraising software--which they are calling the MySpace IMPACT / PayPal fundraising widget--which can be placed on any MySpace page. The widget can be used to donate money to the non-profit of a user's choice.

Content 138

Content Los Angeles Organization Software 138

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008

San Diego-based RoyaltyShare said this morning it will be developing a new system for tracking limited downloads and interactive streaming. According to RoyaltyShare, it will be rolling out a platform which tracks and automates the tracking of music subscriptions and streaming, based on the recent agreement by the music industry on revenue sharing for streamed music.

Trident Capital 138

Trident Capital Bertelsmann Services San Diego 138

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 6, 2008

This morning, Los Angeles-based Mogreet (www.mogreet.com) announced it had raised a Series B funding round for the firm's mobile greeting services. We caught up with James to hear more about the company, how he managed to get funding even in this economy, and his view on the mobile market. For those who haven't tried your service, tell us the story behind the site and how you started it?

Mogreet 133

Mogreet Paramount Entertainment Mobile 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Our interview this morning is with David Sacks, CEO of Geni.com, an online family tree and social networking site, as well as Yammer, the instant messaging startup spun out of Geni.com at TechCrunch50. David has a unique perspective on the Southern California technology environment, having been the COO of PayPal before its acquisition by EBay, and having had the full Silicon Valley experience.

Yammer 133

Yammer Geni Startup Southern California 133

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008

Santa Monica-based Zag, the online car buying software firm headed by former CarsDirect CEO Scott Painter, has spun out a new company called TrueCar, the firm said late Wednesday. According to TrueCar, it will provide information about new car pricing, using the actual price people have paid for cars. The firm said it has scored Series A funding from Zag, Anthem Venture Partners, Global Retail Partners, Capricorn, Capital One Auto Finance, ARcturus Capital, Scott Painter, and co-founder Tom Tair

Zag 133

Zag Truecar CarsDirect Arcturus 133

socalTECH

DECEMBER 22, 2008

Irvine-based Skweezer, which provides services for translating web sites to mobile phone formats, along with an advertising network, said Monday that it has partnered with JumpTap. According to the firms, Skweezer's mobile content optimization technology is available on JumpTap's mobile search applications. Skweezer's technology converts any web site into a mobile-optimized format.

Advertising 124

Advertising Sites Mobile Web 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Irvine-based Kofax, which develops document capture tools, has hired on Jim Vickers as its Senior Vice President of OEM and Partner Strategy, the firm said today. Vickers joins the firm from Taylor Corporation, and has also served at EMC/Captiva Softare and Electronics for Imaging. Kofax said that Vickers will oversee all OEM, point-of-sale, channel management, and business development.

Tool 124

Tool Sales Develop Development 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 5, 2008

Computer game maker Activision Blizzard is apparently cutting jobs in El Segundo and Los Angeles, according to a filing with the California Employment Development Department. According to layoff filings, required in California of certain companies, Activision Blizzard is looking to lay off 4 employees in El Segudno, and 23 employees in Los Angeles on December 19th.

Activision 124

Activision Los Angeles El Segundo Layoffs 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 4, 2008

San Clemente-based Sambazon, which markets food and beverages using the Brazilian fruit acai, said Thursday that it has raised a round of private equity funding. The funding came from Verlinvest, a Belgian private equity group. Sambazon said the funding will go towards distribution and marketing of its products. Bradmer Foods and RSF Social Finance also participated in the funding, and Sambazon was advised by Partnership Capital Growth in the funding.

Funding 124

Funding Equity Capital Marketing 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 3, 2008

Los Angeles-based DailyStrength, an online health-related social networking site, has been acquired by HSW International, Inc., a developer of Internet businesses. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to HSW, DailyStrength has 700,000 unique visitors a month, generating 20 million monthly page views. Doug Hirsch, CEO of the firm, joins HSW International as Senior Vice President.

Redpoint 124

Redpoint Yahoo Social Network Venture Capital 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 2, 2008

San Diego-based Nirvanix, a provider of storage-as-a-service, said Tuesday that the firm's technology is being used by video delivery firm Ooyala. According to Nirvanix, Ooyala is using Nirvanix to help its customers store and manage HD-quality video. Financial impact of the partnership was not disclosed. Nirvanix provides online storage for Internet-based businesses, which can be access via a programmatic API.

Windward 124

Windward S3 Mission Ventures San Diego 124

socalTECH

DECEMBER 2, 2008

Thousand Oaks-based Xirrus, a provider of Wi-Fi networking hardware, has installed its products at a university in Topeka, Kansas, the firm disclosed today. Xirrus said that it has rolled out its 802.11n Wi-Fi arrays at Washburn University, to provide wireless connections throughout the University's campus. Financial impact of the win was not disclosed.

