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January 29, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/29/08

-Break.com Debuts New Properties as Part of Ad Network Launch – Los Angeles-based online video company Break.com has launched its new Break Men’s Ad Network and three new web properties—Cage Potato, Chickipedia, and Holy Taco.  Here’s a link to the announcement: Break Launches Three New Branded Web Properties and Men’s Ad Network

-Dayton Steps Down as Helio CEO – Entrepreneur and Helio founder Sky Dayton will step aside as CEO and move to non-executive chairman of the Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator.  Dayton will be replaced by Helio president and COO Wonhee Sull.  Here’s TechCrunch’s take on the move: Sky Dayton Steps Down As CEO of Helio

-Gumiyo to Deliver Mobile Carfax Reports – The Woodland Hills-based startup that develops e-commerce solutions for mobile devices has announced that it has partnered with Carfax to make Carfax Vehicle History Reports available on mobile devices.  GUMIYO, Inc. First to Deliver Carfax Vehicle History Reports Through Mobile Devices to Consumers  

January 28, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/28/08

-2008 Local Entrepreneurship Awards Finalists Announced – Entretech today announced the finalists for the 5th annual awards.  Presented by both Entretech and PricewaterhouseCoopers, the honors will be given at a breakfast on January 31st.  PricewaterhouseCoopers and Entretech Announce Finalists for 5th Annual Entrepreneurship Awards 2008

-Demand Media and the Lance Armstrong Foundation Announce Agreement – The Santa Monica-based social media company says that it will build ‘Livestrong.com’ for the group, a site that will provide professional health, wellness and fitness-related content.  The company says that as part of the deal, the Foundation and Lance Armstrong will become shareholders in Demand.  Demand Media and the Lance Armstrong Foundation Announce Agreement to Build LIVESTRONG.com 

-Integrien Adds to Advisory Board – Here’s more on the appointment, from the Irvine-based provider of integrity management solutions: Fred van den Bosch Joins Integrien’s Strategic Advisory Board

-The Rubicon Project Raises $15 Million – The Los Angeles-based Internet marketing startup today announced the completion of a series B round, led by Mayfield Fund with participation from IDG Ventures Asia; Stanford University; University of California Berkeley; Matt Coffin, founder and former CEO of LowerMyBills.com and Clearstone Venture Partners.  the Rubicon Project Raises $21 Million With New Financing Led by Mayfield Fund

January 25, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/25/08

-iPhotoMeasure Chosen by Depiction Software – Tarzana-based DigiContractor, announced that its innovative photo measuring software has been chosen by Depiction, a supplier of personal computer imaging and estimating software for the building industry: Depiction Software Offers iPhotoMEASURE V3

-Mahalo Adds ‘Multi-Profiles’ – Santa Monica-based Mahalo, the “human edited” search engine launched by serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, today announced that members will be able to integrate multiple social networking profiles into their Mahalo profiles.  Here’s more from the Mashable blog: Mahalo Launches Multi-Profiles; Why Didn’t I Think of That?

January 22, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/22/08

-Boingo Selects JiWire for Ad Delivery – The Santa Monica-based wi-fi network aggregator has selected a provider of advertising services for its airport-based sites. JiWire to deliver mobile ads at Boingo Wi-Fi airport sites

-Inside Axiotron – The Daily Breeze ran an interesting piece over the weekend about El Segundo-based Axiotron and its founder, Andreas Haas.  Axiotron is the maker of the recently released Modbook—the first Mac tablet computer.  Here's a link to the article: Getting a piece of Apple

-Tech Coast Angels Elects Sid Mohasseb President – The largest angel group in the U.S. announced the election last week of its new president: Tech Coast Angels Largest Angel Investment Organization in U.S Elects A New President

-‘Geek Culture,’ L.A.-Style – The Webware blog included a rundown last week of the Twiistup 3 party in Venice: SoCal geeks ready for the spotlight

January 17, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/17/08

-Hands-On Review of Axiotron’s Modbook – Engadget this week featured a hands-on review of El Segundo-based Axiotron’s long-anticipated Modbook Mac tablet computer, which began shipping just after New Year’s Day.  It’s the first Mac-based notebook, but Engadget finds some faults, apparently: Axiotron Modbook tablet Mac hands-on

January 16, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/16/08

-WiSpry Co-founder Selected as Co-author – Jeffrey Hilbert, who co-founded the Irvine-based fabless semiconductor company that develops low-cost, high-performance radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical systems for the wireless industry, has been selected to contribute to a book about semiconductor venture capital best practices.  More on the announcement: WiSpry Co-founder Selected by Aspatore Books in New Authoritative Book on Semiconductor Venture Capital Best Practices

-CyberDefender Offers Free Tech Support During Valentine’s Week – It seems this has been a successful promotion, as the Los Angeles-based security and support firm did the same thing on Halloween and Christmas.  More details can be found at: Show Your Computer Some Love This Valentine's with CyberDefender's Free Tech Support...

