L.A. fintech startup Dave finally made its much-hyped debut on the Nasdaq. After sealing a SPAC deal, the banking app hit the stock exchange on Thursday, but got off to a rocky start. Dave isn’t the only fintech company that has plans to go public; it hopes to differentiate itself by wading into cryptocurrency.
LA Startups To Watch
🚀 Relativity Space is bringing on a former Microsoft executive to help boost its factory operating system for 3D printed rockets.
🚀 On Tuesday, L.A.-based startup Ambercycle announced it raised a $21.6 million Series A in hopes to change the fashion industry. We spoke with its CEO on why traditional recycling doesn’t work for garments, and what his tech does instead.
#TechLA's Movers & Shakers This Week
Electric vehicle charging startup ChargeNet is looking to grow a network of charging hubs at fast food restaurants in Southern California, starting with Taco Bell.
Canned water brand Liquid Death has raised $75 million in a new Series C funding round that values the Santa Monica-based firm at $525 million.
Amazon and iRobot Ventures are backing Labrador Systems, a company designed to help people with mobility issues do household tasks and live independently.
Biotech entrepreneur, Brazen Bio founder and brain surgery dropout Shawn Carbonell talked to us about how he uses social media to spread STEM awareness.
LA Tech and Venture Capital News
Quid Capital, which loans money to employees at high-flying tech firms, has quietly raised $74.1 million in new funding.
Gaming convention E3 will be online-only again this year due to the ongoing spread of the omicron variant.
Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures has raised $176.5 million for a new fund.
Smash Ventures, a late-stage venture capital firm founded by former Disney executives, has raised $500 million for a new venture fund.
Launch House, a startup accelerator inspired by the rise of content houses and TikTok mansions, is raising a $10 million venture fund.
CES wraps up on Saturday. We had a look at what some L.A. area tech companies were up to there.
The Upfront Summit has been postponed. The tech and venture conference for business and entertainment is being pushed to March due to an ongoing rise of COVID-19 cases.
Sweetgreen is launching a monthly subscription service for $10 a month to receive discounted salad bowls.
🎧 Listen Up
UP Partners’ Ben Marcus joined the LA Venture podcast to talk about his fascination with flying, the founding of his venture firm and the future of transportation. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
EXTRA EXTRA
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that its program to receive free mail-in PCR tests for COVID-19 has been put on pause.
A law signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the state to develop clear and specific guidelines to test cannabis products.