Monday, November 24, 2014


codeSpark Launches Game That Teaches Coding To Kids
Looking for a way to help kids better learn how to code software? Pasadena-based codeSpark has rolled out a new game which it says is aimed at helping kids learn about coding. The startup rolled out a new game called The Foos, which it says is aimed at helping kids to learn about coding for the first time. The startup---led by Grant Hosford--said its game revolves around a "whimsical virtual world" involving programming cute characters. The new game runs on iOS, Android, and the Web.
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

Sony Pictures Corporate Network Shut Down By Hacker
Operations over at Culver City-based Sony Pictures have apparently been completely shut down by a hacker, who apparently hacked into and disabled the company's corporate network. According to reports, a hacker is apparently holding the company's data hostage, giving the company a deadline of 11pm tonight to meet unspecified demands. Sony Pictures employees are apparently unable to access their corporate email or any computers.
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

ZIRX Expands To LA
On demand valet parking service ZIRX said today that it has expanded into the Los Angeles area, and will begin offering up its on-demand, valet parking downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The startup has previously been offering up its on-demand, valet service in San Francisco and Seattle. ZIRX charges a flat $15 for its service, which uses crowd sourced "Agents" who have been vetted and trained by the company. The company says those agents deliver cars to secure, managed garages. The company (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

Rincon Backs Rentlyics In $4M Round
Santa Barbara-based venture capital investor Rincon Ventures is one of the leads on an investment in rental management software developer Rentlytics, on a new $4M funding round for the company. San Francisco-based Rentlytics disclosed today that the new funding was led by Trinity Ventures and Rincon Venture Partners. The company also counts Cue Ball and Daher Capital as investors.
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014 (More)(Full story)

Hush Nears $200K In Crowdfunding Campaign
San Diego-based Hush has nearly doubled its original, $100,000 goal on its Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, with over $196,000 in commitments--and growing--for its smart earplug project. Hush is developing smart earplugs which are controlled by a smartphone app, allowing users to specify which alarms can be heard through the earplugs. The company has doubled its fundraising in less than a week.
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

Honk: Disrupting Roadside Assistance's 800 Pound Gorillas
Stuck on the side of a road, and need some help? Traditionally, you either had to be a member of a membership service for roadside help--or you had to pay an arm and a leg for a tow. Enter HONK (www.honkforhelp.com), a new startup which is looking to bring fast, easy, and affordable roadside assistance via mobile phone--without the need for a membership. We spoke with Corey Brundage, CEO of Honk, to tell us more about the service--and why it's looking to disrupt the "800 pound gorillas" currentl (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

Savings.com Launches New Price Comparison App, PriceJump
Los Angeles-based deals and shopping site Savings.com has thrown itself into the comparison shopping market with a new mobile app called PriceJump, the company said this morning. The new app lets users scan bar codes and get pricing comparisons both from nearby stores, Amazon.com, and other online retailers. Savings.com claims users can save up to 70 percent on products by using the new app. The app scans UPC and EAN barcodes, searching on retailers such as Amazon.com, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)

Tinder Employees Launching Competitor, Bumble
A group of former Tinder employees--including former marketing executive Whitney Wolfe--are apparently getting set to launch a direct competitor to the dating app, called Bumble. According to Bumble's Facebook page, it is just about set to launch in the App Store, and says it is "the easiest way to recover from all of your dating fumbles." Wolfe had previously been listed as a co-founder of Tinder, but then had a falling out with Tinder's other executives over alleged sexual harassment, which re (More info...)
posted on Monday, November 24, 2014(Full story)