Monday, June 22, 2015Tribogenics Launches Handheld Metal Identification DeviceLos Angeles-based Tribogenics, the UCLA spinout which is developing hand held X-ray devices, has rolled out its first product, a handheld device for analyzing metal alloys. Tribogenics said that its analyzer--which costs just under $10,000--is aimed at industrial and consumer applications, and instantly identifies, analyzes and tests a broad range of metals and alloys. The company said the device can be used for positive materials identification (PMI), scrap metal recycling, quality assurance an (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
Dollar Shave Club Raises $75MVenice, California-based Dollar Shave Club, the subscription-based razor business led by Michael Dubin, has raised $75M in a new funding round, bringing the company's total raised to $150M. The new funding reportedly values the company at $500M. The funding came from Venrock, Technology Crossover Ventures, Forerunner Ventures, and Dragoneer, among others.
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
Finistere Ventures Backs CropX For Smart Watering SoftwareSan Diego-based venture investor Finistere Ventures is leading a new investment in CropX, which maps out irrigation patterns in farmer's fields to optimize irrigation of crops. According to CropX--which was started by scientists in Israel and New Zealand, and now has a presence in San Franciisco--it had a first close of $9M in its Series A funding, led by Finistere Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and GreenSoil Investments. CropX says its technology uses wireless sensors to reduce the amount of w (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015 (More)(Full story)
Transphorm Gets $70M From KKRGoleta-based Transphorm, which is developing power conversion technology, said this morning that it hass raised $70M in a new investment round, led by KKR. Other investors in the company also include Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Foundation Capital, Google Ventures, Soros Quantum Strategic Partners, INCJ, and Fujitsu. Transphorm is developing power conversion semiconductors based on Gallium Nitride (GaN), and was co-founded by NObel prize winner Dr. Shuji Nakamura, who is best known for hi (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015 (More)(Full story)
Rubicon Project: Mobile Ads Now More Than 20 Percent Of RevenuesLos Angeles-based Rubicon Project says that mobile advertising spend is now more than 20 percent of the activity on its ad platform, as the company has ramped up its mobile efforts. According to Rubicon, it has been on a two year initiative to automate buying and selling of premium advertising on mobile, with mobile now more than 20 percent of its total managed revenues--up from less than 3 percent two years ago. The company said mobile managed revenue is expected to surpass $200M in its fiscal (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
Lytx Wins rePlanetSan Diego-based Lytx, the provider of video-based driver safety systems, reported a wint his morning with rePlanet, California's largest recycler. According to Lytx, rePlanet has signed a three-year, full fleet deployment of its enterprise products, as part of a driver safety effort. Lytx uses video cameras and sensors to help monitor and improve fleet driver safety. The company said it won rePlanet's business after a competitive, head to head trial, where its systems reduced risky driving frequ (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
Enplug, Startup Vitamins' Modern Version Of The Motivational PosterAnyone who works or has worked in a corporate environment is familiar with the motivitional poster--with their upbeat messages and motivating statements. In a modern day update on that age old corporate standby, Los Angeles-based Enplug this week said it has partnered with Startup Vitamins, another Los Angeles startup, to feature motivational Startup Vitamins posters on Enplug's big displays. Startup Vitamins sells all kinds of motivational posters to corporate offices, with clients such as Zapp (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
Sonos Enhances Spotify SupportSanta Barbara-based streaming music system developer Sonos and music service Spotify said last week that the two have rolled out a beta of an upgraded Android app, which brings more of Spotify's features into the Sonos Controller App. The two said the link adds genres + moods, time-of-day recommendations, and ability to start a radio station from any artist and track to the Sonos' Android app. The two also said there are a number of performance improvements in the release, as well. Spotify said (More info...)
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)
STARZ PLAY Launches On Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV StickBeverely Hills-based STARZ said Friday that it has launched its streaming, online television service, STARZ PLAY on Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. STARZ PLAY is an online, TV streaming service which allows STARZ premium subscribers to sign into the company and receive its films via all kinds of devices or their PC.
posted on Monday, June 22, 2015(Full story)