MENLO PARK — Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park has announced the formation of Kepler’s Literary Foundation (KLF), a new, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Kepler’s position as the premier producer of literary and cultural programs in Silicon Valley. KLF was created as part of the community’s Kepler’s 2020 Project, whose goal is to reimagine Kepler’s and […]
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Howard University Opens Campus at Google HQ
Google is hoping to hire more diverse engineers by forming a partnership with Howard University to open a campus at the company’s headquarters. Howard is a Historically Black University located in Washington, DC. The new program offers a residency for Black Computer Science majors right at the Googleplex. “Howard West” is now the centerpiece […]
Home Depot Hiring 80,000 Employees for Spring
Home Depot, the nation’s largest home-improvement chain, plans to hire 80,000 workers for the upcoming spring season. The number is the same as the company hired last year. Opportunities are available at The Home Depot’s nearly 2,000 U.S. stores, as well as 75 distribution facilities. They include customer service and sales, lot associates, freight […]
Governor Brown to Undergo Prostate Cancer Treatment
SACRAMENTO – The Office of the Governor announced Saturday that Governor Jerry Brown will undergo further treatment for prostate cancer. The 78-year old Brown has been Governor of California since 2011. He also served previously as Governor from 1975-83. Brown was also Mayor of Oakland from 1999-2007. Dr. Eric Small, Governor Brown’s oncologist at […]
Google Home Partners With First Alert
Google has partnered with Illinois-based First Alert to enable Onelink by First Alert products to work with the Google Home device and its hands-free, voice-controlled Google Assistant technology. The first such Onelink product – a smart Wi-Fi Thermostat – launches this month. “First Alert brings expertise in home safety and security to this partnership,” said […]
San Jose Apartment Complex Sold for $95.5 Million
SAN JOSE — The Grove, a 331-unit apartment complex built in 1970 in San Jose, has sold for $95.5 million. The property was sold by Kennedy Wilson Multifamily to TH Real Estate, an operating division of TIAA Global Asset Management. Marcus & Millichap’s Institutional Property Advisors (IPA) division helped close the sale. “The investment appeal of this […]
Logitech Rolls Out Prodigy Series
NEWARK, CA — Logitech has introduced the Prodigy series, a new family of gaming gear that includes two mice, a keyboard and a headset. All share the same attributes of high-performance technology, exceptional comfort, and a sleek and modern design. “We love building products for hardcore gamers, and we’ll never give that up,” said […]
Merck Buys Afferent Pharmaceuticals
KENILWORTH, N.J. & SAN MATEO, CA — Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has signed an agreement to acquire privately held Afferent Pharmaceuticals for up to $750 million. Afferent Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the development of therapeutic candidates targeting the P2X3 receptor for the treatment of common, poorly-managed, […]
Cyara Closes $25 Million Series A
REDWOOD CITY — Cyara Solutions Corp., a provider of a testing and monitoring platform for businesses, has secured $25 million in Series A funding in a round led by PeakSpan Capital and Greenspring Associates. Cyara has headquarters in Australia with North American office in San Francisco. The company will use the funds to scale […]
Pandora Founder Taking Over as CEO
OAKLAND — Music site Pandora announced its board has appointed founder Tim Westergren as CEO effecitve immediately. Tim helped lead the development of Pandora’s Music Genome Project in the early 2000s. He has been deeply involved throughout Pandora’s history and company’s growth strategy and evolution. “I am incredibly excited about the future of Pandora. We’re […]
Hotel Zeppelin Opens in SF
SAN FRANCISCO — In a city best known for its transformative spirit and colorful counter-culture, one hotel is looking to shake things up with its bold and decidedly unconventional approach to hospitality—enter Hotel Zeppelin San Francisco. Located just two blocks from San Francisco’s Union Square, and within walking distance to FiDi, Viceroy Hotel Group’s newest property […]
Zynga Names New CEO
SAN FRANCISCO — Zynga, a provider of social game services, has appointed Frank Gibeau as Chief Executive Officer effective March 7, 2016. Gibeau, who joined Zynga’s Board of Directors in August 2015, is a gaming industry veteran, with 25 years of experience in interactive entertainment. Mark Pincus, Zynga’s founder and current CEO, will serve as […]
Cupertino Uses Aerohive Networks for Wi-Fi
CUPERTINO – The city of Cupertino has selected Aerohive Networks to deploy access points, branch routers, and switches to deliver Wi-Fi to its employees and guests.
