StartUp Beat

7/31/07 – A day before its scheduled service shutdown, the assets of bankrupt mobile virtual network operator Amp’d Mobile have been acquired by Prexar Mobile, a company managed by Oakland-based USA Telephone.  Prexar says it will ensure uninterrupted wireless service for Amp’d customers.

The company says Amp’d customers transitioning to Prexar can “for the most part” continue to use their existing mobile phones, and will be able to choose from a suite of calling and text messaging plan options.

The purchase brings to a close a company that had raised more than $360 million in capital, gained a significant subscriber base, and even developed full-length original content, but collapsed under financial mismanagement.

Amp’d Mobile – www.ampdmobile.com

Other stories on the Amp’d Mobile bankruptcy:

Amp’d Mobile to Shut Down, Sell Assets

Amp’d Mobile Settles with Verizon Wireless

Amp’d Mobile’s Lifeline Extended

Amp’d Mobile Founder’s High-Flying Commute

Adderton Leaves Amp’d Mobile

Can Amp’d Mobile Survive?

Amp’d Mobile Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Posted by startupbeat at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/31/07 – ThisNext.com, a Los Angeles-based social product discovery and recommendation web site, has announced the appointment of Internet marketing and e-commerce veteran Rob Goldman to its board of directors.

Goldman was involved with the establishment of Shopping.com, holding an early position as vice president of business intelligence leading up to eBay’s acquisition of the company. 

ThisNext is a social product and discovery site that utilizes experts, bloggers and regular consumers to personally endorse and recommend products to site users.

ThisNext’s board also includes Sumant Mandal, managing director at Clearstone Venture Partners; Todd Jerry, partner with Anthem Ventures; Jason Calacanis, co-founder of Weblogs and CEO of Mahalo.com; and Gordon Gould, co-founder and CEO of ThisNext.

The company was founded in 2005 by Gould and CTO Craig Ogg.

ThisNext – www.thisnext.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/31/07 – Westlake Village-based Xirrus, the provider of high-performance, long-range wi-fi products, announced another major wi-fi network deployment, this time at all of the 55 schools in the Boulder Valley School District in Colorado.  The district services more than 28,000 students supported by 4,200 employees, according to Xirrus.

Xirrus says the deployment is part of an overall infrastructure upgrade that includes a high speed wide area network, voice-over-IP implementation, and a video distribution system, allowing educators to further enrich the district’s curriculum through distance learning, e-learning and the distribution of educational video content directly to students using laptops in the classroom.

The company was founded in 2004 by former Xircom executives and is backed by investors that include U.S. Venture Partners and August Capital.  The Boulder Valley deployment is the 13th major deployment this year for Xirrus.

Xirrus – www.xirrus.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/30/07 – Monrovia-based FastSoft, developer of products that accelerate the transfer of data on the Internet, today announced the general availability of a new version of its flagship Aria appliance.  Aria is a box that, when connected to a network, addresses the problem of Internet file transfer inefficiency without having to modify applications or load software—resulting in increased speed and quality of Internet transmission, according to the company.

Called the Aria 2000, FastSoft says the upgraded version supports clientless Internet acceleration on line speeds up to 1gbps.  The product is targeted at companies that depend on the transfer of large files for mission-critical business processes, like video and design files.  FastSoft says the Aria 2000’s price starts at around $80,000.

FastSoft grew out of Caltech and its Office of Technology Transfer, where the company’s “FastTCP” technology was developed.  For the past four years, FastTCP was used to break the world record for the fastest sustained data transfer rates at the Supercomputing Network Bandwidth Challenge.

The company is backed by Miramar Venture Partners and recently closed its series A round of funding.

FastSoft – www.fastsoft.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/30/07 – Westlake Village-based Inphi has announced that it will collaborate with AMD for the development of Inphi’s server memory interface solutions family.  Founded in late 2000, Inphi designs and develops integrated circuits for processing high-speed digital data in computing and communications systems.

The companies say that through the collaboration, Inphi is contributing to AMD’s efforts in providing a memory interface solution, which will scale to address future memory architecture requirements driven by the addition of more processor cores.

Inphi Corporation – www.inphi-corp.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/27/07 – Irvine-based LogicalApps this week announced the formation of a strategic alliance with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP.  LogicalApps, which provides embedded governance software for enterprises, says the deal includes joint offerings from the firms that will allow both to provide software and implementation services to clients.

Through the alliance, PricewaterhouseCoopers will provide advisory services to help organizations optimize their approach to governance, risk and compliance.  The companies will also jointly provide solutions for the continuous monitoring of financial transactions with preventative and “detective” controls, helping ensure that established business processes and policies are being enforced, alerting management in real-time of deviations from these policies, and helping to improve the efficiency of the financial organization and business operations.

LogicalApps – www.logicalapps.com

PricewaterhouseCoopers – www.pwc.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/27/07 – Buzznet, a Hollywood-based social networking startup focused on music, announced this week that it has hired former Feedster president Tyler Goldman.

The company, founded in 2005, recently raised a $6 million round of financing led by Redpoint Ventures and Anthem Venture Partners. 

Buzznet – www.buzznet.com

7/26/07 – Transpera, a Santa Monica-based mobile video startup, this week announced its official formation and the availability of its service.

Transpera says it helps businesses create mobile video content and generate new revenue.  The Transpera system gives consumers a seamless experience between online and mobile screens, according to the company, where they can get personalized alerts and recommendations as the system learns their preferences and tailors content channels to match.

The functionality is delivered by the company’s mobile video delivery and advertising platform-called the Transpera Bridge System.  The Bridge System allows online publishers and mobile operators to deploy mobile video services, monetize those services with advertising and subscriptions, and tie web and mobile video experiences together.

