Canoo Unveils Electric Delivery Van a Week Before Going Public

Francesca Billington

Francesca Billington is a freelance reporter. Prior to that, she was a general assignment reporter for dot.LA and has also reported for KCRW, the Santa Monica Daily Press and local publications in New Jersey. She graduated from Princeton in 2019 with a degree in anthropology.

Canoo Unveils Electric Delivery Van a Week Before Going Public

A week before going public, the Los Angeles electric vehicle startup Canoo, valued at $2.4 billion, unveiled the company's second vehicle, a delivery van.

The modular vehicle is the latest entrant in the commercial delivery market, driven by a combination of growing ecommerce and tighter regulations on carbon emissions. Canoo, which has yet to produce a commercial vehicle, expects the vans to be available by 2022, but scaled production is slated for the following year.


There's increasing competition. This summer, California set new rules demanding automakers sell more electric trucks and vans by 2024, jumpstarting a race among legacy car companies like General Motors, Ford and a number of startups to produce vans and trucks for commercial customers like UPS and FedEx.

Canoo's vans come in two sizes and are designed for small businesses and large last-mile delivery companies. Prices start at $33,000. Delivery fleets or major corporations and logistics companies can also custom build their own vehicles since the Canoo relies on "a skateboard platform" like a trailer bed where the engine is held. Interchangeable shells can be created for the body.

Photo Courtesy of Canoo

Earlier this year, retail giant Amazon debuted its electric van produced by rival Rivian. The Irvine-based company is slated to produce 100,000 delivery trucks over the next decade for Amazon as it seeks to have a carbon neutral footprint by 2040.

Canoo was founded in 2017 by two former BMW executives. They landed a deal with carmaker Hyundai Motor Group in February to manufacture their car. In January, the company opened a waitlist for its futuristic-looking minivan that drivers can book through a subscription service. That vehicle is set to launch by the second quarter of 2022.

Canoo said it's also looking to launch the delivery van across markets like Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Meanwhile, stockholders from Hennessy Capital Acquisition will vote next week to approve the proposed merger. If the deal goes through, Canoo Inc. is slated to be listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol "GOEV" between Dec. 21 and 23.

"Since announcing the transaction, Canoo has seen substantial growth in consumer demand and significant interest from potential partners in its proprietary market leading EV platform and underlying technologies," said Daniel Hennessy, CEO of the special acquisition company.

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🥊📱Startups Battling Election Deepfakes and LA’s First Tech CEO Summit

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Happy Friday Los Angeles!

YouMail, based in Irvine, and Pindrop have partnered to create the Election Communication Defense Grid (ECDG), a platform designed to combat AI-generated and deepfake calls that could interfere with US elections. This collaboration leverages YouMail's extensive sensor network, which analyzes over 20 million phone numbers monthly, and Pindrop's Pulse™ Inspect technology to detect AI-generated speech. The system actively monitors and analyzes potentially problematic political robocalls, having already examined calls from numerous Congress members and political candidates in 2024. When AI-generated calls are identified, YouMail Protective Services swiftly notifies carriers and enforcement agencies to shut down these campaigns, minimizing potential harm. This partnership represents a significant step forward in protecting the public from malicious communication tactics during critical election periods.


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LA’s tech leadership is set to reunite after a long break! Join us for the highly anticipated LA Tech CEO Summit, taking place September 26-27 at the stunning Terranea Resort. This exclusive event offers a unique chance to connect with top tech founders and CEOs, including industry key figures like Adam Miller (Founding CEO of Cornerstone), Ian Siegel (CEO of ZipRecruiter), Shivani Siroya (CEO of Tala), Eddy Lu (CEO of GOAT), and other influential leaders. This two day summit will focus on building strong connections, sharing insights, and fortifying the local tech community. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the best minds in LA tech!

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🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Starpath, a developer of robotic propellant production factories raised a $12M Seed Round co-led by 8VC and Fusion Fund, and joined by Day One Ventures, Balerion Space, and Indicator Ventures. - learn more

LA Venture Funds

  • Anthos Capital led a $4M Funding Round for Mudstack, a startup whose software helps game developers organize and share game assets like graphics and code. - learn more

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🎓 LA’s Startup Edge Round 2

In light of last week’s article, we want to highlight some additional schools that have a significant impact on LA’s tech landscape. If we’ve missed any schools or founders worth including let us know!


Image Source: LMU

Loyola Marymount University

LMU plays a significant role in developing Los Angeles' tech workforce by offering various programs and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. The university fosters innovation and entrepreneurship through:

  • LMU College of Business Administration: Provides entrepreneurship-focused programs and courses, including the Entrepreneurship Program, which offers hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities for students interested in starting their own businesses.
  • Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering: Collaborates with industry partners on research projects and offers programs like the Engineering Clinic, where students work on real-world problems for corporate sponsors.
  • Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship: Serves as a hub for entrepreneurial activities, offering resources such as the Business Incubator program, pitch competitions, and networking events to support student and faculty startups.