News Facts
Cupertino is located 45 miles south of San Francisco and is suburban community known for its excellent public school district and as the home of Apple Inc. With approximately 60,000 residents, the City of Cupertino employs 160 staff. While the City contracts many of its services including police and fire, the City provides many valuable and key services to its residents.
GoPro to Acquire Apps Splice and Replay
SAN MATEO, CA — GoPro announced agreements to acquire two leading mobile video editing apps Replay and Splice. The acquisitions of Replay and Splice increases the company’s ability to deliver ultra-convenient, yet powerful, mobile editing solutions to GoPro customers and billions of smartphone users.
Mainsail Partners Raises $384 Million for Fourth Fund
SAN FRANCISCO — Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in bootstrapped companies, said it has successfully raised $384 million for its fourth fund, Mainsail Partners IV, L.P. The oversubscribed fund closed in December and took just over two months to complete. The firm will use the fund to continue its strategy of investing in bootstrapped companies and driving accelerated growth through operational expertise and management support.
Forty Seven Inc. Completes $75 Million Series A
PALO ALTO — Forty Seven Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, has completed the first half of a committed $75 million Series A financing round and has licensed the rights to multiple immuno-oncology programs from Stanford University. 
The Series A financing was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sutter Hill Ventures with participation from Clarus Ventures and GV (formerly Google Ventures). The license includes rights to over 100 issued or pending U.S. or foreign patents that cover the antibody Hu5F9-G4 and several other novel immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer-specific antibodies.
Watt Companies Sells Sunnyvale Housing Site for $186 Million
Watt Companies has sold “The Vale,” a 24.5-acre former industrial campus located in Sunnyvale, CA for $186 million. Watt purchased the property two years ago with the intention to redevelop the site into a high quality, urban-infill residential village.
Nike Founder Donates $400 Million to Stanford
STANFORD, CA– Stanford University announced the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, a graduate-level scholarship to prepare a new generation of global leaders with the skills to address the increasingly complex challenges facing the world.
The program is named for alumnus Philip H. Knight, philanthropist, American businessman and co-founder of Nike Inc., who is contributing $400 million, and Stanford’s outgoing 10th President John L. Hennessy. The program builds on Stanford’s preeminent position in higher education, with seven globally ranked multidisciplinary graduate schools that foster service, collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Salesforce Reports Record Revenues
Salesforce reported revenues for the quarter and year ended January 31, 2016.
Full fiscal year 2016 revenue was $6.67 billion, an increase of 24% year-over-year, and 27% in constant currency. Subscription and support revenues were $6.21 billion, an increase of 24% year-over-year. Professional services and other revenues were $462 million, an increase of 28% year-over-year.
Google to Bring Fiber to Parts of SF
Google announced on its Fiber Blog that it plans to bring its high-speed fiber optic service to parts of San Francisco. The company will use existing fiber lines to bring service to some apartments, condos, and affordable housing properties.
Reflektion Closes $18 Million Series B Round
Reflektion, a leader in real-time, Individualized Commerce, announced the company has raised $18 million in Series B financing, putting its total amount of funding at $29.3 million. Led by Battery Ventures, the round also includes investments from Hasso Plattner Ventures and Intel Capital.
Fitbit Shares Plunge 20.8%
Fitbit, maker of wearable fitness devices, saw its shares drop 20.8% after reporting fourth-quarter earnings. Shares fell $3.44 on Tuesday to close at $13.08 per share near an all-time low.
Fitbit sold 8.2 million connected health and fitness devices in the fourth quarter which includes the holiday season. U.S. revenue in the quarter grew 100% from the previous year and made up 75% of fourth quarter revenue. The company sold a total of 21.4 million devices for all of 2015.
AT&T and Intel to Test Drones on LTE Network
AT&T and Intel have agreed to test how Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones work on a network designed to connect devices on the ground. Intel and AT&T will be working to solve major issues in the space, including connectivity. The announcement was made at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Google Shutting Down Compare Service
Google plans to shut down its Google Compare service to find auto insurance, credit cards and mortgages according to The Wall Street Journal. The service was launched in 2015 and just wasn’t gaining enough transaction. Google Compare for credit cards listed dozens of credit cards from different banks along with their benefits, annual fees and […]