Google buys 12 acres in Playa Vista, vastly expanding in L.A.
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After months of rumors, Google has bought 12 acres of land for $120 million in Playa Vista. The large purchase is mostly of land that used to be the Huges Airport. Google is also expected to lease a historic hanger where the “Spruce Goose” was built. Using zoning rules and tech industry practices it is speculated that the space could accommodate as many as 6,000 employees. YouTube, a company owned by Google, runs YouTube Space LA in Playa Vista as well. Also, Microsoft has a 20,000 square foot facility and Yahoo is reportedly planning a 130,000 square foot office space in Playa Vista. [Google buys 12 acres in Playa Vista, vastly expands presence in L.A.: L.A. Times]
RTL backs StyleHaul with $20M to expand to China and Brazil
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StyleHaul, which sold off a majority stake to RTL Group in early November for $107 million, said it has plans to expand to Brazil and China. The YouTube MCN specializes in videos that show off make-up and fashion apparel. The company’s international ambitions are backed by a $20 million additional investment from RTL. StyleHaul makes a significant portion of its revenue from in-video brand placement. “We go where the brands go. It started with the UK/Canada. I started StyleHaul and knew pretty early that Brazil and South America were big and it’s growing pretty quickly for us. And the next place we are looking to invest is APAC (Asia-Pacific),” said CEO Stephanie Horbaczewski. [RTL backs StyleHaul with $20M to expand to China and Brazil: Built In LA]
North Korea’s fingerprints said to be on Sony hack
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Sony Pictures Entertainment suffered a massive computer system hack right before Thanksgiving. Much of the company's computers remain offline today and Sony employees are reportedly doing their work with pen and paper. Hackers going by the name "Guardians of Peace" have claimed to take more than 100 TB of data including salary information, social security numbers and digital versions of Sony movie productions like “Annie” and “Fury.” Curiously, the comedy movie “The Interview,” which is about the attempted assignation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, wasn’t leaked, leading some to speculate that The Hermit Kingdom was responsible. Others have reported that the hack was too good, so it's likely to be an inside job. For its part, once aware of the hack Sony immediately shut down its computer systems possibly stemming losses. [Sony Hack: Studio Security Points to Inside Job: Hollywood Reporter] [North Korea’s Fingerprints Said to Be on Sony Hack: Bloomberg]
$13M Series A round for video curation startup Pluto.TV
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Led by U.S. Venture Partners, six investors poured $13 million into Pluto TV. The startup hosts over 100 made for the Internet television channels, including content from CNN, Bloomberg, and FunnyOrDie.com. The platform fills out the rest of its channels with more niche focused content like MineCraft, Kickboxing, and The Young Turks. The platform presents all of this content in a familiar TV Guide format, that makes watching a lot like the classic television experience, yet online. In October 2014, the startup had raised $500,000 in seed funding. Pluto TV has investors from a number of traditional media players including United Talent Agency, Universal Music Group and BSkyB. [$13M Series A round for video curation startup Pluto.TV: Built In LA]
Demand Media co-founder raises $20M at a $100M valuation for TV-clipping startup Whipclip
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Demand Media co-founder Richard Rosenblatt is at it again, but this time with a video clip sharing startup called WhipClip that has just raised $20 million. The WhipClip app legally pulls clips from television for people to share digitally. Rosenblatt cites the volume of content on television that cannot be shared easily, instances, which to be shared previously had to be illegally copied or could only be found on television network’s websites. The app is in private beta and has deals to allow users to pull from shows on ABC, CBS and A&E Networks. [Demand Founder Raises $20 Million at a $100 Million Valuation for Legal TV-Clipping Startup Whipclip: Recode]
Bankrate, Inc. buys of Pasadena-based Wallaby Financial
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Pasadena-based Wallaby Financial, a credit card rewards startup, was bought by Bankrate Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Wallaby had a handful of products, including a website, iPhone, Android, and wearable apps that used algorithms, geo-location and consumer preference data to help consumers maximize their credit card rewards. Since launching in 2012, the company said it has suggested $20 million in consumer savings. The startup had previously raised $1.1 million from seven different investors including Mucker Capital and Karlin Ventures. New parent company Bankrate gathers and publishes personal finance management content online. [Bankrate, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Wallaby Financial: PR Newswire]
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