-Language Weaver to Host Webinar – The Los Angeles-based developer of software for automatic language translation is partnering with SaS provider Idiom Technologies on a Webinar that addresses the advantages of automated translation services for businesses that operate in multilingual markets.  It will be held on January 3oth: Language Weaver and Idiom Technologies Host Webinar to Educate Businesses on How to Achieve Increased Productivity in Development of Multilingual Content

January 15, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/15/08

-Jacked.com Launches Sweepstakes Promotion – Jacked.com, the Santa Monica-based online publishing platform designed to operate simultaneously with TV programming, has launched a sweepstakes promotion around new referrals.  The company will be giving away $2,000, which will awarded in early February to the winners of a drawing.  More details can be found here: Refer A Friend And Enter To Win Cash Prizes Totaling $2000 At Jacked.com In Time For The Super Bowl

January 11, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/11/08

-Oversee.net Announces DOMAINfest Agenda – DomainSponsor, the domain monetization business of Los Angeles-based Oversee.net, has announced the speakers list and agenda for its big DOMAINfest Global conference for the domain name industry.  The event is happening at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, from January 21-23.  Agenda and speaker information are available on the event website at www.domainfest.com. 

-SnapNames Releases Preliminary Auction Catalog – In more Oversee.net and DOMAINfest Global news, SnapNames—the company’s domain auction and sales subsidiary—has released its preliminary domain names catalog for its upcoming live auction, which will take place at the DOMAINfest Global show. Details can be found at: SnapNames Live Preliminary Auction Catalog Released

January 02, 2008

The Daily Beat: 1/2/07

-Goodreads Becomes Political Forum for Iranian Youth – Today’s Los Angeles Times includes a fascinating story about how Iranian youth opposed to their country’s current regime are using Santa Monica-based startup Goodreads as a forum for expressing their views.  The site was founded in 2006 and announced the completion of a round of angel funding right before Christmas.  Here is the story: Unlikely forum for Iran’s youth

December 28, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/28/07

-Will Apple Beat Axiotron to Market? – The buzz has been growing around what seems to be the pending release of El Segundo-based Axiotron’s highly anticipated Modbook Mac-based tablet computer.  But Erik Kennedy at Ars Technica writes that Apple may be working on a tablet of its own: Modbook almost ready to ship, but Apple may beat it to market.  The Modbook launch has been delayed for almost a year from the originally-announced date.

December 27, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/27/07

-ClipBlast CEO to Present at CES – The big Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is coming up in about a week-and-a-half in Las Vegas, and local startup ClipBlast is sending its CEO to participate in a discussion about widgets and distributed content.  The Agoura Hills-based company has built a web video navigation and search platform.  CEO Gary Baker will be participating on a panel called “Widgets as a Platform: Content, Commerce, Communications” on January 8.  ClipBlast unveiled its video search widget at the DEMOfall show in September.

December 26, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/26/07

-Axiotron Gets Ready to Roll Out Modbook (we think…) – Several Mac-focused blogs are reporting that El Segundo-based Axiotron is getting ready to roll out its Modbook Mac-based tablet computer.  The computer, which was originally scheduled to debut in May but got pushed back until the end of the year for unspecified reasons, is a big deal for Mac fans because it is the first ever Mac tablet computer.  The company has also hired a PR firm to support its Modbook rollout.  Axiotron was founded in 2005 by Andreas Haas and Dr. Kumiko Haas, and is privately held.

