Google acquires Santa Monica's Bitium
Local cloud identity management startup Bitium was acquired by Google this week, according to the Mountain View giant. The move will help Google Cloud bolster its Cloud Identity service. Financial terms of the deal were not revealed. [Google]
OpenX acquires Mezzobit, PubNation
Pasadena-based OpenX had some big news to share this week after acquiring not one, but two startups. PubNation, which develops publishing tools for advertisers, and Mezzobit, which has created a data interchange platform for marketers, join OpenX's portfolio of adtech acquisitions. Financial details of the acquisitions were not revealed. [Press Release]
ZestFinance launches machine learning tool to foil money launderers
Look out, white-collar criminals: ZestFinance has a new tool designed to make your line of work a little tougher. This week, the company announced it had released Zest for AML, a tool that lets vendors prioritize and investigate alerts for their existing anti-money laundering systems. The tool promises to cut investigation time significantly, potentially saving organizations millions of dollars in the process. The tool also helps lenders adapt to new money laundering patterns as they are discovered. [Press Release]
LiveNation announces bot to help friends discover concert opportunities
This week, Beverly Hills-based concert giant Live Nation announced the release of a Facebook Messenger bot designed to help fans and their friends find concerts and buy tickets. The app is live now. [Press Release]
VNTANA partners with Satisfi Labs to launch responsive AI hologram
Van Nuys-based VNTANA announced this week it has partnered with Satisfi Labs to develop what the companies claim is the first-ever intelligent hologram concierge, designed specifically for retail, sports and hospitality. The hologram will interact with consumers and answer their questions without the need for wearables or touchscreen devices, collecting valuable information about them in the process. [Press Release]
TOKiMONSTA launches new VR album
TheWaveVR, a social VR music platform with dual headquarters in LA and Austin, revealed a partnership with LA-based producer and musician TOKiMONSTA to create an interactive version of the artist's latest album, "Luna Rouge." Programmed specifically for VR with art direction coming from Strangeloop, the VR portion of the album goes live on October 8 at 6 a.m., and will be available to any HTC Vive or Oculus Rift VR headset owners through TheWaveVR’s Steam application. [TheWaveVR]
Fundings of the week
Hyperloop One, $85 million
Investors: Caspian VC Partners (as a part of Summa Group) and OurCrowd.com
Hyperloop One did it again, raising an additional $85 million last week on the heels of successful tests and promising conversations with foreign countries to implement the Arts District-based company's revolutionary technology in the future. The Series B-1 included contributions from new and existing investors Caspian VC Partners (as a part of Summa Group) and OurCrowd.com. [Built In LA]
Dreamscape Immersive, $20 million
Investors: AMC Entertainment
LA-based interactive VR startup Dreamscape Immersive added to its impressive 2017 by closing its Series B just eight months after launching. Theater chain AMC Entertainment led the round. The company — whose investors and advisors include Hollywood giants Steven Spielberg, Gore Verbinski and Hans Zimmer — is working on VR experiences where up to six players can freely walk around without needing to be physically tethered to a local computer. [International Business Times]
Envoy Technologies, $1.5 million
Investors: California Energy Commission
Envoy Technologies, a startup that is developing programs to make electric vehicles more available to disadvantaged communities, announced this week it has received a $1.5 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The company's program will make it easier for users to gain access to vehicles for personal or professional use, and will install electric chargers in communities where they previously did not exist. [SoCal Tech]
Images via social media, Creative Commons and Shutterstock.
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