Los Angeles-based Alelo, which develops computer software that uses video games to teach language and culture training for Iraqi and other languages, reported late Friday that it has received a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for a handheld

Los Angeles-based music service Napster--which is now owned by Best Buy--said Friday morning that it has inked a deal with computer maker Dell to include 12 months of the service on Dell computers. According to Napster, the deal includes both

Luis Villalobos, the founder of the Tech Coast Angels, the largest and arguably the most influential angel group in Southern California, has passed away. Villalobos was 72, and had been in the intensive care unit at St. Joseph's in Orange

Los Angeles-based RealD, which develops 3D movie projection hardware, disclosed this morning that it has installed an upgraded cinema systems at the El Capitan. Financial details of the win was not disclosed. According to RealD, the Hollywood theater has upgraded

Irvine-based Local.com, which runs a local business search site and network, reported this morning that it was the victim of a bogus press release last night, claiming that the firm had been acquired by Microsoft. According to Local.com, "The company

Pasadena-based E-Z Data, a developer of customer relationship management (CRM) tools for the financial services and insurance industry, has been acquired by Ebix in a deal worth $50.35M. According to Ebix, the firms closed the transaction today. E-Z Data develops

Los Angeles-based Katharion, a developer of hosted email filtering services, has been acquired by GFI Software, a provider of managed web and email security services. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. According to GFI, the buy will allow

San Diego-based OpenCandy, which is developing products to help software publisher increase downloads and sales of their products, said Thursday that it has signed up PDF software firm PrimoPDF as a customer. According to OpenCandy, PrimoPDF is using the firm

El Monte-based Solarmer Energy, which is developing flexible solar power technology, has raised $4.3M in an equity funding round, according to a filing by the firm today. Source of the new funding for the company was not disclosed. The investment

For our Insights and Opinions section today, we have an article from Mark Suster of GRP Ventures, who talks about the great "VC Ice Age" triggered in September of 2008, and how it's started to thaw (a little bit). When

San Diego and Dallas-based Liquid Environmental Solutions, a provider of non-hazardous liquid waste collection and treatment, has received $20M in an investment from Los Angeles private equity firm Craton Equity Partners. According to Craton Equity Partners, the funding will go

Los Angeles-based RotoHog, developer of online fantasy sports games headed by Kelly Perdew, has confirmed that the firm's recently $2M funding came from Mission Ventures. In an open letter to customers earlier this week, Perdew said the funding from Mission

San Diego-based Nexus DX, a stealth mode, biotech firm, has raised $9.0M in a venture round, according to a regulatory filing from the firm this week. Details on the funding have not been announced. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as

A quick analysis by socalTECH of our tracking of venture capital deals in Southern California finds that there was around $879M in venture funding activity here in Q3. The information--gleaned from funding announcements, regulatory filings, and other sources--are not far

Torrance-based Knowledge Adventure, which owns the JumpStart brand of educational software titles, said Thursday that it has launched a new virtual world targeted at 5 to 8 year olds. According to the firm, the world--called MarineLand--is an extension of its

Venture capital firm Prism VentureWorks apparently has lost its last link to Southern California's venture market, as the firm's Los Angeles-based General Partner, Gordie Nye, has left the firm to join a medical device company in Northern California. According to

Los Angeles-based Placebase, a developer of interactive mapping and mashup tools, has quietly been acquired by Apple Computer, according to a report from Computerworld. No details or announcement of the buy--which apparently happened in July--have been announced by either firm.

Carlsbad-based ViaSat, a developer of wireless and satellite communications systems, announced this morning that it has acquired WildBlue Communications, a provider of satellite broadband services. ViaSat said it will pay $568M in cash and stock for WildBlue, as part of

Los Angeles-based StyleSpot.com said this morning that it has launched a new, celebrity fashion website, focused on providing photos of celebrity events and sightings along with shopping information to styles. The new site was created by Alex Amin and Rafi

San Diego-based VMIX, which provides online video hosting and management, has confirmed that it has raised $2M in a Series B-1 financing, the firm said this morning. The funding had first been reported by this publication Tuesday. According to VMIX