L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Last summer, Cyan Robotics Inc., better known as Coco, was just Brad Squicciarini, Zach Rash and a robot on the streets of Santa Monica.

Santa Monica 304

Santa Monica 304

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

Playa Vista-based transportation technology developer Hyperloop Transportation Technologies is showing off what it calls its "completed hyperloop capsule passenger experience", which it designed in conjunction with design firm ICONA Design Group. The design--which only exists on paper and fancy rendered graphics--will be installed in the company's first commercial passenger prototype, according to the company.

Design 195

Design Technology Develop Development 195

Berkonomics

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

So, your business has begun to take off. You’ve figured out your channels of distribution, pricing model and how to support your growing list of customers. Don’t be alarmed by this next statement. That’s relatively easy. You can be the one to develop a product or service, promote it, and support it when you are a small operation. But what if you need to repeat the process of positioning, selling, and supporting your product ten thousand or more times as often as you do today?

Class 156

Class Customer Custom Email 156

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 14, 2021

Innovation is the key to long-term business success, both in startups as well as established organizations. Yet every business and every entrepreneur I know struggles with this challenge, focused on hiring the right people and implementing the right process. Yet, in my experience the key seems to be more a discipline of innovative thinking from everyone, driven from the top.

Entrepreneur 158

Entrepreneur Startup Outsource Development Design 158

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

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

With a decade of experience in technology and law enforcement, Ryan Schonfeld knows a thing or two about security.

Technology 320

Technology 320

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

San Diego-based Classy, which develops software for nonprofits, says it has added new ways for nonprofits to receive donations in the form of cryptocurrency. According to the company, it has launched a new effort with Coinbase Commerce and The San Diego Foundation to create three new Crypto Giving Funds, which it says will make it easier for cryptocurrency holders to donate to nonprofits.

Funding 124

Funding San Diego Commerce Software 124

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

From zero-emission transportation to clean energy, L.A.’s environmental technology industry has boomed in recent years.

Technology 246

Technology 246

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

From zero-emission transportation to clean energy, L.A.’s environmental technology industry has boomed in recent years.

Technology 246

Technology 246

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Santa Monica-based automotive technology platform TrueCar Inc.’s sales tumbled as supply chain issues rocked the company, according to its third quarter earnings report.

Truecar 130

Truecar Sales Santa Monica Platform 130

L.A. Business Journal

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

David Fields has spent his whole career at the intersection of technology and the creator economy, working with companies like Walt Disney Co. and Tornante Co.

Technology 130

Technology Company Companies 130

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Los Angeles-based Fourthwall, which is launching a service to help creators with e-commerce and other related efforts. The funding came from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Initialized Capital, and Alexis Ohanian's Seven Seven Six. According to Fourthwall, it is developing tools to help creators turn their passions into full time businesses. Will Baumann is co-founder and CEO of Fourthwall.

Help 124

Help Commerce Los Angeles Tool 124

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

As an entrepreneur, you have to improvise and adapt quickly to survive and thrive in the face of the unpredictable challenges of the market. But this improvisation a not a comedy, although there are some distinct correlations, in relation to reacting, adapting, and communicating. In business and in comedy, you win most often with “Yes, and …” instead of “Yes, but ….

Startup 139

Startup Training Examples Ideas 139

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Los Angeles-based esports- and gaming-media company New Meta Entertainment said this week that it has launched a new, esports website and media site, Raidiant, which is specifically aimed at women gamers. According to New Meta Entertainment, the new website will focus on celebrating and championing opportunities for women gamers, and will include educational, social, and competitive resources for gamers.

Education 113

Education Entertainment Resource Content 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Los Angeles-based HONK Technologies, which provides a virtual roadside assistance service, has launched a new, business management tool specifically for tow truck business owners. The company said the new Partner Performance Dashboard helps its partners measure such things as availability to take jobs, job completion rate, on-time metrics, and similar.