Thousand Oaks 124

Thousand Oaks Networking Product Develop 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 26, 2008

Los Angeles-based iolo technologies, publisher of the PC tune-up software System Mechanic, said this week that the firm has added support for Dutch and German. According to iolo, the product is now available in markets in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. System Mechanic is a software utility for fixing and optimizing PCs. The firm said the added support is part of a "aggressive" localization initiative for the firm.

Los Angeles 124

Los Angeles Software Marketing Technology 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 25, 2008

Aliso Viejo-based High Tower Software, a venture-backed developer of security, compliance, and log management software, has shut down. A spokesperson at the firm told socalTECH that the shutdown occurred yesterday, and that the firm is now in the process of looking for buyers of its technology. High Tower was backed by Falcon Fund, Hallador Venture Fund, INROADS Capital Partners, J.F.

Software 124

Software Tech Coast Angels SoCalTech Funding 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 24, 2008

Torrance-based Knowledge Adventure, which develops software for the educational games market, said today that it has inked a deal with Unity Technologies to develop a "3D virtual world" geared at kids. According to the firm, it will create a new virtual world aimed at kids 3-10, which will allow children to access the firm's JumpStart and Math Blaster branded software online, via the iPhone and iPod Touch, Mac, and Wii.

Torrance 124

Torrance Education Tool Software 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 21, 2008

Woodland Hills-based United Online said Friday that it has promoted Robert J. Taragan to President of the firm's Communications segment, and named Matthew J. Wisk as President of the firm's online loyalty business, MyPoints.com. Taragan has been at United Online since 2000, and was EVP Operations. Wisk has been at United Online since 2005, and was EVP and Chief Marketing Officer.

Woodland Hills 124

Woodland Hills Research Media Marketing 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 20, 2008

Irvine-based WebVisible announced today that it has acquired Pasadena-based Adapt Technologies, a developer of search engine marketing tools. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. WebVisible is a provider of local online advertising services, which helps small and midsize businesses place search engine marketing. Adapt Technologies was venture backed by Concept2company, Emergence Capital Partners, and Mohr, Davidow Ventures; the firm had raised $9.8M in 2005.

Technology 124

Technology Redpoint Pasadena Advertising 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal said late Tuesday that it has expanded into the United Kingdom, and opened up a new office in London. ReachLocal, which provides services that help local businesses buy search engine advertising, said it has launched ReachLocal UK Ltd., which will offer its local online marketing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in the UK.

ReachLocal 124

ReachLocal Woodland Hills Paid Search Yahoo 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2008

Los Angeles-based You2Gov.com is looking to extend the firm's online tools to small businesses, nonprofits, trade associations, and lobbying firms, saying Tuesday that it has created a new way for organization to use its tools. According to You2Gov, the firm will help organizations load their databases into the firm's site, provide a private login page for those organizations, and give those groups a free listing on the site.

Help 124

Help Organization Tool News 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2008

Los Angeles-based Boingo Wireless has acquired another Wi-Fi networking provider, saying Monday that it has purchased the WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) from Parsons Transportation Group. WSDOT provides Wi-Fi access to the Washington State Ferries ferry fleet. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. According to Boingo, the acquisition adds 11 Washington State Ferries terminals, and 15 ferries to its network, which is used by commuters, professionals, and tourists on the ferry system.

Networking 124

Networking Los Angeles Acquisition Services 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

Newport Beach-based MBAinteract , a site developing a social and professional networking site for MBA students, said Wednesday that it has added Dr. J. Galen Buckwalter, former Chief Scientist at eHarmony, to its board, as part of an unspecified investment from Buckwalter. Amount of the investment was not disclosed. According to the firm, Dr. Buckwalter will assist the firm by personally directing research operations related to the firm's technology, which is used to match job candidates and emp

Invest 124

Invest eHarmony Sites Research 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

San Diego-based OpenCandy , a new startup focused on software recommendations and downloads, said this morning that it has raised $3.5M in a venture capital funding. According to OpenCandy, the funding round came from Bessemer Venture Partners, O'Reilly Alphatech Ventures, and Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn and Jordan Greenhall of DivX. OpenCandy said it is developing technology which allows developers to recommend other software products.

San Diego 124

San Diego Venture Capital Research Software 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 11, 2008

San Diego-based Accelrys, a developer of software for the scientific market, announced today that the firm has inked a deal with Becton Dickinson to include its products in a Becton Dickinson offering. According to Accelrys, Becton-Dickinson will integrate the firm's SciTegic Enterprise Server (SES) product into the BD AttoVision software. Financial impact of the deal was not disclosed.

San Diego 124

San Diego Software Report Product 124

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 11, 2008

Irvine-based Specific Media said this morning that it has launched a new ad platform, which it says will simplify management and delivery of advertising. According to Specific Media, its new Dynamic Display product allows advertisers to control and customize up to three areas in an ad template, specifically targeted to a user and user profile. The firm said the offering can be used to highlight different products, business locations, and sales incentives based on distinct audience profiles.

Platform 124

Platform Media Template Advertising 124