TechCrunch LA

MARCH 27, 2021

Who knew building a vertical software as a service toolkit focused on home heating and cooling could be worth $8.3 billion? That’s how much Los Angeles-based ServiceTitan , a startup founded just eight years ago is worth now, thanks to some massive tailwinds around homebuilding and energy efficiency that are serving to boost the company’s bottom line and netting it an unprecedented valuation for a vertical software company, according to bankers.

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SaaS Glendale Statistics Los Angeles 292

socalTECH

MARCH 30, 2021

Newport Beach-based Chipotle is jumping into the Bitcoin craze, saying today that it is launching a promotion where it will give away $100,000 in Bitcoin, plus another $100,000 in free burritos, as part of a "National Burrito Day" on April 1st. According to Chipotle, the promotion focuses on attempting to guess a valid, six-digit code for a chance to win a free burrito or up to $25,000 in Bitcoin.

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Berkonomics

APRIL 1, 2021

Plans do not often work as devised. . We are not always smart about the market or the product. We may miss the context of the times and come to market too soon or too late. We might not have researched the market diligently or used a focus group or other market research. Well, the good news is that great teams are not bound by their original product or marketing plan.

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Resource Research Class News 156

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 29, 2021

Describing esports to those unfamiliar with the concept can be tricky, and FaZe Clan Inc. Chief Executive Lee Trink said it’s even harder to sum up what his company does.

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Company Companies 162

Advertiser: Aggregage

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.

Company

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 29, 2021

The coming wave of electric vehicles will require more than thousands of charging stations. In addition to being installed, they also need to work — and today, that isn’t happening. If a station doesn’t send out an error or a driver doesn’t report it, network providers might never know there’s even a problem. Kameale C. Terry, who co-founded ChargerHelp!

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Incubator Outsource Development Los Angeles Startup 287

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 31, 2021

I’m a big fan of the old adage "There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers." We have all heard questions that begin, "This may be a dumb question, but …" used effectively by smart people who are not afraid of risking ridicule by challenging a questionable assertion from an intimidating speaker. Most people in business seem to expect their leaders just to give orders.

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Organization Ideas Course Entrepreneur 174

L.A. Business Journal

APRIL 2, 2021

Glendale-based ServiceTitan Inc. is quickly becoming one of the most valuable startups in the Los Angeles area.

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Glendale Los Angeles Startup Angel 182

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 30, 2021

Google is announcing a handful of major updates to Google Maps today that range from bringing its Live View AR directions indoors to adding weather data to its maps, but the most tantalizing news — which in typical Google fashion doesn’t have an ETA just yet — is that Google plans to bring a vastly improved 3D layer to Google maps.

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Google Los Angeles Examples Press 231

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 29, 2021

As a business consultant, I often have to remind small business owners that their marketing needs to be more interactive, versus the traditional “ push ” model, where you broadcast your message to as many people as possible. New generations of customers respond better to the “ participative ” approach, where they get to provide input via social media and the Internet.

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Customer Custom Marketing Social Media 168

socalTECH

MARCH 30, 2021

Los Angeles-based "hyperloop" transportation systems company HyperloopTT said on Tuesday that it has unveiled completed designs for a fully functioning commercial hyperloop system, which it developed with engineering company Dar Al-Handasah. The company claimed that the design goes "beyond any rendering or concepts" which have been shown by other hyperloop companies.

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Design Study Los Angeles Angel 124

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 29, 2021

Insurance technology company Counterpart Inc. announced March 23 that it had raised $10 million in funding to support the growth of its management liability insurance platform for small businesses.

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Platform Funding Technology Company 130

TechCrunch LA

MARCH 30, 2021

Self-driving and robotics startup Cartken has partnered with REEF Technology, a startup that operates parking lots and neighborhood hubs, to bring self-driving delivery robots to the streets of downtown Miami. With this announcement, Cartken officially comes out of stealth mode. The company, founded by ex-Google engineers and colleagues behind the unrequited Bookbot , was formed to develop market-ready tech in self-driving, AI-powered robotics and delivery operations in 2019, but the team has ke

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Google Technology Artificial Inteligence Chief Technology Officer 189

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 27, 2021

We all know entrepreneurs who have overcome adversity, like the current pandemic or personal setbacks, and achieved success. There are famous people like Walt Disney and Nelson Rockefeller, who overcame learning disabilities, and people like J. C. Penney and J. K Rowling who struggled through personal bad times before finding their true legacy. I’ve always been interested in how this works, and why it’s true.

