In an effort to foster innovation, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Small Business Administration to launch Bixel Exchange – a technology center focused on growing L.A.’s emerging tech ecosystem — on Thursday, June 13th. Bixel Exchange will leverage the power of the Chamber and the proven track record of the SBA’s Small Business Development Centers with a specific focus on the rapidly evolving segments of the tech community, including clean tech, social media and video gaming. The program will include a keynote address by Manatt Digital Media Venture, CEO, Peter Csathy along with a panel discussion about supporting, sustaining, and cultivating L.A. based emerging tech startups.  You will be able to catch it all live right here on TechZulu Starting at 6:30pm!

Speakers

• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Gary Toebben
• Los Angeles Athletic Club, President, Karen Hathaway
• Manatt Digital Media Venture, CEO, Peter Csathy

Panel

Growing L.A’s Emerging Tech Ecosystem – Q & A

• Sam Teller, Managing Director Co-Founder, Launchpad LA
• Mike Costache, Tech Coast Angel
• Susannah Luthi, CEO, Connu
• Jeff Solomon, Managing Director, Amplify

The post L.A. Area Chamber Launches Emerging Tech Center Bixel Exchange Live appeared first on TechZulu.

According to SGL, developers can now submit their apps for review and have their press releases and updates distributed on the Stained Glass Labs website, which gives them the quick feedback from other developers and the ability to submit press releases, which are sent to members of the media interested in Google Glass and wearable technologies.

Redg Snodgrass, co-founder of Stained Glass Labs said,“There is little doubt we are at the forefront of an incredible new wave of wearable technologies, with Google Glass leading the way,”  and adeded,  “SGL was created to foster this new generation of technologies growth, help create a path to market during the development stage for early stage companies and mentor the community as these platforms begin to open up. Today’s announcement will go a long way to help us foster innovation and help entrepreneurs create wearable technologies that will define a new era in tech.”

Comprehensive App Directory

SGL says the Comprehensive App Directory launched is a simple 2 step process. Glass developers simply upload their applications and marketing collateral, the SGL team reviews it, and then places it on the directory.

Apart from the app directory, SGL has also created a Press Release publishing tool for developers to upload their docs during the submission process easily, making it even better for SGL to send it to its network of industry connection. Entrepreneurs will also be able to communicate with the Bloggerati and showcase their products to the world.

Over 100 Applications

According to Snodgrass, SGL wants to deliver products and services that can quickly help entrepreneurs get the attention, and funding they need and have been overwhelmed with mentor, Angels, and VC requests since launch  and to date. They have also received over 100 applications for admission since their launch last month with new submissions coming in daily.

To make it better for entrepreneurs to get the maximum attention and funding they need Stained Glass Labs has also partnered with Exitround, the world’s first marketplace for startups to discreetly get funding partners and acquisition opportunities. Stained Glass Labs’s incubator companies will be able to gain advanced access to the Exitround community of business and corporate development professionals and also get  one-to-one coaching on strategically navigating corporate conversations.

Partnership to give firms bigger business opportunities

Confirming the partnership, Jacob Mullins, founder of Exitround said it provide SGL companies access to its active marketplace to find great business and corporate development opportunities.

He said, “As a startup goes through its various stages of development, smart entrepreneurs understand the opportunities that can be gained by working with large, growing companies with meaningful distribution.  These companies are active on Exitround and are looking to connect with startups who are disrupting markets and changing the world.”

SGL companies will get a variety of strategic business options and business opportunities with some of the world’s greatest tech companies.

The post Stained Glass Labs Patners With Exitround, Unveils App Directory for Google Glass appeared first on TechZulu.

Startups Apply Here

The post TechZulu Final Friday at ROC Santa Monica (#TZFF) appeared first on TechZulu.

TechZulu: How did BEAM come into mind?

Drew Baumann:  It was simple really.  I thought Google Glasses was allowing people to easily share life’s moment through YouTube.  At Google I/O a couple years back, showed a demo of Google Glass by watching a French woman holding her baby and recording that moment.  The French woman pointed out that she can interact with her baby and technology is not getting in the way of her and her child.

