Both Sides of the Table

MAY 24, 2021

Silicon Valley and the media industry that surrounds it values youth. The culture is driven by the 20-something irreverent founder with huge technical chops who in a “David vs. Goliath” mythology take on the titans of industry and wins. It has historically been the case that VCs would rather fund the promise of 100x in a company with almost no revenue than the reality of a company growing at 50% but doing $20+ million in sales.

Venture Capital 363

Venture Capital Capital Funding Startup 363

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 26, 2021

Britive Inc., a Glendale-based cloud cybersecurity company, has raised $10 million in Series A funding to continue to develop its security software.

Glendale 327

Glendale Software Funding Develop 327

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Los Angeles-based Park Place Payments, a fintech startup focused on payment processing, disclosed on Tuesday that it has raised $1.5M in a seed funding round. The funding was led by Curate Capital. Park Place is led by founder and CEO Samantha Ettus. The company's payment processing workforce is mostly women.

Seed Funding 203

Seed Funding Los Angeles Capital Funding 203

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 22, 2021

It’s sad when the startup is “successful,” but the founder still feels totally unsatisfied. I see it happening all the time. The business is a winner, but the family or other relationships are broken by the stress. Or the entrepreneur started down this path to be their own boss and change the world, but find they are now answering to many more people, with nothing really changed.

Satisfaction 174

Satisfaction Entrepreneur Guide Writing 174

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

Berkonomics

MAY 27, 2021

First, the short answer. No matter what your size, if you intend to grow your business into more than just a lifestyle workplace, you should create a board of directors. If you take money from knowledgeable investors, you will be required to create a board as a part of the investment process. So, why go through the effort? Boards perform two important types of task.

Resource 156

Resource Acquisition Class Help 156

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 24, 2021

Going into 2020, the micromobility industry was already experiencing some growing pains. A year later, local micromobility companies are optimistic.

Companies 299

Companies Company 299

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 26, 2021

Based on my experience with startups, trust is the most valuable asset you can have, especially when asking people to step into the unknown by funding your innovation, by joining your team, or just buying your new product as an early customer. You need to understand the unfortunate fact that, due to the realities of life struggles, trust does not come by default from anyone these days.

Companies 165

Companies Company Metrics Entrepreneur 165

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 26, 2021

Topia Interactive Inc., which develops virtual meeting places where members can join “worlds” created by artists and designers, raised $5 million.

Design 291

Design Develop Development 291

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 24, 2021

Owners are increasingly giving their dogs and cats the luxury treatment, which is leading to strong growth for the pet care industry in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles 264

Los Angeles Startup Angel 264

L.A. Business Journal

MAY 24, 2021

Westwood-based financial technology platform Sunbit Inc. raised $130 million in Series D funding, bumping its valuation to $1.1 billion.

Platform 200

Platform Funding Technology 200

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 24, 2021

Whether it’s a business or personal interaction, multiple studies show that as much as 70-93% of the communication is nonverbal. That means that people addicted to text messages, twitter, and email may be sending less than half the message, and receivers often misinterpret even that half. Yet the use of SMS text messaging for all purposes, including business, has grown consistently worldwide since it was introduced 25 years ago, to an estimated 2.5 trillion/year for business alone, according to

Layoffs 164

Layoffs Email Tool Study 164

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 28, 2021

Most entrepreneurs expect to face the “normal” challenges of starting a business, which include finding the right opportunity, building and executing a winning plan, and financing their venture. But many forget the pitfalls associated with traditional business jobs which can apply even to the smartest and most dedicated people running their own business.

Startup 152

Startup Training Entrepreneur Course 152

Startup Professionals Musings

MAY 23, 2021

Anyone who works with entrepreneurs will tell you that all are different. Some are really inventors, who view the challenges of building a business as a necessary evil. Others are really marketers out to make money fast, and believe that they can entice customers to any offering. Some just want to change the world and make it a better place. But none have any lock on success.

Entrepreneur 134

Entrepreneur Framework Mentor Web 134

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2021

Santa Monica-based Pathmatics, which develops market intelligence software and services, has been acquired by Sensor Tower.

Santa Monica 133

Santa Monica Software Marketing Services 133

socalTECH

MAY 26, 2021

Santa Monica-based Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, said late Tuesday that it has named Darcie Henry as the company's new Chief Human Resources Officer. According to Snap, Henry will join the company on July 6th, as current Chief People Officer Lara Sweet is retiring. Henry was most recently Amazon's VP HR, Global Consumer and Operations, and had been at Amazon since 1998.

