L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
Lindsay McLean, founder and chief executive of Home-Lister Inc., said the idea for the company came to her after working with a real estate agent to sell her first home.
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
Los Angeles-based Genies, a startup that helps people create their own avatars--which they can decorate by buying special NFTs (non-fungible tokens)--has raised $65M in a Series B funding, the company said this week. The funding was led by Bond Capital, and also included NEA, Breyer Capital, Tull Investment Group, NetEase, Dapper Labs and Coinbase Ventures.
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Berkonomics
MAY 6, 2021
It’s a big issue within any company. . With easy access to Internet shopping, games, social networks and more, employees can find many ways to focus on personal issues while at work, detracting from productivity and demonstrating a disrespect for the time paid for by their employer. In fact, if we were to be direct, we might label it “stealing time,” and consider it a crime of sorts.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 1, 2021
I’m fully convinced that both inspiration and perspiration are always required in a startup. Yet many people seem to be stuck on one end or other of this equation – all perspiration with no dream, or all inspiration with no reality. Success is the right balance of both for fun and profit. Aspiring entrepreneurs ask me why their great idea hasn’t sold; they talk about it endlessly, and they expect others to do the development, finance, and marketing work for them.
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L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
Launching a startup is like jumping off a cliff and building a hang glider on your way down, according to Nicole Emrani Green, who co-founded ecommerce gifting startup Givingli Inc.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Los Angeles-based Flowspace, a startup developing fulfillment software for e-commerce companies, said this week that it has named Piranavan Selvanandan as its new Vice President of Engineering. Selvanandan most recently was at Salesforce, in software engineering, and also served at HP. Flowspace said Selvanandan spent nearly a decade at Salesforce. The new exec comes following a $31M, Series B funding round for Flowspace in March.
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Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 3, 2021
I’m a big fan of mentoring in business, and have been at different times on both the contributing and receiving end of the process. These days, I seem to often hear from entrepreneurs who are struggling to find a mentor, or complaining about their lack of effectiveness. Like any other relationship, it takes work on both sides to make mentoring work.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
USC officials will break ground May 6 on a new building that could become a key center for technological advancement in Los Angeles.
socalTECH
MAY 7, 2021
Los Angeles-based StartItUp said this week that it has launched a new, mobile platform which aims to bring "Silicon Valley" style incubation and entrepreneurial support to small businesses. According to the startup, led by CEO Goli Ameri, it provides business planning tools, an online community, and other resources for small businesses. The company said Ameri previously served as US Assistant Secretary of State and Under Secretary at the International Red Cross.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 4, 2021
Miso Robotics Inc. will make the software behind its kitchen automation technology available to foodservice businesses as a standalone product.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
Snap Inc. recorded positive free cash flow in the first quarter of 2021, the first time the company has done so since going public in 2017.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
If YouTube viewing numbers are any indication, digital influencers and content creators have already demonstrated they can generate audience sizes worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster — but could they actually make hit film of their own?
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 3, 2021
With public health restrictions easing and the summer travel season approaching, Santa Monica-based Guesty Inc. is gearing up for what the company calls the “hypergrowth” of its business developing software for vacation rental hosts.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 6, 2021
ReCharge Inc., the developer of a subscription payments platform for ecommerce companies, has raised a whopping $277 million in a funding round.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 7, 2021
EV infrastructure company Electrify America will invest $200 million into charging stations and zero-emission vehicle education campaigns in California.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 4, 2021
Activision Blizzard's share price shot up 4% in after-hours trading as the company reported $2.28 billion in first-quarter revenue.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 7, 2021
As a mentor to aspiring business owners. smart people stand out to me with intellectual power and depth of knowledge on many subjects. The tougher question is whether you are also wise, in the sense of cultivating the right relationships, understanding team dynamics, and keeping to the correct side of the ethical line to maintain the trust of team members and customers alike.
socalTECH
MAY 7, 2021
Los Angeles-based Phyn, which develops high tech devices to help homeowners monitor water usage in their home, said it launched a brand new product. According to the company, it has rolled out the Phyn Smart Water Sensor, a compact battery powered device that provides homeowners with extra security against water damage, along with the Phyn Water Sensor Extension Node and the Phyn Water Sensor Cable.
socalTECH
MAY 7, 2021
Irvine-based Phocas Software, a developer of data analytics software for the manufacturing, distribution, and retail business market, says it has named Dave Boorman as its new Chief Financial Officer. The company said Boorman was most recently CFO for Network Ten, and also served at Seven West Media. Phocas is split between the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and says it recently raised AU$45M.
socalTECH
MAY 7, 2021
Santa Monica-based a href="[link] Cycle, a developer of software for market research, said it has rolled out a new tool to help with ongoing issue tracking for companies using continuous product development. The company said its Delta Testing tool is aimed at collecting user feedback for improving hardware and software, including mobile apps, websites, and physical products.
socalTECH
MAY 7, 2021
Santa Monica-based ReCharge, a developer of subscription e-commerce tools, has raised $277M in a funding round from Summit Partners, ICONIQ Growth, and Bain Capital Ventures. According to the company, the new funding round values the company at $2.1 billion. ReCharge said that it has added Andrew Collins of Summit Partners, Aaref Hilaly of Bain Capital Ventures, and Yoonkee Sull of ICONIQ Growth to its board as a result of the funding round.