So, when the Explorer versions of the Glass unit came out, there was no way to upload videos directly to YouTube.  I thought that was weird as Google owns YouTube and that would be an obvious feature to have.  I sought out to fix this problem and started working on the coding, even before I got the glasses.  Once I got it, I did some final tweaks to make sure it worked and then released it.

How hard was it to work on the Google Glass?

Luckily it was fairly easy to work on since it was using a Rust API, which also allowed me to use Ruby on Rails.  I soon understood the user interface and experience of Glass the longer I worked on it.  I also had to think about how the user interacts with the application.  That’s what developers are always facing when making a new product.

What are your main goals for BEAM?

Google Glass is an easy and convenient way in shooting a first-person video.  When it is on you all the time, you can capture all the moments.  Unlike your phone and camera, you don’t have to take it out, turn it on, and switch to photo or video.  Glass can just shoot and capturing moments in an instant.  There are a lot of viral videos on YouTube.  Every second you miss out on, the picture or video is going to produce less valuable content.

YouTube is great for short content.  Someone told me, if you can be entertained for the first three seconds, you can gather a good number of views.  It’s great for content creators to capture viral moments.  Like I said earlier, Glass is also great for capturing moments like the mother and her newborn baby and still interacting with her child.  You don’t need another person to take pictures or a video, no need for technology to get in the way of capturing moments.

The ultimate goal for BEAM is to create a great YouTube experience.  I know there aren’t a ton of these units out yet, but there are people like me who want to capture video and send it to YouTube.  I want to offer those people more options.

What’s your opinion on Google Glass?

The first week I had them, I thought it was really cool.  I am an outgoing guy, but in the back of my mind, I was worried about what people would think of me wearing these glasses.  I would think people would see me as a huge nerd or even as a terminator.  But the reception of the glasses was actually positive.

I had some strain in my eye using the glasses for the first week.  I wasn’t used to wearing glasses at all, so that took some time to get used to as well.  But after a while I finally got used to the glasses.

What do you think about the privacy factor with Google Glass will be?

It’s really evident when I record a video.  As you can see my screen lights up and you can see the Glass unit on.  Plus, when I record something, I have to stare at you or whatever I am recording.  I don’t change as a human being just because I have Google Glass.  I don’t go out of my way to record inappropriate things.  No one has gotten angry over my Glass unit.

One of the first nights I got these units, I went to a bar with some friends.  I was worried that people would either start a fight over the privacy issue or just call me some huge nerd, but it wasn’t like that at all.  People were curious about it and when people did ask what I thought about the privacy issue with Glass, I showed them how it works.  Once they saw how it worked, they understood how easy it is to notice when it’s recording and that they didn’t have anything to worry about.

Which direction is Google Glass taking technology?

There are so many possibilities that I can’t speculate on it all.  Maybe the consumers may decide they aren’t ready for this type of technology and it won’t come to market, but I’m hoping it will.  Glass is following Google’s new mantra that technology shouldn’t be getting in the way of everyday life.  The value of holding knowledge “at-a-glance” while hands free is pretty powerful too.  Wearable technology is coming of age and more companies are looking into it.

What new technology advancements are you looking forward to?

The Google self-driving cars is pretty amazing.  What that technology can do for transportation in general will be amazing.  Think about reducing the number of accidents and creating safer roads for pedestrians.  The potential for public safety is huge.

What other tech would you like Fullscreen to work on?

Fullscreen’s main focus is about content creators; helping people on YouTube.  The BEAM fit into our idea, but it is not one of our main focuses.  Once every month we have a thing called Fullscreen Labs, a day where we dedicate exploration, hacking, and trying out new things that we find interesting or that would help content creators.  BEAM is an example of a project coming from Fullscreen Labs.  I had the drive to build this for my own needs and for the content creators who got their hands on Glass.

Where do you think the LA tech scene is right now?

