L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Playa Vista-based point-of-sale software developer Appetize Technologies Inc. has been acquired by SpotOn Transact Inc. for $415 million.

Software Development 246

Software Development Sales Software Technology 246

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Just Insure , a pay-per-mile insurance technology company, has raised $8 million in a funding round. . CrossCut Ventures, ManchesterStory and Western Technology Investments co-led the investment, which brings its total raised to $15.3 million since its January 2019 inception. Los Angeles-based Just says it uses telematics “to reward safe drivers and reduce insurer bias” by looking at factors such as how, when and where customers drive, rather than factors such as ZIP code or marital status as mo

Startup 203

Startup Customer Custom Los Angeles 203

Berkonomics

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

This is the tale of two CEOs, one of them unfortunately….me. . It’s a story of how people handle unusual situations when selling to the top – an executive of a prospective customer. And the stories couldn’t be more different. First, my friend’s story…. Recently a CEO friend told me her story of a dinner including her director of business development and an executive of a major company, a candidate for a large sale.

Sales 156

Sales Conference Startup Course 156

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Back in the early 2000s, the Maker Movement took hold in California, based on the emergence of such do-it-yourself (DIY) tools as 3-D printers, and now sites such as SketchUp and Makerspaces have all the tools you need to make almost anything computer related. Thus entrepreneurs were able to build prototypes and design new products without the traditional huge prototyping cost.

Startup 159

Startup Tool Design Demand 159

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

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Team Huddle Inc. — which uses artificial intelligence, machine learning and data to put employees’ mental health “at the center” of their work — is up and running with the launch of its first product, ScheduleIQ.

Artificial Inteligence 204

Artificial Inteligence Tool Product 204

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Los Angeles-based Perch Mobility, a startup that is developing portable charging "pods" aimed at helping professional chargers and scooter operators to bulk-charge scooters and e-bikes, says it has scored seed funding for its efforts. The company said the funding came from Lorentzen Investments. Size of the funding was not announced. According to the startup, the company leases its module electric scooter charging stations to its customers.

Mobile 133

Mobile Funding Networking Seed Funding 133

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

Every new business dreams of becoming the premier brand in their space, like Starbucks is to coffee, and Apple is to consumer electronics, but they have no idea how difficult that is to achieve. In fact, only 100 of the 10,000 multimillion-dollar consumer companies around the world can claim to be an “apostle brand” – one that inspires enduring trust, loyalty, and endorsement.

Company 152

Company Companies Startup Customer 152

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

For companies that rely on long-term customers, “churn” — a term that refers to the number of canceled or lapsed subscriptions — is a major challenge.

Help 189

Help Customer Custom Company 189

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Los Angeles-based independent game studio FuzzyBot has raised $3.5M in a seed funding, the company announced on Wednesday, from Bitkraft Ventures, Sisu Games Ventures and 1Up Ventures. According to the company, the funding will go towards development of its first title. FuzzyBot was founded by Tatyana Dyshlova and Max Spielberg, both veterans of EA.

Seed Funding 124

Seed Funding Los Angeles Funding Angel 124

AllTopStartups

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Are you looking for ways to optimize your site for SEO so that you can generate more quality leads and boost your online visibility? SEO website optimization is a must… The post Key Easy Ways to Optimize SEO to Grow Your Business appeared first on AllTopStartups.

SEO 59

SEO Sites Marketing 59

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

In my years of working with entrepreneurs, I have heard many times the promise that their new idea will create the next Amazon or Apple, but I rarely hear the more important promise that the founder will practice all the good habits of winning entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs. You see, I’m convinced that the entrepreneur makes the company, not the other way around.

Startup 148

Startup Entrepreneur Social Media Social Network 148

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Inspiration4 proves that the company is making headway on its mission of opening space travel to all.

Company 219

Company Companies 219

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Los Angeles- and Nashville-based Clovers, a developer of interviewing and recruiting software, has raised $15M in a funding round, the company said this week. According to Clovers, the funding was led by Greycroft and Alpha Edison, and also included Crosslink Capital, Acadian Ventures, Fika Ventures and Act One Ventures. Clovers said its product uses "conversational intelligence" to provide real-time hiring questions for interviews, offering up what it says are "unbiased" question for interviews

Cornerstone OnDemand 124

Cornerstone OnDemand Software Coach Los Angeles 124

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Marina del Rey-based Whatnot Inc., a livestream marketplace for collectible items, now has a valuation of $1.5 billion.

