Wednesday, August 16, 2017


Fullscreen, AT&T Tie On Anti-Hate Campaign
In a well timed effort, Los Angeles-based Fullscreen and AT&T--which is expanding its operations significantly in LA--have launched a new part of its campaign to encourage "positivity and kindness"> in online conversations. According to AT&T and Fullscreen, they have tied with gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas on the Later Haters campaign, which will help to address online hate, and hopefully inspire teens to be more aware of their online actions. The two said they hope to encoura (More info...)
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Impact Health Becomes JOANY
Los Angeles-based JOANY, a local startup which uses big data, machine learning and predictive modeling to recommend insurance to consumers, said on Wednesday that it has renamed itself from its prior brand, Impact Health. The company--which recently raised $13M in a Series A from Techstars Venture Capital and Foundry Group--said the change in name comes to "better align" it with its mission to simplify the health insurance experience. The startup, co-founded by Christine Carrillo and Helen Lee, (More info...)
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MUMO Aims At Shared Music, Listening
Los Angeles-based MUMO, a new music listening startup headed by former Pandora co-founder Jon Kraft, said today that it is looking to make music a shared activity again through what it calls "Music Moments". The startup--which says it incorporated elements of Instagram and Turntable.fm--just launched a crowdfunding campaign on LA-based StartEngine. The company has already released an iOS version of its software. MUMO says its software lets users take a picture, pair it with a playlist, and invit (More info...)
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Nimble Links Into Microsoft Edge
Santa Monica-based customer relationship management (CRM) software provider Nimble said today that it has linked its software into Microsoft Edge, Microsoft's web browser, to provide access to information on people and businesses within that browser. Nimble already links into Chrome, Safari and Firefox. Nimble provides a CRM software which is integrated with email, social networking, calendars, and more for contact management, particularly in the sales and marketing area. The company is led by J (More info...)
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Neo Nazi Website Kicked Off YouTube
The Daily Stormer, the neo-Nazi website which celebrated the death of a counter-protester in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend with a post degrading the victim, has also been kicked off of YouTube--part of a massive reaction against the hate speech site by the tech industry. YouTube, which is owned by Google, booted videos from the site following a similar push out the door by GoDaddy, Google, Sendgrid, Twitter, Zoho, and others. T
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CureMatch Gets Bridge Funding For Personalized Medicine Efforts
San Diego-based CureMatch, a startup focused on personalimzed medicine and combination therapy in the oncology market, says it has raised a bridge round to its Series A financing. Size of the funding was not announced. The funding came from Serra Ventures and angel Phil Trubey (founder of Websense). CureMatch says it provides a data-driven report that scores combinations of cancer drugs that are tailored for individual patients. Blaise Barrelet is CEO of CureMatch. The funding was led by Steve B (More info...)
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NuORDER Raises $8M In Series B Funding
Los Angeles-based NuORDER, a startup developing B2B, mobile e-commerce software, has raised $8M in a Series B funding, according to the company. The funding was led by Argentum, and also included Upfront Ventures, Greycroft Partners, Cowboy Ventures, Novel TMT & Box Group. As part of the funding, Argentum's Walter Barandiaran has joined the company's board of directors. NuORDER's CEO and co-founder is Heath Wells. According to the company, it has now raised $21.9M in total.
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Disney Launches Social Campaign To Back UN Program
Disney has just launched a big campaign, called #DreamBigPrincess, looking to raise $1M in a fundraising effort for the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up program. According to Disney, the campaign celebrates inspiring stories from around the world, to encourage kids to dream big. Disney said every time anyone posts a photo publicly using #DreamBigPrincess on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, it will donate $1 to the Girl Up program, up to a maximum of $1M. Girl Up says it funds UN programs that (More info...)
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VIZIO Connects To Google Play Movies And TV In Canada
Irvine-based smart television maker VIZIO announced today that it has added Google Play Movies & TV to its smart TVs in Canada. VIZIO already supports other streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube, on its line of Internet Apps Plus smart TVs. VIZIO's addition of Google Play Movies & TV allows users to either rent or buy access to media content.
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Qualcomm Rolls Out Depth Sensing Camera Technology
San Diego-based Qualcomm said on Tuesday that it has rolled out new, depth sensing camera technology, which it is specifically aiming at use in Android devices. According to Qualcomm, its Qualcomm Spectra Module Program is specifically aimed at use in photo and video for a broad range of mobile devices and head mounted displays (HMD). The new technology is aimed at the computer vision area, with support for such features as motion tracking, biometric authentication, and signal processing. Qualco (More info...)
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Menlo Micro Names New VP
Irvine-based Menlo Micro, the developer of electronic switches, said Tuesday that it has naamed Lew Boore as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Business Development. Boore was most recently Vice President of Sales for Silanna Semiconductor, and also has served at such companies as Cavendish Kinetics and WiSpry. The company said Boore will head up all aspects of global sales and business development for the company.
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