Monday, October 23, 2017Cloud9 Finds $25M For Esports EffortsLos Angeles-based Cloud9, an e-sports organization which participates in the League of Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, and many other e-sports leagues, said Monday that it has raised $25M in a series A funding. The funding included WWE, The Beverly Hills Sports Council, Raul Fernandez (Monumental Sports & Entertainment), Michael Ovitz (CAA), Founders Fund, plus David Sacks and Bill Lee. Cloud9 says that, although its offices are in Los Angeles, it has teams, (More info...)
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Jam City Rolls Out Halloween PromosLos Angeles-based mobile game maker Jam City has rolled out a big push for Halloween, saying on Monday that its launching a number of promotions across its six mobile games, including Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, plus Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, Family Guy: Another Freakin' Mobile Game, Marvel Avengers Academy, and Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow. The game maker said all of the games will feature in-game Halloween events, including fan costs, new content, costumes, and other related challenges. The (More info...)
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Ground Control Powers New Site, Biden's BriefingLos Angeles-based Ground Control, the new digital content startup led by serial entrepreneur Mike Macadaan, is powering a new online site, Biden's Briefing, which features podcasts and other content from former Vice President Joe Biden. Ground Control--which is venture backed by CAA--says that the new site is a collaboration between the company and the Creative Artists Agency. Biden's latest podcast focuses on the fight to end sexual assault on campus, and is featured on the website, iTunes, Spo (More info...)
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Competition For Amazon's Next HQ Reach Fevered Pitch: 238 ProposalsLocal cities in the region hoping to get a chance to become the next headquarters for Amazon.com appear to have some stiff competition, as Amazon.com said today that it has received a total of 238 from cities and regions in 54 states, provides, districts, and territories across North America. Amazon put out the call for proposals for what it calls "Amazon HQ2", which called a "full equal" to its current headquarters in Seattle. Amazon expects to create as many as 50,000 high paying jobs at the n (More info...)
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DTS Launches Amazon Alexa-Enabled Phorus SpeakerCalabasas-based DTS has launched a new, Amazon Alexa-enabled, whole home speaker called the Phorus PS10, the company said Monday morning. DTS said the speaker is the first in its line of Play-Fi speakers to support the Amazon Alexa Voice Service, allowing users to access information, play music, and control other home automation devices just like you can with the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot. The Phorus PS10 will retail for $249, and is currently available through the Phorus website and Amazon. DTS (More info...)
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Report: Snap's Spectacles Piling Up At Warehouses, UnsoldA report, published by The Information this morning, says that Venice, California-based Snap "badly overestimated demand" for its Spectacles product, and now has hundreds of thousands of units piled up in warehouses. The report cited two people "close to the company", saying Snap is "already struggling to meet expectations". The report comes despite a recent statement by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel which said it has so far sold 150,000 of its sunglasses, "much more than expected."
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Fair Raises Nearly $1 Billion In Strategic Funding RoundLos Angeles-based Fair, the automotive startup led by serial entrepreneur Scott Painter, has raised nearly $1 billion in a strategic funding, led by BMW i Ventures, along with Penske Automotive Group, Sherpa Capital, and others. Fair is developing an app-driven service which allows people to gain access to a car, which they can pay for on a monthly basis and return anytime. The funding also included other, un-named strategic investors. Fair's founders are Scott Painter (former CEO and founder of (More info...)
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SmartDrive Systems Gets Funding From MichelinSan Diego-based SmartDrive Systems has received an investment from Michelin North America, the company said on Sunday, in a preferred-stock round of investment. Size of the investment was not disclosed. SmartDrive said it will use the new funding for expansion of its strategy for fleet telematics and mobility services. SmartDrive is a developer of video- and sensor-based driver safety systems, used primarily for commercial fleets. The company said it will invest in R&D, sales and marketing, and (More info...)
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Elon Musk's Boring Company Gets Approval For Hyperloop Tunnel In MarylandThe Boring Company, the tunnel-digging startup led by Elon Musk--which is working on developing Hyperloop transportation systems based on Musk's next generation transportation concept--has received a statement of support from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. Hogan said he will support Musk's effort to create a Hyperloop project to connect Baltimore and Washington, DC. Musk has gained government permission to start digging a 10.3-mile route beneath the state-owned portion of the Baltimore-Washingto (More info...)
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DermTech Expands Advisory BoardLa Jolla-based DermTech, which develops non-invasive, molecular dermatology technology for testing for skin diseases, said today that it has added Daniel M. Siegel, MD, to its Scientific Advisory Board. Siegel is Clinical Professor of Dermatology and former Director of the Procedural Dermatology Fellowship at SUNY Downstate. DermTech is backed by Jacobs Investment Company and Western States Investment Corporation (WSIC), along with others.
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