TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 19, 2020

The roughly 300,000 marchers that filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the third annual Women’s March received more than just an opportunity to hear from some of the state’s high powered politicians, they were also part of a new experiment from local March organizers in bringing technology into the movement.

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TechCrunch LA

MAY 12, 2020

The group occupies some familiar spaces for past investments, with a focus on niche social communities, mobile media tools and augmented reality. The 10 startups in Yellow’s third batch include: Brightly : a media platform and community that promotes ethical and sustainable brands. Stipop : a rich cross-platform chat sticker API.

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Invest Startup Artificial Inteligence Class 237

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 5, 2019

Snap is taking a leaf out of the Asian messaging app playbook as its social messaging service enters a new era. The company unveiled a series of new strategies that are aimed at breathing fresh life into the service which has been ruthlessly cloned by Facebook across Instagram, WhatsApp, and even its primary social network.

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TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 19, 2019

Popular messaging app Kik is, indeed, “here to stay” following an acquisition by the Los Angeles-based multimedia holding company, MediaLab. Livingston had tweeted that Kik had signed a letter-of-intent with a “great company,” but that it was “not a done deal.”

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Social Network Los Angeles Social Media Blogging 153

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Los Angeles-based Wave --which was until recently known as TheWaveVR--has connected its virtual reality technology into the world of live concerts, the company said on Thursday. The company said the new offering provides "immersive, virtual concerts" across a number of platform, allowing those artists to reach fans wherever possible.

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TechCrunch LA

AUGUST 7, 2019

Earbuds , a new startup from Austin founded by former Detroit Lions lineman Jason Fox, wants to bring the power of social media to your eardrums. On social media, players would take screenshots of their playlists and post them to platforms like Twitter or Instagram, Fox said. The company currently has seven employees.

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Entertainment Social Media Social Network Media 224

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Los Angeles-based Pringo, which develops white label social networking software for enterprises, said earlier this week that it has launched a beta of its latest version. Pringo's software is used by companies to develop their own online communities. READ MORE>>

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Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 14, 2019

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. The challenge is to find the right angel for you, and for your situation. Angel investors are people too. USA Angel Investment Network.

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Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 96

Startup Professionals Musings

MARCH 16, 2022

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. The challenge is to find the right angel for you, and for your situation. Angel investors are people too. USA Angel Investment Network.

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TechCrunch LA

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

The platform is going after marketers with a Canva-style drag-and-drop interface. Co-founder and CEO Josh Xu met his co-founder and CFO Liang Wang, a veteran of ByteDance and the music social network Smule, when the two were studying at Carnegie Mellon University. “We are doing what Jasper and Copy.ai

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Generative AI Marketing Artificial Inteligence Template 182

TechCrunch LA

OCTOBER 28, 2021

During its big VR and AR-focused event Thursday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a major new title headed to its VR platform that should turn a few heads. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is on the way to the Oculus Quest 2.

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Develop Development Los Angeles Platform 260

socalTECH

APRIL 9, 2018

Los Angeles-based educational software developer Age of Learning and Chinese Internet giant Tencent said today that they have launched a new online English leanring program, ABCmouse , focused on teaching English to children in China. Financial details of the deal between the two companies were not announced. READ MORE>>.

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socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

office in Los Angeles, as part of an "aggressive" North American expansion effort by the company. The company said the move comes as it has received an investment from three U.S. The company said it received $450,000 from three U.S. newspapers, and signed up its first U.S. client, The Bakersfield Californian.

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socalTECH

MARCH 7, 2018

Bumble--a female-centric dating and social networking app, where women make the first move and control who they interact with on the platform--said the move is part of a campaign to partner with companies that "pledge to advance workplace equality". Financial details of the sponsorship deal were not announced.

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Social Network Platform Networking Develop 113

socalTECH

APRIL 12, 2013

Los Angeles-based FieldLevel , which operates an online social network aimed at coaches and sports recruiting, said Friday that it has rolled out new technology its says allows coaches to more easily identify student athletes, making it easier for teams to attract better talent.

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Coach Social Network Examples Los Angeles 223

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 24, 2014

If your startup is looking for an Angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of Angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. The challenge is to find the right Angel for you, and for your situation. Angel investors are people too. Or does it? Keiretsu Forum.

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Angel Startup Funding Keiretsu 115

socalTECH

MARCH 21, 2012

Los Angeles-based PromoJam , a developer of enterprise, social marketing tools, has raised $1.2M The round was led by Golden Seeds, and also included the Band of Angels. According to the company, the new round will go towards growing its social marketing software, plus expansion of sales and marketing.

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Social Network Los Angeles Tool Software 183

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 11, 2017

If your startup is looking for an angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. The challenge is to find the right angel for you, and for your situation. Angel investors are people too. USA Angel Investment Network.

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Angel Keiretsu Invest Networking 67

socalTECH

JANUARY 29, 2016

Los Angeles-based Naritiv , a new startup developing a network of content creators for Snapchat, has raised $3M in a funding round, the company said Thursday. The startup--founded by Dan Altmann and Eric Posen--says it is enabling the creation of mobile-first content for Snapchat and other social network platforms.

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Snapchat Content Social Network Class 100

socalTECH

JULY 24, 2012

WhoSay , which operates an online, media management platform used by agents, celebrities, and studios to manage celebrities, has raised $12M in a funding round, the company said today. READ MORE>>.

