Watch: Three Health Companies Pitch Investors in Our Startup Pitch Showcase

Annie Burford

Annie Burford is dot.LA's director of events. She's an event marketing pro with over ten years of experience producing innovative corporate events, activations and summits for tech startups to Fortune 500 companies. Annie has produced over 200 programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City working most recently for a China-based investment bank heading the CEC Capital Tech & Media Summit, formally the Siemer Summit.

Watch: Three Health Companies Pitch Investors in Our Startup Pitch Showcase

On Thursday, May 7th, we featured three emerging healthcare startups founded in Southern California as part of our biweekly Virtual Pitch Showcase.

Dr. Mickey Pentecost, co-founder and ceo at Diadem Biotherapeutics, Jennifer Saxton, founder and CEO at Tot Squad and Brian Conyer, co-founder and CEO of GIBLIB presented a high level overview on their products and services to angel investor Spencer Rascoff and Jay Goss, general partner at Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health.

dot.LA Virtual Pitch Showcase: Healthcare Startups in Southern Californiawww.youtube.com



About the Companies

Diadem Biotherapeuticsis developing novel, engineered exosomes that control immune cells to treat inflammatory diseases. They're more powerful than biologics and more affordable, stable, and doseable than cell therapies. For cells to communicate at a distance, they use secreted vesicles called exosomes. Originally thought to be cellular garbage, exosomes are now a hot new area for therapeutics.

Tot Squad's mission is to help make parents' lives easier by connecting them with the experts they need, virtually and in-person. From birth-related services like doulas to safety services like car seat installation, Tot Squad is here to deliver peace of mind to parents, from pregnancy to the playground. Because every parent needs a squad. Now, you can have your pressing parenting needs answered virtually via our live video link with trained experts, or we can dispatch these same experts to your home for more personal communication, depending on where you live. Thorough background checks, certification checks and training mean our continued mission of providing the best in child-related care is now available to you with the ease of a click of a button.

GIBLIBcurates and create high quality educational videos from expert physicians at the leading academic medical centers and stream the library on-demand to medical professionals globally. GIBLIB was founded in 2016 with the vision of providing all health care professionals access to the most knowledgeable experts in medicine. To get started, our founders, Brian Conyer and Jihye Shin, set out to assemble the best academic partners to feature in the educational videos, the most talented creatives in video production to produce Hollywood studio quality content, and the smartest software engineers to deliver the most innovative streaming technologies capable of reaching a global audience.


About the Judges

Jay Goss is a general partner at Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health

​Jay Goss, General Partner at Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health

Jay is a General Partner at Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, a leading seed-stage healthcare-focused venture capital fund in Southern California. The fund's investment thesis is that after 40+ years, healthcare is transitioning away from fee-for-service to value-based payments, and with that comes a massive amount of disruption. There will be no shortage of clinical operations and business challenges to solve in the coming decade, and entrepreneurs are already coming out of the woodwork to solve these problems. Moreover, countless business models are now for the first time commercially viable because the healthcare industry is embracing value-based payments. The fund counts among its investors 50+ healthcare senior executives, eager and extremely able to add value to the early stage companies in which the fund invests.

Prior to launching Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, Jay operated dozens of early stage companies all over Southern California.

Spencer Rascoff is co-founder and executive chairman at dot.LA

Spencer Rascoff, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman at dot.LA  

Spencer Rascoff is an entrepreneur and company leader who co-founded Zillow, Hotwire and dot.LA, and who served as Zillow's CEO for a decade. He is currently executive chairman of dot.LA and a board member at TripAdvisor. In the fall of 2019 Spencer was a Visiting Executive Professor at Harvard Business School where he co-taught the "Managing Tech Ventures" course. In 2015, Spencer co-wrote and published his first book, the New York Times' Best Seller "Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate."

Spencer is the host of "Office Hours," a monthly podcast on dot.LA featuring candid conversations between prominent executives on leadership, diversity and inclusion, and startups.

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'Not All VCs Have Turned MAGA'— Tech VC’s Bold Support for Kamala Harris
Image Source: Politico

🔦 Spotlight

Several prominent tech investors, including Mark Cuban, Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, and Spencer Rascoff of 75 and Sunny, along with more than 500 others have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election through an initiative led by Seattle investor John Schilling. This pledge, which also includes key LA-based firms like Backstage Capital, Bonfire, MaC Venture Capital, and Upfront Ventures, signals a unified effort among tech leaders to support Harris's candidacy. The pledge highlights their commitment to pro-business and pro-entrepreneurship values while emphasizing the importance of democratic institutions.

The pledge states: “We the undersigned are Venture Capital investors, founders and tech leaders who pledge to vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. We spend our days looking for, investing in and supporting entrepreneurs who are building the future. We are pro-business, pro-American dream, pro-entrepreneurship, and pro-technological progress. We also believe in democracy as the backbone of our nation. We believe that strong, trustworthy institutions are a feature, not a bug, and that our industry - and every other industry - would collapse without them. That is what’s at stake in this election. Everything else, we can solve through constructive dialogue with political leaders and institutions willing to talk to us. In this pivotal moment, we are united in our support for Vice President Kamala Harris. We invite you to join us.” Additionally, the pledge clarifies, “This pledge is not a declaration of your politics or party alignment. It just means you intend to vote and support Harris for President in this election.”