The company is led by wireless content industry veteran Frank Barbieri, and backed by First Round Capital, IDG Ventures and Intel Capital.

Transpera – www.transpera.com

Posted by startupbeat at 05:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/25/07 – Row44 is an interesting startup based in Westlake Village that hopes to bring broadband Internet service to airliners.  The concept has been attempted before to a limited extent by Boeing, but after the shutdown of that service, Row44 is taking its shot at the market.  The company is using the Hughes satellite network to offer a full plate of in-flight services that includes broadband Internet and live IP-based TV.

Row44 was founded by John Guidon, formerly founder and CEO of Comcore Semiconductor, and Gregg Fialcowitz, formerly co-founder of Aprisa.  The company says it offers “true” broadband connectivity for a broad range of aircraft types and sizes.  The system provides data rates up to 81 mbps from the satellite to the aircraft and 1.6 mbps uploads, according to the company—roughly equivalent to a home cable modem or DSL connection.

Another offering the company is bundling with the service is operational data services for airlines for flight operations, including weather updates and cabin surveillance, cabin crew services, and cargo services, like passenger bag matching and luggage tracking.  

A major value proposition of Row 44’s service is that its equipment is lightweight and, according to the company, simple to install and maintain. Major components include a low-profile antenna mounted to the top of the fuselage.  To distribute a wi-fi signal, two or more wireless access units are placed in the airplane cabin.

Row44 has been privately funded to this point.

Row44 – www.row44.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/25/07 – As rival mobile service provider Amp’d Mobile shuts down, Los Angeles-based mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, Helio continues to launch new services for its customers.  This time it's access to Microsoft Outlook through its Ocean device, which the company says lets users wirelessly synchronize email, calendar and contacts from their company’s Microsoft Exchange Server.

Helio says the service, not surprisingly called "Mail for Microsoft Exchange," uses the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol to allow remote synchronization and access to corporate Exchange Server features.

The company says it also plans to launch Helio File Viewer in conjunction with the Outlook service.  When available, the File Viewer will allow users to view Microsoft Office-based documents.

Helio is making Mail for Microsoft Exchange available for $9.99-per-month, with a 60-day free trial to start.

Helio, founded in 2005, is a joint venture of Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink and South Korea’s SK Telecom.  

Helio – www.helio.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/25/07 – Westlake Village-based Xirrus, provider of high-performance, long-range wi-fi products, today announced another deployment of its Wi-Fi Arrays product, this time at multiple motorsport venues across the United Kingdom.  The deployment was completed in conjunction with UK-based MotorSport Vision Ltd.

The deal was made through Xirrus reseller Wireless LAN Source.  This is the 12th new major deployment of the Wi-Fi Arrays since January. 

The company was founded in 2004 by former Xircom executives and is backed by investors that include U.S. Venture Partners and August Capital.

Xirrus – www.xirrus.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/24/07 – Just days after revealing that it would be shutting down as early as today and selling its assets, Los Angeles-based wireless service provider Amp’d Mobile now says in a customer FAQ that it won’t shut down until July 31st.  In addition, multiple sources report that the company’s network service provider and largest creditor, Verizon Wireless, will allow the company to continue to serve customers for another week—the date its assets are reportedly set to be auctioned.

Reports also say that the entire operation will be sold off, including its Amp’d Canada and Japan businesses, and its content properties.

For more on Amp’d’s bankruptcy, see:

Amp’d Mobile to Shut Down, Sell Assets

Amp’d Mobile Settles with Verizon Wireless

Amp’d Mobile’s Lifeline Extended

Amp’d Mobile Founder’s High-Flying Commute

Adderton Leaves Amp’d Mobile

Can Amp’d Mobile Survive?

Amp’d Mobile Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Posted by startupbeat at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/24/07 – Demonstrating the strength of the technology community in greater Los Angeles, the region once again made a strong showing in the Ernst & Young and Dow Jones VentureOne quarterly venture capital report.

Los Angeles was again second only to Silicon Valley in terms of VC financing, with $167 million raised in the second quarter in information services companies.  In comparison, Silicon Valley pulled in $262 million.  In all sectors, greater Los Angeles, which the report defined as Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, received $459 million for the three-month period, up from $182 million last year.

Details of the last E&Y Dow Jones VentureOne report.  

Posted by startupbeat at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/24/07 – Westlake Village-based Inphi today announced that Young K. Sohn has been named the company’s CEO.

Sohn was most recently president of Agilent Technologies’ semiconductor group.  Prior experience also includes a stint as chairman and CEO of Oak Technology, a digital media semiconductor company, and co-president of Quantum Corporation, a data storage solution products manufacturer.  In addition, Sohn founded and built Intel’s Korea business and managed the Samsung-Intel strategic partnership.  He also started the company’s PC chipset business unit while at Intel.

Inphi chairman Dado Banatao cited Sohn’s experience with the Asian market as particularly attractive to Inphi, because of the companys emergence in that region.

Inphi, which was founded in late 2000, designs and develops integrated circuits for processing high-speed digital data in computing and communications systems. 

Inphi Corporation – www.inphi-corp.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/23/07 – In the concluding act of a spectacular flameout, Los Angeles-based mobile service and content provider Amp’d Mobile will shut down and sell off its assets, after the company was unable to secure financing to see it through the chapter 11 reorganization process.  Officially, Amp'd has told customers that it is “potentially suspending U.S. operations on July 24th.”

Amp’d is a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, meaning that the company buys wholesale network service from a cellular network operator and offers value-added service on top of the basic phone service.  In Amp’d’s case, the company leased space on Verizon Wireless’s network, and focused on entertainment services for the youth market. 

Last week, Verizon Wireless moved to cut off Amp’d’s access to its network, saying in a court filing that it was costing $370,000-a-day to keep Amp’d’s basic service running.