I think the LA tech scene is doing some great things.  I moved from Iowa and took a chance to move out here to LA.  I don’t know what LA is like compared to Silicon Valley, but LA has been very entertaining and interesting for me.  I have been at Coloft in Santa Monica, which is full of driven people.  I haven’t been around people like that before.  I felt welcomed into the community and I think there are lots of hard workers.  There are lots of companies that are building, growing, and bringing in money to making LA a more legitimate tech city.  I like the community here and what it has to offer.

Thanks for your time Drew.

The post Drew Baumann | Fullscreen BEAM, Google Glass, and Future Tech appeared first on TechZulu.

The inaugural Silicon Beach Fest in June 2012 attracted 2,000 attendees to the fest and related events. A one-day Silicon Beach Fest was held in Hollywood in November 2012.

This time around SBF will be taking place at three major Silicon Beach locations, Cross Campus, Real Office Centers (ROC) Santa Monica, and The Santa Monica Place. All of which are walking distance from each other.  So find a parking spot, grab your learning cap and enjoy SBF.

Discounts!

TechZulu is also hooking you up with a special TechZulu discount for Silicon Beach Fest.  Enter our special code “TZ15“ or Click Here for 15% off regular Full 4-day pass, or Thursday only, Friday only or Saturday only passes.

Registration
- Includes badge allowing admission to panels and parties; some sessions require separate registration or VIP
- Does NOT include: Parking, food, or drink. Parties are cash bar unless otherwise indicated.

Attendees and speakers include: Accelerator heads, start-ups, VCs, movie and music studio execs, agencies, fashion, content creators, artists, social media gurus, developers, designers, etc. from LA, Silicon Valley, OC, San Diego, New York, and international.

TechZulu Penthouse @ ROC June 20 – 21

TechZulu will be hosting its inaugural TechZulu Penthouse (#TZPH) on the Rooftop of ROC June 20-21 from 10:30am – 6pm during Silicon Beach Fest!  Throughout each day we will be live streaming interviews to our worldwide audience, providing a space to come and get work done, hold a meeting, or just relax and take in the views.

We are aiming to create an intimate setting, while at the same time offering broader exposure beyond the city walls. Early products will receive meaningful feedback. Partnerships can be forged. Shared experiences will be had and friendships will be made.

TechZulu^XSN

STARTUPS APPLY HERE

We will have a treat for all the startups in the area.  TechZulu will be hosting TZXSN the online shopping network for startups live from Silicon Beach Fest.  TZXSN is giving the opportunity to startups to promote their products/service/hardware to our worldwide audience in a shopping network fashion.  You will be given a maximum of 15min that will be streamed live. If you have a Startup and would like to take part please fill out this form by CLICKING HERE

The post Silicon Beach Fest 2013 & TechZulu Penthouse Featuring TZXSN appeared first on TechZulu.

Far from the end, receiving funding is actually just the beginning of a whole new stage for you and for your company —a stage full of financial statements, board meetings with VCs and more. A lot is about to change…

The early days will set the tone so take the following steps to build a positive working relationship with your investors:

1. Define “success.” If you’re doing milestone funding, presumably the VC is on board with your proposed milestones, but this is worth confirming. Make clear what milestones you are shooting for with this funding round and get VC buy-in. If necessary, break down your “to-do” list of performance objectives into what you are definitely planning on attacking, and what is on your “maybe” list—if there is enough time and money. In this way you can manage your VC’s expectations and avoid issues further down the road.

Agreeing to terms of “success” is also useful in that it is a bridge to a Series B. If you have achieved your milestones and need more capital, your existing VC might agree to insider-led financing, saving you the hassle of trying to find new investors for Series B.

2. Create a structure. Create a structure for the relationship that keeps the VC informed and involved at a level that you both are comfortable with and that ensures that you are maximizing their benefit for the success of the company. For example, how often should you report out to the VC? Do they want monthly GAAP financial statements? You should review these types of questions with your VC and agree to the terms.

