socalTECH

MAY 3, 2018

On-demand, car wash startup Washe , which lets users connect with professional mobile car washers, said this week that it has raised $3.5M in a seed funding, to help it to "greatly expand" its operation sin Los Angeles, as well as expand into other new markets. READ MORE>>.

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Demand Southern California Seed Funding Startup 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

Los Angeles-based gaming startup Midnight announced this morning that it has raised $7.5M in its seed funding round.

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Chief Technology Officer Seed Funding Platform Entertainment 113

TechCrunch LA

FEBRUARY 25, 2019

With an angle on a long-neglected part of the shipping industry — the short-haul movement of cargo from docks to logistics centers — Dray Alliance is joining a growing startup scene for logistics businesses based in Los Angeles. Trucking logistics company NEXT Trucking takes in a $21 million haul.

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Startup Long Beach Los Angeles Southern California 140

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Los Angeles-based audio streaming service Vurbl , which is focused on building a platform for audio streaming, says it has raised $1.3M in a "pre-seed" funding round, the company announced on Wednesday. According to the company, it will use the funding to develop and launch its platform. READ MORE>>.

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TechCrunch LA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Leonardo DiCaprio is making a significant commitment to the Los Angeles-based investment firm, Struck Capital , as part of the actor’s commitment to building LA into a tech development powerhouse. DiCaprio has already made a number of investments in startup companies that have done very well for the Academy Award-winning actor.

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Capital Funding Los Angeles Invest 188

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Looking to provide a high-tech twist on retail loyalty punchcards, Pasadena-based Punchcard --the latest startup out of Idealab--has debuted a set of mobile apps which allow retailers to virtually "punch" customer loyalty cards on Android and iPhone. Financial details of the seed funding in Punchcard have not been announced.

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Mobile Idealab Seed Funding High Tech 157

socalTECH

JULY 17, 2014

3TEN8 , a company which is developing software to help mobile network operators visualize and manage their network performance, and which was part of both LaunchpadLA and the SAM Precellerator Programs in Los Angeles, has raised $250,000 in funding. The seed funding came from the Citrix Startup Accelerator Seed Program.

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socalTECH

OCTOBER 15, 2014

The Disney Accelerator , the startup accelerator sponsored by Walt Disney and being run by TechStars, had its demo day Tuesday, showing off the nine companies to emerge out of the accelerator. The Disney Accelerator said that Smart Toy was acquired by Los Angeles-based children''s product firm Cartwheel Kids, and that SnowShoe raised $2.2M

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Class Startup Seed Funding Entertainment 185

TechCrunch LA

MAY 13, 2020

It’s the origin story for Taika , a new startup that’s aiming to bring natural stimulants to the masses through its juiced up coffee-beverages. I’ve experimented with them myself and experimented with them on my partner and started this larger beta program.” ” Image Credits: Taika (opens in a new window).

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Startup Los Angeles Seed Funding Product 284

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

Seriously , a new video game startup, has just received $2.35M in a seed funding from LA''s Upfront Ventures, to help create mobile and casual games. The startup''s founders--Petri Jarvilehto and Andrew Stalbow--are both veterans of Roxio, and split between Helsinki and Los Angeles. READ MORE>>.

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Seed Funding Venture Capital Content Los Angeles 183

socalTECH

JANUARY 14, 2014

Los Angeles looks to be the center of the mobile-phone enabled, personal services market, as Wash.io --a new startup--announced today that it has raised $2.25M in a seed funding round. offers up a smartphone app-driven service which schedules laundry pickup and delivery ala Uber. READ MORE>>.

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Seed Funding Los Angeles Venture Capital Mobile 168

socalTECH

JULY 16, 2018

Los Angeles-based startup Octi , which is developing augmented reality software, has raised $7.5M in a seed funding, the company disclosed recenly. The funding came from Shasta Ventures, I2BF Ventures, Bold Capital Partners, Day One Ventures, Human Ventures, Live Nation and AB InBev, along with angels.

Software 100

Software Seed Funding Los Angeles Mobile 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 13, 2014

Los Angeles-based Vyu , which is developing a personalized, mobile entertainment guide service, said this morning that it has raised $825,000 in a seed funding round. The funding came from Jabbar Internet Group and other investors. The startup, led by Ahmed Nassef. READ MORE>>.

