It took me a little while to figure out the difference between entertainment meetups, advertising events, marketing conferences, and even fashion shows (did I mention that I am a Technologist?). Digital Family Reunion – DFR is a descendant of the VIC (Venice Interactive Community), LA’s first Internet networking group. Social Media Club, LA – SMC events have a nice My friend Mark Long recently asked me about networking in Los Angeles. Mark is a CTO, see, and his company, PortBlue , was recently acquired (congrats, Mark!).

Venice, California-based Topspin , a developer of software focused on helping musicians market and distribute their work, launched an upgrade to its product Wednesday at the SXSW festival. The firm said that it has commercially released its software, which helps artists generate demand from fans via direct marketing, social networking and other online channels, widgets, as well as email campaigns. However, the firm still isn't taking just any artists, however, explaining it is still in "invite mode" on which artists can use its products. The company has previously rolled

Venice-based FlipGloss Media announced this morning that it has launched a web site targeted at the fashion, design, travel, and lifestyle photography markets. The new site--funded by Forbes Media--said it is looking to create a "new visual discovery experience" for consumers. The advertising-driven site said it was founded by Yahoo!

Venice-based Mogreet , which operates a text messaging-based greetings business, said today that it has hired Jay Goss as the firm's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Goss was COO of Numedeon, which operates virtual world Whyville, and also has served at Disney, Reed Elsevier, and UCLA. Mogreet is venture backed by Ascend Venture Group, Black Diamond Ventures, DFJ Frontier and Spyglass Ventures.

So here's the Hot List for 1/1/2009 - 1/15/2009 Top 5 Posts The 7 Ways to Get Traffic on the Web Why You Need To Lead A Tribe - Seth Godin LA Gets Dugg, Hammered, Screwed How To Get The World Excited About Your Business –The James Siminoff Interview Viral analytics and metrics - go viral young startup Top 20 Keywords SEO Metrics Marketing Social Media Alelo Google Yahoo Mahalo MySpace Tech Coast Angels Idealab Mission Ventures Clearstone Hollywood Santa Barbara Venice San Diego Santa Monica Twiistup

Where: Nikki’s - 72 Market St, Venice, CA 90291 Details & RSV First drink is on Sun! When: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 from 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM (PT)

Los Angeles-based wireless software publisher Mobile-XL reported Thursday that it is partnering with Venice-based mobile video messaging firm Mogreet . Mobile-XL noted that the two companies plan to unveil the collaboration in a few select markets later this year. According to Mobile-XL, both companies have committed resources toward developing a mobile messaging platform. Mogreet operates a mobile greeting card service which sends short video snippets to mobile phones.

Venice Beach-based Access 360 Media, which operates an out-of-home advertising network, said today that it has raised $8M in a Series B funding round. Access 360 media operates a content-based network of programming for physical retailers, focused on the youth market. The round was led by Mission Ventures, and also included Bessemer Venture Partners. According to Access 360, the new funding will go towards accelerating company growth.

This networking forum will discuss what it takes to create a "fundable" device or biotech company in today's market. This may require, not just a sound business plan, excellent and experienced management, and other key ingredients coveted by investors, but also a different life-science business model.Learn, not just from investors such as the Venice, Calif.-based based Prism VentureWorks, but also local companies -- such as NeoMatrix of Irvine -- that recently raised capital, Thursday, April 23, 2009 -- "Navigating the Storm: Fund-Raising in the Current Business Environment" SoCalBio Networking Forum.

Reza Bundy , the founder of Venice-based Mota Motors , looks to be a major beneficiary of an IPO -- not of his current firm, but of his prior company, Iron Planet . In papers filed Thursday evening by Iron Planet, the Pleasanton-based firm said it is looking to raise up to $92M in an IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market. Bundy founded Iron Planet, which is venture backed by Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, as well as Caterpillar and Komatsu America. In those filings, Iron Planet indicates that Bundy still owns 9.37