3. Establish what you expect from your investors. The VC/entrepreneur relationship can sometimes feel like a one-way street, but it shouldn’t. If the VC believes in you enough to invest in your company, then what you have is a partnership. In any partnership, there are expectations and ground rules from both parties. Do you expect timely feedback? Active networking assistance? Do you have particular rules for board meetings? Clearly you don’t want to go too far with your rules, but establishing some fair and clear rules of engagement makes sense for both you and your VC.

4. Be transparent. As with any relationship, honesty with your VC is the best policy. If you’re encountering some bumps in the road, there’s no sense in trying to hide these from your VC—the truth will out, at some point. You want to create a trusting relationship with your VC and you do this through transparency and honesty.

Depending on your VC’s level of involvement with your company, you may wish to seek their counsel in finding solutions to the problems you encounter. More importantly, when you run into a problem, you need to be prepared to propose workable solutions. In other words, don’t just tell the VC that you’re facing some challenges; show them that you are successfully managing the situation and taking steps to resolve the problems you are facing. This breeds confidence.

Ultimately your relationship with your VC is money-based. They’ve given you capital and are expecting a certain percentage of return on their investment. Making money for your VC is the best way to ensure a great working relationship. Unfortunately, no startup is a sure thing so, while you certainly want to give your VC the kind of returns they are looking for, there are never any guarantees. What you can control are the non-money aspects of your relationship. If you can create conditions under which the VC trusts and likes you—and understands what you are doing—then you’re in a good position to get further rounds or future VC money for a new startup that may be somewhere down the road for you.

How are you working to build a good relationship with your investors?

The post You’ve Landed a Round of VC Funding…Now What? appeared first on TechZulu.

We here at TechZulu put our heads together with the people at Talenthouse to bring you an exciting weekend of hacking, music, food, art, and Hollywood quality entertainment. The event will focus on solutions driving creative discovery and sharing of art. Talenthouse will be opening up their platform containing over 20 million pieces of creative to assist participants in their development.

The hackathon will take place the evening of June 7th & all day June 8th at the amazing Talenthouse offices in West Hollywood. After a weekend of hacking we’ll have awards for the best/most exciting projects selected by an all-star cast of judges. This is Hollywood after all people. Look for the announcement of the judging panel in the coming weeks.

Schedule

June 7th – Friday – Day 1

6:00 pm Dinner & Networking
7:00 pm Welcome & Speakers
8:00 pm Team Formation
11:00 pm Time For Rest

June 8th – Saturday – Day 2

7:00 am Wake-up! Breakfast Time!
12:00 pm Lunch
5:00 pm Final 60-Min Mark
6:00 pm Dinner & Presentations
7:30 pm Judging and Awards
7:45 pm AFTER – PARTY w/ DJ Photek

Judging Panel

We’re excited to annouce part of our judging panel with some great influencers - Chris DeWolfe of SGN, Ted Cohen of TAG Strategic, Roman Scharf of Talenthouse, Ann Greenberg of Sceneplay, and Rynda Laurel of 1968Media.

Entertainment!

Photek

Making The Hack Awesome!

Want to Sponsor?

We currently have sponsorship slots open If you would like to be part of this amazing event and show your support for Community. Contact us at sponsor@techzulu.com.

• Sponsorship Opportunities for Events, and other channels
• Sponsored giveaways and contests
• Custom ad deals and partnerships

About Talenthouse:

Talenthouse is the world’s platform for creative collaboration, connecting aspiring talent, established artists and brand advertisers. Artists always retain ownership of their own work using Talenthouse as a platform to collaborate, grow their audience and monetize their work. Brands choose Talenthouse to engage in a dialogue with consumers in an entertaining, relevant and credible context.

Talenthouse is where artists and brands engage to build an authentic community that rewards creativity and unlocks the value of collaboration.

Our mission is to liberate all artists.

The post Talenthouse & TechZulu Hackathon! | Creative Discovery and Sharing of Art appeared first on TechZulu.

