Last month we Launched Los Angeles Tech and in the announcement we provide the Hot List for the first half of January 2009. Top for January 16, 2009 - January 31, 2009 Posts Are You Selling Online Yet? The Scott Sanfilippo Interview Media Optimization Firms Are Red Hot In Southern California in 2009 Proliferate - Aggregate - Integrate Startups Uncensored #4 - “Finding and Working with Partners” SoCal VC’s absent This hot list is based on various social signals of what people are writing about, reading, bookmarking, searching, etc. You

Santa Monica-based Zag has finally revealed the total invested in its latest, strategic round of funding, saying Thursday that it raised $37.4M. USAA is an affinity group which is using Zag's automotive configuration software and services. Zag also provides online car buying software for a number of AAA motor clubs, Overstock.com, Capital One Auto Finance, American Express, and Administaff. The round came from USAA, and included Capricorn Investment Group, LLC, GRP Partners and Anthem Venture Partners. The firm's venture round had earlier been reported to be worth $32.4M,

According to Zag, the firm will provide a turnkey, fully integrated auto buying program for the site, which will offer resources to research and compare vehicles, read AAA editorial reviews, and configure and purchase vehicles. Zag provides the technology to power affiliate car buying services, allowing members of associations like the AAA to get fully configured, exact quotes on new cars at pre-negotiated prices. Santa Monica-based Zag.com , the online car buying software firm headed by Scott Painter, announced this morning that it has inked a deal with the AAA, to power a new service called AAA Automaker.

Santa Monica-based Zag , which has developed an automobile configuration and buying service for affinity organizations like credit unions and automobile organizations, has a funding round of undisclosed size. spokesperson for Zag told socalTECH that a round had closed, but would not confirm the investors or details of the round, saying that earlier disclosures by TechCrunch were incorrect. A Apparently, the company was a victim of TechCrunch's Arrington's crusade against PR embargoes, and disclosed the funding based on preliminary discussions with the firm.

Santa Monica-based Zag , which has developed an automobile configuration and buying service for affinity organizations like credit unions and automobile organizations, has raised around $32.4M spokesperson for Zag told socalTECH that a round had closed, but would not confirm the investors or details of the round. The spokesperson for Zag said that the firm is "not quite ready to in a funding round. A

Zag's technology provides a level of customization and detail on "fleet" style, pre-negotiated sales of autos, down to the accessory level; the firm has deals with USAA, Capital One, Overstock.com, AAA groups, and others to provide its service. Zag has received funding from USAA, Capricorn Investment Group, LLC, GRP Partners and Anthem Venture Partners. Santa Monica-based Zag.com , the online auto buying technology firm headed by Scott Painter, said Wednesday that the firm has sold its 50,000th car through its online auto-buying affinity programs. The firm, which develops technology

Los Angeles-based Zag , the online car buying software firm headed by former CarsDirect CEO Scott Painter, has scored an investment from financial services firm USAA , USAA disclosed Thursday. According to USAA, it is taking an equity position in Zag, which is also providing the firm with its car buying services. Zag develops technology which allows members of groups like USAA to USAA did not provide financial details behind the investment. USAA has been offering Zag's services to its members since 2007.

Santa Monica-based Zag , the online auto buying site headed by Scott Painter, has hired on a Director of New Products, according to recruiting firm NeoHire. NeoHire said that Alexander Rosten has been hired into the position, joining Zag from Mota Motors, where he was Director of Analytics and Business Development. Rosten has also served at Google, Edmunds, and CarsDirect.com READ MORE>> ...Tags: Tags: automotive executiv

Zag has previously received venture capital from such firms as Anthem Ventures, GRP Partners, the Tech Coast Angels, Capricorn Management, Capital One, and Arcturus Capital. Santa Monica-based Zag.com , the online automobile buying service headed by Scott Painter, is reporting today that it had what is calls its "strongest sales so far this year" in June. The firm--which provides its car buying service as a private-label offering through affiliate groups such as the AAA and USAA--said it had 20% sales growth in June, and 15% growth on average for the previous three months.

Santa Monica-based Zag.com , the online automotive buying firm headed by Scott Painter, announced Thursday that the company has reached an agreement with Mercedes-Benz USA to offer an additional $5000 off pricing of new Mercedes-Benz cars to members of USAA, one of the affinity groups using Zag's auto pricing and purchasing services. Zag provides a white-label version of its automotive configuration and pricing engine to USAA and other affinity groups, which provides a detailed, in-depth quoting system for "fleet" sales of automobiles. The firm said the additional offer comes on top of special member prices, rebates, and dealer incentives available to members.