In terms of next steps, Amp’d said in its Q&A for customers that it is “currently in discussions with several parties” about a sale of its assets.

Amp’d Mobile – www.ampdmobile.com

Other stories on the Amp’d Mobile bankruptcy:

Amp’d Mobile Settles with Verizon Wireless

Amp’d Mobile’s Lifeline Extended

Amp’d Mobile Founder’s High-Flying Commute

Adderton Leaves Amp’d Mobile

Can Amp’d Mobile Survive?

Amp’d Mobile Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Posted by startupbeat at 09:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/23/07 – Los Angeles-based LeadPoint, an online leads exchange marketplace, announced today that it has hired former LowerMyBills executive Steve Horton as general manager of its consumer lending category.  The company says he will focus primarily on driving further growth of the vertical by developing product enhancements to build upon the company’s mortgage lead trading engine.

LeadPoint runs a dynamic trading platform that features a pay-for-performance model in consumer lending, credit, automotive lending and business services.  It says it currently has more than 1,500 active customers.

The company was founded in 2004, and its investors include Redpoint Ventures and European Founders Fund.

LeadPoint – www.leadpoint.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/23/07 – Newport Media, the Lake Forest-based fabless semiconductor company focused on the mobile broadcast media market, today unveiled what it says is the world’s first complete single-chip solution for the mobile version of Japan’s Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial, or ISDB-T, digital television standard.  The solution serves as a digital TV receiver that integrates a tuner, demodulator and all required memory in a single device.

The company says it will also serve as the foundation for future solutions aimed at other popular air interface standards including Terrestrial-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting and MediaFLO.

Newport Media says volume production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Newport Media – www.newportmediainc.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/23/07 – Thousand Oaks-based MyNextDeal.com, a vertical search engine for commercial real estate listings, announced today that the company has signed what it describes as a “listing distribution” agreement with the Florida Real Estate Journal.  MyNextDeal says it will deliver for sale and for lease commercial property listings across all U.S. geographies to Florida Real Estate Journal readers.

The publication, which says it has a readership of 20,000, provides statewide coverage of the Florida commercial real estate markets.

The companies say they expect the listings to be live by September.

MyNextDeal says it features more than 400,000 commercial property listings, and recently launched a job board for commercial real estate professionals on the site.

MyNextDeal – www.mynextdeal.com

Florida Real Estate Journal – www.frej.net

Posted by startupbeat at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/20/07 – Los Angeles-based Passenger, also known as “Think Passenger,” and Oversee.net have been chosen by AlwaysOn as AO 100 Top Private Companies for 2007.  The fifth-annual AO100 list is made up of peer-nominated companies, and was compiled by AlwaysOn's editorial panel.

Companies on the list will be honored at the AlwaysOn Stanford Summit, a popular tech executive gathering, later this month at Stanford University.  AlwaysOn says that the idea behind the AO100 top private companies list is “to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global technology industry.” 

Passenger has developed a social networking platform that enables brands and customers to collaborate within a private online community.  Founded in 2005, the company says its customers include brands such as Coca-Cola, ABC Television and Sara Lee.

Oversee.net is the Los Angeles-based online media company that runs domain acquisition, monetization and online marketing services businesses.  Oversee was founded in 2000 by entrepreneurs Lawrence Ng and Fred Hsu, and is a frequent winner of this type of award for its exceptional growth.

The full list of the AlwaysOn Top 100 Private Companies can be found at: http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/15899

Passenger – www.thinkpassenger.com

Oversee.net – www.oversee.net

AlwaysOn – alwayson.goingon.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/19/07 – Another twist was added to the Amp’d Mobile bankruptcy saga yesterday, as Verizon Wireless filed a petition in Amp’d’s bankruptcy case to allow Verizon to stop providing access to its network.  Earlier this month the court ruled that Amp’d could continue to have Verizon provide its network service during chapter 11 reorganization contingent upon a $2.5 million payment to the cellular operator.  Prior to its bankruptcy filing, Amp’d owed Verizon approximately $41 million for network service.

Reports now say that Amp’d is still racking up huge bills since filing for bankruptcy, including $370,000-a-day just on Verizon’s network services.  On top of that, one report surmised that based on court filings, Amp’d will have only $9,000 in the bank as of next week.  Verizon Wireless is now asking for permission to pull the plug on Amp’d’s network unless it obtains a loan to finance its bankruptcy case and reorganization.

Amp’d, a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, buys wholesale network service from Verizon and offers value-added service on top of the basic phone service.

Before its bankruptcy filing, Amp’d raised more than $360 million in capital—the most of any recent startup in Southern California. 

Amp’d Mobile – www.ampdmobile.com

Other stories on the Amp’d Mobile bankruptcy:

Amp’d Mobile Settles with Verizon Wireless

Amp’d Mobile’s Lifeline Extended

Amp’d Mobile Founder’s High-Flying Commute

Adderton Leaves Amp’d Mobile

Can Amp’d Mobile Survive?

Amp’d Mobile Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Posted by startupbeat at 08:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/19/07 – As Amp’d Mobile’s woes continue, the other big Los Angeles-based MVNO startup, Helio, today announced the launch of its enhanced MySpace on Helio service.  Helio said the mobile-specific application was designed from the ground up by the company and is available exclusively on Helio’s Ocean device.  The announcement further positions Helio as a leader in mobile social networking, following on the heels of the launch of Helio’s two-click mobile video uploads with YouTube.

Helio says the new application, available at no additional cost to its “All-In” members, lets users edit profiles and integrates with Helio’s free media sharing service, Helio Album, which allows the sending of picture messages, comments and bulletins directly from the application.  Members are also able to take advantage of the Ocean’s integrated 2 megapixel camera to shoot photos, automatically upload them and instantly post them to MySpace, on their profile or in a blog entry.

