Last month we Launched Los Angeles Tech and in the announcement we provide the Hot List for the first half of January 2009. When I drill down on that term, you can see why with posts like: Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Lops A Third Of Company THQ Lays Off 100 Employees, Closes San Diego Office Citrix Cuts 10 Percent; Santa Barbara Hit And it's also interesting to see what geographies are being associated with "Layoffs" more often than others: Layoffs Woodland Hills Layoffs San Diego Layoffs Santa Monica Layoffs Los Angeles I guess this is a sign of the

I'm happy to announce the launch of the Los Angeles Tech Content Community . The goal is to create a place where it's relatively easy to find current content and highly relevant content surrounding Los Angeles Technology. To be clear Los Angeles Tech is a jump off point. This is the beginning of a content community that collects and organizes the best content from blogs and web sites. The content comes from other places.

What's going on in venture capital in San Diego? And how will the changing venture economy affect angel investors? Mission Ventures ' Dave Ryan offers advice for angel investors. Come to the SW Regional Angel Summit in Tucson March 22-23. Show #221 (50:22) Listen Events Come

For our insights and opinions section today, we're featuring a recent podcast by Frank Peters, of the Frank Peters Show , and an angel investor. What's What's going on in venture capital in San Diego? And how will the changing venture economy affect angel investors? Mission Ventures' Dave Ryan talks with Frank Peters, and offers advice for angel investors. Listen

LeisureLink has previously raised funding from Clearstone Venture Partners, Group RCI, Kodiak Ventures LP, Mission Ventures, Pasadena Angels and the Tech Coast Angels. Tags: leisurelink vacation rental travel venture capita Pasadena-based LeisureLink , which operates an online marketplace and service for vacation rental booking, has raised $3.5M in a funding round.

Los Angeles-based online social question and answer site Sodahead.com said today that the firm has reached more than 1 million registered users at the site. SodaHead is venture backed by Mohr, Davidow Ventures, Mission Ventures, the Tech Coast Angels, and angel investor Ron Conway, and has raised $12.7M in venture funding since its launch in September of 2007. Sodahead.com, which operates a web site where users can ask and answer questions, share opinions, and network with other users, said that it has now recorded more than 5 million votes and 8 million comments on the site.

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 will help the company grow as a brand. RotoHog currently has deals to provide white-labeled fantasy football games to Sporting News, This publication had reported on the funding last Wednesday. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

Los Angeles-based Big Stage Entertainment is announcing this morning that it has raised an additional $2.7M According to the company, the funding came from Mission Ventures, Selby Ventures, and the Tech Coast Angels. Tags: capital venture entertainment stag in a Series B funding for the firm. The company said the new funding will go to accelerate research and development, along with sales and marketing.

The company is venture backed by Clearstone Venture Partners, Mission Ventures, the Pasadena Angels, the Tech Coast Angels, and others. Pasadena-based LeisureLink has signed on a loyalty and incentive company, Destination Rewards, as part of its travel services, the firm said earlier this week. LeisureLink, which provides online distribution and marketing of vacation lodging, said that it will offer consumer rewards and loyalty programs that can be used for vacation travel and merchandise.

Los Angeles-based Rotohog , a developer of online fantasy sports games, has raised $2.0M RotoHog has previously raised funding from Allen & Company, DFJ DragonFund, Mission Ventures, and SCP Worldwide. Tags: rotohog venture capital online fantasy sports softwar in a new round of funding, according to a regulatory filing from the firm today. According to the filing, the round target is $2.62M.