socalTECH
MAY 6, 2021
Los Angeles-based InvestCloud, which develops software for the financial planning and banking market, said late Wednesday that it has acquired Advicent, a provider of cash flow, trust ,and tax financial planning technology. Advicent was backed by Vista Equity. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. Advicent was based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
socalTECH
MAY 6, 2021
Los Angeles-based EngineEars, a new startup that helps connect audio engineers with clients, said on Wednesday that it has raised $1M in a pre-seed funding round. The funding was led by Slauson & Co., and also included Kendrick Lamar, Roddy Ricch, Russ, Mustard, DJ Khaled, YG, Ella Mai, Bas, Smino, Masego, Cardogotwings, Young Guru, Kenny Beats, Ibrahim Hamad of Dreamville, La Mar Taylor of XO, Meko Yohannes of 10Summers, and indie-record label EQT.
socalTECH
MAY 6, 2021
Two veterans of Honest Co. have launched a new startup, ELM Foods, focused on online grocery shopping for plant-based foods. According to ELM Foods, its two founders--Joel Jackson and Melissa Williams--were both at Honest Co., the newly public provider of natural baby and household products. According to ELM Foods, it is offering up "intelligent" recipe and meal-plan shopping for sustainable and healthy groceries, helping its customers eat a plant-based diet.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Santa Monica-based NXCR ,the subscription vehicle startup led by auto- and startup-veteran Scott Painter, and auto analytics company J.D. Power announced on Wednesday that the two companies are in a strategic alliance, which will link J.D. Power's data solutions, vehicle valuations, and "consumer insights" into NXCR's vehicle subscription service. Financial details of the strategic alliance were not annouced.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Los Angeles-based Honest Co., the lifestyle brand offering up baby, skin, and household products, debuted in its IPO on Wednesday, raising $413M for the company--and bringing yet another Southern California startup to the public markets. Honest Co. priced its IPO last night at $16.00 per share, at the midpoint of its $14.00 to $17.00 estimated IPO range, and surged in trading on Wednesday, up nearly 38% in mid-day trading at over $22.00 per share.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Electrify America, an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure developer, says it plans to invest $25M in the Long Beach-Wilmington community, part of a larger $200M investment in California for zero emissions vehicles. According to Electrify America, it will support a "Green City" program in the City of Long Beach and Wilmington for a "Green City" program focused on charging stations for electric transit buses and medium / heavy-duty trucks.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Valencia, California-based Fralock Holdings, a developer of ceramics and other materials, said it has acquired Ceramic Tech Incorporated, a provider of ceramics, specialized formulations, pre-fired machining, sintering, pressing and grinding for OEMS. Financial details of the buy were not annoucned. Fralock Holdings is owned by private equity investor Arsenal Capital.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Anaheim-based laptop and technology accessory maker Targus has acquired Sanho, the maker of the Hyper brand of IT and mobile accessories, the company said on Tuesday. Financial details of the acquisition were not announced. according to Targus, the acquisition will help it diversify its accessory portfolio geared towards Apple and PC consumers. Sanho's products are mostly aimed at the Apple market.
socalTECH
MAY 5, 2021
Santa Monica-based ,a href="[link] the online car buying marketplace, said late Tuesday that it has launched a pilot program with Roadster, a digital sales software provider which helps dealers sell automobiles to consumers. According to TrueCar, consumers using TrueCar will be able to finalize their car buying deals digital directly, through an integration into Roadster's back-end software.
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
Elysian Park, the investment arm of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is one of the lead investors in fitness ring maker Oura, Oura said on Tuesday. According to Oura, it raised $100M in its Series C funding round, which was led by The Chernin Group and Elysian Park, and also included Temasek, JAZZ Venture Partners and Eisai, Forerunner Ventures, Square, MSD Capital, Marc Benioff, Lifeline Ventures, Metaplanet Holdings and Next Ventures.
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
San Diego-based artificial intelligence and computer vision startup Accel Robotics says it has launched a new, automated 1,500 square foot market in San Diego. According to the company, its new retail space is within Brookfield's luxury high-rise community, Vantage Point, in San Diego's East Village. The market features produce, baked goods, dairy, and convenience items.
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
Irvine-based Bitvore, which develops artificial intelligence software for financial institutions, says it has named Elizabeth Pritchard as its Chief Executive Officer. Pritchard was most recently providing advisory services to alternative data and data infrastructure providers through White Rock Data Solutions, and previously was Global Head of Market Data at Goldman Sachs and COO of the Global Data Science Group at AIG, and co-founded Crux Informatics.
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
Pasadena-based robotics developer Miso Robotics rolled out a new product this morning, a new, artificial intelligence-driven product called CookRight. According to Miso Robotics, the new product runs independently of its "Flippy" robot, and can be used to help cooks in the restaurant track what's going on a restaurant's grill. The new software tracks items on a grill, and monitors cooking time automatically--telling cooks when to flip an item, and tracking items from when they are placed on a gr
socalTECH
MAY 4, 2021
Irvine-based e-commerce software developer Kajabi said this morning that it has raised a massive, $550M funding round, which values the company at over $2 billion. The company said the round was led by Tiger Global Management and included TPG, Tidemark, Owl Rock Capital and Meritech Capital, along with existing investor Spectrum Equity. The investment round firmly vaunts the company into unicorn territory.
socalTECH
MAY 3, 2021
Craft Ventures, a venture capital firm which has offices in Los Angeles, has co-led a $14M, funding round in real estate startup Avenue 8, Avenue 8 said on Monday. The $14M funding round was co-led by Threshold Ventures and Craft Ventures. Avenue 8 is developing what it calls a "mobile-first" residential real eate brokerage, which currently represents upscale properties in San Francisco and Southern California.
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