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

Two Los Angeles-based venture firms, DFJ Frontier and Anthem Venture Partners , have invested in a Portland software firm developing online identification and single-sign in software. Anthem Ventures and RPM Ventures also participated, with Cremin, Anthem's Samit Varma, and RPM's Tony Grover all joining the company's board along with the funding. JanRain's According to Portland's JanRain , it raised $3.25M in a Series A round led by DFJ Frontier's David Cremin. Tags: software janrain portland capital venture ventures anthem frontie

Los Angeles-based Buzznet , which operates a network of web sites focused on celebrities and pop culture, announced this morning that it has raised $12.5M According to the company, the funding round was led by Focus Ventures, and also included Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures, and Sutter Hill Ventures. Buzznet operates a network of music and celebrity focused and will rename itself Buzz Media. The firm said the funding will go towards "continued growth of its portfolio."Buzz

Los Angeles-based Buzz Media , the online network of celebrity-focused web sites, announced today that it has inked a deal with OK! Buzz Media--which was formerly known as BuzzNet--is a venture backed operator of a network of pop culture, celebrity, and music-focused web content properties and blogs. Buzz Media is venture backed by Focus Ventures, Anthem Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Redpoint Ventures, and Magazine. OK!

Los Angeles-based Buzznet , the venture-backed operator of a network of entertainment-focused social media sites, is making the rounds with a new feature on its Celebuzz celebrity web site this week. Celebuzz is one of a number of sites owned by Buzznet, which is venture backed by Interscope, Universal Music Group, Anthem Ventures, NEA, and Redpoint Ventures. The firm rolled out a "zoom" feature that allows users on the site to magnify celebrity photos on the site. According to the site, the new feature will allow its members to see closeups of things like their