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

Santa Monica-based Tsavo , the online media company which owns Manolith, Twirlit, Kidglue, and Nibbledish, has lost its Vice President of Product and Design, Mike Macadaan. Macadaan is well known in the Los Angeles technology community for creating and running Twiistup, the popular Los Angeles technology networking and startup showcase event. According to Macadaan, this week is his last at Tsavo. Macadaan's departure closely follows the departure of Tsavo founder and CEO Michael Jones, who recently became COO of MySpace. Tsavo develops content-focused web sites which

Before launching Tsavo , his current startup, Mike Jones funded a startup through consulting work. If you have a good concept that you really want to pursue, and there’s absolutely no way that you’re going to find financing because the market is the market, or your angel investors aren’t stepping up, then I think a consulting practice could be a bridge to get you were you want to go. There was a really small client in the Valley here in Los Angeles that What if you can’t get funding for your startup? Here’s an edited excerpt from his interview.

News Corporation said a few minutes ago that it has added two new executives at MySpace , and is tapping Tsavo Media's Michael Jones as Chief Operating Officer and Sling Media's Jason Hirschhorn as Chief Product Officer. Both are in Los Angeles. He was most recently CEO of Tsavo Media, which is developing online publishing and advertising technology along Jones is best known in Southern California's technology community for his success at Userplane, which he founded and sold to AOL. Hirschorn was most recently President of Sling Media's Entertainment Group, and has served as

Twiistup , the popular Los Angeles technology showcase and networking event started by Mike Macadaan, is announcing today that the event has been sold to a undisclosed, private investor. In a statement, Macadaan -- whose full time gig is as a VP at Tsavo Media -- said "I'm thrilled that Twiistup will get the dedicated time and focus it needs to become bigger and even better." ...Tags: Financial details of the ownership change were not disclosed. According to Twiistup, it will expand beyond its showoff events to include a full conference agenda, and also be expanding to similar

I recently interviewed Michael Jones, founder of Tsavos . Since he’s also a top startup adviser and angel investor, in addition to asking him about Tsavo, I asked him how about how and why he advises companies. I asked about the vision behind Tsavo: To see Here’s an edited transcript of some of what he told me. (Download Download the full program for more.)

My dear friend Debbie Landa, supreme queen of DealMaker Media is hosting another kick ass event in Los Angeles, and… VC Outlook 2009: If You Need Funding You’re Fuc%ed ( or are you ) - Candid Talks with VCs in Los Angeles Mike Jones , CEO, Tsavo I’M GIVING AWAY A TICKET TO THE EVENT (keep reading below). DECEMBER 2, 2008 Roundtable

Los Angeles-based Sometrics , a developer of analytics tools for online game developers, announced today that it has appointed Steve Schepke as its Vice President of Business Development. Schepke was most recently Agency General Manager for Tsavo Media, and has also previously served at Commission Junction and Proceed Interactive. Sometrics is venture backed by Steamboat Steamboat Ventures, The Mail Room Fund, AT&T, and Greycroft Partners.

Los Angeles-based Sometrics , a developer of analytics tools for online game developers, announced today that it has appointed Steve Schepke as its Vice President of Business Development. Schepke was most recently Agency General Manager for Tsavo Media, and has also previously served at Commission Junction and Proceed Interactive. Sometrics is venture backed by The Mail Room Fund, AT&T, and Greycroft Partners. READ MORE>> ...Tags:

Most of the folks in Los Angeles will know Michael well, from his days bootstrapping Userplane (sold to AOL), as well as his recent efforts with both Tsavo , as well as his efforts (along with Peter Pham and others) to get the technology elite networking here. btw, I checked in with Mike Jones about what’s going to happen over at Tsavo Media; he said he will stay on the board there, and will assist in strategy. Michael Jones and Jason Hirschhorn have just been appointed COO and Chief Product Officer, respectively, over at MySpace. Jason was most recently at