L.A.-based incubator Grid110 launched a new cohort this month for 20 early-stage startups through a partnership with Slauson & Co., an early-stage venture capital firm based in L.A. and focused on underrepresented founders. Reporter Francesca Billington has a look at the new class.
Here’s what else we're reading in the news:
- The Wall Street Journal talks with WndrCo’s Anthony Saleh, the investor who works with film producer Jeffery Katzenberg.
- Renewable energy company EcoFlow launches a new mobile power system for homes, RVs and off-grid living.
- YouTube is rolling out features allowing users to create promotional pitch decks for brand partnerships.
- JPL's Mars Rover finds a 'carbon signature' that may indicate life once existed on the planet.
- New files reveal that former White House advisor Jared Kushner floated the idea of creating a federal cryptocurrency.
Grid110 and Slauson & Co. Want to Level the Startup Playing Field
Many underrepresented founders don’t have access to a moneyed "friends and family" network that can make or break their early startup ideas. For those without backing from friends and family, getting that initial investment can be grueling. Grid110, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, wants to change that.
College Savings App UNest Dives Into Crypto
UNest focuses on helping parents save money for their kids, typically a low-risk proposition. But in the next few weeks, the North Hollywood-based fintech will jump headfirst into the world of cryptocurrencies with the help of a new president.
A Remote E3 Will Cost LA Tens of Millions—Again
The world’s largest gaming expo has traditionally been a blowout summer ritual in the heart of Downtown L.A., drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually to the area. With E3 going remote again this year, it's yet another setback for a local tourism economy that has only begun to recover from the pandemic.
This Manhattan Beach Startup Is Crowdfunding Its Seed Round
Asenso Finance, a fintech startup trying to make it easier for small businesses to receive loans from community banks and financial institutions, is looking to raise $1 million in a new crowdfunding campaign.
Griffin Gaming Partners Invests $55M in Turkish Gaming Studio Spyke
The Santa Monica-based venture capital firm has invested heavily in the fast-growing mobile gaming industry. The seed round is the largest raised by a female CEO in Turkey and in the mobile gaming industry globally.