"They were the first ones to represent themselves as gamers, totally unapologetically. That woke up an enormous community of under-appreciated gamers."
Ten years ago, esports icons FaZe Clan were three dudes posting outtakes from their Xbox wins to YouTube. Now, they're something more akin to rock stars, with millions of fans, multiple branding deals and a $40 million series A funding raise just behind them. Entertainment reporter Sam Blake looks at what's next with their CEO.
Netflix now owns the iconic Egyptian Theatre, Ben Bergman looks at how the buy could set their films up for awards contention before they even appear on the little screen.
Join us Tuesday for our next Strategy Session event. We'll focus on what changes are coming to offices as Americans return to work. Sign up here. The event is being produced in partnership with HelloOffice.
Ten Years Later, Gaming's Kid Giants Look Back
FaZe Clan brought skateboarding's guerrilla tactics and swagger to video gaming. Ten years, 215 million viewers and $250 million in valuation later, they're setting their sites much higher. Read more >>
TrueCar Lays Off 40% of Its Staff
The cuts are partly a reaction to fewer people buying cars during the pandemic, but they're also a response to the loss of a crucial partnership with USAA. Read more updates >>
Catch Up With Kelly in Our Weekly Recap of Tech & Startup News
Lots happened in the L.A. tech and startup community this week. In a rundown of the top headlines, dot.LA Chief Host and Correspondent Kelly O'Grady reviews the key stories:
* President Trump's Executive Social Media Order Could Mean Trouble for Snap, TikTok
* Startups: Furniture Rental Servie Fernish Raises $10M Series A, Bird Could Thrive Post-COVID
* Media: HBO Max Launches, Esports Giant FaZe Clan Plans Expansion
* dot.LA Convenes -- Challenges Women Face with Confidence in a Virtual World
Thursday's Pitch Showcase is on Real Estate Startups
Our next startup pitch showcase takes place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 4th with Inman founder Brad Inman and Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff. We're looking for local startups in real estate technology. Nominate your company here and register to watch the show >>
What Will Offices Be Like In 2021?
Join us at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2nd for a strategy session presented by HelloOffice, featuring Brendan Wallace, co-founder & managing partner at Fifth Wall, and Justin Bedecarre, co-founder and CEO of HelloOffice. Register to watch here >>