PRODUCTS
Irvine-based virtual reality language tutoring platform Immerse Inc. has partnered with Nashua, N.H.-based Transparent Language Inc., a large contractor for language learning that services the U.S. government.
Using Oculus Go VR headsets, the tutoring company offers an “immersive” language learning experience by transporting English-speaking users to global locations, accompanied by native speaking tutors in real time.
“We wanted to find an innovative and well-respected leader to act as our exclusive provider to the U.S. military,” Immerse Chief Executive Quinn Taber said. “We believe that Transparent Language’s 25 years working with the U.S. military validates their credibility.”Â
Immerse is part of the UCI Beall Applied Innovation Wayfinder program; it recently wrapped a three-month pilot project with a large, undisclosed financial services company.
Taber started Immerse in 2017 after living in the Middle East for two years as a refugee aid worker. He traveled to nearly 50 countries by his 23rd birthday.
Preliminary results indicate that Immerse’s technology increases retention in new language learners, said Taber.
Immerse has also entered into several other developments in Asia, including a research study at one of the regions more prominent high schools, Sendai Ikuei Gakuen, in Tokyo.
Data capture software firm Ephesoft Inc. has formed an alliance with Grant Thornton LLP.
The accounting and advisory firm will use Ephesoft’s Smart Capture platform to help clients manage unstructured data by capturing, classifying and cleaning the information before delivering it to ERP, CRM, and other line-of-business applications.
Grant Thornton has already deployed the software to several clients, and it is using it in-house to improve back-end processes such as invoicing, accounts payable, and contract management.
“Ephesoft’s patented, supervised machine learning technology reduces the overall document processing time by an average of 65% and increases employee productivity by as much as 400%,” said Ike Kavas, founder and chief executive of Ephesoft, in a release.
Ephesoft in January moved its headquarters to 8707 Research Drive, in the Irvine Spectrum. The company is currently looking to fill more than a dozen positions, primarily in engineering and sales.
Anaheim-based addiction treatment firm BioCorRx Inc. has launched its medically assisted weight loss management program.
The UnCraveRx app offers fitness classes in a range of styles and interests, as well as nutritional and lifestyle support.
The full program launch is expected in October. It will include the company’s main product, a naltrexone pellet that’s injected into the body, which is designed to reduce food cravings.
The new program pairs the medical procedure, via the app, with a personal weight loss and healthy living coach.
BioCorRx has developed a similar program to treat alcoholism and opioid addiction, which was profiled by the Business Journal in May.
The company was founded in 2008, and conducts research and development under its subsidiary, BioCorRx Pharmaceuticals.
HIRES
Irvine-based software company Specright Inc., which allows companies in the food and retail packaging industries to organize and share their supply chain specifications, has hired Mike Gaffney as its chief operating officer.
Gaffney, who began his career in enterprise software at Oracle, was employee No. 20 at Salesforce.com.
Prior to joining Specright, Gaffney served as the chief revenue officer at MFour Mobile Research, creator of the mobile survey app Surveys On The Go. He was also the chief revenue officer and vice president of sales at two startups, Auditude, a video advertising platform acquired by Adobe; and Right Media, a digital advertising exchange acquired by Yahoo.
The 5-year-old software as a service company closed an $8.8 million Series A round in April.
FINANCING
Irvine-based Buy It Installed Inc., a service that connects buyers of electronics, home goods and other products with contractors who can provide in-home installation with the click of a button, raised $8.2 million in its Series A round.
The funding was led by Skyview Capital Ventures and the Tanti family, and was anchored by Tech Coast Angels’ $2.7 million stake. The Series A is still open to additional investors.
Prior to that, Buy It Installed raised $8.6 million in its seeding round, led by Tech Coast Angels, Ken Eldred and members linked to Crosspoint Ventures Partners.
It also raised $1.6 million in its pre-seed round, led by TCA Chairman Grant Van Cleve, who also is running the startup (see story, page 20).
The company provides retailers and manufacturers with nationwide installation services in 35 trades from its database of certified and trusted contractors. Buy It Installed prioritizes technical installations that require trained contractors, said Van Cleve.
The company has 35 employees at headquarters at UCI Research Park and is currently hiring.