Companies Founded by LMU Alumni: Liquid I.V. by Brandin Cohen, Dave by Jason Wilk, Abstract by Pat Utz


Image Source: CSULB

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

CSULB plays a significant role in developing Long Beach's entrepreneurial ecosystem through various programs and resources. The Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) at CSULB serves as a central hub, offering initiatives like monthly Innovation Hours, a social justice entrepreneurship program, and the annual Sunstone Innovation Challenge with $50,000 in prizes. CSULB fosters innovation and entrepreneurship through:

Companies Founded by CSULB Alumni: Oculus VR and Anduril by Palmer Luckey (technically not an alumni because he dropped out before graduating), Dreamworks Animation by Steven Spielberg


Image Source: Claremont McKenna College

The Claremont Colleges

The Claremont Colleges serve as a significant source of talent for Los Angeles' tech and venture capital workforce, leveraging their strong academic programs and entrepreneurial resources. Harvey Mudd College, renowned for its exceptional engineering program, contributes a substantial number of highly skilled graduates to the tech sector. The consortium's collaborative approach to fostering innovation is exemplified by initiatives like:

  • The HIVE: This hub enhances students' creative problem-solving skills through collaborative and interdisciplinary experiences.
  • Claremont McKenna College's Silicon Valley Program: Offers students an immersive off-campus study experience that integrates internships, coursework, and networking opportunities in the heart of the tech industry, preparing them for careers in innovation and venture capital..
  • The Makerspace at Harvey Mudd College: An 8,000 SF student-run facility that allows students to prototype and develop innovative ideas, fostering a hands-on approach.

Companies Founded by Claremont Alumni: TechCrunch by Michael Arrington (CMC), KKR by Henry Kravis (CMC) & George Roberts (CMC), Sun Basket by Adam Zbar (Pomona), GitHub by Tom Preston-Werner (technically not an alumni because he dropped out before graduating from Harvey Mudd)


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🌱Redefining Female Pleasure—and LA's New Wellness Club: What to Know

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

Love.Life is a high-end, holistic health and wellness club recently opened in Los Angeles, founded by former Whole Foods Market executives John Mackey, Walter Robb, and Betsy Foster. The 45,000-square-foot facility combines advanced medical diagnostics, personalized fitness and nutrition plans, and rejuvenating therapies under one roof. Membership options range from $300 to $50,000 annually, offering services such as detailed health assessments, specialized treatments, and access to various wellness modalities including cryotherapy, red light therapy, and advanced fitness equipment. With autoimmune diseases on the rise, the club aims to provide a comprehensive health experience that blends Eastern and Western practices, with additional perks like an on-site café and pickleball courts. Love.Life's approach emphasizes preventive care and personalized health management, catering to individuals who are willing/able to invest significantly in their well-being.

In parallel to this trend towards high-end, integrated wellness solutions, Hello Cake, an LA-based sexual health startup, is making strides in addressing women's sexual dysfunction—a field where treatment options have been notably scarce. While erectile dysfunction has seen significant innovation for men, women’s sexual health remains inadequately addressed, despite the Cleveland Clinic's estimate that 43% of women experience sexual dysfunction compared to 31% of men (hello underserved market). Hello Cake is introducing two new prescription products: Libido Lift Rx, a dissolvable tablet featuring oxytocin, tadalafil, and L-citrulline, and O-Cream, a topical treatment containing sildenafil. Priced at $54 for six doses, these products aim to help women love life by tackling low libido, filling a significant gap in the market where female libido is often overlooked. Despite the lack of FDA approval for these specific uses and limited trials, Hello Cake seeks to provide a novel approach to a common, yet medically nebulous issue, highlighting a crucial area of unmet medical need. Given its vibrant health and wellness culture, LA provides an ideal backdrop for innovative health companies like Love.Life and Hello Cake to address emerging needs in a city that's both health-conscious and open to new wellness trends.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Sahara AI, a startup that operates a decentralized network that allows users to control, scale, and monetize their personal knowledge and copyrights using AI and blockchain technology, raised a $43M Funding Round co-led by Pantera Capital, Binance Labs, and Polychain Capital. - learn more
  • Ambercycle, a maker of recycled polyester, raised a $10M Funding Round from Shinkong Synthetic Fibers. - learn more
  • JetZero, a developer of blended-wing aircraft, raised funding from Alaska Airlines. - learn more

LA Venture Funds

    LA Exits

    • Datum Source, a developer of software that helps hardware companies find manufacturers, was acquired by Hadrian, a defense tech company. - learn more

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