A Culver City-based clean tech startup wants to build a $100 million gasification plant that would produce clean hydrogen gas by burning wood waste in the Central Valley. Not only would the plant produce thousands of metric tons of clean hydrogen annually, but it would also effectively remove hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This is where Kern County comes in. The same geological formations that underlie the region’s abundant oil fields also make perfect reservoirs for the CO2. Reporter David Shultz investigates how it would work.
Here’s What Happened in LA’s Entertainment Tech World This Week 🍿
StartEngine wants to be more than a crowdfunding platform. The company is raising $46 million to build its market for trading collectibles like artwork to vintage comic books.
TikTok is closer to completing a deal with Oracle that could end concerns over U.S. concerns about how it protects user data. The short-form video company is competing with other music services like Apple Music and Spotify by paying its music artists 100% of the royalties.
Mobile gaming unicorn Scopely is partnering with Burlingame Studios on a new video game.
After taking a noncommittal stance, Disney’s CEO has come out in opposition of Florida's controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
PopID wants consumers to ditch ticket stubs and pay for meals with facial recognition technology. But some experts see issues ahead.
Will Amazon’s effort to acquire MGM go through?
đź’¸ Opportunities
Crypto-focused incubator Chapter One Studios is looking for startups for its program that starts in April. It'll provide three startups with a $1 million investment in exchange for a 15% stake.
Grid110 is looking for its next cohort of L.A.-based ,early-stage Black and Latinx-led startups.
Trying to take your startup beyond its core vertical? Spencer Rascoff asks some questions you should consider before you take the next step.
Raises and $$ đź’°
🦄 After backing out of a SPAC deal that would have taken it public, savings and investing app Acorns raised $300 million at a valuation of $1.9 billion.
Menlo Micro raised $150 million to advance its patented electronic switch.
Santa Monica-based GoodRx acquired a pharmaceutical platform to expand access to low-cost drugs and bring down the costs of name-brand drugs.
Los Angeles-based adtech platform Gumball raised $10 million, hoping to give independent podcasters access to advertisements from large companies.
The founders of social media app Context, focused on NFT artists and collectors, have raised $15 million for a mysterious new investment fund.
Griffin Gaming Partners closed one of the largest venture funds focused on the gaming industry at $750 million.
🎧 Listen UpÂ
Office Hours revisits an interview with Ellevest CEO and co-founder Sallie Krawcheck who designed an investing platform for women.
In this episode of PCH Driven, Invisible Universe’s Tricia Biggio talks about a future for animation beyond the TV screen.
On this episode of the LA Venture podcast, angel investor Joanne Wilson talks about how her background in department stores took her to the cannabis industry.
Also...
Now that it's received FDA approval, dental startup Pearl is moving forward on AI-powered x-ray that can identify cavities and plaque.
EV automaker Rivian faces a lawsuit from an investor over its troubled rollout of its recent price increases.
Mote Hydrogen wants to convert wood waste into clean hydrogen energy in Kern County.
Los Angeles street curbs could be the next big real estate opportunity. Businesses and municipalities.met at Curbivore in L.A. to talk about the challenges and possibilities.