Rate Eric Garcetti's Tenure As LA's First 'High Tech Mayor'

Luis Gomez

Luis Gomez is dot.LA's Engagement Editor. Prior to joining the dot.LA team, he served as the audience growth consultant for Capital & Main. He has also previously worked as a digital producer for The San Diego Union-Tribune, NPR affiliate KPCC in Los Angeles and Yahoo. Follow him on Twitter at @RunGomez.

Eric Garcetti

After months of speculation, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti officially accepted last week President Joe Biden's nomination as his pick to be the next ambassador to India. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, it will the closing chapter to an eight-year tenure he began with touting himself as the city's first "high tech mayor" in an effort to champion the burgeoning tech startup scene.

Reporter Sarah Favot took a broad look at Garcetti's accomplishments and shortcomings from the tech startup point of view. And while the tech industry erupted throughout the region during his tenure, the discussion in the coming months will likely focus on whether he made good on his promises.

Take our Twitter poll: How would you rate Garcetti's tenure as Los Angeles' first "high tech mayor"?

LA Deals & Startups To Watch 👀

The L.A. tech scene is booming despite an ongoing pandemic and a string of natural disasters in Southern California. This week, we published fresh numbers on the biggest VC deals in the region so far this year. Rocket makers, sneaker sellers and fusion power creators were among those that dominated the list.

Venice-based VR company GIGXR is partnering with the Air Force Academy to simulate wartime applications. The company says nursing students at the University of Pennsylvania have been using the technology to exam virtual patients via an app on their phone.

This week we put Robomart to the test in West Hollywood where the startup is rolling out a small fleet of Mercedes vans stocked like convenience stores and guaranteed to show up at your house in under 10 minutes.

Call it the TikTok Olympics. World 1 League, a venture started by nine Olympians with the backing of Mark Cuban, launched this week with the first of eight competitions this year. The league encourages any athlete to post a video of themselves on Instagram or TikTok doing a long jump along with the hashtag of how long their jump was. Athletes compete for $25,000 and sponsorships.

#TechLA's Movers & Shakers This Week 📢

When it comes to building a diverse tech scene in Los Angeles, Grid110 is taking a leading role with its latest cohort of 15 startups. The Southern California companies range from a San Pedro-based biotech firm that uses gene editing on algae to make food dyes to an online marketplace of shoes and clothing for Mexican folk dancers. Of the 200 companies that have gone through the Grid110's incubator, 70% are led by women and 70% by a founder of color.

And Rising is launching a $2 million fund for direct-to-consumer ventures and tech startups in Los Angeles. Here's the twist: the agency will trade its creative services for stock.

California Crescent Fund is looking beyond the Ivy Leagues and the Bay Area universities to exclusively fund student startups based in Southern California. Among the participating universities are UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

Meet Ifeoma Ozoma, the former Pinterest public policy manager who inspired the California bill that could limit the ways non-disclosure agreements prevent workers from speaking out. dot.LA spoke with Ozoma about her work on the bill and the broader battle for tech workers' rights.

LA Startup Bets & Acquisitions 💎

JOON, an employee benefits software platform that automates the reimbursement process for workers, raised $2.3 million in seed funding. Investors bet that the hybrid workforce of the future will benefit from such a software platform.

L.A.-based software startup Endgame announced this week a Series A round of more than $12 million. Investors bet that the software, which is currently being tested by social media app Clubhouse, will help software-as-a-service companies better utilize their customer data.

Two Southern California biotech startups got swallowed up this week as big pharma benefitted from the record-breaking year of investment in the industry. Eli Lilly acquired Pasadena-based startup Protomer Technologies. Additionally, Curia, the drug development company formerly known as AMRI, acquired El Segundo-based Integrity Bio.

Motorola Solutions acquired the Culver City-based security company Openpath in a move to expand further into the physical space. Openpath uses a three-tier cloud-based encryption method to make the process of entering buildings virtually frictionless by connecting the door sensor to the mobile phone in three different ways.

Listen Up 🎙

Need a podcast recommendation this weekend? Here are some new pods we have for you:

Modern Fertility CEO and co-founder Afton Vechery joins the Behind Her Empire podcast to discuss how rejection became the key to her feeling uniquely suited to address this information gap. Listen on Stitcher | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio

This week on the L.A. Venture podcast, veteran executive Mike Jones offers his insights on investing, the 2020 ecommerce boom, the future of NFTs and his passion for cyrptocurrency. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

And on this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, space journalist Alan Boyle talks about the dawn of a new era in space tourism, what to watch when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos blasts off next week and what's next for commercial space exploration.

🚨 ​EXTRA EXTRA 🚨

Today at midnight, Los Angeles County will once again require residents to mask up in grocery stores, malls and restaurants. The order applies to everyone regardless of vaccination status. We're wondering what kind of impact that will have on offices and workers in Los Angeles. If you have thoughts, share them with us on Twitter.

The Los Angeles Police Department has been using facial recognition technology for more than 10 years. But critics of the department's facial recognition tools say the technology is fraught with problems, including racial bias and misidentification.

Southern California Edison, the region's largest power utility, announced that it plans to install 38,000 electric vehicle chargers in the next five years as the state looks to ban most gas-powered car sales by 2035.

Say you're about to get hired at a startup company and you're given a choice between more cash and less equity, or vice versa. What do you do? Our guest columnist Elizabeth Melton has some advice on what to consider before you decide. Bonus: Take our Twitter poll and see what others are saying.

Am I doing this right? 🤔

Throw me feedback, compliments or questions on this newsletter at luis@dot.la.

⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles,

The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

LA Venture Funds
  • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
  • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

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    🌴🧑‍💻 Your Guide to LA Tech Week 2024

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Friday Los Angeles,

    As many of you know, LA Tech Week is right around the corner, kicking off next Monday October 14th bringing together founders, creatives, investors, and engineers for a week of immersive events, panels, and socials across the city. From blockchain and AI to biotech and design, LA Tech Week is a chance to dive into the ideas shaping today’s technology landscape.


    What to Look Forward To

    Insights from Visionary Leaders: Hear firsthand from industry trailblazers as they share stories, challenges, and key lessons from their experiences. Expect fresh perspectives on AI, venture capital, biotech, and the ethical questions around emerging technologies.

    Interactive Panels: This week isn’t about watching from the sidelines; it’s about engaging directly with the tech community. Participate in hands-on panels discussing everything from startup scaling to ethical AI, with honest insights from those actively shaping these fields.

    Networking Mixers & Social Events: Meet and connect with founders, VCs, developers, designers, and fellow techies across LA. Rooftop mixers, lunch meetups, and creative gatherings offer the perfect chance to spark ideas and collaborate.

    Plan your week with the daily lineup, organized by location for easy navigation:

    For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

    Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!!


    🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • Clout Kitchen, a Los Angeles and Manila based startup, has raised $4.45M in seed funding, co-led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge, to develop AI-powered digital twins, which enables gaming creators to produce realistic virtual avatars for content and fan engagement. - learn more
    • MeWe, a privacy-focused social media platform, has raised an initial $6M in Series B funding led by McCourt Global to support Web3 integration and expand its decentralized network for 20 millions users. - learn more

      LA Venture Funds
      • EGB Capital participated in a $10M Series A funding round for MiLaboratories, which develops software that enables biologists to independently analyze complex genomic data, accelerating research and discovery in fields like drug development. - learn more
      • Crosscut Ventures participated in the $13.75M seed round for Airloom Energy, a company focused on developing airborne wind energy technology to harness high-altitude winds, with plans to accelerate a pilot project in Wyoming. - learn more
      • Overture VC participated in a $5.5M Seed funding round for Molg Inc., a company developing robotics and software for circular manufacturing, designed to disassemble electronics efficiently and recover valuable materials to reduce e-waste and support sustainable production. - learn more


        LA Exits

        • Options MD, a Los Angeles based telemedicine platform that provides care for people suffering from severe and treatment-resistant mental illness, is set to be acquired by Resilience Lab, an AI-driven provider focused on enhancing mental health care access. - learn more

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        LA Tech Week 2024: Saturday-Sunday Event Lineup
        tech-week

        Here’s what’s happening during the closing weekend (Oct 19 - Oct 20) of LA Tech Week 2024! Events are organized by location so you can easily catch the sessions that interest you most.

        SATURDAY EVENTS

        BEVERLY HILLS

        12:00 PM

        • BIG Showcase (Invite Only):

        BIG Showcase (Invite Only)

        2:00 PM

        Light Dao

        Struck Capital, Seahorse Express

        EAGLE ROCK

        12:00 PM

        Sunrise Integration, Shopify

        EL SEGUNDO

        9:00 PM

        Administratum, Valar Atomics

        HOLLYWOOD

        10:00 AM

        Passes

        MALIBU

        6:00 PM

        • Malibu Beachfront Investors Networking & Wine Tasting:See Details

        Gaya Ventures

        MARINA DEL RAY

        6:00 PM

        • Awaken Your Spirit: A Journey of Transformation (Invite Only)

        Sagos Distro, Alma Wellness

        SANTA MONICA

        7:00 AM

        Founders Running Club

        8:30 AM

        Techstars

        9:00 AM

        Magic Mind

        StartupStarter, Inc., City of Santa Monica

        10:00 AM

        Gen She

        AI LA

        Crea, Barry's, Unsubscribe

        10:30 AM

        Plantologist

        11:30 AM

        • Pickleball Palooza (Invite Only)

        YouTube

        1:00 PM

        • Realfren Games: From strangers to an inner Realfren within 52 weekends: See Details

        Office for Humanity and Circuit Works

        • Talking blockchain technology with special guests: See Details

        LadyDayDao

        5:00 PM

        KARD, What's Plots

        THE VALLEY

        7:00 AM

        Camino5

        VENICE

        9:00 AM

        Westside Yogis

        11:00 AM

        Open App

        1:00 PM

        Ripe and Teddy's Hot House

        4:00 PM

        • Fashion Forward: How AI is Redefining the Fashion Industry: See Details

        VIAVIA, BNTO.RENT, ALMA.AI

        VIRTUAL

        11:00 AM

        BLCK UNICRN

        WEST HOLLYWOOD

        7:00 PM

        Next Sequence

        SUNDAY EVENTS

        INGLEWOOD

        12:00 PM

        Entrepreneur Ventures, VCPE GROUPS

        PLAYA DEL RAY

        2:00 PM

        AI LA, DELL, NVIDIA

        SANTA MONICA

        10:00 AM

        • Women Founders, Cold Brew & Beach View, Rooftop: See Details

        Clutch Talent

        11:00 AM

        11DollarSunglasses.com, Less Litter Foundation

        12:00 PM

        Data in LA, Amplitude

        12:30 AM

        New Moon, Warner UK Innovations

        TOPANGA CANYON

        3:00 PM

        Dreamore

        VENICE

        8:00 AM

        • Surf session with founders, investors, creators: See Details

        Surfed Club, Bow Shock

        12:00 PM

        • Podcast Panel and Brunch: LA Tech Community Builders: See Details

        WeAreLATech.com, Blankspaces.com

        VIRTUAL

        2:00 PM

        BLCK UNICRN


        For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

        Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!


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