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Guide Yahoo Seed Funding Mobile 171

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 5, 2022

We want to build a product for the next generation that wants to be mobile, video driven, exciting and fun.”. million in seed funding from groups like Agya Ventures, Gaingels, Goodwater Capital, Nomo Ventures, PKO Investments and Y Combinator — Playhouse was a member of Y Combinator’s summer 2021 cohort.

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Content Pricing Seed Funding Los Angeles 255

socalTECH

JULY 31, 2015

Los Angeles-based Sayer , a new mobile app startup, said Thursday that it has launched its social polling and predictions app, backed by $1.1M in seed funding. Source of the seed funding, which was received earlier in the year, was not announced. Sayer is led by Patrick Davis.

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Seed Funding Los Angeles Mobile Funding 100

socalTECH

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

Burner , the Los Angeles startup which lets users create one-time, "burnable" phone numbers for temporary use, has raised $2M in a seed funding, the company said today. The funding came from Founder Collective and Venrock, as well as 500 Startups, angel David Cohen, and TenOneTen. READ MORE>>.

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Seed Funding Venture Capital Mobile Los Angeles 185

socalTECH

MAY 9, 2017

Los Angeles-based Donut Media , a startup generating social video content focused on car enthusiasts, announced this morning that it has raised $800,000 in a seed funding round. The funding came from Techstars Ventures, 3311 Ventures, Fontinalis Partners and professional driver Ryan Tuerck. READ MORE>>.

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Content Media Seed Funding Los Angeles 100

socalTECH

APRIL 6, 2016

Los Angeles- and Sydney, Australia-based Clapit , a startup developing a social media crowdsourcing app, said it has raised AU$2.57M ($1.94M US), to bring its mobile app to market. The seed funding came from Australia angels Mark Moran and Paul Siderovski. The startup was founded by Paul J.

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Social Media Seed Funding Venice Social Network 100

socalTECH

OCTOBER 12, 2015

It's not all that often that you hear of a local startup being acquired after only raising less than $1M in funding, because the company was growing so fast, rather than because an idea didn't pan out. Kixer develops mobile advertising software which helps publishers and connects mobile web users with apps.

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Mobile Startup Content Advertising 100

socalTECH

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Los Angeles-based Mixcord , a startup developing a mobile app which lets performers record, synchornize, and share their vocal harmonies, dances and skits, has raised $1M in a seed funding round. The funding came from Mucker Capital, Social Starts, and angels.

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Seed Funding Los Angeles Mobile Capital 100

socalTECH

MAY 24, 2016

Los Angeles-based mobile app startup Chatter said today that it is about to launch an app, which will let fans hold one-on-one, five minute chats with their favorite stars--and, at the same time, help raise money for charities. The company says it has raised seed funding from Innovation Factory.

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Seed Funding Snapchat Mobile Los Angeles 113

TechCrunch LA

APRIL 6, 2020

I have started to publish a version of the newsletter on TechCrunch. I will repeat my appeal from last week: Maybe you’re a startup founder, a safety driver at an autonomous vehicle developer, a venture capitalist, engineer or gig economy worker. The on-demand shuttle startup raised $400 million, TechCrunch learned.

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Layoffs Startup Newsletter Santa Monica 136

socalTECH

MARCH 8, 2017

Los Angeles-based iExhale , a startup developing an online mental health and wellness service providing on-demand therapy from licensed mental health professionals, is announcing this morning that it has raised $1.86M in a seed funding round. The funding was led by Dorilton Capital.

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Seed Funding Demand Los Angeles Capital 113

socalTECH

MAY 16, 2013

It''s official--Los Angeles-based brainwave-tapping startup Melon is within a couple of thousand dollars of hitting its $100,000 fundraising goal, to bring its combination headband-and mobile-phone app to market. The startups is part of the latest LaunchpadLA class.

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Seed Funding Class Sites Los Angeles 153

socalTECH

AUGUST 1, 2017

Venice, California-based Vetted , a new startup offering up on-demand, veterinary services at your home, has raised $3.47M in seed funding, the company disclosed this week. The funding came from Foundation Capital, Amplify LA, Sterling.VC, and ReImagined Ventures.

