May, 2018

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Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Launches Zero Emissions Transport Effort

socalTECH

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), the non-profit which encourages clean technology startups in the City of Los Angeles, said it has launched a new effort to accelerate the electricification of regional transportation, in an effort to reach zero emissions in the area's movement of goods. According to LACI, the nonprofit has partnered with a number of local government leaders, utilities, regulators, and others, with the target of reaching zero emissions for the transportation network by

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Massage-on-demand company, Soothe, raises $31 million

TechCrunch LA

The massage-on-demand service Soothe seems to be rubbing investors the right way with the close of a new $31 million round of funding. The Series C round from late stage and growth capital investment firm, The Riverside Company , caps a busy first quarter for the massage service. It also relocated from Los Angeles to Las Vegas; named a new chief executive; and announced new geographies where its massage booking platform is now available. .

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Verizon names Los Angeles as the second of four cities to receive 5G rollout before 2019

TechCrunch LA

My boss’ boss’ boss was on CNBC this morning touting Verizon ‘s new 5G services and naming Los Angeles as the second city in America to be treated to a commercial rollout of the new networking technology. “I think we’re a lot closer than people think,” says Verizon chief executive Lowell McAdam of the nation’s move to the higher-speed 5G networks. “We’re locking in on four this year,” McAdam said of the cities that will receive 5G tech

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Remind Me Why I Love You? (Why “In Person” is Everything)

Both Sides of the Table

You had an amazing meeting with an investor. Your product demo crushed. The dialog was great. They told you how much they loved your space. The meeting was only supposed to last 45 minutes but you ran 90. The assistant tried to end the meeting twice but was shoooshed away. You race back to the office to tell everybody how well it went and you wait for the follow-up call to have a partners’ meeting or talk about term sheets or at least dip into due diligence.

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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.

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How can you let a talented employee go to pursue a new career?

Berkonomics

It is tough to lose your best employees wanting to advance their careers. Sometimes you can be the coach, helping them even if it means losing them. And, as in today’s story, sometimes it can mean the beginning of an amazing journey leading to a story for the ages… We’d all like to retain our best managers and employees forever or at least for as long as possible.

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13 Ecosystem Builders That Are Boosting Startup Growth

Tech.Co

If you’re an early-stage entrepreneur, technology has served you well. The barriers to entry when it comes to launching a company require less tension and a lot less capital. In fact, for the most part, all you need is a laptop and Wi-Fi connection. Still though, when founders are seeking funding, “ 75 percent of the venture capital goes to three states: Massachusetts, New York, and California,” said Steve Case in an interview with Recode.

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Openpath Launches with $7 Million Raise

L.A. Business Journal

Culver City-based office security tech firm Openpath launched May 22, helped by a $7 million funding round and helped by local funds.

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Shared housing startups are taking off

TechCrunch LA

W hen young adults leave the parental nest, they often follow a predictable pattern. First, move in with roommates. Then graduate to a single or couple’s pad. After that comes the big purchase of a single-family home. A lawnmower might be next. Looking at the new home construction industry, one would have good reason to presume those norms were holding steady.

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Why you should never have a data room — the most counter-intuitive fund-raising advice you’ll ever…

Both Sides of the Table

Why you should never have a data room?—?the most counter-intuitive fund-raising advice you’ll ever get I’m about to offer you some fund-raising advice that flies directly in the face of what most conventional wisdom will tell you. If you stick through to the end I’m guessing I can persuade most of you. Let me start out with my premise: “Data rooms are where fund-raising processes go to die.

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You are your company’s moral compass.

Berkonomics

Here’s yet another story that you may identify with – or have yet to experience in your business life. It’s one of those that define your leadership for all to see, sometimes based upon decisions made in the moment – such as this one. A story of a CEO’s snap judgment call. Years ago, when I was CEO of my record manufacturing company in Hollywood, I happened to walk around the plant into the press room just as Bobby, one of the employees’ favorite coworkers, was offering stolen merchandise to his

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Silicon Beach Networking Mixer at The Room in Santa Monica (Complimentary Drinks)

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 -- Silicon Beach Networking Mixer at The Room in Santa Monica (Complimentary Drinks). Wednesday, May 30th Starting at 6pm! Complimentary Drinks, Presentations, and Networking! Meet new people and participate in lively discussions with outstanding names in the Silicon Beach community. Make sure to bring your business cards and be ready to make awesome connections with people across all industries.

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Founder of RYSE UP, NearWoo Jason Crilly Passes Away

socalTECH

One of Southern California's promising startup entrepreneurs, Jason G. Crilly --the co-founder of RYSE UP and co-founder of NearWoo--has passed away, according to friends and families. Crilly passed away last weekend. According to posts on his now-memorialized Facebook page, Crilly took his own life, which some attributed to the stress of startup life, along with other factors.