The Ocean is what Helio is calling its “flagship device”— a dual slide phone with two full keypads, a large QVGA screen, GPS, built-in instant messenger and email access, and one-click Internet search.  The phone has garnered numerous positive reviews since its debut earlier this year for its unique design and functionality.

Along with the MySpace announcement, Helio said it continues to see average revenue per user at between $90 and $100 per month, which is significantly higher than the mobile industry average.  This is no doubt the strongest metric of Helio’s business, and what may ultimately propel the company to profitability in a difficult industry for startups.

The company also said its members generate over 550 text messages per month on average, and 90 percent of members access the web through their mobile device versus an industry average of 13 percent.

Helio is a joint venture of Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink, and South Korea’s SK Telecom.  The two companies announced earlier this month that they were increasing their investment in Helio by a combined $200 million.

Helio – www.helio.com

MySpace.com – www.myspace.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/18/07 – Bid4Spots, the Encino-based online auction of radio ad time, says it experienced a 300 percent increase in activity during June, and has now signed up nearly 1,800 advertisers and agencies to its reverse auction.

Bid4Spots makes available to advertisers prime, last-minute inventory from approximately 2,400 participating radio stations in all 300 top-ranked Arbitron markets, according to the company.  Bid4Spots recently announced that it is powering the new eBay Media Marketplace for Radio.

Founded by radio ad industry veteran Dave Newmark, Bid4Spots is privately held.

Bid4Spots – www.bid4spots.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/18/07 – Monrovia-based MeziMedia announced this week that it has been acquired by Westlake Village-based online advertising company ValueClick.  MeziMedia runs the Smarter.com comparison shopping and CouponMountain.com online coupon web sites.

Founded in 2001, MeziMedia employs 160 people in its Monrovia headquarters and offices in Shanghai, China, and Tokyo.  In addition to its shopping web sites, MeziMedia developed a proprietary search engine marketing, or SEM, platform, along with expertise in search engine optimization and SEM.

The companies say that under the terms of the agreement, ValueClick will acquire all outstanding equity interests in MeziMedia for approximately $100 million in cash at the time of closing, and contingent cash consideration based on revenue and ad performance from the closing date through December 31, 2009.  The companies say total cash consideration will range between $100 million and $352 million, depending on whether performance thresholds are met.

MeziMedia – www.mezimedia.com

ValueClick – www.valueclick.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/18/07 – Reports have surfaced that the debut of the ModBook tablet computer, made by El Segundo-based Axiotron, has been delayed.  The ModBook is much anticipated because it will be the first Macintosh-based tablet computer.

Originally expected to debut in May, Axiotron says the ModBook is now delayed until the fourth quarter of this year.

Axiotron was founded in 2005 by Andreas Haas and Dr. Kumiko Haas, and is privately held.

Axiotron – www.axiotron.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/18/07 – Valley Village-based eJamming, which has developed an online music collaboration service, is hosting online karaoke sessions tonight to demonstrate its technology.

eJamming says its “music technologist” John King will host the sessions for singers and players over the eJamming AUDiiO system.  Details can be found at eJamming’s web site.

The company was founded last year by entertainment-industry veterans Gail Kantor and Alan Glueckman, and was part of this year’s DEMO class.

eJamming – www.ejamming.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/17/07 – Los Angeles-based Oversee.net, an online media company that runs domain and online marketing services businesses, today announced it acquired over $7 million in domain portfolios during May, with a total of 66 domain portfolio acquisitions in the last ten months.

The company says it is accelerating its buying program even further in the third quarter of this year, actively seeking to increase its acquisition targets.

Oversee has become a top player in the portfolio acquisition market.  Domain portfolios are collections of revenue-generating domains or domains with revenue potential.  The company says its internally-created acquisition process allows it to move swiftly from the offer stage, through documentation and funding, to integration, in about seven days. Oversee says it plans to continue its acquisition program and be a viable source of liquidity for domainers who have developed domain portfolios.

The company’s domain services business is built around its DomainSponsor subsidiary, where it helps customers monetize domain names.  It says its own portfolio now includes 600,000 domain names which it auctions through another subsidiary, SnapNames.com, which it acquired in June.

In addition to its domain services businesses, Oversee also offers marketing services in specific vertical markets, including mortgages and travel through its sites Low.com and Lowfares.com.  The company employs more than 200 working out of its downtown L.A. headquarters and offices in Portland, Ore., and San Mateo, Calif.

Oversee.net – www.oversee.net

Posted by startupbeat at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/17/07 – Interneer, the Culver City-based creator of software that allows companies to configure web-based applications with integrated workflow without programming, has announced the hiring of two executives to oversee sales and marketing.

Jack Karabees, previously an executive vice president of sales and operations at Hudson Capital, has been named vice president of sales, and Patricia Spencer, an executive at GroundWork Equity, one of Interneer’s primary investors, has been named vice president of marketing.

Interneer says its flagship Instant Application Platform, or IAP, allows businesses to design, configure and deploy scalable solutions through a point-and-click environment, hosted online or installed on-site.

Interneer was founded in 1998, and last month announced $2 million in funding from GroundWork Equity and the appointment of GroundWork managing partner Michael Edell as CEO.

Interneer – www.interneer.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/17/07 – Irvine-based Axiom Microdevices, which develops fully-integrated complementary metal oxide semiconductor, or CMOS, power amplifiers for cell phones, has relocated to an expanded headquarters at the Irvine Business Center.

Last month, Axiom announced that it had shipped its millionth power amplifier product.  In addition to its Irvine headquarters, the company says it also has sales offices in the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan and South Korea.

Axiom Microdevices – www.axiom-micro.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/16/07 – Pasadena-based myShape.com has announced the closing of a series B round of funding led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson.  MyShape is an online apparel e-commerce site for women, which offers customers “personal” shopping that it says is tailored to individual styles and body types.