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Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Beverly Hills Inglewood 113

socalTECH

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Irvine-based K5Launch , a new venture accelerator started by angel investors Amir Banafatemi, Ray Chan, David Cheng, and Kai Tao, is looking to spawn the growth of startups in Southern California, saying today that it has launched its efforts in the area.

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Orange County Southern California Seed Funding Mentor 208

socalTECH

DECEMBER 13, 2016

Los Angeles-based emotional wellness app developer Stop, Breathe & Think announced on Tuesday that it has raised $1.3M in a seed funding round. The funding was led by LaunchPad Digital Health, and also included Aspect Ventures and angels.

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Seed Funding Los Angeles Pricing Activity 100

socalTECH

FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Los Angeles-based Bccthis , a startup developing software which connects Microsoft Outlook, Twitter, and BlackBerry smart phones, announced this morning that it has raised $500,000 in seed funding and launched a beta of its service. Source of the seed funding was not disclosed. READ MORE>>.

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Tool Seed Funding THQ Email 157

socalTECH

MAY 11, 2015

Los Angeles-based Wag! , the developer of a mobile, on-demand marketplace to find dog walkers, said last week that it has raised $2.45M in a seed funding round. The funding came from Freestyle Cpaital, Greylock, Crunchfund, Slow Ventures, Social Leverage, and RRE Ventures.

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Seed Funding Demand Los Angeles Mobile 100

socalTECH

JUNE 19, 2019

Once you've exhausted looking online for tips, Los Angeles-based ProGuides (www.proguides.com) offers up professional, instructional content to help you improve your skills at such popular titles as League of Legends, Hearthstone, and Fortnite. How did you start the company? What does that look like to a user?

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Help Coach Startup Tips 113

socalTECH

JUNE 1, 2012

Are users willing to check into local businesses with another, mobile check-in product? That's what Los Angeles-based MergeLocal (www.mergelocal.com) is looking to find out, by offering up points which can be converted to real cash, when users check into local businesses. Can you talk about how your company is funded?

CTO Coach 223

CTO Coach Startup Mobile Artificial Inteligence 223

socalTECH

JANUARY 14, 2011

Los Angeles-based ShareSquare , a new startup focused on the QR Code creation area, has launched its services this week, focusing on helping musicians and entertainers create QR codes. QR codes are three dimensional barcodes which can be recognized by mobile phones to connect users with web sites and other information.

Seed Funding 154

Seed Funding Entertainment Los Angeles Web 154

socalTECH

OCTOBER 6, 2015

A new, Los Angeles-based startup, Skurt , said Tuesday that it has raised $1.3M in a seed funding round, and launched an on-demand, rental car service at Los Angeles International Airport. The company--led by Harry Hurst--said the funding came from Upfront Ventures, Hipmunk CEO Adam Goldstein, Wonga.

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Demand SoCalTech Seed Funding Los Angeles 100

TechCrunch LA

JANUARY 14, 2019

” Los Angeles-based Brud is by far the most established of this new breed in the U.S. (at Betaworks is betting on the content studio aspect through companies like SuperPlastic , a new startup launched by Paul Budnitz, the founder of the alternative social network ello and Budnitz Bicycles.

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Social Media Content Media Artificial Inteligence 261

socalTECH

OCTOBER 21, 2016

San Diego-based GoShare , the developer of an on-demand, moving and delivery app, has raised $1M in a seed funding round, the company said on Friday. The company said it will use the funding to improve its product and expand into new cities. The startup is led by Shaun Savage. READ MORE>>.

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Demand San Diego Seed Funding Los Angeles 100

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 30, 2014

As I’ve written about recently, at Upfront Ventures we started talking a couple of years ago about wanting to fund stuff with more meaning. I think this is a combination of being realists as venture capitalists that outsized returns in our funds must come from taking on bigger, more impactful projects that can move markets.

Technical Review 418

Technical Review Software Review CTO Hire IP 418

socalTECH

MAY 18, 2011

Earlier this month, Los Angeles-based MySocialNightLife.com (www.mysocialnightlife.com) announced a seed funding round, and its technology platform for the nightclub and bar industry. We caught up with Artin Nazarian , the firm's co-founder, and chatted about what the company is hoping to do. Thanks, and good luck!

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Social Media Seed Funding Startup Design 174