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Snap Names New Chief Financial Officer

L.A. Business Journal

Snap Inc. is changing chief financial officers from Drew Vollero to Tim Stone, a move that comes as the app company’s stock price is in sharp decline.

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Update: Bird buys more scooters

TechCrunch LA

Update: This story has been updated to indicate that the deal is worth tens of millions not hundreds of millions and includes comment from other manufacturers. It seems like all is fair in love and scooter wars. In the battle royal to become the last dock-less scooter startup standing ( and un-besmirched by poop ), Bird has inked what it is characterizing as exclusive deals with Ninebot (the parent company of Segway ) and Xiaomi ( yes, that Xiaomi ), for rights to their supply of scooters for ri

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How Many Investors Should You Talk to in a VC Fund Raise? And How Do You Prioritize?

Both Sides of the Table

This is part of a series of advice for founders who need to raise money from venture capitalists. The first in the series is “ Lemons Ripen Early ,” which also has a link to other posts. The most important advice I could give you before you set out in fund raising mode is to understand that fund-raising a sales & marketing process and needs to be managed.

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Have you been celebrating each victory?

Berkonomics

Here comes another story. Of course. This one may be like one or more you have experienced in your company. It is a story about focus upon the customer, first. And about reinforcing the culture of the company in support of that important focus by senior management, and by all employees who see that leadership in action…. Some examples of celebration you can use.

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Silicon Beach Crypto Happy Hour w/ Presentations at The Room in Santa Monica (Complimentary Drinks)

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 24, 2018 -- Silicon Beach Crypto Happy Hour w/ Presentations at The Room in Santa Monica (Complimentary Drinks). Thursday, May 24th Starting at 6pm! Complimentary Drinks, Presentations, and Networking! Meet new people and participate in lively discussions with outstanding names in the Silicon Beach Crypto and Blockchain community. Make sure to bring your business cards and be ready to make awesome connections with amazing people in blockchain technology.

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Interview with Lidia Yan, NEXT Trucking

socalTECH

How do you get top tier venture capitalists interested in your startup? Our interview this morning is with Lidia Yan , the founder of NEXT Trucking (www.nexttrucking.com), a venture-backed startup which operates an online marketplace for freight shipping. Yan tells us how the company's revenues, growth, and profits--even in the early days--drove $21M in funding from Sequoia for the company.

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LinQuest Acquired by Madison Dearborn, CoVant Management

L.A. Business Journal

LinQuest Corp., a Ladera Heights-based space technology solutions provider, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by private equity firms Madison Dearborn Partners of Chicago and CoVant Management of McLean, Va.

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Nike debuts its most ambitious SNKRS stash drop for the Championship Tour featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA

TechCrunch LA

On a mild Thursday night at the Los Angeles Forum , Nike’s public relations team and a group of journalists from some of the country’s leading lifestyle, tech, and general interest websites gathered to see the debut of Nike’s most ambitious SNKRS stash drop. Launched in conjunction with Kendrick Lamar’s Top Dawg Entertainment , the collaboration between Nike and Lamar marks a series of firsts for the world’s largest sports and lifestyle brand.

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How to Talk About Valuation When a VC Asks

Both Sides of the Table

One of the hardest things about the fund-raising process for entrepreneurs is that you’re trying to raise money from people who have “asymmetric information.” VC firms see thousands of deals and have a refined sense of how the market is valuing deals because they get price signals across all of these deals. As an entrepreneur it can feel as intimidating as going to buy a car where the dealer knows the price of every make & model of a car and you’re guessing at how much to pay.

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Here’s a rule for companies with outstanding loans

Berkonomics

Here is one that is so important to the continued health of a growing company that it cannot be overstated. It’s a bit complex for novices. But hang in there as I explain a bit about accounting classification of assets and liabilities. Differences between types of assets and liabilities. First, let’s be sure we know what is short in term and what is long in term.

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The IT Summit Los Angeles

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 -- The IT Summit Los Angeles. The IT Summit is the executive technology conference series returning to Los Angeles for our twelfth annual event on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. The purpose of the summit is to provide educational and networking resources for the IT leaders in Southern California. The conference is driven by an Executive Board of regional IT professionals that directs the content of the conference.

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How Eusoh Wants To Fix Insurance With Technology, With Allen Kamrava

socalTECH

The insurance industry is an old industry, with a lot of contradictions--it's one where the more claims insurers pay to help customers, the less money the insurers make--and it's also one that hasn't been disrupted much yet by technology. Is it possible to use technology to replace the age-old system currently in use in insurance? That's what Los Angeles-based Eusoh (www.eusoh.com) is hoping to do.