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Entrepreneur Examples Help Activity 146

socalTECH

MARCH 30, 2021

San Diego-based drone security systems developer Citadel Defense reported on Tuesday that it has snagged a new contract, from the U.S. Department of Defense, worth $5M. According to the company, it received the new contract award as an urgent, follow-on award to protect servicemen and servicewomen from small drone threats. Other details on the contract were not announced.

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Artificial Inteligence Outsource Development San Diego Report 124

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 29, 2021

It has been a big year for cybersecurity company Orca Security Ltd. In just the last 12 months, Orca has completed three funding rounds, bringing in nearly $300 million to fund the rapid expansion of its business.

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Product Funding Company Companies 130

SoCal Tech Calendar

MARCH 29, 2021

Friday, April 2, 2021 -- USC Viterbi Startup Garage Deadline. USC Viterbi Startup Garage (VSG) is hosting an open call for early-stage technology startups for their Spring Cohort kicking off late-April. VSG is an incubation space in the heart of Silicon Beach to stimulate the growth of technology-based ventures and support the USC innovation network.

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USC Startup Southern California IP 100

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 28, 2021

When you are not presenting to investors or your team, try to spend more time listening than talking. You can’t learn anything new while you’re talking, yet many entrepreneurs seem to never stop. It’s a sad spiral, since the more you talk, the less people really hear, meaning they don’t learn anything either. If someone left this article on your desk, read extra carefully.

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socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2021

Santa Barbara-based Entrada Ventures, a venture capital firm led by Alexander Fang, the former co-founder of Aurrion (acquired by Juniper Networks), has raised $1.6M in a special purpose venture investment fund. Details on the use of that fund and any other details on any linked investment were not announced. The SPV was disclosed through a regulatory filing.

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Santa Barbara Venture Capital Invest Funding 113

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 29, 2021

Investors are backing away from social media app Dispo Inc. in light of sexual assault allegations against an associate of co-founder and YouTube celebrity David Dobrik.

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Social Media Media 130

Southern California Edison Blog

APRIL 1, 2021

Modern networks require secure setups to ensure mission-critical data and sensitive communications are private and protected from outside parties looking to steal or access information being transmitted. While every organization should have secure networks, the stakes are higher in some industries than others. Here are industries that stand the most to gain by leveraging secure networks: .

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Design Networking Organization Paramount 90

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 2, 2021

In my experience, one of the biggest mistakes I see you make as a startup or new business owner is to create a business that is totally dependent on you. That means you are the only one who knows how the business works, you make all decisions, and progress grinds to a halt when you are away. That may make sense on day one , but it will kill you and the business over time.

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Startup Training Guide Sales 107

socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2021

Los Angeles-based Curri, which provides delivery of construction materials via car, truck, flatbed, box truck, and other means through its own network of contractors, has raised $6M in a funding round, the company said this week. The funding was led by Brick & Mortar Ventures, and also included Rainfall Ventures and Initialized Capital. Curri is building its own network of people with trucks and other vehicles, which it says are much like contractors for Uber, and insured, background-checked, an

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Training Los Angeles Networking Capital 113

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 30, 2021

Betty Labs Inc., the mid-Wilshire-based creator of live audio app Locker Room, has been acquired by Spotify.

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Southern California Edison Blog

APRIL 1, 2021

Modern networks require secure setups to ensure mission-critical data and sensitive communications are private and protected from outside parties looking to steal or access information being transmitted. While every organization should have secure networks, the stakes are higher in some industries than others. Here are industries that stand the most to gain by leveraging secure networks: .

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Design Networking Organization Paramount 52

AllTopStartups

MARCH 29, 2021

Did you know that experts say there was a 715% increase in ransomware attacks in 2020? Today’s world brings unprecedented opportunities for business and collaboration. Yet computer networks are constantly… The post What the Recent Ransomware Attacks Mean for Cybersecurity appeared first on AllTopStartups.