Not just a new film, “The Cosmonaut” is a labor of love four years in the making, crowdsourced and created with a plan to test the boundaries of transmedia content distribution worldwide. The project was started by a group of young Spanish digerati called Riot Cinema Collective. Using the power of the Internet’s connected tools they are proposing a new film model from financing, distribution, production and user participation by fostering a hardcore community under a Share-alike Creative Commons license. This allows users to download, lend, re-cut or use the film footage to create new derivatives of the work. It’s ambitious, it’s genius, it’s innovative and it’s all going down May 14^th worldwide on multiscreens, with multiple endings, live theatre troupes, and free streaming. It’s kind of a big deal.

Directed by Nicolás Alcalá, “The Cosmonaut” is a sci-fi adventure love story depicting the space race between Russia and the U.S. told from a Russian astronaut’s point view. The film boasts being Spain’s first film made from crowdfunding from 5,000+ people and of one of the world’s most successful film crowdfunding campaigns (at the time) collecting over €300,000. Not too shabby. It only cost 2 Euros to become a producer and was influenced by other epic projects including “Artemis Eternal” and “A Swarm of Angels.” 

 It doesn’t end there. Their creative marketing and fundraising techniques included posting detailed business plans, an indie concert held in Madrid called CosmoNauts, a flashmob, video diaries of the process and they posted a pdf of the script online for remix. They want it all hacked and mashed up. Their site beckons, “Download our business plan, and find out our strategy to turn the film industry upside down.” Radical transparency is the goal and on May 14, 2013 the filmmakers will post the entire feature-length film online in HD (for free), in addition to releasing it on DVD/Blu-ray, on TV, and in theaters simultaneously. Transmedia elements in the works include alternate reality games (ARG), mobile apps, webisodes and whatever else the fans come up with.

There will be a smattering of special screenings worldwide. Fans are encouraged to create screening events via Tugg and to add interesting elements — like costume parties or Google Hangouts with the director. Transmedia Club LA’s director Hal Hefner has arranged a private screening May 15^th at the Downtown Independent Theatre at 7:30 pm with after party.

The post Experimental Transmedia Film “The Cosmonaut” Tests New Distribution Methods appeared first on TechZulu.

Speaking of the new investment, CapLinked CEO Eric M. Jackson said, “We’re using the proceeds from our financing round to invest in our technology, build new features, and increase sales and support.”

Over $3M Raised

Jackson added that the firm was proud of its product, and even uses its own software to manage their capital raised from investors.

CapLinked’s new investors include Conversion Capital, Inflection Ventures,The Artesian Group, Chris Harris (software engineering manager at Google), and Lee Essener (founder of AccessDNA).

Earlier, the firm said that FF Angel, Siemer Ventures, 500 Startups, and Peter Thiel (co-founder of PayPal), among others, had invested $1.6 million in the Series A round. The new funding brings the company’s aggregate amount of capital raised to over $3 million.

Team, Technology & Vision

Pleased to be an investor in the company, investor Lee Essner  said he was particularly drawn to CapLinked’s team, technology and vision. Essner added, “They have a beautiful, modern, workflow-friendly transaction management solution for corporate development teams, sell-side advisors, and private equity firms, as well as an extremely driven and impressive team that is perfectly positioned to take advantage of this big opportunity to disrupt the financial technology sector.”

CapLinked didn’t just raise money but announced it had acquired several new clients, including Edwards Lifesciences, Draper and Kramer, and Proprietary Capital who join a growing and impressive roster of previously disclosed CapLinked clients such as Thomson Reuters, Sun Capital, and NextView Ventures.

New Clients To Manage Complex Business Transactions

Based in LA, and launched in 2011 by Eric M. Jackson and Christopher Grey, CapLinked empowers its clients to manage complex business transactions such as mergers & acquisitions, financings, asset sales, and investor reporting. It’s easy-to-use collaborative workspaces enable users to speed up the complicated and tedious process of managing a large deal.

