🤖 🏥 How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Are Saving Lives in Los Angeles Hospitals

Christian Hetrick

Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.

🤖 🏥 How Robots and Artificial Intelligence Are Saving Lives in Los Angeles Hospitals
https://medium.com/@helenjoy88/case-study-on-ethical-considerations-in-the-implementation-of-healthcare-robots-cd482f7696ed

🔦 Spotlight

Image Source: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

The integration of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare in Los Angeles, with hospitals increasingly employing these technologies to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. According to a Morgan Stanley report from August 2023, 94% of healthcare companies are utilizing AI or machine learning (ML), with the industry's budget allocation for AI and ML projected to double from 5.7% in 2022 to 10.5% this year. These technologies are being used for various applications, from autonomous robots delivering medications to AI systems predicting emergency room wait times and identifying life-threatening infections like sepsis (the third most common cause of death in U.S. hospitals).

Institutions like City of Hope are pioneering AI applications in healthcare, such as real-time clinical decision support tools. City of Hope's sepsis prediction model utilizes AI to monitor patients and detect subtle changes in their vitals, providing early alerts to medical staff, which has led to decreased ICU admissions and improved patient outcomes. Similarly, Antelope Valley Medical Center has implemented autonomous robots like Diligent Robotics Inc.'s Moxi to streamline medication and lab deliveries, reducing staff workload and enhancing efficiency.

Cedars-Sinai is leveraging AI through its CS Connect app, utilizing a chatbot to interact with patients and assist in scheduling appointments and providing diagnostic insights to physicians. Moreover, the hospital is actively combating AI bias to ensure fair and accurate treatment across patient demographics. UCLA Health's Robotic Surgery program, led by Dr. Mark Girgis, has been utilizing robotic surgery for over seven years, offering enhanced recovery, less pain, and shorter hospitalizations for patients. Girgis highlights the benefits of competition driving down costs and improving accessibility to robotic surgery platforms, such as the Da Vinci surgical systems.

The widespread adoption of AI and robotics in Los Angeles hospitals not only represents significant advancements in healthcare but also offers opportunities for the city's tech industry. Hospitals like Cedars-Sinai and Children's Hospital Los Angeles are leading the way with innovative AI-driven solutions. As a result, LA has the potential to attract top health tech talent, bolstering its growing health tech sector.

🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Diddo, a startup that uses computer vision to identify products in videos and enables viewers to purchase products seen on screen without leaving the video, raised a $2.8M Seed Round led by Link Ventures - learn more
  • Shinkei Systems, a developer of fish-processing tech, raised a $6M Seed Round led by Cantos and joined by 8VC, Impatient Ventures, Susa/Humba Ventures, Carya Venture Partners, Ravelin Capital, Red & Blue Ventures, and Undeterred Capital - learn more
  • Moso, a shop-to-earn crypto rewards startup, raised a $2M Seed Round from Symbolic Capital, Dao5, Coinlist, and Polygon Ventures - learn more
  • Holograph, a startup whose platform enables the creation and management of tokens that can operate across multiple blockchain networks, raised an $11M funding round co-led by Mechanism Capital and Selini Capital, with Northrock Capital, Arca, Courtside Ventures, and Hartmann Capital also stepping up - learn more
  • LiNova Energy, a developer of polymer cathodes for batteries, raised a $15.8M Series A led by Catalus Capital and joined by Saft - learn more
  • Altruist, a custodian for RIAs, raised a $169M Series E led by Iconiq Growth and joined by Granite Capital Management in addition to insiders Adams Street Partners and Sound Ventures - learn more

LA Exits

  • Insight Treatment Programs, a provider of teen outpatient programs for mental health and addiction treatment in Southern California was acquired by Torrance, CA-based Your Behavioral Health, a portfolio company of Comvest Partners - learn more
  • SameSky Health, a patient engagement company merged with Tampa, FL-based GroundGame.Health, a startup linking community-based organizations with health plans and providers. After they combined the company raised a $17M funding round led by 7wireVentures - learn more
  • Viking Holdings Ltd, a cruise operator based in Woodland Hills raised $1.5B in its IPO. On Wednesday Viking (VIK) closed at $26.10, 9% higher than the IPO price ($24) - learn more

