Amplify closes new fund
Amplify has closed its third early-stage investment fund to continue to invest in LA-based startups. The fund is reportedly worth $10 million. In 2016, the fund invested in Markett, The Flex Company, Stop, Breathe & Think, FloQast and Gem, all of which made Built In LA's 50 startups to watch in 2017. [SoCal Tech]
Hutch launches interior design app
Hutch, formerly known as HOMEE, announced the launch of its interior design app this week. The company, which has raised more than $7 million to date, allows users to take a photo of a room they wish to redesign and see how much the project will cost without actually purchasing or rearranging anything. [Hutch]
Local tech PR firm PMBC acquires ESSE PR
PMBC Group, an LA-based PR firm that focuses on tech startups, announced this week it had acquired ESSE PR, an award-winning agency that focuses on LA and Silicon Valley-based tech startups. The move will allow the new union to diversify the tech verticals they cover in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area. [PMBC]
IXIA acquired for $1.6 billion
IXIA, a Calabasas-based company that provides IP network validation solutions, has been acquired by Santa Rosa-based company Keysight. The cash deal is reportedly worth $1.6 billion. As a part of the deal, Ixia shareholders will receive $19.65 per share in cash. [Press Release]
Apocalypse Now developers create crowdfunding platform
Apocalypse Now, the classic Vietnam War film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola is becoming a video game. This week it was revealed that Coppola's film studio, American Zoetrope, would be sponsoring a team of veteran video game and crowdfunding professionals to tell the legendary story. Erebus, a cross-disciplinary team of game developers and crowdfunding experts, has created a platform that will deliver updates on the development process progress of the game's development. [Press Release]
Amplify-backed SafeRide Health announces partnership
SafeRide Health an LA-based startup backed by Amplify, announced its first partnership to help safely transport patients to and from their medical appointments. Mercy Jefferson, a hospital in Missouri, will implement the startup's healthtech platform to responsibly transport its patients. [SafeRide Health]
Fundings of the Week
Centerfield, $156 million
Investors: H.I.G. Growth Partners
Centerfield, the El Segundo-based adtech startup, announced a huge round of funding just hours into February. On Wednesday, the company revealed it had received a $156 million strategic investment from H.I.G. Growth Partners, and acquired Florida-based startup Qology Direct. [Built In LA]
The Bouqs Co., $24 million
Investors: Partech Ventures, NextEquity Partners, Reimagined Ventures, Azure Capital Partners, KEC Ventures, Quest Venture Partners, Robert Herjavec
E-commerce flower delivery app The Bouqs Co. announced a $20 million round of funding earlier this week, nearly a year to the day from when the company announced a $12 million round of funding in 2016. With the influx of cash, the company plans to double their roster. [Built In LA]
Comparably, $7.25 million
Investors: Greycroft Partners, Comcast Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Upfront Ventures, Lowercase Capital, Alpha Edison, Cornerstone on Demand, Accelerator Ventures and Rincon Ventures.
Santa Monica-based Comparably, which provides compensation data for public and private companies, announced the company had received a $7.25 million investment to help the company develop additional tools. [Built In LA]
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