In Los Angeles, venture funding and valuations skyrocketed in 2021, creating a startup ecosystem that saw multiple new unicorn ($1 billion-plus) valuations. We asked more than 30 leading L.A.-based investors for their take on the hottest firms in the region. Three startups, in particular, rose above the rest.
Here’s what else we’re reading in the news:
- Sony acquires "Halo"-maker gaming studio Bungie for $3.6 billion.
- How Crypto.com kicked Staples out of its iconic arena.
- PlayVS partners with Activision to add a new game to its high school esports league.
- L.A.-basedEmber Technologies and Cardinal Health announce a partnership for the world’s first self-refrigerated shipping box for temperature-sensitive medicines.
- L.A. and Shanghai ports are working to develop a "green" shipping corridor.
- Meta is rolling out 3D avatars for Instagram, Facebook and Messenger, along with other new features.
- L.A.-based proptech AVA launches an AI-powered valuation platform to instantly report the value of commercial properties.
LA’s Most Promising Startups of 2022
We asked more than 30 leading L.A.-based investors for their take on the hottest firms in the region. They responded with more than two dozen venture-backed companies, focused on everything from livestream shopping to aerospace and trucking logistics management.
Grindr Removed From Chinese App Stores Before the Olympics
The popular gay dating app has been removed from Apple’s App Store in China and is no longer available on Android app markets run by Chinese mobile giants Tencent and Huawei. Though homosexuality is not technically illegal in China, the LGBTQ+ community has often found itself the subject of online censorship in the country.
Searching for ‘the Next Google in South LA’
Plug In South LA, a startup accelerator based in South Los Angeles, focuses on supporting chronically overlooked entrepreneurs in Black and brown communities. The program is in the final stages of a search for its new cohort. Applications close on Feb. 3.
MaC Venture Capital Eyes $200 Million For Its Second Fund
MaC Venture Capital, the Black-led seed-stage venture firm based in Los Angeles, intends to raise as much as $200 million for its second fund, according to an SEC filing published Monday.
Unlock Venture Partners Launches $62 Million Seed Fund
Unlock Venture Partners, a Seattle- and Los Angeles-focused venture capital firm investing in seed-stage startups, unveiled a new $60 million-plus fund on Monday, with a focus on the metaverse, web3 and gaming companies.