MyShape CEO Louise Wannier says the funding will go toward expanding the site’s reach globally.

In addition to the financing, myShape has added several new board members.  Phil Schlein, a retail industry veteran, investor in online companies like iVillage and partner with U.S. Venture Partners; Draper Fisher Jurvetson director Emily Melton; David Berkus, chairman emeritus of the Tech Coast Angels; and Peter D. Whitford, the former president worldwide of the Disney Store and former chairman and CEO of The Wet Seal have all joined the myShape board of directors.

The company was founded in 2004 by Wannier.

myShape – www.myshape.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/16/07 – Los Angeles-based online video streaming web site Stickam has been a center of controversy over the past week after New York Times reporter Brad Stone wrote about ties between Stickam’s parent company and a company that runs adult web sites.

The article was prompted by the accusations of a former Stickam vice president, who alleged that the site’s parent, Advanced Video Communications, or AVC, is affiliated with a company that operates a network of pornographic web destinations.  Alex Becker, the former Stickam executive, told Stone that AVC and the pornography sites share office space, employees and computer systems.  He also alleges that the sites use the same live webcam technology used on Stickam’s site.  Stickam is geared toward teenagers and young adults.

There has been considerable response to the story on various news web sites and blogs—both outrage that a site popular with young people that features live web cams would have any ties with pornographic web sites, and those who point out that the ties alleged by Becker are tenuous.  It should be noted that like almost every other web site involving social networking, Stickam has an “abuse report” procedure, available on its home page, along with specific information in its Terms of Service about parental control options, restrictions on posting content, an express statement that “Sexually explicit content is strictly prohibited on this website,” and the fact that Stickam will report traffic data and personal information of members “who Post sexually explicit material … for the unlawful transmission of sexually explicit material to minors.”

Although it is a complex situation, it is clear that as the “social” Internet becomes more interactive and popular, companies will need to do a better job of addressing these types of issues.  MySpace and other social sites have dealt with the issues of content and minors ever since inception, and there is no doubt that there will be more to come in the future about the Stickam controversy and this topic in general.

Stickam – www.stickam.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

7/13/07 – Lionsgate Entertainment said this week that it has invested $21 million in Los Angeles-based online video site Break.com.  Lionsgate, based in Vancouver, did not disclose the terms of the deal, but reports indicate the investment gives Lionsgate a 42 percent stake in the company.

The companies said that as part of the investment, Lionsgate will be able to distribute its content and promote its movies on Break’s web site.

Break.com is very clearly targeted at young males, highlighting features like “Girl of the Day” in addition to its video sharing service.  The company was actually founded in 1998 as “Big-Boys.com,” survived the collapse of the Internet bubble and is emerging as a significant player in the very active online video segment.

This is the second major online video content announcement this week involving local companies.  On Wednesday, Los Angeles-based Spot Runner and the United Talent Agency launched content firm 60Frames Entertainment.

Break.com – www.break.com

Lionsgate – www.lionsgate.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/13/07 – Los Angeles-based MyMedicalRecords.com, which provides web-based personal health records services, announced this week that it has integrated the Cerner Multum Drug Content Database into its web site, giving its subscribers access to detailed information on over 20,000 prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The company says it is also making an abridged version available to non-subsribers who visit MyMedicalRecords.com.

The database links to a prescription list in each user’s account, and users can click on any entry to get comprehensive information on that drug, or obtain a complete list of interactions, according to the company.  The system automatically checks for interactions with all drugs entered in their prescription list and reports on potential threats between multiple medications.

The site already includes features like calendar reminders for prescription refills, doctor appointments and medications that are integrated with Microsoft Outlook, a family medical history database and a special emergency log-in portal that allows medical personnel to access vital information about a subscriber, such as blood type, allergies and medical history.

The company says that at the core of the service is a document management and communications platform that allows doctors to fax medical and personal health records such as lab test results and immunization reports into a user’s account, through a secure process.  Images such as x-rays, scans and MRIs can be uploaded directly from the computer desktop, allowing users to efficiently and confidentially manage their health records in a personalized filing cabinet, according to the firm.

MyMedicalRecords.com – www.mymedicalrecords.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

7/12/07 – El Segundo-based Connexus today announced it has completed the purchase of the technology assets of AdModus, developer of a proprietary ad serving platform.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

AdModus, founded in 2006 and based in New York City, developed an ad serving system that it says was designed from the ground up to maximize a publisher’s yields using contextual and behavioral targeting data, along with an advanced optimization engine designed to deliver highly targeted traffic and nearly real-time results.

The companies say the platform provides the ideal complement to existing Connexus offerings and expands the company’s platform for targeting and tracking ads.

Connexus is the result of a merger a year ago between El Segundo-based Vendare Media and Mountain View-based Netblue.  The company provides a multi-channel advertising network that it says gets over 30 billion impressions monthly and provides advertisers with 20 million leads and customers annually through its network.

Connexus – www.connexuscorp.com

AdModus – www.admodus.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

7/12/07 – On a topic somewhat tangential to local startups and early stage companies but important to the larger technology and entertainment communities, E3, the video game industry conference held yearly in Los Angeles and known in past years for elaborate displays and productions around launches of new titles, opened this week in Santa Monica.  But the show has been dramatically scaled down, and is now far from being the big draw of previous years.  The Los Angeles Times’ Alex Pham wrote this week about the fact that rather than being a big downtown event that until now was the best attended annual trade show held in Los Angeles, E3 is now an invite-only affair that is expected to draw only 3,000 attendees, compared with last year’s whopping 65,000.

