A boardroom presentation inevitably comes with a clunky multimedia projector at the back of the room. What if that projector came in a cell phone?
Sylmar-based QPC Lasers Inc. says those days are near.
The company last week unveiled a miniature laser about one square inch that can fit in small projectors. QPC is working to make the components of the laser even tinier, said company founder Jeff Ungar, who holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from Caltech.
“Manufacturers already have the technology to create smaller projectors,” he said. “The missing link was the micro-miniature laser.”
Most projectors on the market run on high-intensity light bulbs, not lasers. The projector typically has a fanning system inside to cool the lamp and a mirror and lens to project the image.
The miniature laser is energy-efficient enough to run by battery and projects a more vivid, broader range of colors. The laser emits green, blue and red beams.
The technology, based upon QPC’s proprietary BrightLase laser, is the company’s first attempt at consumer application. The eight-year-old company of 65 employees develops high-power lasers for military, medical and industry uses. Last week, it was awarded a $750,000 contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop engines for airborne energy weapons. This brings the company’s total value of government contracts to $2.5 million since 2007.
Busy Signal
Compton-based Winplus, a manufacturer of car accessories such as sunshades and seat covers, is taking a stab at developing a technology product to meet a need created by a new law.
On July 1, it becomes illegal to hold and talk on a cell phone while driving in California, so millions of commuters will need hands-free devices. So Winplus has developed a tiny, black Bluetooth ear-piece for drivers. Its advantage, according to Chief Executive Dan Sheehan, is that it “doesn’t make you look like you just walked off the set of Star Trek.”
Most Bluetooth devices on the market are clunkier, he said.
The product, called Yada, comes with a phone holder and car charger and retails for $60. The company is up for some fierce competition, though. Most Bluetooth devices, as clunky as they may be, retail for cheaper and some mobile earpieces are free. For example, all MetroPCS stores in Los Angeles are giving away mobile earpieces to customers this week, anticipating the law change.
Winplus, founded in 2000, hired five new employees to develop the Yada product, and now employs 30 people. Its car accessories are sold at 16,000 stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco. Sheehan said he plans to roll out Yada at the same stores, but for now, it’s being sold on Amazon.com.
The company expects revenues of $35 million this year.
Virtual Education
Executives from Rent.com, which sold to eBay for $433 million in 2005, have reunited to create a new Web site for college-bound teenagers.
CampusExplorer.com, which launched last week, is a one-stop-shop for teenagers looking for college information. Student profiles are automatically matched with 6,000-plus accredited universities and colleges based upon their interest, tuition requirements and class rank. It also functions as a lead generation company for universities looking for attractive candidates.
“You don’t have to register. It can be a search site for college information,” said Chief Executive Jerry Slavonia, previously vice president of business development at eBay. “But by registering, our technology automatically pairs you with colleges we believe would be a good match.”
Social networking and information Web sites catering to college-bound teenagers have been tried before. Sherman Oaks-based TheClic.net, for example, with almost the same offerings as CampusExplorer, was launched last November by Hollywood producer Donna Michelle Anderson, who is a Stanford graduate. The site is now inactive.
Slavonia believes the founding team’s years of experience in consumer Internet will help CampusExplorer stand out from the pack.
The six employees come from Yahoo, Warner Bros. Records, Stamps.com and Gifts.com. Eric Hammond, the company’s vice president of technology, was previously at Citysearch.com
The company is venture-backed by Rincon Venture Partners and O’Connor Ventures, run by Kevin O’Connor, founder of DoubleClick.
Head Honchos
Two L.A. tech companies are getting new chief executives.
Hemi Zucker has been appointed as chief executive of J2 Global Communications Inc.
Zucker has served as the Hollywood company’s co-president and chief operating officer since 2005. Previously, he was the chief financial officer.
The official position of chief executive was vacant for more than seven years while Scott Turicchi and Zucker served as co-presidents. Turicchi will now serve as the company’s sole president, according to a company news release.
At Agoura Hills-based Symark International, a management software developer, Bob Farber has been named the new chief executive.
Farber, an employee of more than 20 years, was the firm’s first employee and most recently served as chief operating officer.
Staff reporter Booyeon Lee can be reached at
[email protected]
or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 230.