📖 What We’re Reading

  • Triller Corp., the Hollywood rival to TikTok, is being bought in an astounding $4 billion deal by AGBA Group Holding Ltd - learn more
  • Despite the somewhat bleak gaming venture landscape, Santa Monica's Griffin Gaming Partners gears up for expansion, tapping into Hollywood's top talent and exploring new avenues in IP licensing and investment - learn more
  • Sony and Apollo bid $26 billion for Paramount Global, intensifying the competition for the renowned film and TV company - learn more
  • Rivian will receive an $827 million incentive package from Illinois to expand its manufacturing plant - learn more
  • SAG-AFTRA partners with Nielsen for third-party streaming content measurement, ensuring transparency and accuracy in tracking hits on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video - learn more
  • New platform, ProdPro Network, aims to help Hollywood crew members find work - learn more
😊🚘 Rivian's $5 Billion Lifeline

🔦 Spotlight

Volkswagen announced on Tuesday a significant investment of up to $5 billion in Rivian, a struggling electric truck manufacturer known for its vehicles' distinctive smiley-face design reminiscent of Volkswagen's iconic Beetle. This partnership marks a unique collaboration between the world's second-largest automaker and a startup grappling with profitability challenges akin to those faced by Tesla. Volkswagen's infusion of $1 billion initially, potentially rising to $5 billion pending regulatory approval, underscores its strategic pivot towards enhancing its electric vehicle (EV) software capabilities, an area where analysts believe the company has lagged.

For Rivian, which has received acclaim for its electric trucks and SUVs but struggles with production ramp-up and financial losses, the investment offers crucial financial backing. The company plans to utilize Volkswagen's expertise in manufacturing, leveraging the German automaker's annual production of nearly 10 million vehicles. This alliance aims to bolster Rivian's efforts to launch new models like the R2 midsize SUV and complete its Georgia factory, paused earlier this year to conserve funds. Rivian's stock surged upwards of 40% following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism in the company's future prospects.

Despite their differing corporate cultures—Volkswagen's traditional, structured approach contrasted with Rivian's agile tech startup ethos—the CEOs of both companies expressed mutual admiration and shared goals during the partnership announcement. The collaboration is expected to yield EV software solutions benefiting Volkswagen's various brands, potentially including Audi and Porsche, while allowing Rivian to maintain its brand identity and separate vehicle marketing strategies. This strategic partnership between Volkswagen and Rivian not only promises to revolutionize the electric vehicle market but also highlights the potential for collaboration between established automakers and innovative startups in Southern California, where Rivian is based. Here’s to hoping these smiling cars will balance out some of the inevitable LA road rage.

🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • HeyGen, a startup that allows users to generate videos with AI-created avatars that can lip-sync to provided audio, making it easier for businesses to create engaging video content, raised a $60M Funding Round at a $500M post-money valuation. The deal was led by Benchmark, with Conviction, Thrive Capital, and Bond Capital also stepping up. - learn more
  • Pomerium, a startup that provides a secure access platform that dynamically verifies user identities to ensure authorized access to applications and services, raised a $13.8M Series A round led by Benchmark and including previous investors Bain Capital, Haystack, and SNR. - learn more
  • Etched, a maker of transformer-specialized AI chips, raised a $120M Funding Round. - learn more
  • Rocketlane, a customer onboarding platform, raised a $24M Series B co-led by 8VC, Matrix Partners India, and Nexus Venture Partners. - learn more
  • Sift, a developer of unified observability solutions for hardware sensor data, raised a $17.5M Series A led by GV. - learn more
  • LOST iN, a travel media brand, raised a $4M Seed Round led by MaC Venture Capital. - learn more

LA Venture Funds


Download the dot.LA App

From Pitch Meetings to Power Lunches: LA’s Exclusive Membership Clubs 🗝️

Download the dot.LA App

Summer's here, so it's time to zhuzh up your work environment. Discovering the best membership and social clubs in Los Angeles for meetings can boost networking and collaboration, offering exclusive venues and premium amenities tailored for professionals and creatives to thrive amidst the city's vibrant backdrop. These clubs provide a sophisticated setting for productive gatherings and meaningful connections in LA. Here are some top private member clubs perfect for meetings and productive work sessions.

The Jonathan Club

Club Details: The Jonathan Club, one of Los Angeles' original membership clubs, has been a cornerstone of the city's elite social scene since its founding in the mid-1890s. Its legacy is intertwined with the growth and development of LA itself, most notably through a pivotal meeting held at the club that sparked the idea for a southern campus of the University of California—what would eventually become UCLA. Today, the Jonathan Club continues to offer its members an unparalleled experience of exclusivity and refinement. With locations in both DLTA and Santa Monica, members enjoy access to premium amenities and spaces and a calendar with hundreds of social events and workshops throughout the year, providing ample opportunities for networking, personal growth, and leisure activities.