The dramatically scaled down show is not an indicator of bad times in the video game business, as the industry is booming.  Instead, as Pham’s article points out, companies have started hosting their own events to promote new titles, and have begun to see E3 as “redundant.”  The invite-only aspect also serves to reduce the access of startups to the show and its “insider” status.

Could this be the beginning of a trend in technology trade shows?  Are companies finding themselves lost in the hype of big events like E3 and starting to look at alternatives for big launches and promotions?  While there is no substantial evidence that this is the case, the scaling down of such a massive show for no other apparent reason is a significant development. 

On the other hand, as Pham points out, media company and conference producer IDG is planning its own big video games show in October at the downtown convention center—can it manage to pick up where E3 has left off?

E3 – www.e3summit07.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/11/07 – Internet-based ad agency Spot Runner and Hollywood talent firm United Talent Agency have launched a new Los Angeles-based online content firm that the companies say “provides professional content creators access to financing, speed to market, greater ownership over their intellectual property and participation in all revenue streams including advertising.”  Called 60Frames Entertainment, Spot Runner and United Talent say it has raised $3.5 million in initial funding from Tudor Investment Corporation and the Pilot Group.

Brent Weinstein, a veteran in the digital entertainment space and to this point head of United Talent’s digital media department and the agency’s new UTA Online division, has been named CEO of the new company.

Spot Runner and United Talent say 60Frames was formed in response to the creative and advertising communities’ need to optimize the financial and creative potential of digital content distributed through the Internet.  They also say that it will collaborate with advertisers to create immersive online branding to better connect their company and products to targeted audiences. 60Frames’ programming will be available through top video portals, social network web sites, and mobile broadband outlets.

Spot Runner says it will play an integral role in 60Frames’ advertising strategy, and the company says its sales force will represent 60Frames in creating relationships with leading marketers and selling advertising inventory.

60Frames – www.60frames.com

United Talent Agency – www.unitedtalent.com

Spot Runner – www.spotrunner.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/11/07 – Monrovia-based FastSoft, which develops products that accelerate Internet data transfer, today announced the deployment of its “Aria” acceleration tool to Pacific Internet Exchange LLC, a wholesale bandwidth and collocation services company that provides fiber optic bandwidth connecting North America and Asia.

FastSoft is another company that has emerged out of Caltech and its Office of Technology Transfer, where its patented FastTCP technology was developed.  The Aria product line is a single-box tool that speeds up the TCP Internet protocol, dramatically improving data distribution speeds, according to the company.

FastSoft is backed by Miramar Venture Partners and recently closed its series A round of funding.

FastSoft – www.fastsoft.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/11/07 – Fonality, the Culver City-based open-source telephony company, has announced a partnership with Technology Marketing Corporation, or TMC, to train and certify telephony resellers and IT professionals on trixbox open source PBX software.

The companies say they will offer the training at the upcoming Internet Telephony Conference & Expo events in Los Angeles and Miami.

Trixbox is a big deal for Fonality, serving as its version of the open source Asterisk platform.  The company recently started offering a trixbox appliance, which allows the company to better target the reseller community.

TMC runs IP telephony-focused publications like Internet Telephony and the TMCNet.com web site.

Fonality – www.fonality.com

TMC – www.tmcnet.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/11/07 – Irvine-based LogicalApps, which provides compliance software and solutions, has announced today that mobile technology company Qualcomm has used LogicalApps’ Financial Period Close Automation, or FPCA, solution to speed up its financial reporting in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.  The Securities and Exchange Commission recently reduced the time large public companies have to file their annual 10-K reports from 75 days to only 60 days.  Using FPCA, the companies say Qualcomm is one of the first public companies to comply with this rule, averaging just 38 days to report its annual earnings.

FPCA is LogicalApps’ business process optimization service for the Oracle E-Business Suite, combining software from the company’s flagship ACTIVE Governance solution with customizable business rules, and, according to LogicalApps, “streamlining financial close processes while improving the accuracy of financial reporting.”

LogicalApps says that FPCA prevents many of the problems that can occur during an organization’s monthly or quarterly close due to the large number of disparate financial software modules in use, by coordinating the closing tasks into one comprehensive process and monitoring the process for delays, especially between interdependent steps that can cause bottlenecks. 

The company was founded in 2000 and its investors include Sequoia Capital and Mission Ventures.

LogicalApps - www.logicalapps.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/10/07 – Los Angeles-based GaimTheory, developer of an online PC gaming platform, has received initial bridge funding from Momentum Venture Management.  In addition, Momentum managing director Stu MacFarlane will serve as GaimTheory’s CEO.

GaimTheory’s platform is based on software that it integrates with backend server infrastructure that it says enhances the multiplayer gaming experience.  The company also runs a consumer multiplayer online gaming site, called PurePressure.com.

Momentum Venture Management – www.mvmpartners.com

GaimTheory – www.gaimtheory.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/10/07 – Travel social network TripUp, based in Los Angeles, has been purchased by Santa Clara-based SideStep.  The companies have not revealed the financial terms of the deal.

TripUp came up with a number of social tools for travel enthusiasts, including Trip Gurus, which allows travelers to give and receive advice, meet up with fellow travelers, and hook up with locals.  The site also includes user-generated travel blogs, photos, videos, maps and reviews.

SideStep describes itself as a “travel search engine” and allows users to use its travel aggregation technology to search for flights, hotels, etc.  The company claims it has more than 6 million monthly visitors.

No word yet on whether or not the TripUp L.A. office will remain open.

Update: A SideStep spokesperson has told StartUp Beat that TripUp will now be headquarted in Santa Clara, and the L.A. office will be closed.   

SideStep – www.sidestep.com

TripUp – www.tripup.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/10/07 – Xirrus, the Westlake Village-based provider of high-performance, long-range wi-fi products, said today that it and BYU-Idaho have submitted a patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for “Wi-Fi Availability Assurance.”  Xirrus says the patent and implementation in Xirrus’s Wi-Fi Array product “allows automatic recovery from potential radio lock-ups.”  Xirrus says the patent solution was co-developed during a large deployment of Xirrus Wi-Fi Arrays at the BYU-Idaho campus.

