Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Science, Headed by Mike Jones, To Launch Digital Startups
Science, Inc., a new, Santa Monica based company headed by former Myspace CEO Mike Jones, announced this morning that it has scored capital and funding, and is building a "technology studio" to develop new businesses, provide them with advice, and provide them with funding. The new firm said it is backed by Rustic Canyon, White Star Capital, The Social+Capital Partnership, Tomorrow Ventures, Siemer Ventures, Philippe Camus, Jean-Marie Messier, Jonathan Miller and Dennis Phelps. Science said it is taking an approach--similar to that practiced by movie studios--to develop and build companies in-house, in addition to helping take an operational and investment role in other startups. In a theme reminiscent of a surge of accelerators in the LA area, the company said it will shepherd entrepreneurs through the critical phases of growth, including product design, business strategy, marketing and business development, and also give those entrepreneurs access to advisors, successful peers, later stage VCs, major dealmakers and strategic partners.