Networking 52

Networking 52

socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2021

San Diego-based Mirati Therapeutics said this week that it has added Ms. Shalini Sharp as a new independent director at the targeted oncology company. Sharp was most recently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Ultragenyx, and also served at Agenus, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs. She also serves on the boards of Neurocrine Biosciences, Precision Biosciences, Sutro Biopharma and TB Alliance.

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San Diego Company Companies 113

L.A. Business Journal

MARCH 30, 2021

Betty Labs Inc., the mid-Wilshire-based creator of live audio app Locker Room, has been acquired by Spotify.

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TechCrunch LA

MARCH 31, 2021

The sweeping infrastructure package put forward today by President Joe Biden comes with a price tag of roughly $2 trillion (and hefty tax hikes) but gives startups and the broader tech industry about $1 trillion worth of reasons to support it. Tech companies have spent the past decade or more developing innovations that can be applied to old-world industries like agriculture, construction, energy, education, manufacturing and transportation and logistics.

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Startup Technical Review Invest Research 229

socalTECH

APRIL 2, 2021

Los Angeles-based accounting automation software developer Blackline says it has launched a new product targeting the accounts receivable market. According to Blackline, the new product, Blackline AR Intelligence, offers up sales and payment performance data, ability to track and measure payment terms, outstanding balances, cash collected, and debt positions, and much more.

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Software Software Development Los Angeles Pricing 113

socalTECH

APRIL 1, 2021

Santa Monica-based Piestro, a startup which is taking aim at automating the process of making pizzas, using robot technology, said this week that it has partnered with PopID, a developer of facial recognition payments technology. According to the companies, the partnership will let consumers pay with their face at Piestro's planned automated pizzeria locations.

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Santa Monica Startup Technology Develop 113

socalTECH

APRIL 1, 2021

Music streaming service Spotify said on Tuesday that it has acquired Los Angeles-based Betty Labs, a developer of an app which lets sports fans and insiders chat about games. Financial terms of the acquisition were not announced, however, reports said the deal was worth "tens of millions" of dollars. Betty Labs is similar to Locker Room, the trending app popular among venture capitalists and the technology world, as well as musicians, which allows people to engage in audio-only discussions and p

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Acquisition Los Angeles Report Services 113

socalTECH

APRIL 1, 2021

Carlsbad-based satellite communications provider Viasat said this morning that it has named former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Chief James "Jim" Bridenstine to the company's board of directors. According to Viasat, it now has eight members of its board. Viasat said Bridenstine will bring extensive experience in space technology, innovation and safety based on his leadership role at NASA, as well as defense and aerospace expertise based on his public service in the United

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Services Technology Company Companies 113

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2021

Los Angeles-based GoGuardian, which offers up software which helps protect students from harmful and distracting content, as well as manage mental health, says it will offer up its student mental health offering for free to school districts through the remainder of the school year. The company said the product--GoGuardian Beacon, helps identify students who are at risk of suicide or self-harm and will alert those who can help.

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Services Los Angeles Content Help 113

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2021

The Call of Duty League, the e-sports league run by Santa Monica-based Blizzard Activision, has signed up eyewear brand Zenni in a partnership deal, the two said on Wednesday. According to the two, Zenni is now the Official Eyewear of the Call of Duty League. Financial details of the deal were not announced. The two said that the partnership will feature Zenni's Blokz blue-blocker lenses, which are designed to reduce eye strain by blocking blue light from digital screens.

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Activision Santa Monica Screening Design 113

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2021

San Diego-based Erasca, which is working on treatments for cancer--backed by more than $320 million in financing from ARCH Venture Partners, City Hill Ventures and Cormorant Asset Management, along with others--said it has added two members to its board of directors. The company said it added Bihua Chen and Julie Hambleton, M.D., to board. Ms. Chen is a portfolio manager at Cormorant Asset Management, and Dr.

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San Diego Develop Development Company 113

socalTECH

MARCH 31, 2021

San Diego-based Ascent Funding, a provider of student loans, says it is targeting the coding bootcamp market, with a new set of loans for those programs. The company said it is aiming to provde those loans to underserved students to give them access to higher education. Coding bootcamps--which offer short term training on technical skills, such as software development--have become popular in recent years to gain practical experience in technical fields.

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Acquisition Funding San Diego Training 113