Marina Del Rey 147

Marina Del Rey 147

L.A. Business Journal

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

The idea for Greenfly Inc. came to former right-fielder Shawn Green after he hit a record four home runs in a 2002 Los Angeles Dodgers game.

Los Angeles 130

Los Angeles Ideas Angel 130

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Culver City-based Omaze, which operates an online platform to help nonprofits raise money, said last week that it raised $85M in a Series C funding round. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Matt Pohlson. Lead investor in the funding round was Moore Strategic Ventures, and the funding also included FirstMark Capital, Wndrco, Telstra Ventures, Causeway Media Partners, Mockingbird Ventures, BDMI, Pegasus Ventures, plus angel investors Bono, Kerry Washington, Tom Brady and Alexis Ohanian.

Culver City 124

Culver City Platform Media Funding 124

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have enough resources to bootstrap our own startups, so we are completely dependent on investors to help turn great ideas into great businesses. Yet in my experience on both sides of this equation, I find that many aspiring entrepreneurs focus only on the best idea , assuming that it will attract the right investors. In reality, that’s only half the story.

Ideas 140

Ideas Entrepreneur Equity Resource 140

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

In my role as a business advisor, I find that most still resist change , especially change they can’t control and did not choose, rather than accept it as the norm, and seek to capitalize on it. I believe that that by adopting a more positive change mindset , you can actually make surfing the waves of change much more manageable, and even make your business and career fun again.

Satisfaction 139

Satisfaction Guide Help Customer 139

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

San Diego-based biotech Kintara says it is raising $15.0M in a common stock and warrant offering from unmaned "healthcare-focused institutional investors". The company--which is novel cancer therapies for patients who are failing, or are resistant to, current treatment regimens--currently trades on the Nasdaq as KTRA. The company said the exclusive placement agent on the offering is H.C.

San Diego 113

San Diego .Net Study Acquisition 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Irvine-based Interlink Electronics says it is opening up a new, engineering center in Scotland, where it plans to place an "advanced engineering team", according to the company. Interlink Electronics said the new group will be based at an "innovation hub" near the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Interlink says the new engineering team initially will include five engineers.

Customer 113

Customer Custom Help Develop 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Santa Monica-based TrueCar, which operates a digital marketplace for automobiles, says it has linked with Capital One to offer up pre-qualification for its buyers. According to TrueCar, the new link with Capital One allows eligible shoppers to pre-qualify for auto financing through participating lenders Capital One and Westlake Financial. The company said the link with Capital One offers up tools for shoppers to calculate monthly payments, see different payment options and terms, and will be ava

Truecar 113

Truecar Capital Santa Monica Tool 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

Los Angeles-based dog care startup Dogdrop has raised $2.9M in a funding round, to expand the company's locations and markets. The funding was led by Fuel Capital and also included Mars PetCare, Muse Capital, Animal Capital, Gaingels, The Helm and CEO dog care startup, Wag. Dogdrop launched out of the Science Inc. startup incubator and studio. According to the company, the new funding will help it expand its Los Angeles footprint, and also will help it as it looks at expanding to Austin, Denver,

Legalzoom 113

Legalzoom Incubator Los Angeles Capital 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

A new, Los Angeles-based venture capital fund, JAM Fund, led by Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen, has raised $247.5M for what appears to be its second fund, JAM Fund 2, L.P. The funding was detailed in a regulatory filing this week. The filing indicates that the firm has 15 limited partners in the fund. Mateen is the only General Partner listed on the fund.

Funding 113

Funding Venture Capital Los Angeles Activity 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Los Angeles-based Together, a startup which enables community acquisition of property, has raised $2M in a funding round, the company said this morning. The funding came from Caffeinated Capital, Eric Wu, CEO of Opendoor, Balaji Srinivasan, Homebrew, Form Capital, Bobby Lo, and several other angels. The company said it is developing a platform which lets people find other like-minded people, who can work together to find a property which those folks can purchase together to live in.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Activity Platform Acquisition 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Santa Monica-based micro mobility provider Bird announced this morning that it has begun offering up integration between its app and local bikeshare services in Los Angeles, as well as Oslo, Austin, San Antonio, and Milkwaukee. According to Bird, it will feature bicycles available in LA's Metro Bike program directly in its app. Bird said the integration is "completely cost free" to cities and local operators, with riders searching for vehicles in the Bird app to automatically see nearby public b