Wi-Fi Availability Assurance allows for automatic testing of Wi-Fi Arrays and initiation of fixes, along with alerting the network administrator of problems, according to the company.

Xirrus has been one of the more active companies in the region this year in terms of new customer wins, announcing 11 new deployments of its Wi-Fi Arrays since January.  It was founded in 2004 by former Xircom executives and is backed by investors that include U.S. Venture Partners and August Capital.

Xirrus – www.xirrus.com

7/9/07 – El Segundo-based Ripple, which delivers hyper-local content on flat screen panels in public locations, today announced a major new partnership that will allow company-operated Jack in the Box restaurants to broadcast entertainment, breaking news and sports, and relevant local information to its customers.  Ripple also announced it has secured $10 million in a series B funding round, led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson.

Ripple says it and Jack in the Box have created a custom network to serve top branded news, entertainment, weather and sports content tailored specifically for Jack in the Box customers across different locales.  The program will include two high-definition LCD screens in each restaurant.

Posted by startupbeat at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/9/07 – Answerbag, a question-and-answer “social knowledge” platform and a division of Santa Monica-based Demand Media, today debuted a Facebook social question and answer application that it says gives users free reign to ask questions and get answers without having to leave Facebook.  The company says the Answerbag Facebook Application allows users to post questions and receive answers from anyone on Facebook and from the entire Answerbag community.

Facebook, one of the most trafficked social networking sites, recently opened up its API to allow outside developers to build applications and services that can be integrated into its site.

Answerbag says questions generated from the application are added to the growing Answerbag knowledgebase and can then be answered by users on Answerbag.com or from the Facebook community.  Users can also see the questions their friends are asking, and can invite other friends to answer their questions and share knowledge with the people in their network, according to Answerbag.

Answerbag was founded in 2003 and says it has grown a database of 300,000 unique questions and 1 million user-vetted answers that are organized into 3,500 categories covering hundreds of vertical categories.

Answerbag – www.answerbag.com

Demand Media – www.demandmedia.com

See Answerbag’s entry in The Pitch: www.startupbeat.com/thepitch/answerbag

Posted by startupbeat at 08:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

7/9/07 – Los Angeles-based Leads360, developer of software that provides on-demand sales lead management, has announced the formation of a professional services department to provide what it says will be consulting that revolves around its lead-generation focus.

The company says the new division was structured based on client feedback and suggestions, and plans to offer a full complement of education initiatives, consulting services, on-site implementation and business process and workflow auditing solutions.  It will start by conducting an ongoing series of focus groups, client surveys, seminars and webinars, with the initial focus being on providing training for its LeadManager software.

Leads360 was founded in 2004, and focuses on the mortgage, insurance and secondary education markets.

Leads360 – www.leads360.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/6/07 – Westwood-based Helio, the mobile phone service and content provider, has introduced the ability to upload videos shot with Helio devices to a YouTube account with only two-clicks.  The new functionality is the result of an exclusive partnership with the Google-owned online video pioneer.

Helio says the service is free-of-charge for Helio “All-In” members, and allows faster and easier uploads to You Tube that it says comes close to real-time publishing.

Helio and YouTube say the service, designed specifically for Helio, has been optimized for mobile through what they describe as “a close working relationship between the companies” to deliver faster and easier access to content. 

Leveraging the QVGA screens and landscape viewing mode on Helio devices Ocean, Drift and Heat, as well as future Helio devices, paired with the Helio 3G network, Helio says its members can browse, search and view thousands of the most popular YouTube videos.  More YouTube videos will be added each week, and the full YouTube catalog should be available this fall, as part of the Helio-specific version of YouTube, according to the companies.

Helio is a mobile virtual network provider, or MVNO, and a joint venture between Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink, and South Korea’s SK Telecom.  The companies announced earlier this week that they were increasing their investment in Helio by a combined $200 million.

Helio – www.helio.com

YouTube – www.youtube.com

Posted by startupbeat at 07:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/5/07 – A bankruptcy judge has approved a deal that will allow Los Angeles-based Amp’d Mobile to pay $2.5 million to Verizon Wireless to continue using Verizon’s network to provide cellular phone service while it reorganizes under chapter 11 protection.

Amp’d, a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, buys wholesale network service from Verizon and offers value-added service on top of the basic phone service.

Under the deal, the $2.5 million payment will be used to pay down a portion of Amp’d’s existing debt to Verizon.  The wireless giant has billed the company $10.6 million just for June, according to published reports.

In return for the payment, Amp’d will be able to continue to use Verizon’s network.  Amp’d will also drop a lawsuit it filed against Verizon to prevent it from kicking Amp’d off its network.

Amp’d’s bankruptcy has been a controversial topic, as the company had raised more than $360 million in capital—the most of any recent startup in Southern California—and numerous reports have surfaced since its bankruptcy filing of rampant overspending and faulty collection practices. 

Amp’d Mobile – www.ampdmobile.com

Other stories about the Amp’d Mobile bankruptcy:

Amp’d Mobile’s Lifeline Extended

Amp’d Mobile Founder’s High-Flying Commute

Adderton Leaves Amp’d Mobile

Can Amp’d Mobile Survive?

Amp’d Mobile Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Posted by startupbeat at 08:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/5/07 – Culver City-based Fonality, the open-source telephony company, announced today that Technology Marketing Corporation, or TMC, has named the company’s trixbox Appliance as a 2007 TMC Labs Innovation Award winner.  The appliance made its debut in March, and Fonality says it created the product for trixbox and Asterisk resellers, as well as IT professionals.