Resource 124

Resource Santa Monica Snapchat Equity 124

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2021

Newport Beach-based wireless infrastructure provider Mobilitie appears to be up for bid, and is nearing a deal to be acquired for more than $1.3 billion by the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg cited "people with knowledge of the matter" for the information. No other details of the private equity deal were detailed, however, apparently CPPIB outbid a number of private equity firms also looking at the deal.

Equity 113

Equity Entertainment Invest Services 113

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2021

Los Angeles-based livestreaming and podcasting company LiveXLive Media announced this morning that it has acquired Gramaphone Media, an artist and brand development company which was founded and is led by Eshy Gazit. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. According to LiveXLive, Gramophone Media is an artist and brand development company which comprises boutique agencies specializing in PR, music and technology, A&R, strategic marketing, brand positioning, graphic design, and s

Media 113

Media Social Media Acquisition Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2021

Irvine-based University Lab Partners and the SBDC @ UCI Beall Applied Innovation said this morning that the two organizations have launched a new, startup competition, which is aimed at accelerating both life sciences and technology startups. According to the two, the competition--aimed at startups in Orange County--will offer up $20,000 for technology startups, and $23,400 in lab space to life sciences companies, and a similar $23,400 offer to companies specifically developing antibiotic suscep

UCI 113

UCI Competition Orange County Startup 113

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2021

Santa Monica-based micro-mobility company Bird has rolled out a new scooter, the Bird Three, which it claims is the "world's most eco-conscious scooter." According to Bird, the new scooter was specifically developed to offer up carbon emissions which are as low as possible, and features a new, 1kWh battery, which it says fixes the problem with current batteries, which it says require more frequent charging and leads to higher overall manufacturing emissions and require more vehicle miles travele

Santa Monica 113

Santa Monica Mobile Develop Development 113

socalTECH

MAY 28, 2021

Los Angeles-based FIGS, which makes medical scrubs and other apparel, has surged in its IPO debut, pricing on Wednesday night at $22 a share, and ending Thursday up 36% in its debut to 30.02. The IPO raised $1.02 billion for the company, and values the company at more than $4.6 billion. The IPO priced above an earlier estimated IPO price of $16.00 to $19.00 per share.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Startup Pricing Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2021

Redlands-based mapping software developer Esri has signed up an outdoor app developer as a customer, shifting its app to ArcGIS, according to the company. ArcGIS said that Relive, which develops an app which helps users chronicle their outdoor adventures and journeys, is shifting to the ArcGIS platform to scale its development. Financial impact of the win was not annoucned.

Develop 113

Develop Development Software Development Platform 113

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2021

Irvine-based savings and investing app developer Acorns said today that it will be going public, via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger with Pioneer Merger Corp., which trades on the NASDAQ as PACX. According to Acorns, the transaction is being supported by Wellington Management, Senator, Declaration Partners, Greycroft, The Rise Fund (TPG's global impact investing fund), and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock have participated, giving it an expected $450M cash balance at c

Equity 113

Equity Acquisition Invest Funding 113

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2021

Los Angeles-based Topia, a startup which is developing video chat tools that work inside what it says are "fully customizable virtual worlds", has raised $5M in a seed funding round, the company said late Wednesday. The funding was led by Seven Seven Six, the venture capital fund run b Alex Ohanian, and also included Bonfire Ventures. The company said it will use the funding to build out its team and invest in its "creator economy.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Tool Venture Capital Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 27, 2021

Los Angeles-based recruiting software developer ZipRecruiter rose in its first day as a public company, up as much as 8.5% in its first day on the markets. The company is now trading on the NYSE as ZIP. Unlike an initial public offering (IPO), ZipRecruiter did not go through investment banks to enter the public markets, a somewhat unusual move, although not unheard of--Slack and Spotify are examples of a couple of other companies who have taken that route to the markets.

Software Development 113

Software Development Examples Los Angeles Pricing 113

socalTECH

MAY 26, 2021

Irvine-based videogame developer Blizzard said today that it is once again cancelling Blizzcon, its annual conference, due to fluctuating guidelines around events in California during the pandemic. According to Blizzard, it now plans a "global event" in the early part of next year, combining and online show with smaller, in-person gatherings. The company cited both the evolution of in-person gatherings in California, as well as how the status of the pandemic has been fluctuating around the globe

Conference 113

Conference Develop Development Companies 113

socalTECH

MAY 26, 2021

San Diego-based Phanes Therapeutics, a developer of immuno-oncology drugs, has raised $40M in its Series B funding round. The funding was led by Sequoia Capital China, and also included the company other investors. Names of the other investors were not announced by the company. According to the company, the new funding will be used to advance several preclinical programs to clinic, expand the research and clinical teams, and support the advancement of research projects.