Tool 113

Tool Metrics Los Angeles Networking 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Los Angeles-based travel startup Elude said this week that it has raised $3M in a seed funding round. The company said the funding came from ATX Venture Partners, and also included Mucker Capital, Unicorn Ventures, Upfront Scout Fund, StartupO, Grayson Capital, Gaingels, Maccabee Ventures and Flight VC. Elude says it has now raised over $5M in total.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles Funding 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

San Diego-based precision medicine company Cardiff Oncology said this morning that the publicly traded company has received a $15M equity investment from Pfizer. According to the company, the investment comes as part of the Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative, a program focused on "funding innovative science to meet patient needs". According to the company, Pfizer VP Adam Schayowitz joins the company's Scientific Advisory Board.

San Diego 113

San Diego Equity Invest Funding 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

San Diego-based Miva, which develops e-commerce software, said today that it has received a "significant equity investment" from growth equity investor Equality Asset Management. Financial details of the investment were not announced. According to the company, it will continue to be led by current CEO Rick Wilson. Miva said it was advised by First Analysis in the deal, with legal advisor Sheppard Mullin LLP.

Invest 113

Invest San Diego Commerce Equity 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Los Angeles-based TikTok influencer Dylan Lemay, who bills himself an "ice cream influencer", said on Tuesday that has has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round for a new venture called CATCH'N Ie Cream. The influener said the new company will open an "experiential" ice cream store in New York City with the funding, which came from Chris Camillo (co-foudner of Dumb Money), Joanne Molinaro (The Korean Vegan), Milad Mirg, and Anthony Baroud, among others.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Funding Los Angeles Angel 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

San Diego-based Novoron Biosciences, a biotech company that is developing therapies aimed at reversing central nervous system (CNS) damage due to spinal cord injuries, has raised $3M in a seed fudning round. The company came from Two Bear Capital. According to Novoron, the funding will go towards develping its lead drug candidate, which has the potential to both promote axonal regeneration and repair of the myelin sheath.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding San Diego Capital Funding 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Santa Barbara-based Cognixion, a startup which says it is developing a non-invasive, wireless brain-computer interface with augmented reality display--aimed at helping those with communications and physical disabilities--has raised $12M in a funding round. The company said the seed funding was led by Prime Movers Lab, and also included Northwell Health, Amazon Alexa Fund and Volta Circle.

Santa Barbara 113

Santa Barbara Seed Funding Funding Startup 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

San Diego-based Workiz, which provides software used by home services companies to manage their teams and things like payment requests and back office operations, has raised $40M in a Series C funding. According to the company, the funding was led by Lead Edge Capital, and also included G squared and La Maison plus existing investors New Era, Magenta Venture Partners and Maor Investments.

San Diego 113

San Diego Software Funding Capital 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

The LA Kings are in a partnership on virtual reality hockey training with VR training company Sense Arena, according to AEG and Sense Arena. According to the two, Sense Arena will provide its virtual reality hockey training platform to Kings' players at the team's official practice partnership. Financial details of the deal were not announced. Sense Arena says it offers up its virtual reality ice hockey training, with more than 1200 installations in 30 countries.

Training 113

Training Platform Company Companies 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

In an inauspicious start as a public company, Los Angeles-based electric vehicle developer Faraday Future says it is delaying its filing of its quarterly reports for the quarter ended September 30th, 2021, due to allegations of "inaccurate disclosures". According to the company, it has formed a special committee of independent directors to review allegations of inaccurate disclosures.

Report 113

Report Los Angeles Pricing Angel 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Long Beach-based rocket launch provider Rocket Lab said late Monday that it has acquired Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC), a Maryland-based company developing spacecraft separation systems. According to Rocket Lab, it will pay $42M in cash and 1,720,841 shares of its common stock, plus up to 956,023 shares of its common stock based on performance earnouts for Planetary Systems.