Membership Details: Initiation fee is around $50,000, and admission typically requires that you be invited or know someone who is already a member.

Spring Place

Image Source: Spring Place

Neighborhood: Beverly Hills

Club Details: A mix between co-working space and social club, this Beverly Hills hotspot is a more exclusive version of similar clubs. Spring Place Beverly Hills spans three floors and offers a stunning art collection. The interior is filled with tons of natural light and has an intentional design that fuels members to harness some of their best work. Members also have access to luxurious dining and nightlife pop-ups that happen at Spring Place.

Membership Details: There is a non-refundable initiation fee of $500 and then local membership for people under 30 starts at $300 per month, while monthly membership for locals over 30 is $600.

Griffin Club

Image Source: Griffin Club

Neighborhood: Cheviot Hills

Club Details: Located in Cheviot Hills, Griffin Club LA is a sporty club with ample shared workspace. Following a $20M renovation in 2020, the club now boasts seven LED-lit tennis courts, four LED-lit pickleball courts, two recreational lap pools, a 25-meter family pool for kids, an adults-only resort pool, and childcare services. It's the ideal destination for a clientele looking to mix work with competitive sport.

Membership Details: Membership is by invitation only and is subject to approval. Membership prices at the club vary. A family membership entails a $12,000 initial fee plus a $450 monthly fee, while a junior membership only entails a $2,000 initiation fee and a $205 monthly fee.

Soho House West Hollywood

Image Source: Soho House West Hollywood

Neighborhood: West Hollywood

Club Details: Soho House West Hollywood provides a stylish and exclusive work and meeting destination, featuring chic meeting rooms and workspaces with panoramic views of Los Angeles. Combining luxury amenities with a creative atmosphere, it offers an ideal setting for networking, collaboration, productive sessions, and an amazing Sunday brunch!

Membership Details: Two current member referrals are needed, plus an online application, and a recent photo to confirm your identity. Quarterly memberships start at $675.25, but if you’re under 27, you can pay $337.75 quarterly. However, if you want access to every house, membership costs $5,250.00 annually, or $2,650.00 if you’re under 27.

Little Beach House Malibu

Image Source: Little Beach House Malibu

Neighborhood: Malibu

Club Details: The Little Beach House Malibu is a small, local club for the creative community of Malibu and the surrounding coastal areas. The club is known for its magnificent dining room, bar, sitting room and terrace. It is the perfect place for a truly memorable work meal.

Membership Details: Malibu Beach House is not included in the Soho House membership. If you are an existing member, you can apply for “Malibu Plus” for an additional $2,190 a year, or $1,095 if you’re under 27.

San Vicente Bungalows

Image Source: San Vicente Bungalows

Neighborhood: West Hollywood

Club Details: San Vicente Bungalows is an exclusive, members-only social club located in West Hollywood, California, offering a luxurious and private environment for its high-profile clientele. The club is renowned for its strict privacy policies, elegant decor, and high-end amenities, catering to celebrities (and royals) and industry elites seeking a discreet space to unwind and socialize.

Membership Details: You must be nominated by a current club member to apply. Applications are evaluated monthly and annual dues start at $4,200 plus a $1,800 initiation fee.

The Aster

Image Source: The Aster

Neighborhood: Hollywood

Club Details: The Aster, located at the iconic intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, redefines the modern members' club with its emphasis on warmth and hospitality, blending public hotel amenities with private club exclusivity. Featuring bright, airy spaces and top-notch facilities such as an outdoor pool, recording studio, and rooftop bar, it offers a fluid environment for work, relaxation, and socializing.

Membership Details: Memberships start at $3,600 per year and be acquired by filling out an application. In addition to uploading a photo, hopeful members also have to write a small bio while highlighting their interests, skills, profession, and hobbies.

NeueHouse

Image Source: NeueHouse

Neighborhood: Venice/Hollywood/DTLA

Club Details: NeueHouse in LA is a chic private workspace and cultural hub designed for creative professionals, offering sophisticated workspaces, a dynamic calendar of cultural programming, and luxurious amenities. Situated in three bustling neighborhoods across LA, it provides a collaborative environment where members can work, network, and unwind in style.

Membership Details: You have to apply for the Salon membership, which includes questions like “dream dinner guests (dead or alive?)." Annual dues for Salon memberships are $3,000 plus a $200 joining fee. You can also inquire about the Gallery membership for flexible workspaces and offices for individuals or teams, starting at $595 per month, with various options depending on your needs.

RELATEDEDITOR'S PICKS
Trending