San Diego 113

San Diego Research Funding Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 26, 2021

Los Angeles-based Whatnot, which operates a live streaming shopping service for collectibles, says it has raised $50M in its Series B funding round. The funding was led by Anu Hariharan from Y Combinator Continuity, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz. The funding also inluded angels Animal Capital (Josh Richard, Noah Beck & Marshall Sandman), musicians Ryan Tedder and DJ Skee with Mint 10, NFL players DeAndre Hopkins and Bobby Wagner, and Jeremy Padawer, according to the company.

Startup 113

Startup Los Angeles Platform Sites 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Los Angeles-based Whip Media said on Tuesday that it has launched the Whip Media Exchange, a new data-and AI-powered content marketplace aimed at the global film and TV content licensing market. According to the company, as part of the launch, it has added Lionsgate, Giant Pictures and DMD Limited / CiND!E Films as content providers on the marketplace.

Content 113

Content Media Demand Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Pasadena-based codeSpark, which develops applications which help children learn how to code software, has been acquired by New York-based BEGiN. Financial terms oft he acquisition were not announced. According to BEGiN, the acquisition will help it in fulfilling its vision to "create the most comprehensive program in early learning." codeSpark was founded and was led by Grant Hosford.

Pasadena 113

Pasadena Acquisition Tool Design 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Irvine-based Docbot, a startup developing artificial intelligenec tools for diagnosing gastrointestinal (GI) disease, has raised $4M in a Series A funding round, according to the company. The funding was led by Khosla Ventures, and also included Bold Capital Partners, Collaborative Fund and Boutique Venture Partners. The company says it now raised a total of $8.5M.

Tool 113

Tool Artificial Inteligence Funding Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Monrovia, California-based SiLC Technologies, a developer of machine vision tools, says it has raised $17M in a Series A funding round. The funding was led by Alter Venture Partners and Dell Technologies Capital and also included Fluxunit -- OSRAM Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, Epson, UMC Capital, Yamato Holdings and Global Brain. The company says it has now raised $30M in total, including an earlier, $12M seed funding last year.

Technology 113

Technology Monrovia Seed Funding Tool 113

socalTECH

MAY 25, 2021

Los Angeles-based restaurant ordering systems developer Chownow says it has named a new Chief Technology Officer. According to the company, Bharath Chinamanthur has joined the company as CTO from Blink Health, where he was EVP of Product, Engineering, and Operations. Chinamanthur also previously served at Charles Schwab as an SVP, and also served at Amazon.

Chief Technology Officer 113

Chief Technology Officer Venture Capital Los Angeles Tool 113

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2021

Santa Barbara-based Invoca, which provides software for call and sales tracking, said on Monday that it has acquired DialogTech, a developer of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered call tracking and analytics product. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. Invoca said the combined company will have more than 300 employees and 2,000 customers.

Artificial Inteligence 113

Artificial Inteligence Santa Barbara Acquisition Sales 113

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2021

Los Angeles-based ProducePay, a fintech startup which offers up pricing information, analytics, and a marketplace connecting produce growers and distributors, has raised $43M in its Series C funding. The funding was led by G2VP, with co-lead IFC (International Finance Corp.) and IDB Invest (Inter-American Development Bank Group), and also included Anterra Capital, Coventure and new investors Astanor Ventures, IGNIA, and Finistere.

Pricing 113

Pricing Equity Los Angeles Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2021

Goleta-based medical equipment developer Inogen said last week that it has added a new member to its board of directors. The company said Elizabeth (Beth) Mora has joined its board, replacing R. Scott Greer, who recently resigned from the board. Mora was previously was Chief Administrative Officer, Vice President for Finance, Administration and Treasurer at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory and also served at Harvard University and Coopers and Lybrand LLP (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).

Draper 113

Draper Demand Develop Development 113

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2021

Camarillo-based GeoLinks said last week that it has named James Childs as its new Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Spectrum Strategy. Childs was most recently VP of Corporate Strateg yfor Cambridge Broadband Networks, and also previously had co-foudned Velowave, a fixed wireless ISP which was sold to Sling Broadband in 2008. He also started Light Link Broadband, another wireless ISP, in 1998.

Develop 113

Develop Development Networking 113