Latest news with #Livermore
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Data is Catching Pests And Revolutionizing Farming
Monarch CEO Praveen Penmetsa expects sales to triple or more this year as it gets its autonomous electric tractors in the hands of farmers, earning the Livermore, California-based company a coveted spot on our annual list of the Next Billion-Dollar Startups. But launching an agricultural equipment company is tough. It is capital-intensive, and cash-strapped farmers tend to be a conservative lot resistant to change. But Livermore-based Monarch, which has raised $116 million in equity from investors and reached a valuation of $271 million at its most recent equity funding in November 2021, seems to have hit a tipping point. Last year, it booked $22 million in revenue, up from $5 million in 2021. This year Penmetsa expects revenue to increase three- to fivefold. That would bring it above $66 million, and possibly over $100 million, as the number of its tractors in the field goes from more than 100 to 1,000. As it expands, Penmetsa expects that more of its revenue will come from software subscriptions (up to $8,376 per tractor per year) that give farmers real-time alerts about sick plants and safety risks, plus gathering and crunching a ton of data to improve crop yields.
Forbes
11-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How This Company Is Helping Farmers Embrace Innovation
Monarch CEO Praveen Penmetsa expects sales to triple or more this year as it gets its autonomous electric tractors in the hands of farmers, earning the Livermore, California-based company a coveted spot on our annual list of the Next Billion-Dollar Startups. But launching an agricultural equipment company is tough. It is capital-intensive, and cash-strapped farmers tend to be a conservative lot resistant to change. But Livermore-based Monarch, which has raised $116 million in equity from investors and reached a valuation of $271 million at its most recent equity funding in November 2021, seems to have hit a tipping point. Last year, it booked $22 million in revenue, up from $5 million in 2021. This year Penmetsa expects revenue to increase three- to fivefold. That would bring it above $66 million, and possibly over $100 million, as the number of its tractors in the field goes from more than 100 to 1,000. As it expands, Penmetsa expects that more of its revenue will come from software subscriptions (up to $8,376 per tractor per year) that give farmers real-time alerts about sick plants and safety risks, plus gathering and crunching a ton of data to improve crop yields.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RedOctane Games Launches: A New Studio Dedicated to Rhythm Gaming Innovation
Simon Ebejer RedOctane Games Livermore, CA, Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aug 6, 2025 – A fresh beat is about to drop in the world of music rhythm games. Today marks the official launch of RedOctane Games, a small but passionate studio founded by veterans of the rhythm game world, alongside exceptional new-generation developers, creators, and community leaders from the global rhythm gaming scene. RedOctane Games is focused solely on advancing the rhythm game genre combining the past with the future and being driven forward hand in hand with this well-established and respected community of gamers. The team has been busy in pre-production over recent months and has now officially entered production on its debut rhythm-based title, which is expected to be announced later this up the studio is Simon Ebejer, a seasoned games industry leader who was the Production Director on several Guitar Hero titles during his time at Neversoft, later becoming Studio Head at Vicarious Visions and VP of Operations at Blizzard Entertainment, where he played a pivotal role in the organization and delivery of Diablo IV. The RedOctane Games team includes creators and developers who helped create and scale Guitar Hero and DJ Hero nearly two decades ago, as well as proven emerging development talent and community leaders from across today's rhythm gaming space. The studio is being built with the community from the ground up, ensuring that players are part of the creative journey from day one. In addition, it has been announced that brothers Charles and Kai Huang will join a special advisory board for the company. Charles and Kai were the original founders of the Guitar Hero franchise back in 2005, having partnered with Harmonix Music Systems to launch the groundbreaking title that helped define a generation of rhythm gaming. Their involvement brings deep heritage and insight to the studio's future direction. 'Rhythm games are about more than just gameplay they're about feel, flow, and connection to the music and to each other,' said Simon Ebejer, Head of Studio. 'RedOctane Games is our way of giving back to a genre that means so much to us, while pushing it forward in new and exciting directions.' With community-built development at its core and a strong foundation of technical and creative talent, RedOctane Games is ready to deliver the next evolution in rhythm gaming. See the studio announce trailer here: About RedOctane GamesRedOctane Games LLC is a rhythm game-focused studio founded in 2025 by a collective of rhythm game development veterans, hardware pioneers, and community leaders passionate about music gameplay. The team brings decades of experience building iconic rhythm titles, alongside proven emerging developers shaping the next generation of the genre. With a studio culture rooted in creativity, technical excellence, and deep fan collaboration, RedOctane Games is committed to building the future of rhythm gaming together with its players. The studio is currently developing a range of innovative rhythm-based experiences, with its first title set to be revealed later in 2025. © 2025 RedOctane Games, LLC ('RedOctane Games'). RedOctane Games is a game studio that creates music and rhythm games and accessories. RedOctane Games is a company within Embracer Freemode Inc. RedOctane and RedOctane Games are registered or unregistered trademarks of Freemode Go LLC. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. For press inquiries, interviews, or to receive updates, please contact:Via email: press@ website: @redoctanegames on all socials or click here Contact Info Alex 7957 204660 Attachments Simon Ebejer RedOctane GamesError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
06-08-2025
- CBS News
Woman with prior theft convictions arrested at Livermore outlets for alleged retail theft, police say
A woman was arrested at the San Francisco Premium Outlets shopping center in Livermore on Monday, suspected in a series of retail thefts, police said. The Livermore Police Department said in social media posts that officers responded at 11 a.m. to reports of a woman suspected of theft and spotted carrying bags to a U-Haul parked at the outlets. Officers looked inside the van and saw dozens of boxes of shoes and piles of suspected stolen clothing in plain view, police said. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Lashay Dodds of San Francisco, had just stolen from The Children's Place store at the mall and had multiple prior theft convictions, according to the post. Dodds was in possession of the keys to the U-Haul, which police said was fraudulently rented using a fake Nevada ID and credit card. U-Haul had confirmed the van was stolen, and the company reported it to the Dublin Police Department, police said. Dodds was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail on charges of stolen vehicle possession, petty theft, and petty theft with prior convictions. Police said the recovered merchandise included items from Nike, Adidas, Marshalls, UGG, Timberland, and Bath & Body Works.
The Independent
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Stop. Repo time! MC Hammer sued for allegedly failing to make $2,000 monthly car payments
MC Hammer is being sued for allegedly failing to make payments on a $100,000 Land Rover, according to reports. The '2 Legit 2 Quit' rapper, born Stanley Burrell, bought the SUV with a plan for 60 monthly payments of $2,434 from a dealership in Livermore, California, according to a complaint filed last week by JPMorgan Chase Bank in San Joaquin County Superior Court. However, when the 63-year-old missed several payments, the bank 'demanded possession of the Vehicle from Defendants. Defendants have not surrendered the Vehicle,' the complaint says. The contract lists the buyers of the vehicle as MC Hammer and U Can't Touch This LLC, according to The Mercury News. The lawsuit notes the rapper still owed $76,732.79 as of July 16, 2025, according to SFist. The Independent has reached out to MC Hammer's representatives for comment. It's not the first time the 'U Can't Touch This' singer has faced financial troubles. At the height of his fame in the 1990s, the rapper bought a luxurious Fremont Hills mansion and spent millions of dollars on improvements – including a recording studio and two swimming pools. However, in 1996, he filed for bankruptcy, claiming his assets were only worth $1 million – but that he had debts totaling at least $10 million, SFGate reported at the time. He was then forced to sell the mansion and move his family into a three-bedroom home in Tracy, a city about an hour outside of San Francisco. A recent Google Street View image of his property showed six cars in the driveway, including a green Land Rover Defender, according to The Mercury News.
