Santa Monica-based CODA Automotive , the electric vehicle startup, reported last night that its first, fully assembled CODA has rolled off the final assembly line at its Northern California factory. CODA has a factory in Benecia, California, about 30 miles from San Franciso, where all of the final assembly of its autos happens. MORE >>

San Diego-based Websense , a developer of web security products, said Wednesday that it is seeing strong demand for the firm's new Web Security Gateway and appliances, and is also benefiting from currency exchange rates, and upped its guidance range Wednesday. Favorable currency exchange boosted its billings by $4M. READ MORE>>. MORE >>

I’ve heard the same thing from many, many other entrepreneurs, who are surprised at the effect that a simple demo of their product has on their talks with investors, potential employees, and others. — see thousands and thousands of great “virtual&# products and companies. It can’t be underestimated. MORE >>

San Diego-based Verve Wireless , which develops mobile publishing and advertising tools, reported today that it has hired Chris Nicotra, the former Chief Technology Officer of comScore, as its new Executive Vice President of Product and Technology. Verve said Nicotra has also served at AOL Advertising and Advertising.com. MORE >>

San Diego-based Maxwell Technologies , which is developing ultracapacitor-based energy storage products, reported today that it is slated to receive more than $500,000 in state and federal funding for its technology. The other $200,000 comes in conjunction with Calgon Carbon Corp., READ MORE>>. MORE >>