Startups

COVID-19 is a pandemic that has affected the whole world economically. Author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Darkroom, Lucas DiPietrantonio, explains how it has personally affected his company, other companies he has worked with, as well as his colleagues. Darkroom is a marketing agency that guides e-commerce companies in brand building and increasing revenue with the help of online platforms. When the first case of COVID-19 was first found in Wuhan,...

Video gamers aren’t exactly known as a big-time catch when it comes to dating because of stereotypes about them. But this will likely change in the near future! Among the reasons for the shift: Kippo gets $2 million in funding for a gamer-friendly dating app! Attacking the Old Tropes We’ve heard one or two stereotypes of avid gamers and many of these stereotypes still exist. There’s the stereotype of the...

Los Angeles-based tech startup Brainbase has bagged $8 million in funding to advance their work in the intellectual property (IP) licensing management platform. Through Brainbase Assist, which is an IP licensing platform, Brainbase helps companies, especially in Hollywood, manage their intellectual rights by safeguarding the sponsorships, licensing, and partnership deals. The funding is from new investors, Nosara Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners, the traditional funders Alpha Edison, FJ Labs, Struck...

So you have been struggling with your search for the one startup to invest your dollars in? Have you exhausted all google web page results and still don’t seem to find any? Are you wondering where to find what would be the next Uber? Have you asked yourself, “maybe I have been doing something wrong?”. This guide is designed to help you unleash all the tools in your arsenal to...

In dire circumstances we are facing today due to the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are struggling to keep afloat. Most companies have been forced to close their doors, unfortunately, indefinitely. Despite this, some businesses took off since the start of the pandemic. Due to the concerns of the COVID-19 to spread, countries have mandated citizens to stay at home to reduce the chances of transmission of the virus. As a result,...

Daqri an LA-based startup that rode the hype of augmented reality (AR) is gone. About $300 million in funding, they made a series of half-baked products before they failed marvelously. With everything going wrong, this company shut down last year. Snap made a recent acquisition of one of the last remnants of Daqri. They confirmed that they took some of the assets of the late company, as well as around two-dozen...

Digital mortgage-servicing platform Brace announced that it raised around $10 million more in Series A funding. It’s led by Point72 Ventures. The investment round brought the company’s total funds to $15 million within two years. The company will use these funds to expand its platform. They’ll get more SaaS technology to impact other segments within the mortgage servicing lifecycle. At the same time, they will grow their client base. Brace...

Liquid Death won over a lot of investors due to its promise of murdering your thirst.  This startup announced that they already raised around $9 million in their Series A funding. This company uses a tallboy aluminum can to sell its water. Right now, Liquid Death plans to expand its lineup with sparkling water, expected to ship in March. Its 12-pack costs around $18.99, regardless of whether it’s regular or...

Looking for a new job at a cool startup in Los Angeles?  Longing to find an environment where you can work, play and make friends? Here at LAStartups.com, we want to help you find a career you love. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 55 great companies that are all hiring right now. You’ll see businesses in a wide range of industries, from cybersecurity to healthcare, and quite...

Video-sharing social networking service TikTok is expanding, and this famous company relocated to Culver City, California. Their new office is a five-story, 120,000 square-foot building situated between the tech and media scene of Los Angeles. The exodus began this week, with employees moving into the new office with much gusto. Their reaction is understandable since this space has an open floor plan. It has lots of amenities such as conference rooms,...

I recently had the opportunity to connect with Benjamin Z M Lee, Founder, CEO of Ixora about his new VC firm.  If you haven't heard of Ixora, they are headquartered in Los Angeles, California and was recently founded in 2019. What makes Ixora unique is that they are dedicated to investing in high-growth, for-profit global companies whose business model leads to positive social or economic impact, as guided by the...

In the continued avalanche of exciting eSports news,  Nerd Street Gamers has raised $12 million in funding from Philadelphia discount retailer Five Below (and others) to build esports Localhost facilities that house leagues, training camps, tournaments, and showcases. The company is planning to build out a 26,000 square-foot eSports venue in Los Angeles by the Summer of 2020 – making it the largest such venue in the state. John Fazio,...

The modern world gave us dating apps, social media, and instant communications. It’s convenient, but it destroyed the art of courting. The good news is that finding a startup investor keeps these traditions alive since it often has similarities with courting a possible lover. Most experts agree with this comparison. As such, if you’re trying to raise your Series A in a startup funding, here are some tips and tricks...

The changes in the beauty industry are palpable. Its current focus is technological innovations, with consumers shifting toward buying products that make inclusivity their focal point. Some people prioritize products made using organic ingredients while others love product personalization. In this shifting marketplace, it might be difficult to get a willing VC for your beauty startup. That’s why it’s important to start identifying the active players in this industry. That...

North Hollywood based, UNest, the first consumer finance mobile app to make it easier for families to save for education, today announces its availability on Google Android devices. UNest’s Android app marks a significant step for the company as it continues to fulfill its mission of making affordable and manageable college savings plans available to every American family. The fintech app is now free to download on the Google Play...

Los Angeles has long been seen as the world-wide epicenter for arts and entertainment – palm trees, swimming pools, and movie stars as Quentin Tarantino’s recent hit, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” reminded us all. But as movie studios transform into streaming services and get bought by digital corporations like Comcast (NBC) and AT&T (Warner Bros.), a new type of star is being born. In the case of Los...

Where the money goes, tech support services follow. This is especially true in LA, where the real estate market is undeniably huge. Traditionally, this niche wasn’t all that enthusiastic about embracing new technology. But more and more industry players have realized the need for high tech to improve marketing and services, and to boost revenues. This is where Luxury Presence comes in. This startup offers real estate agents a wide...

In the United States, Los Angeles is widely considered as among the prime areas in commercial real estate investments. The fact that there’s a boom, of a sort, in investments in technology companies in the region doesn’t come as surprise for this reason. CREXi is definitely at the forefront of the commercial real estate marketplace and, thus, is among the technology companies benefitting from the boom in investments. With its...

New software firm for salons and barbershops poised to grow in the huge niche market; Boulevard has announced that it has received $11 million from several new investors, including Index Ventures and Bonfire Ventures. Both investor groups get a stake in the startup, along with a seat on the Boulevard board of directors. The new money will be used to hire more personnel across all its departments. Currently, Boulevard has...

Tech-based startups hold a lot of promise as venture capitalists keep a close eye on the high-tech industry. But with how things have gone in 2019, this has gone towards the wayside with a downward trend. With the way things are, investments have gone towards a decline in the category.  What led to such a decline for consumer device startups? There are a number of factors that led to this...