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Silicon Beach Report May 24: Justice Department Launches Cryptocurrency Probe

L.A. Business Journal

Justice Department investigates cryptocurrency and price manipulation; PeerStreet passes $1 billion mark in real estate loans; UCLA Magnify looks for tech and life science startups.

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Esports Overwatch League heads to hipster Brooklyn for its finals

TechCrunch LA

What could be more perfect than moving the inaugural championship finals for an esports league from its Los Angeles home to Brooklyn? For Overwatch League , the esports conference created by fiat from Activision Blizzard , the move is the first step in its plans for housing esports teams in cities around the country. Heading from sunny Burbank, Calif. to the hipster heartland of Brooklyn conjures up echoes of the famed Dodger franchise move (in reverse) while tapping into one of the few other ma

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How to Improve Your Odds of Getting to Yes with a VC — “Land and Expand”

Both Sides of the Table

If you’ve read any of my ongoing series on fund raising from venture capitalist (episode 1?— ?controlling your psychology ) you no doubt have heard me say that raising capital is a sales & marketing process. You company is the product and you’re selling an equity ownership in your company but much more broadly you’re selling trust & confidence that you’re going to build something enormously valuable and that you’re going to be enjoyable to work hand-in-hand with over the coming decade of

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Have you made the mistake of hiring too soon?

Berkonomics

Well, you may not be alone. Many executives and managers have made the mistake of using the financial and sales forecast to plan and execute hiring of new employees – so that they could be trained and up to speed when the demand arrives. The balance between preparedness and cost. Although hiring early does add to overhead by bringing employees aboard before they. become economic contributors to the bottom line, there is much to be said about consistent or improved service quality by having

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Display Week 2018

SoCal Tech Calendar

Sunday, May 20, 2018 -- Display Week 2018. The 54th SID International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition, or Display Week 2018, will take place May 20-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Display Week is the premier gathering of system integrators, designers, consumers, scientists, engineers and manufacturers in the field of electronic information displays.

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j2 Global Revenues Increase To $280.6M For Q1

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based j2 Global , the online services and publishing giant, reported on Monday that its Q1 2018 quarterly revenues grew to $280.6 million, a 10.2 percent increase over Q1 of last year. According to j2 Global, it ended the quarter with approximately $400M in cash and investments, after spending around $100M for acquisition and its regular quarterly dividend. j2 Global owns a large portfolio of online brands, including such online publications as IGN, Mashable, Humble Bundle, Speedtest

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Silicon Beach Report May 18: Musk Goes Deep on Boring Co. Plans

L.A. Business Journal

Elon Musk revealed more details about his Boring Co. project; mobile game developer Gamelynx announced a $1.2 million raise to create a competitive e-sports game; venture capital firm Upfront Ventures continued to back Irvine-based Cloudvirga.

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Location-based virtual reality is increasing its footprint in the U.S.

TechCrunch LA

Earlier this year, in a small, grey-walled storefront inside a very large mall in Torrance, Calif. (just past the AMC Center) , the virtual reality game-maker Survios planted its first flag in the market for location-based gaming. It’s one of several companies (many based in Los Angeles) that are turning the city into a hub for anyone looking to experience the thrill of immersive gaming.

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How Much Should You Raise in Your VC Round? And What is a VC Looking at in Your Model?

Both Sides of the Table

There’s a quick litmus-test conversation any early-stage VC will have with the founder and it’s one that you should be as prepared for as your elevator pitch. It goes something like this … VC: “How much money are you raising?” Founder: “$8–10 million” VC: “What’s your current burn rate?” Founder: “$250k / month.” VC: “So at a constant rate of burn rate you’d be raising enough for 2.5–3 years.

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Intel Capital Showcases 12 Startups, Shift to Data-Centric Strategy

Xconomy

The temperature in California’s Palm Desert hit 107 degrees Tuesday, but indoors at Intel Capital’s Global Summit meeting, the corporate venture arm said it has invested a cool $115 million so far this year. Intel Capital wasn’t ready to disclose exactly how many startups it has funded, but it highlighted a dozen tech companies that got almost two-thirds of the total ($72 million) with innovations in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

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UBER Elevate Summit

SoCal Tech Calendar

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 -- UBER Elevate Summit. The Second Annual Elevate Summit brings together 700+ of the world's foremost on-demand aviation leaders in industry, government, and academia for 2 full days of programming.

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Heal Raises $20M More For House Calls

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Heal , which operates a service that schedules in-home house calls from doctors via an app or its website, has raised $20M in a new funding round, the company announced this morning. The funding came from Bascom Ventures, Inflection Capital, IRA Capital, RLJ Equity Partners, Trans-Pacific Technology Fund, and others, in addition to existing investors Fidelity Contrafund, Jim Breyer, Lionel Richie, and Dr.

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