Transphorm, Fujitsu partner on GaN plant
Transphorm, the Goleta-based energy efficiency chipmaker spun out of UC Santa Barbara that has raised $110 million in venture capital, is partnering with Tokyo electronics giant and one-time rival Fujitsu Ltd. to create a new company in Japan.
Inogen files IPO to raise up to $86.2M
Inogen was founded in 2001 by three UCSB students, one of whom had a grandmother who had recently been placed on oxygen therapy. The therapy required heavy, bulky oxygen tanks that could not be taken on airplanes and other places.
After winning the New Venture Competition business plan contest at UCSB, the team went on to develop a device that used electricity to concentrate oxygen from the air. The concentrators were lighter and less bulky, weighting between 4.8 and 7 pounds.
Active Life device finds link between diabetes, bone issues
A device made by Santa Barbara-based Active Life Scientific played a critical role in a new study at the Mayo Clinic linking Type 2 diabetes to bone problems.
Direct Relief to send record-breaking shipment to Philippines
In response to the natural disaster in the Philippines, Direct Relief International is preparing to conduct the largest-ever emergency airlift in the 65-year history of the Goleta-based nonprofit.
Direct Relief said that on Saturday, Nov. 23, it will deliver 50 tons of essential medications and emergency supplies to people affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
The air shipment includes enough medicines to treat 250,000 people and will be delivered on a wide-bodied cargo aircraft flight arranged and donated by FedEx, Direct Relief said. All of the aid items were requested by health officials and nongovernmental groups in the Philippines, it said.
Energy efficiency firms snag $5M
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $5 million to semiconductor and lighting companies in the region.
UC Santa Barbara, Buellton-based SixPoint Materials and Soraa were the recipients of money from the department.
Deckers steps up sales
Shares of Goleta-based Deckers Outdoor Corp. jumped 14 percent in after-hours trading as the owner of Ugg, Teva and other casual footwear brands beat Wall Street expectations and said the rest of the year is on track.
Deckers said its acquisition of Hoka One One helped boost third-quarter sales 3 percent to $386.7 million; sales of its flagship Ugg brand gained 1.3 percent. The company, which is building a new headquarters on Hollister Avenue, said a new web site and more retail stores also helped.
Massive retail and apartment project in Goleta is under way
Developer Westar Associates has broken ground on Hollister Village, a mixed-use project in Goleta that will include 266 apartments and a shopping center.
After years in the planning process that included fierce opposition from some neighborhood activists, Costa Mesa-based Westar secured approvals for the project at Hollister Avenue and Glen Annie Road in October 2012.
