Venoco to sell Oxnard oil field for $200M
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / Latest news, Top Stories, West Ventura County / 1 Comment
With revenue sagging and pressure mounting to reduce its debt load, Venoco has agreed to sell an oil field near Oxnard for $200 million.
IQMS readies for big leagues with first outside investment
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / Central Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on IQMS readies for big leagues with first outside investment
Paso Robles-based software firm IQMS has taken an outside investment for the first time in its 25-year history, raising an undisclosed sum from the same financiers who have backed Facebook, Expedia and Netflix. The company said Aug. 19 that Technology Crossover Ventures led the funding round with Banneker Partners participating. The terms of the deal Read More →

iFixit taps its own mantra for new corporate digs in SLO
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / Central Coast, Reprints, Technology, Top Stories / Comments Off on iFixit taps its own mantra for new corporate digs in SLO

San Luis Obispo-based iFixit’s mission is to save the world with “the repair guide for everything, written by everyone.”
Competition heats up in infrared market as Flir, Seek Thermal release smartphone products
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Competition heats up in infrared market as Flir, Seek Thermal release smartphone products

This holiday season, two South Coast firms will compete to sell what could be the hottest gadget gift of the year: affordable thermal cameras for smartphones. Goleta-based Seek Thermal, the company founded by longtime infrared entrepreneurs Bill Parrish and Tim Fitzgibbons that has raised $30 million, said Aug. 19 that it will offer a Read More →
Pacifica Hotels, Eastern Real Estate team up on hostel takeover
By Elijah Brumback / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Pacifica Hotels, Eastern Real Estate team up on hostel takeover

Last week, Santa Barbara firms Pacifica Hotels and Eastern Real Estate purchased the hostel from the Parker family.

Lynda.com hires public-company exec
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, August 22nd, 2014 / South Coast, Technology, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Lynda.com hires public-company exec
Carpinteria-based online education firm Lynda.com has hired a new executive to drive its global expansion and has opened an office in San Francisco to tap Bay Area talent.
In their own words: Spirit of Small Business 2014 winners
By Staff Report / Thursday, August 21st, 2014 / Central Coast, East Ventura County, Green Coast, Small Business, South Coast, Top Stories, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / 2 Comments

The Pacific Coast Business Times’ 2014 class of Spirit of Small Business winners were honored at an awards luncheon on Aug. 14, 2014 following the publication of a special edition on July 25, 2014. The special section, produced in partership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, highlights entrepreneurship in the Tri-Counties, with profiles on successful Read More →