-Helio Debuts New ‘Mysto’ Phone – Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, Helio, has very quietly made a new device available over the weekend.  The Mysto is a slider phone made by Samsung.  Apparently, although they are available for sale now, Helio won’t officially publicly announce the phone’s debut until January.  The company is a joint venture of Internet service provider EarthLink and South Korea’s SK Telecom, and has rolled out a number of innovative devices this year.  Here’s some more on the Mysto from Mobile Magazine: Hands-On with Helio Mysto: “It’s Lightning Fast”
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**StartUp Beat Thanks Its Sponsors:

Integrien // LegalZoom.com

December 20, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/20/07

-Oversee.net Helps Grant a Holiday Wish – Downtown Los Angeles-based Oversee.net, the domain monetization and online marketing company, took some time out of managing its multiple ventures to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant a holiday wish for a local child: Season of Wishes: Pinball Wizard’s Wish Granted at the Grove

December 19, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/19/07

-CyberDefender Offers Free Technical Support Again – Los Angeles-based security software developer and support provider CyberDefender is giving away free remote tech support on the day after Christmas to anyone that calls its support hotline.  The company ran the same promotion on Halloween.  CyberDefender says that any computer user can contact CyberDefender on December 26th at (877) 377-3765 for free comprehensive setup help or technical support for their home or office computers.  The company’s technical resolution and support services are always available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week.

December 17, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/17/07

-Boingo Wireless Chooses iCore for Billing – Santa Monica-based wi-fi hot spot network aggregator Boingo Wireless has chosen Vancouver-based iCore for billing and provisioning services.  Here’s more about the partnership: iCore Provides Billing and Provisioning Solution for Boingo Mobile   

-DOMAINfest Global Agenda Announced – The agenda for the DOMAINfest Global show, put on by Los Angeles-based Oversee.net and its subsidiary DomainSponsor, has been released.  The show is taking place January 21-23 in Hollywood.  More details can be found here: Second DOMAINfest Global Event Offers Information-Intensive Industry Agenda

December 05, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/5/07

-Boingo Releases Wi-Fi Connectivity Applet – Santa Monica-based wi-fi hotspot network operator Boingo Wireless has released a quick connectivity applet for XP and Vista machines.  Here’s more about the app, called Go Boingo!: Boingo Software Makes Wi-Fi Access Simple and Fast

December 04, 2007

The Daily Beat: 12/4/07

-Fonality and TMC Partner to Produce Conference – Fonality, the CulverCity-based open-source IP telephony company, is partnering with TMC (Technology Marketing Corporation) to produce a new conference, called trixCon: The Open Communication Conference.  The show will be part of the ITEXPO East 2008 show in January in Miami.  Here’s the complete announcement: TMC and Fonality Partner to Launch trixCon: The Open Communication Conference
 
-Newport Media Finalist in Red Herring Awards –
Newport Media, the Lake Forest-based fabless semiconductor company focused on the mobile broadcast media market, has been named a finalist in Red Herring’s prestigious Red Herring 100 Global awards: Newport Media Named a Finalist in ''Red Herring 100 Global Awards 2007'' Competition

November 30, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/30/07

-Google and eSolar Team Up for Solar Energy – This week, Google announced that it would head-up a major initiative to develop and promote cheap renewable energy sources, with Pasadena’s eSolar being one of the first companies getting funding through the project.  eSolar is an IdeaLab startup that makes solar thermal plants based on heliostat technology.  In a nutshell, heliostat design utilizes an array of flat mirrors that gathers and directs sunlight onto a water tower.  The water then boils into steam, which turns a turbine to make electricity.  IdeaLab founder Bill Gross serves as eSolar’s chairman.  More on the Google initiative: Two Google efforts - solar thermal and high-altitude wind

-Evolution Robotics Supports Robot Hobbyist – Here’s a feel-good story for the end of the week that also illustrates some of the amazing technologies being built by robotics developers, led by Pasadena-based Evolution Robotics (also an IdeaLab startup): Robot Contest Winner Gets Surprise Bonus from Evolution Robotics  

November 29, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/29/07

-Inphi Named as Finalist for ‘Most Respected Fabless Company’ Designation – Inphi, the Westlake Village-based developer of integrated circuits for processing high-speed data in computing and communications systems, has been named one of three finalists for the FSA’s Most Respected Private Fabless Company award.  FSA is a semiconductor industry association that calls itself “the voice” of the global fabless business model.  The group gave Inphi its “Outstanding Financial Performance” award back in 2006.  Here’s more on the announcement: Inphi Corporation Named as One of Three Finalists by FSA as the Most Respected Private Fabless Company

November 28, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/28/07

-EI Solutions Completes Construction on Solar Facility – Pasadena-based EI Solutions, the systems integration arm of Energy Innovations, has announced that it has completed construction of the main portion of the Pacific Northwest’s largest solar-powered generating facility for Puget Sound Energy in central Washington.  Here’s more on the announcement: EI Solutions Powers on the Largest Solar Facility in the Pacific Northwest

