Seed deals hit new highs in the first half of this year, topping $330 million across 116 startups, according to data from Amplify's latest L.A. Seed Report. L.A.-based companies secured $139.3 million across 53 rounds in the first quarter, and those figures rose the following quarter to $191 million and 63 respectively.
💰 Fox Entertainment is buying TMZ for $50 million.
🎟 Live Nation, the Beverly Hills-based event ticket seller, has acquired Mexican concert promoter OCESA Entretenimiento for $444 million.
⚡️ Elon Musk says a new bill that offers a tax incentive for electric vehicle purchases unfairly benefits companies that have unions.
🏀 Pac-12 has become the first college sports league to sign a deal with Recur to create video-based NFTs.
📊 Investors have put $1.02 billion into quantum computing companies in 2021, up from $684 million in 2020.
🚨 The reality TV series "Cops" — pulled from broadcast last year — returns to Fox's streaming channel.
Where Is Seed Money Going in LA?
By sector, SaaS startups continue to absorb the most seed dollars in Los Angeles. They raised $121.2 million across 44 companies in the first half of the year. Other raises this year included ecommerce and consumer-focused startups. Among those, Cartwheel raised $1 million to help restaurants take on delivery apps, and Ready, Set, Food! secured a $3.5 million seed round to help parents safely introduce their babies to common allergens.
Could VR Be the Future of Pain Management?
A study found children who used VR during their procedures felt less pain and anxiety than children who didn't. The practice is part of a growing trend that has fueled an $885.7 million VR healthcare industry.
Appetize Food Service App Gets a $415 Million Exit
Appetize, a Playa Vista-based mobile ordering service that delivers food at Dodger games and other large venues, just got gobbled up for $415 million by payment and software service SpotOn. Appetize is used in 65% of sports and entertainment venues, including L.A.'s Dodger Stadium and Honda Center in Anaheim.
Logan Hollowell on Forging Her Jewelry Company
On this episode of the Behind Her Empire podcast, Logan Hollowell talks about her fascination with gemstones and crystals and how that took her to creating her own jewelry company.
"Just knowing that everything can be rebuilt, and everything starts over and there's always this rebirth process. It kind of encouraged me to from a young age to recognize that it's okay [to] take risks, and things will always work themselves out," Hollowell told the Behind Her Empire podcast.
Nominate Innovators for dot.LA's Startup Awards
Nominate Innovators for dot.LA's 2021 Startup Awards
We are thrilled to announce the dot.LA Startup Awards 2021, a celebration of the most innovative people and companies in the L.A. startup and tech community. The event will be hosted live on Friday, October 29th, during the dot.LA Summit. We will recognize and celebrate L.A.'s most coveted startup pioneers, rising tech companies and disruptive innovators.
Nominations are open for company submissions in six categories. Get involved and nominate a startup or an individual to win an award by clicking here. Nominate who you think should win each category!
Nominations Are Open for Our Summit LA Pitch Showcase
We're looking for Southern California startups that have a product on the market and have raised less than $1 million in funding to pitch at dot.LA's Summit on Thursday, October 28th at 6:00pm PT on the main stage at Fairmont Miramar.