Services 113

Services Santa Monica Los Angeles Mobile 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Los Angeles-based Just Insure, which offers up a pay-per-mile auto insurance service that uses telematics to offer lower rates to safe drivers, has raised $8M in a funding round, the company said on Tuesday. The funding came from CrossCut Ventures, ManchesterStory and Western Technology Investments. The company said the new funding round brings its total raised to $15.3M.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Funding Customer Custom 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Acrew Capital, a Bay Area venture capital investor, said this morning that it has added longtime Los Angeles venture investor Richard Wolpert as a Venture Partner at the firm. Wolpert spent the last 16 years as a venture partner at Accel, has his own seed investment fund, Chance Technologies, and has made investments in such companies as Scopely, Replicated, The Immortals, Snap Credit, SteadyMD, inVia Robotics, Volley, Looped Live, Scener, and Lunar Crush, as well as Bridg (acq. by Cardlytics) a

Venture Capital 113

Venture Capital Los Angeles Invest Media 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

Our interview this morning is with Richard Wolpert, a longtime Los Angeles venture and angel investor. Wolpert has been at Accel Partners as a Venture Partner, in addition to being involved with such efforts as Amplify LA, his own startup, HelloTech, and hundreds of angel deals. We spoke to him about his move to Acrew Capital (wwww.acrewcapital.com), and got some of his thoughts on how best to get a funding deal done.

Capital 113

Capital Startup Los Angeles Funding 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Los Angeles-based software developer ServiceTitan, which develops software used by tradespeople to manage their business, has bolstered its board, in a hint of an eye on an exit. The company said it added Diya Jolly, Chief Product Officer at Okta, and Sameer Dholakia, Former CEO of SendGrid to its board of directors, and also said it recently crossed $250M in ARR, with over 1,600 employees and 7,500 customers.

Software Development 113

Software Development Los Angeles Pricing Software 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Los Angeles-based Savyint, which develops identity and access management software for the enterprise market, has raised $130M in a new financing, according to the company. The new funding came from HPS Investment Partners and PNC Bank. The company says it has now raised $170M in total capital. The company said it will use the funding to grow its investments in R&D and personnel.

Equity 113

Equity Los Angeles Invest Capital 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

San Diego-based 858 Therapeutics, a biotech startup focused on small molecules, has exited stealth mode and announced a $60M, Series A funding. According to the company, the funding was led by founding investor Versant Ventures, with participation from NEA, Cormorant Asset Management and Logos Capital. The startup said it is developing a portfolio of small molecules directed against novel therapeutic targets in oncology, including proteins that regulate RNA and the innate immune response.

Funding 113

Funding San Diego Capital Startup 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Los Angeles-based e-commerce software developer Assembly has joined the ranks of the local unicorn startups, according to the company, after getting a "significant capital injection" from Advent International. The company said it now surpasses $1 billion in valuation after the round. The company did not say how much Advent International invested in the company.

Invest 113

Invest Commerce Software Development Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

Los Angeles-based influencer marketing company CreatorIQ announced this morning that it it has acquired Tribe Dynamics, a developer of marketing analytics software. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. CreatorIQ said the buy will create a company with over 450 customers, 250 employees, and $90 million in funding. Igor Vaks is founder and CEO of CreatorIQ.

Silver Lake 113

Silver Lake Acquisition Los Angeles Marketing 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Los Angeles-based electric vehicle charging network operator EVgo says it has launched a new, customer loyalty program, called EVgo Rewards. According to the company, its program allows EV drivers to earn points towards free fast charging sessions. Members receive five points for every dollar they spend charging their car with EVgo, and have the opportunity to get extra points for liking and sharing EVgo's social posts, by visiting the EVgo Rewards website, and other activities.

Los Angeles 113

Los Angeles Activity Networking Customer 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

The LA Clippers said on Friday that they are partnering with software developer Intuit, which develops the popular financial software packages and services TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma and Mint, on naming rights to its future home. According to the two, they are in a 23-year strategic partnership which will make the Intuit Dome the future home of the Clippers.

Inglewood 113

Inglewood Software Development Software Services 113

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

San Diego-based 9am.health, a startup that offers up a virtual diabetes clinic, to provide care to those living with diabetes, has raised $3.7M in a seed funding, the company announced this morning. The funding came from Founders Fund, Define Ventures, Speedinvest and iSeed Ventures. 9am.health says it helps provide people prediabetes and type 2 diabetes access to important medication and at-home tests, delivered to their front door.

Seed Funding 113

Seed Funding San Diego Funding Help 113