-Metabeam CEO Joins Board of DVD Developer Association – Chris Brown, CEO of Manhattan Beach-based Metabeam, which develops home entertainment technologies for movie studios, digital content creators and digital artists, has been voted onto the board of directors of the DVD Association.  Here's a link to more details of the appointment: METABEAM CEO Chris Brown Unanimously Voted to Board of Directors of Prestigious DVD Association

November 27, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/27/07

-Helio Adds TV Guide – Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator Helio has partnered with Gemstar-TV Guide International to make a downloadable mobile TV Guide application available to subscribers. TV Guide Lands on Helio Mobile Phones

-Fulcrum Microsystems Selects Spirent for Testing – Fulcrum Microsystems, the Calabasas-based fabless semiconductor company, has selected Spirent’s TestCenter system for testing of its new FocalPoint FM4000 router chip family.  More on the partnership: Fulcrum Microsystems Selects Spirent TestCenter for 10-Gigabit Ethernet Testing

November 20, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/20/07

Helio Releases File Viewer for Ocean – In addition to its across-the-board price cut for phones, the mobile blogs are buzzing about a new file and document viewer that Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, Helio has made available for its Ocean dual-slider phone.  Here’s more on MobileBurn.com: Helio File Viewer Now Available for Ocean Users

November 19, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/19/07

Helio Cuts Prices – Westwood-based MVNO Helio is apparently cutting the prices for its mobile devices across the board by $50.  Here’s more from Mobile Mag.com: Helio Cuts All Phone Prices By $50

November 15, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/15/07

-Oversee’s SnapNames Accepting Domain Submissions – Los Angeles-based Oversee.net says that its Portland, Oregon-based subsidiary SnapNames is now accepting domain name submissions for its premium domain auctions that are set to start in January.  More about the announcement: SnapNames Open for Domain Name Auction Submissions

-Brash Entertainment Taking on New Title – Hollywood-based Brash Entertainment, creator of games based on movie releases, television and music properties, has announced that it will make the game version of the upcoming movie “Jumper” its second release: Brash Leaps on 'Jumper'

November 09, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/9/07

-Donat/Wald Named Agency of Record for LegalZoom.com – Santa Monica-based ad agency Donat/Wald announced this week that it has been named the creative agency of record for Los Angeles-based LegalZoom.com, the online provider of comprehensive legal document services.  Donat/Wald says it will manage strategic planning and creative development of advertising across all offline and online channels, beginning with a national cable television campaign in early 2008.  More on the announcement: Donat/Wald Named Agency of Record for LegalZoom.com

November 08, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/8/07

-Demand Media and Vator.tv Announce the Demand Media/Vator.tv Challenge – Santa Monica-based Demand Media has partnered with former MarketWatch reporter Bambi Francisco’s Vator.tv to create a competition “to find the best new media companies with niche audiences, fast-growing user bases that include a community of dedicated users, and a cool idea with legs.”   Vator.tv is a web site based on company video pitches that get rated and voted on by site visitors.

The Demand Media/Vator competition will be based on the “wisdom of the crowds” approach where Vator watchers rate the entries and help make the final selections for the judges, the companies say.  At the end of January, the top 25 companies will be selected based on the number of votes, views, highest ratings and most positive comments, and those companies will be featured on Vator.tv.  Other companies can still participate and join until the end of the competition.  At the end of February, the top five will be chosen based on the same criteria and the judges will then select the winner out of the final five, according to Demand and Vator.  More details on the competition: Vator.tv Announces the Demand Media/Vator.tv Challenge -- a Competition to Find the Best New-Media Company

November 07, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/7/07

-EdenTree Technologies Named 2008 Hot Companies Finalist – Newbury Park-based EdenTree Technologies, which develops lab management and test automation solutions, has been named a 2008 “Hot Companies” list finalist by Silicon Valley Communications magazine.  The company was recently selected by Frost & Sullivan as the recipient of the 2007 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Enhancement.  More on the Hot Companies award: EdenTree Technologies Named 2008 Hot Companies Finalist by Silicon Valley Communications

November 05, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/5/07

-Break.com Courts Striking Writers – The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Los Angeles-based online video startup Break.com is reaching out to striking writers, encouraging them to use Break to post original content on the web.  This is sure to be a trend during the Hollywood writers’ strike among online video sites aggressively competing for market share.  Here’s the article: Break.com eyes striking writers

