LA Tech Updates: Starbucks, Obama Alums Join Sweetgreen Board: GOAT Ad Airs During NBA Playoffs

Ben Bergman

Ben Bergman is the newsroom's senior finance reporter. Previously he was a senior business reporter and host at KPCC, a senior producer at Gimlet Media, a producer at NPR's Morning Edition, and produced two investigative documentaries for KCET. He has been a frequent on-air contributor to business coverage on NPR and Marketplace and has written for The New York Times and Columbia Journalism Review. Ben was a 2017-2018 Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Economic and Business Journalism at Columbia Business School. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, playing poker, and cheering on The Seattle Seahawks.

LA Tech Updates: Starbucks, Obama Alums Join Sweetgreen Board: GOAT Ad Airs During NBA Playoffs

Here are the latest updates on news affecting Los Angeles' startup and tech communities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow dot.LA on Twitter for more.

Today:

  • GOAT Uses NBA Playoffs to Launch Brand Campaign
  • Jarrett and Burrows Join Sweetgreen Board

      GOAT Uses NBA Playoffs to Launch Brand Campaign

      Online sneaker reseller GOAT will air their first television ad campaign during the NBA playoffs this week as the fast-growing Culver City company looks to build its audience beyond sneaker heads.

      The company has been amping up their buzz around the profitable NBA market, where players like LeBron James are tastemakers and drive sales for shoe companies, since it scored a $100 million investment from tennis shoe giant retailer Footlocker.

      Since then, GOAT sealed a deal with the Brooklyn Nets allowing it to plaster the signage, content and more along the team's path during home and away games. It extended its agreement with Los Angeles Lakers Kyle Kuzma to represent the brand by wearing their shoes and apparel. And earlier this year, GOAT added Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards, 2019 rookie of the year, as a brand representative.

      The 30-second ad directed by Daniel Sannwald, who has worked with Rhianna, Travis Scott and Nike, opens up with a sound like a live wire that breaks into a beat and features a battery of silhouettes in sneakers and oversized coats. Sneakers, apparel accessories, the ad reads then says. Past, present, future.

      Begun by college friends five years ago, GOAT tapped into the massive sneaker resale market with a platform that "authenticates" shoes. It has since expanded into apparel and accessories and states that it has 20 million members.

      Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz ranked the company 16 on its top 100 largest and fastest-growing consumer startups and private companies earlier this year.

      GOAT takes its name from the sports acronym for "Greatest of All Time."

      Jarrett and Burrows Join Sweetgreen Board

      Valerie Jarrett, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, has joined Sweetgreen's board of directors, along with Cliff Burrows, former group president of Starbucks' Siren Retail business, which includes the coffee maker's Reserve Roasteries and Princi bakeries.

      Jarrett is currently is a Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School and a senior advisor to the Obama Foundation.

      Last month, Sweetgreen's CEO, Jonathan Neman, told dot.LA his goal was to build the company into being the "Starbucks of real food."

      Burrows spent two decades at Starbucks before exiting last year and was most recently responsible for elevating the customer and employee experience. Prior to that, he was Group President of Starbucks Coffee U.S. and Americas and President of the U.S. Retail Operation.

      In May, Sweetgreen brought on Chris Carr, a former Starbucks executive, as its chief operating officer.

      The hires come as Sweetgreen, valued at $1.6 billion, seeks to expand well beyond its current 108 stores to over 1,000 locations.

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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

          Download the dot.LA App

          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!


          Download the dot.LA App

          LA Tech Week 2024: Friday’s Event Lineup
          tech-week

          Check out Friday, October 18th's schedule for LA Tech Week 2024! Events are sorted by location so you can easily find what matches your goals for the day.

          BEVERLY HILLS

          8:00 AM

          Scrappy

          BRENTWOOD

          7:30 AM

          Seaside Ventures

          CULVER CITY

          9:00 AM

          Intersections LA

          1:30 PM

          • Showcasing Bioscience Innovation in LA County (Invite Only)

          BioscienceLA, County o LA, Larta Institute, LAEDC

          5:00 PM

          Grid110

          6:00 PM

          ACT House, Sip & Sonder

          EL SEGUNDO

          7:00 PM

          Dirac, Inc.

          INGLEWOOD

          10:00 AM

          Zoo Corporation, Embedded Ventures

          12:00 PM

          • Tech & The Built Environment Series: LA28 Roundtable & SoFi Stadium Tour: See Details Here

          Blended Impact

          MARINA DEL REY

          9:00 AM

          USC ISI

          PACIFIC PALISADES

          4:00 PM

          Silicon Valley Bank, Emmeline Ventures

          PLAYA DEL REY

          8:00 AM

          AI LA

          5:30 PM

          AI LA

          PLAYA VISTA

          12:00 PM

          • Women In Gaming Lunch at Google (Invite Only)

          Google

          4:00 PM

          Verizon, Infinity Festival

          SANTA MONICA

          11:00 AM

          SVRN Ventures

          Headline, Slow Ventures, Karat

          2:00 PM

          Glyf

          Botanical, Panoptic

          The American South Asian Network (ASAN)

          4:00 PM

          • Pizza, Wine, & Connectivity: Celebrating the Nomadic App Revolution:See Details Here

          Synadia

          The American South Asian Network (ASAN)

          Dory Consulting

          • Women in Tech: Beachfront Rooftop at Sunset - Wine-up & Unwind: See Details Here

          Clutch Talent

          Cohere Commerce

          5:00 PM

          Clutch Talent

          Pirros

          6:00 PM

          • Unlocking Capital with Angels & Advisors | No Pressure Networking + Panel:See Details Here

          No Pressure Networking

          Tech Pitch Roast Comedy LLC

          6:15 PM

          • Navigating Intersections: Empowering Leaders in Challenging Times: See Details Here

          Intersectional Ventures

          7:00 PM

          Mantis VC, Lightspeed Venture Partners

          Medusa Ai, Marco Di Luca Event Design

          SOUTH LA

          9:00 AM

          USC Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Cap Table Coalition, PledgeLA, Sisters with Ventures

          UCLA

          1:30 PM

          CrownData.AI

          2:00 PM

          Taisu Ventures, Quotient Ventures

          VENICE

          7:30 AM

          Run Tech Club

          9:00 AM

          Google

          12:00 PM

          Ripe and Teddy's Hot House

          5:30 PM

          Spire Circles

          7:00 PM

          Moss Venice, Yuzulabs, JPMorgan Chase

          8:00 PM

          Truffle

          VIRTUAL

          2:00 PM

          BLCK UNICRN

          WEST HOLLYWOOD

          7:30 PM

          Legendary Ventures, Day Dream Ventures

          WESTSIDE

          9:30 AM

          A16Z GAMES

          7:00 PM

          • Female Funders & Founders (Invite Only)

          L'ATTITUDE Ventures

          WESTWOOD

          9:00 AM

          Fedtech, National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)


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

          Enjoy LA Tech Week 2024!

          Download the dot.LA App

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