Here’s what happened in LA’s entertainment tech world this week 🍿
With $135 million in funding in the bank, SaveLive is looking to bail out small music venues hurt by the pandemic.
Two of Activision’s shareholders are suing the video game developer over its $69 billion Microsoft merger.
“The Good Place” actress Kristen Bell has invested in her favorite cottage cheese brand, Irvine-based Good Culture.
The ‘Cat’ is out of the bag: Netflix releases another interactive show that furthers its push into gaming.
Netflix is also testing its TikTok-esque, short-form comedy feed on TVs.
Transportation Tech 🚗
Virgin Hyperloop laid off nearly half of its staff as it pivots from passenger transportation to freight cargo shipping.
The city of Long Beach is working with Boeing-backed Wisk Aero to bring the idea of flying air taxis to life.
Raises and $$ 💰
Sports media startup Wave Sports + Entertainment raised $27 million from a host of investors, including NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Black-led, proptech-focused venture firm Wilshire Lane raised $40 million for its first fund.
Hydrogen sensor manufacturer H2scan raised $70 million as hydrogen emerges as an increasingly popular clean energy option.
After partnering with the city of Los Angeles to provide childcare for essential workers during the pandemic, childcare platform WeeCare has raised $17 million.
Social media screening startup Fama raised $10 million to help HR departments screen the online presence of job seekers.
🎧 Listen Up
Real estate mogul Ryan Serhant joined this week’s Office Hours to discuss how his background in theater prepared him for the world of real estate.
On this week's Behind Her Empire podcast, Sarah Jones Simmer talks about becoming a CEO and how her struggle with cancer changed her worldview.
On this week’s LA Venture podcast, MCJ Collective’s Cody Simms talks about how climate tech is evolving beyond energy solutions.
Also...
Los Angeles now gets 60% of its energy from carbon-free sources after the completion of a New Mexico wind farm that helps power the city.
Piestro wants to make delicious pizza available at all hours through the touch of a screen with its automated, robotic pizza-making machine.
The U.S. Copyright Office ruled that art wholly created by an AI program can’t be copyrighted.
This L.A.-based startup bills itself as “the world’s first crypto frequent flier program.”