LA tech startups share product updates at CES
With CES 2018 officially in the books, it's safe to say that the week-long tech convention proved to be fruitful for LA-based tech companies. Local luminaries like Ring, Hyperloop One and Solaborate, as well as a handful of other tech startups, announced to the world brand new products worth checking out. [Built In LA]
Namely adds former Box VP, opens LA office
NYC-based an HR startup Namely is the latest tech company to open a new branch here in the City of Angels. This week, the company announced that it had added Graham Younger — who served as a VP at Box and helped pave the way for the company's eventual IPO — as president and chief revenue officer. Because Namely already serves LA company's like Clutter and Fair, Namely decided to open an LA office instead of expanding its presence in the Bay Area.[Press Release]
Google announces underwater cable off the coast of LA, new data center
Everyone look to the west. If you can't see the ocean, that's okay, because even if you could, you probably wouldn't be able to see Internet giant Google building one of its three massive underwater cables between LA and Chile to bolster the company's network, one of — if not the — biggest in the world. In addition to the news of the "Curie" cable, Google revealed that it would be opening data centers in five new regions this year, including one here in Los Angeles. [BGR]
Internet Brands acquires online legal marketplace Avvo
El Segundo-based Internet Brands added to its portfolio this week, acquiring Seattle legal marketplace Avvo for an undisclosed amount. Internet Brands, which entered the legal vertical back in 2010, already has a number of legal properties to its name, including legal content site Nolo (high-quality legal content for consumers), legal directory Martindale-Hubbell (legal directory, websites and peer ratings), live chat tool Ngage and Total Attorneys, a site that offers practice management and client acquisition software for attorneys and law firms. [Press Release]
OpenGate Capital acquires Denver tech startup Mersive
LA-based private equity firm OpenGate Capital announced this week that it had acquired Denver-based collaboration software startup Mersive from shareholders for an undisclosed sum. According to Mersive CEO Rob Balgley, the acquisition will access to the growth capital, as well as the operational expertise to continue to scale the company. [Press Release]
LA Children's Hospital named as best hospital IT department in the U.S.
The tech team at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) received some much-deserved award recently, being named as one of the Best Hospital IT Departments in the country. Last year, the team was the first in the country to deploy the Cerner Oncology platform, which integrates the department's health records allowing doctors to write complex pharmacy orders for chemotherapy electronically. The team also rolled out a 24/7 internal mobile app that helps staff communicate with the tech team and different hospital divisions. The company also took part in a massive project to integrate CHLA's technology infrastructure with the new CHLA Health Network, connecting more than 100 community pediatricians and specialists throughout LA County to improve digital health models and telemedicine. As a reminder, the hospital is always in need of blood donations. Sign up if you can! [Press Release]
LA tech fundings of the week
Acorns, undisclosed amount
Irvine-based micro-investing app Acorns received a shot in the arm on Friday when it announced a strategic investment from private equity investor TPG. The size of the investment, which came from TPG's The Rise Fund, which focuses on companies in the social and environmental spaces, was not disclosed. [Press Release]
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