The firm helps transaction parties to communicate and securely exchange files, while providing customers with deal analytics and a complete audit trail as it is built with workflow optimization in mind.

Easy To Set Up

CapLinked’s alternative to Virtual Data Room (VDR) services for coordinating on complex business deals are time saving as the VDR industry has long been dominated by three large players resulting to lack of competition and lack of innovation. VDR customers also suffer poor workflow, difficult set-up, and exorbitant pricing plus hidden per-page charges but, CapLinked is easy to set up, workflow-friendly, and has transparent pricing.

The post CapLinked Announces New Investors, Signs Up New Clients & Builds New Features appeared first on TechZulu.

Registration for the event opens at 8:00 am, which will be followed by several Panelist Speakers. I already know you’re interested so make sure to park and be inside room D301 before 11:30am, or you’ll miss the Fast-Pitch Semi-final round being held within. The actual final round is being held from 3:15-4:15 in the Korn Convocation Hall, which will be immediately followed by the Winner Announcement.

TZ Hookups

Get 20% off ticket prices by CLICKING HERE

Judging this year’s Fast-pitch Conference is a splendid all-star cast featuring:

• Jason Beck, VP of Vicente Capital Partners
• William Hsu, co-founder of MuckerLab
• Robert Jadon, Director of Startup UCLA
• Jamie Kantrowitz, co-founder of Gobbler,
• Mark Kapcznski from Kontrol Media Corp,
• Jeff Scheinrock, President & CEO of Originate
• and Matt Richter-Sand, founder of N/X Fitness

Every person listed above is an acknowledged and distinguished investment professional and entrepreneur. Each pitch will be judged for both presentation quality and investment potential. Keep in mind that receiving any feedback, positive or negative, constructive or other is advise well worth listening to.

Three prizes are available to competitors, each more exciting than the first.

• 3rd Prize: Incorporation package for your startup
• 2nd Prize: $1,000 Cash + Incorporation package of your startup
• 1st Prize:  $2,000 Cash + 3 Months Coworking Space for 2 in Hollywood (WeWork.com) + Incorporation package of your startup

As I stated above, there are several Panel speakers and I can’t play down the Keynote Speeches to be presented by Bill Gross, Adam Miller and Dr. Al Osborne. This is planned to be a full day of learning, and growth centered on business prowess. Even if you don’t plan to compete, I consider attendance mandatory for any LA based startup, seeking info on how to best move forward.

The post The Entrepreneur Association Can’t Be Stopped | Holding 90 sec Fast Pitch Competition appeared first on TechZulu.

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As we reported earlier, Built in L.A., the online community for the Los Angeles startup scene, soft launched in January with the help of tech leaders, including mega VC Tony Pritzker. A new startup is launched every 40 hours in Los Angeles. It is hard to keep up with the newly formed companies and deals. Built In L.A has been datamining and tracking all the local startup action and has released the “2012 Los Angeles Digital Startup Report.”

“2012 was another record-setting year for digital technology companies in Los Angeles,” said Tony Pritzker, Partner, The Pritzker Group and Built In L.A Board Member. “The spotlight on the Los Angeles digital technology economy is shining bright, as government, media, large corporations, major universities and investors from around the country are taking notice — and now we have the data to prove it.”

According to the report, in 2012 Los Angeles launched 220 new startups, 100 companies secured funding of at least $1 million (with digital media and marketing being the fastest growing sectors), and 43 companies were acquired. The city attracted 170 investors raising $871 million from VCs. JustFab put the fashion industry in the forefront securing the largest investment last year at $76 million.

“2012 was a key year for JustFab as it cemented the brand as the leader of this exciting industry of online subscription fashion.  The funds we raised last year gave us the ability to scale our business on a global level, which is now thriving in four countries and will continue to expand this year,” said Adam Goldenberg, Co-CEO of JustFab.

Built in L.A. will continue to provide Los Angeles free comprehensive digital startup reports quarterly and annually.

The post “Built In L.A.” Releases Its First Los Angeles Digital Startup Report appeared first on TechZulu.