Nellis bids farewell with final thoughts about tech corridor
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, October 3rd, 2014 / Central Coast, Columns, East Ventura County, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Nellis bids farewell with final thoughts about tech corridor

Today is my final day at the Pacific Coast Business Times. By the time you read this, I’ll be working at a startup in San Francisco. But for the past seven years, I’ve had the pleasure of covering technology and innovation in the Tri-Counties. I’ve reported on everything from semiconductor firms that have been in Read More →

ParentSquare software helps connect classrooms
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, October 3rd, 2014 / Small Business, South Coast, Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on ParentSquare software helps connect classrooms
Santa Barbara-based startup ParentSquare is making a communication system that hopes to reach all parents, regardless of what kind of communication technology they have at home or what language they speak.
Port heads to court in battle with city
By Staff Report / Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 / Law & Goverment, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on Port heads to court in battle with city
The Oxnard Harbor District has asked the Ventura County Superior Court to intervene in an increasingly contentious battle over revamping a decades-old revenue agreement with the city of Port Hueneme. The district, which controls the Port of Hueneme, sought relief in court on Sept. 30 on a technical issue related to arbitration. The district has Read More →
News Corp. to buy Move for $950M
By Stephen Nellis / Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 / Real Estate, Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on News Corp. to buy Move for $950M
News Corp., the global media conglomerate controlled by Rupert Murdoch, plans to buy Move Inc. for $950 million in an all-cash deal. Move is based in Silicon Valley, but its largest facilities and most of its operations are in Westlake Village.
Chumash award $112M hotel contract, eye October groundbreaking
By Elijah Brumback / Monday, September 29th, 2014 / Central Coast, Real Estate, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / 1 Comment

Tutor Perini Corp. has been selected to head up construction of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ controversial hotel expansion project. The building contract for the property at 3400 E. Highway 246 in Santa Ynez is valued at $112 million, Sylmar-based Tutor Perini said in a statement. It’s the first time a dollar Read More →
$86.2M Sientra IPO plumps up public-company ranks
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, September 26th, 2014 / South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, Tri-County Public Companies / Comments Off on $86.2M Sientra IPO plumps up public-company ranks
With Santa Barbara-based breast implant maker Sientra’s Sept. 19 announcement that it plans to raise up to $86.2 million, the IPO has returned to the Tri-Counties in a big way. Sientra’s filing is the fourth initial public offering announced in the region this year, joining completed deals at Goleta-based Inogen and Santa Barbara-based Resonant for Read More →

SpendSmart snaps up TechXpress for $1.6M
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, September 26th, 2014 / Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on SpendSmart snaps up TechXpress for $1.6M

It has only been a few months since Alex Minicucci took the reins of publicly traded SpendSmart Networks, but he has already masterminded the acquisition of fellow San Luis Obispo firm TechXpress and expanded SpendSmart’s headcount from 12 to 40.