November 02, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/2/07

-Mahalo to Launch Video Podcasts – Santa Monica-based Mahalo, the “human edited” search engine launched this year by famed tech entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, says it is launching a new video podcast about the Mahalo site and various topics related to technology and media.  TechCrunch got a sneak peak at the podcast: Mahalo Daily Preview: Actually Pretty Good

November 01, 2007

The Daily Beat: 11/1/07

-Richard Rosenblatt of Demand Media to Give Keynote Speech at  PubCon – WebmasterWorld’s PubCon, the Search Engine & Internet Marketing Conference and Expo, says it will feature a keynote speech by Richard Rosenblatt, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Santa Monica-based Demand Media.  The conference will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from December 4 to 7.  Rosenblatt is the former CEO of Intermix Media/My Space before its sale to Fox Interactive.  Demand Media has been one of the more visible and prolific companies in the Los Angeles area this year, and recently made big news when it closed a $100 million round of funding.

October 29, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/29/07

-Xirrus Demos Service at Interop – Westlake Village-based Xirrus, the provider of high-performance, long-range wi-fi products, demonstrated its new 802.11n Wi-Fi Platform at Interop New York last week.  The company, which has rolled out an impressive number of major deployments this year, also announced a comprehensive 802.11n Wi-Fi Array beta program that it says is scheduled to launch shortly after Interop.  The 802.11n wireless LAN standard, which is expected to be finalized next year, brings a significant performance boost to wi-fi networks beyond the current performance of 802.11g or 802.11a.

-Siderean Software CTO to Speak on Relational Navigation at Defrag, KMWorld & Intranets, Enterprise Search Summit West, and Taxonomy Boot Camp 2007 – Siderean Software, the El Segundo-based provider of relational navigation solutions, has announced that its CTO, Bradley Allen, will speak at four major search and content management conferences in November.  The company says Allen will discuss advances in relational navigation and how enterprises can use this innovative technology to bring social networking to the enterprise.

October 25, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/25/07

-WiSpry CEO featured panelist today – WiSpry CEO Russ Garcia is speaking today at the DowJones MicroVentures 2007 conference in Redwood City.  He will be part of a panel called “Making Money on MEMS” that focuses on the advancements in the MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) industry, where WiSpry has firmly established itself as a leader.  More on the conference: MicroVentures 2007

October 22, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/22/07

-Demand Media to sponsor PubCon – Santa Monica-based Demand Media, which recently closed a $100 million funding round, has signed on as a gold sponsor at the big PubCon Search Engine & Internet Marketing Conference and Expo in December in Las Vegas.  The company joins Microsoft and Yahoo! as sponsors.  Demand was founded by former CEO of Intermix Media/My Space Richard Rosenblatt, who now serves as chairman and CEO of Demand.  Here is more information about the sponsorship: Demand Media Signs On As Gold Sponsor At PubCon Las Vegas

October 19, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/19/07

-CyberDefender celebrates Halloween with free tech support – CyberDefender, the Los Angeles-based security software developer and support provider, is giving away free remote tech support to anyone that calls its support hotline on Halloween.  According to the company, on Wednesday, October 31, any computer user can contact CyberDefender at (877) 377-3765 for free comprehensive technical support for their home or office computers.

October 18, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/18/07

-Helio offering device discounts – Several mobile blogs are reporting that Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator Helio is offering discounts on some of its popular devices like the Fin, dual slider Ocean phone, and Heat.  The promotions appear to be short term rather than permanent price cuts.  More on Helio and the promotions: Helio offering discounts on handsets

October 15, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/15/07

-Language Weaver exec in speaking tour – Los Angeles-based Language Weaver, the developer of software for automatic language translation, has announced that its vice president of sales and marketing, Kirti Vashee, will speak at four major international globalization industry events this fall.  The company says Vashee’s presentations will focus on the capabilities of statistical machine translation and its evolving impact on language translation automation in commercial enterprise.  The events include: Localization World in Seattle, Oct. 16-18; LISA Forum Europe 2007 in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 22-26; Tekom Annual Conference, November 7-9, Wiesbaden, Germany; and Idiom WorldSummit Europe 2007, Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 12-14.  More about the speaking engagements: Language Weaver Presents Updates on the State of Automated Statistical Translation Technologies to Support a More Connected World

October 10, 2007

The Daily Beat: 10/10/07

-Boingo powers hotspot service for Alltel Wireless – Alltel Wireless has announced a partnership with Santa Monica-based wi-fi-hotspot aggregator Boingo Wireless to power Alltel’s new nationwide wi-fi laptop connectivity service.  More on the announcement: Alltel Wireless Launches New Wi-Fi Solution