The posting police: Social Intelligence roots out workers’ comp fraud
Santa Barbara-based Social Intelligence, a firm that combs social media and other sites for red flags about potential employees, has inked a new deal to help combat workers’ compensation fraud.
Governments, businesses band together on better broadband
The Broadband Consortium Pacific Coast has been launched to bring the region’s Internet up to speed. The effort is a collaboration between public- and private-sector officials in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and has received an initial $300,000 in grant funding for its first two years from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Transphorm secures GaN patents
Goleta-based Transphorm, an energy-efficiency company spun out of UC Santa Barbara, said it has been granted two patents that it believes could cover as much as 60 percent of its target market in power-conversion electronics.
Teledyne to buy offshore oil equipment maker for $171M
Thousand Oaks-based industrial conglomerate Teledyne Technologies is buying Bolt Technology Corp., a maker of offshore oil exploration equipment, in an all-cash deal valued at $171 million. Teledyne said Sept. 3 that it will pay $22 per share to buy the Connecticut manufacturer. Bolt makes and supplies marine seismic energy products and replacement parts for offshore Read More →
28 tri-county firms rank on 2014 edition of Inc. 5000
Twenty-eight firms based in the Tri-Counties made the 2014 edition of Inc. magazine’s ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. This year’s ranking was based on revenue growth between 2010 and 2013. PackIt, a company that makes bags with freezable gel in the linings that keep food and drinks cold for up to Read More →
Atara Biotherapeutics angles for $92M, but jobs are scarce
Atara is among a new breed of “virtual” biotech startups. Such firms operate with barebones staff and outsource research and manufacturing operations to contract organizations. They are becoming increasingly common as investors seek to mitigate the huge risks of bringing drugs to market, a process that can cost as much as $1.8 billion, according to industry estimates.
Firms shape up for success with workplace wellness programs, perks
At the San Luis Obispo headquarters for international software company Mindbody, employees can break away for noontime yoga or retreat to one of the building’s downstairs spa rooms for a massage or facial. Amid high ceilings, colorful beanbag chairs and exercise balls, employees at Mindbody are working in an atmosphere that’s anything but the Read More →