The product is an enterprise-class telephony appliance based on trixbox, the open source Asterisk-based telephony platform.  The appliance requires minimal set-up, according to Fonality, and provides resellers with a quick and easy hardware solution to build phone systems.

TMC says its Innovation Awards honor products that demonstrate “raw innovation, unique features and significant contributions toward improving communications technology.”  The winners can be found in the July and August 2007 issues of Internet Telephony magazine.

Earlier this year, Fonality announced that it had reached the 2,000 customer mark for its standard PBXtra phone system.  The company’s investors include Azure Capital and Intel Capital. 

Fonality – www.fonality.com

TMC – www.tmcnet.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/3/07 – Pasadena-based startup VantageILM, provider of on-demand integrated loan management software, has announced appointments to its newly-formed board of directors.  Late last week, the company announced the completion of its initial round of financing of $1.3 million.

The company’s board will include founder and president Robert Yuan; Steve Reich, senior vice president of sales and marketing for LeisureLink and a member of the Pasadena Angels; Thomas Dudley, a private investor and a distinguished professor of decision science at Pepperdine University; Henrik Vanderlip, chairman of private equity firm Viking Capital Partners and a member of Giant Step Angel Network; and Dennis Lin, a private investor and founder of New Century Group.

Vantage says its platform allows lenders to directly plug a wide variety of key external data providers and systems into the workflow, including credit bureaus, valuation services, identity verification and payment processors.

The company is backed by Giant Step Angel Network, the Pasadena Angels and Stonnington Capital Partners LP.

VantageILM – www.vantageilm.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/3/07 – U.K.-based FremantleMedia and Seattle-based mobile entertainment developer Mobliss have announced that their comedy channel, “Atomic Wedgie,” will launch on Helio, the Westwood-based mobile virtual network operator, this month.

The companies say Atomic Wedgie offers hours of original and repurposed short-form comedy programming with a menu of 12 different programs to choose from, including more than 150 mobile shorts.  The channel’s launch on Helio will feature 50 new shorts for some of its most popular shows, according to Freemantle and Mobliss.

Helio, which has focused in large part on new devices like the company’s Ocean dual slider smartphone, as well as integrated services like MySpace mobile and GPS location services, also offers entertainment through additional partnerships with ABC Mobile, FOX Sports, StupidVideos.com and Warner Music Group.

Yesterday, EarthLink and SK Telecom announced a funding infusion of $200 million into Helio.

Helio – www.helio.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/2/07 – Reuters is reporting this morning that Atlanta-based Internet service provider EarthLink and South Korean phone company SK Telecom will invest another $100 million each in mobile service and content startup Helio.

Westwood-based Helio, the mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, resells basic mobile phone service from network providers and packages value-added offerings on top of that service.  The business model is on the whole unproven, and Helio and other MVNOs have been the subject of intense speculation as to whether or not they will survive, long term.  Adding to the criticism is the recent chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by fellow Los Angeles-based MNVO Amp’d Mobile.

However, the decision by its primary investors to provide such a significant additional investment is a significant boost to Helio’s prospects.  In addition, although EarthLink and SK Telecom’s financial filings show Helio losing considerable cash, the company has reported impressive average revenue per user of $90-$100—considerably more than the mobile phone industry average.  The company has also garnered a steady stream of positive attention for its Ocean dual slider phone, which now faces increased competition with the debut of Apple’s iPhone.

Helio – www.helio.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/2/07 – Geni.com, the Los Angeles-based company that uses social networking to connect users by their genealogy, today announced that it has acquired over 5 million profiles since launching in mid-January.

Founded with considerable fanfare by David Sacks, former COO of PayPal and producer of the film “Thank You for Smoking,” the site is without doubt one of the more innovative genealogy sites on the web, allowing families to basically collaborate to build their family trees and create profiles for the people in those trees.

Geni says the site has seen many users already connect with long-lost relatives, adding new branches to their family trees.

The company was founded last year by Sacks and former executives and early employees of PayPal, Yahoo! Groups, EBay and Tribe.  Its investors include Founders Fund and Charles River Ventures.

Geni – www.geni.com

Posted by startupbeat at 09:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/2/07 – Lawrence Ng, co-founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based Oversee.net, has been named the winner of the Greater Los Angeles edition of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 award in the technology category.  Oversee is an online media company operating in the domain and online marketing services businesses that was founded in 2000 by Ng and Fred Hsu.

The award gives recognition to outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

Oversee.net was recently ranked as the third fastest growing private business in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and received the 2007 “Internet and New Media Company of the Year” award from the Technology Council of Southern California.

In the domain management sector, the company owns DomainSponsor, which enables the monetization of Internet domains, and SnapNames, which makes expired and deleting domain names available for purchase.  Oversee also offers marketing services in specific vertical markets, including mortgages and travel through its sites Low.com and Lowfares.com.

Oversee now counts more than 200 employees working out of its downtown L.A. headquarters and offices in Portland, Ore., and San Mateo, Calif.

Oversee.net – www.oversee.net

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Greater Los Angeles – web002.ey.com/eoy/eoylook.nsf/AreaList/Greater+Los+Angeles

About Ernst & Young – www.ey.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

7/2/07 – Los Angeles-based MyNuMo, an online mobile content startup, has launched Fun4iPhone.com and its first iPhone game.  The company says the free game, called iWhack, allows iPhone users to “whack” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer every time he pops up on the screen.

MyNuMo CEO William Volk says the game is the first of several offerings for iPhone users planned for the Fun4iPhone.com site.  MyNuMo says the site will also serve as a portal for news and information about Apple’s new blockbuster product.

The company offers mobile content like ringtones, wallpapers, videos and comics.

MyNuMo – www.mynumo.com

Posted by startupbeat at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)