Long Beach 113

Long Beach Product Develop Development 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 16, 2021

Los Angeles-based Inversion, a company which says it is developing space capsules aimed at making it easier to return cargo to Earth from space, has raised $10M in a seed funding round. The funding was led by Spark Capital, and also included Y Combinator, Embedded Ventures, Funders Club, Liquid 2 Ventures, plus angels Kyle Vogt (Cruise) and David Hodge.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Los Angeles Capital Funding 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Pasadena-base concentrated solar power (CSP) technology developer Heliogen said this morning that it has named two new people to its board of directors. According to the company, it will add David Crane and Paddy Padmanathan upon closing of its merger with Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. Crane previously was CEO of Climate Real Impact Solutions, and previously was CEO of NRG, and also served as COO and CEO of International Power Plc.

Pasadena 113

Pasadena Acquisition Technology Product 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Los Angeles-based venture investor Moonshots Capital is one of the investors in a $3.29M seed funding round for Able, a developer of financial management tools for independent workers and freelancers. According to Moonshots Capital, the funding came out of its Fund II. Able raised the seed funding from Elefund, and also included Next Coast Ventures, Signal Peak Ventures, and U.K.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding Capital Funding Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Los Angeles- and Tel Aviv-based Intelligo, a software startup which develops software for financial risk intelligence and investment due diligence, said today that it has raised $22M in funding, the company said this morning. The funding came from Felicitas Global Partners LLC. According to the company, the funding comes on top of a $15M, Series B funding in November of 2020.

Software Review 113

Software Review Los Angeles Software Funding 113

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

San Diego-based MingSight Pharmaceuticals, a company that is developing treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and diabetic macular edema, says it has raised $20M in a pre-Series B funding round. The funding was led by Kaitai Capital. According to the company, the proceeds of the funding will go towards clinical development of its product. Kai Zhang is CEO and co-founder of MingSight.

San Diego 113

San Diego Funding Capital Product 113

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

The pervasive ability and need to communicate constantly and globally through the Internet and smartphones is incenting everyone to get more out of their own assets and time, and capitalize on the idle resources of others. This sharing economy is rapidly becoming the new business of sharing, with major winners already including Airbnb (rooms), Uber (rides), and Chegg (books).

Resource 126

Resource Commerce Social Media Platform 126

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

In my role as business advisor, I’m hearing more and more about workers who seem to be doing less and demanding more. The current pandemic, which has driven more dependence on remote employees , makes it even harder for business owners, as well as aspiring new business leaders, to recognize and demonstrate exemplary performance in the workplace. Top performers want to know how to stand out, and business leaders need to know how to better recognize and mentor aspiring superstars before they burn

Demand 123

Demand Mentor Startup Coach 123

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

Los Angeles-based Electric Monster, a new startup which focuses on digital entertainment, said on Thursday that it has raised a "major round" of funding, and acquired React Media. Size of the funding was not announced. The company said the funding came in the form of a debt facility from Metropolitan Partners Group and equity capital from Heroic Ventures, Creator Capital, Together Venture Partners, and Vikrant Mathur & Alok Ranjan (the founders of Future Today Inc.).

Funding 100

Funding Entertainment Acquisition Equity 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

Los Angeles-based Machina Labs, a company which is developing robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at improving manufacturing, has raised $16.3M in a Series A funding round. According to the company, the funding was led by Innovation Endeavors and also included Congruent Ventures and Embark Ventures. The company said the funds will go to "significantly grow" its team in Los Angeles, as well as expand R&D and manufacturing capacity.

Artificial Inteligence 100

Artificial Inteligence Los Angeles Funding Angel 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Irvine-based Mavenlink, which develops cloud-based software for the professional services market, and London-based Kimble Applications, said the two are merging in an effort backed by private equity investor Accel-KKR. Financial details of the business combination were not announced. According to the companies, Accel-KKR will be the majority investor in the combined companies, with existing Kimble and Mavenlink investors Carrick Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs continuing to hold stakes in the

Equity 100

Equity Software Services Capital 100

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

Traditional business intelligence (and data mining) software does a very good job of showing you where you’ve been. By contrast, predictive analytics uses data patterns to make forward-looking predictions that guide you to where you should go next. This is a whole new world for small businesses seeking enterprise application opportunities, as well social media trend challenges.

Startup 99

Startup Social Media Study Guide 99