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Media Social Network Los Angeles Sites 140

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 14, 2019

Brud , the company behind the virtual celebrity Lil Miquela , is now worth at least $125 million thanks to a new round of financing the company is currently closing. ” Los Angeles-based Brud is by far the most established of this new breed in the U.S. . at least in terms of the amount of money it has raised).

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Social Media Content Media Artificial Inteligence 261

Both Sides of the Table

JANUARY 18, 2011

I always try hard to make this blog a place where you can learn lessons rather than an advertisement for portfolio companies. He quit the MRF and quietly amassed nearly $100,000 in angel investment to build a company. The Team – I’m on record as saying that 70% of my investment criteria are team related. I still do.

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Both Sides of the Table

MARCH 17, 2010

Los Angeles. I was recently interviewed for an article that appeared in Fast Company titled, “ Why you should start a business in LA.&# If you’re interested in the topic it’s worth a read, but I thought I’d elaborate on the topic since it comes up all the time. People either love it our hate it.

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Company Companies Technology Startup 290

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 20, 2013

If your startup is looking for an Angel investor, it makes sense to present your plan to flocks of Angels, and assume that at least one will swoop down and scoop you up. The challenge is to find the right Angel for you, and for your situation. Angel investors are people too. Or does it? Keiretsu Forum.

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Angel Keiretsu Organization Invest 108

socalTECH

JUNE 23, 2010

Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based startup Worlize (www.worlize.com) announced it had received a seed round of funding, and launched a firm to focus on social gaming and chat. Brian McKelvey: We're building a virtual world, which attaches to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and all the social networks.

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Social Network JavaScript Startup Platform 239

socalTECH

MARCH 28, 2011

Los Angeles-based SheKnows , the women's media site run by Evolve Media, said this morning that it has launched a new social media, community features for the service.

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Social Media Media Social Network Guide 170

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2013

The accelerator is among a number that have emerged in Los Angeles in the past year or so; StartEngine specifically has been focusing on startups targeting consumers, small to medium sized businesses, and web infrastructure. StartEngine's founders are Howard Marks, who co-founded Activision, and investor Paul Kessler. READ MORE>>.

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Santa Monica Startup Activision Commerce 178

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Los Angeles-based Siemer Ventures , the venture capital arm of investment bank Siemer & Associates, has been one of the most active local investors lately--and is continuing that trend, with the investment in Ribbon. In the past few months, the firm has invested in a dozen companies, ranging from Surf Air, to Gradient X.

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Draper Seed Funding Commerce Social Network 164

TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

New platforms led by YouTube have emerged to change the dynamic of broadcast media — once dominated by the rigid programming of TV — while the internet has enabled new media stars to engage with their audiences in new, high-touch ways. In addition, there are incentives for referring others to the platform.

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TechCrunch LA

APRIL 16, 2019

The New York-based company was founded last year by Gina Bartasi, a fertility industry vet who previously launched Progyny, a fertility benefit solution for employers, and FertilityAuthority.com, an information platform and social network for people struggling with fertility.

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Mobile Pricing Social Network Los Angeles 167

socalTECH

JANUARY 31, 2013

However--as one local venture investor confided--what is obvious, is that there are many entrepreneurs who are getting farther, understanding the funding game, getting beyond stage one, and hopefully--either moving their companies to the next level, or perhaps taking those lessons learned and applying it to their next startup or company.

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Startup Commerce Santa Monica Mentor 256

socalTECH

MAY 30, 2019

Our interview this morning is with Robin Richards , the CEO of Los Angeles-based CareerArc (www.careerarc.com). Richards--a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in a number of technology companies here, including NTI Group (sold to Blackboard), Internships.com, MP3.com, com, and Vivendi Universal Net USA, where he was also CEO.

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Content Social Network Coach Help 193

socalTECH

AUGUST 29, 2019

Los Angeles-based venture investor March Capital Partners is the lead investor in a new, Series A $4M funding round for a new, video game developer called Knock Knock Games , according to the company on Thursday. The funding also included Raine Ventures, London Venture Partners, and Ludlow Ventures. READ MORE>>.

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Capital Funding Social Media Los Angeles 113

socalTECH

JULY 16, 2012

With the proliferation of social media, how do you--as a brand--manage all of those various websites, content, and media? Los Angeles-based Fliptu (www.fliptu.com), headed by Jeremy Gocke , thinks it has this figured out, by providing a central place to access a brand's content, across social networks. What is Fliptu?

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Social Media Media Social Network Seed Funding 268

socalTECH

MARCH 10, 2010

The company said the funding will go to hire key personal, further develop its technology platform, and for strategic partnerships. Audiolife's software allows artists to sell downloads, ringtones, CDs, and other merchandise from their web sites, blogs, or social networking sites. Audiolife is headed by Brandon Hance.

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Van Nuys Funding Social Network Venture Capital 145

socalTECH

MARCH 14, 2017

Last week, Los Angeles-based iExhale (www.iexhale.com) announced a seed funding round, to bring its mobile, mental health service to life. We spoke with founder and CEO Aaron Robin to learn more about the app and how it started, and how the company is hoping to reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health support.

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Social Network Startup Platform Networking 113

socalTECH

JANUARY 30, 2017

In the world of social networking, there are lots of apps and services which connect you with people you know, but not so many which help you connect with others like you. is the app behind the company known as exactly Messaging Inc. Is there a need for yet another social networking app? What is exactly.me?

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Startup Social Network Southern California Mobile 100