For Los Angeles, this initiative highlights a significant shift in how tech leaders are engaging in political advocacy. With LA being a major center for innovation and venture capital, the involvement of these high-profile investors and firms signals a powerful alignment against conservative trends and states “Let’s show founders that not all VCs have turned MAGA,” reflecting a broader trend of progressive political support in the tech industry.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • ZeroTier, a network security startup, raised a $13.5M Series A led by Battery Ventures, with Bonfire Ventures, Anorak Ventures, Grand Enterprises B.V., Airbridge Equity Partners and First In Ventures also participating. - learn more
  • Look North World, a video game studio and publisher dedicated to the Creator platforms, raised an additional $2.25M Seed Funding led by London Venture Partners and others. - learn more

LA Venture Funds

  • Supply Change Capital led a $3.5M Seed Round for Terrantic, a two-year-old Seattle startup whose platform helps growers, packers, and food processors optimize yield, throughput, and quality by analyzing existing data. - learn more
  • Mantis Venture Capital participated in a $20M Round Extension for Haus, a startup whose marketing measurement platform uses causal attribution to determine the effectiveness of marketing efforts. - learn more
  • Caden Capital Partners participated in a $45M Series C for Rhombus, a startup whose platform enables businesses to deploy and manage security devices, offering features like real-time notifications and advanced analytics while also integrating with existing systems. - learn more

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🗓️ Essential LA Tech Calendars and Events

Los Angeles is rapidly emerging as a vibrant tech hub, offering a wealth of opportunities for those eager to dive into the industry. With numerous organizations hosting events tailored to aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, there's no better time to get involved. From networking mixers and educational workshops to pitch competitions and industry panels, the LA tech scene is brimming with chances to connect, learn, and grow. Keep an eye on the following calendars and events to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for networking, learning, and career growth.


AI LA Event Calendar

Artificial Intelligence Los Angeles (AI LA) is a public benefit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; supporting the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) communities of the Greater Los Angeles area. AI LA hosts numerous events every month. Some of the upcoming events include AI Policy Happy Hour; LA GenAI Meetup, and LA Founders & Investors.

Find them on: LinkedIn, Luma, Instagram, X, YouTube


Startup Coil Event Calendar

Startup Coil is a community that offers various services to entrepreneurs including putting on events to help build through startup events. Startup Coil partners with KINN, a membership network, accelerator and collaborative workspace, to put on a weekly event called Startup Cafe, in which entrepreneurs, startups, and tech enthusiasts join together every Wednesday at 8:45 am to 10:30 am to meet and connect with like-minded people, industry professionals and investors, while enjoying a nice cup of coffee. They also put on tech happy hours and many other partnered events. Some of this summer’s events have included an LA Tech BBQ and a Tech Summer Party.

Find them on: LinkedIn, Instagram, X


Expert Dojo Event Calendar

Expert Dojo is an active international early-stage startup accelerator in Southern California. They have an 8,500 SF venue three blocks away from the Santa Monica Pier with a rooftop overlooking 3rd Street Promenade. They host numerous events in LA and partner with many groups. Keep an eye out for their next event!

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


Just Go Grind Event Calendar

Just Go Grind, founded by Justin Gordon, is a platform that provides valuable insights and resources for aspiring entrepreneurs through interviews and articles featuring successful founders. In addition to its online content, Just Go Grind also hosts events that foster networking and learning opportunities within the entrepreneurial community. Some of their upcoming events include LA Startup Community Basketball, Pitch and Run LA, and LA Startup Community Coffee Meetup.

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


Techstars LA Event Calendar

Techstars Los Angeles is an accelerator program that supports early-stage startups through mentorship and investment, focusing on diverse and underrepresented founders across various sectors such as healthcare, fintech, and aerospace. They host many events like Demo Day, where startups pitch their businesses to a community of investors and mentors, fostering networking and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Find them on:LinkedIn, Instagram, X, YouTube


TechWeek Los Angeles

LA Tech Week is an annual event in Los Angeles that showcases the region's burgeoning startup ecosystem through a series of diverse events, including networking opportunities, panel discussions, and workshops, aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration among tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Scheduled for October 14-20, 2024, it features around 30 events, such as fireside chats with industry leaders and pitch competitions for early-stage startups, all designed to connect participants with investors and thought leaders in the tech community.

Find them on:X, YouTube


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LA’s Upgrade in Travel and NBA Viewing
Image Source: Los Angeles World Airports

🔦 Spotlight

Exciting developments are underway for Los Angeles as the city prepares for major upgrades in both travel and entertainment. The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has approved an additional $400 million for the Automated People Mover (APM) at LAX, increasing its total budget to $3.34 billion. This boost ensures the elevated train’s completion by December 8, 2025, with service starting in January 2026. For Angelenos, this means a significant improvement in travel convenience. The APM will streamline connections between parking, rental car facilities, and the new Metro transit station, drastically cutting traffic congestion around the airport. Imagine a future without the dreaded 30-minute traffic delays at LAX! The APM will operate 24/7, reducing airport traffic by 42 million vehicle miles annually and carrying 30 million passengers each year, while also creating thousands of local jobs and supporting small businesses.

Meanwhile, the NBA is also making waves with its new broadcasting deals. The league has signed multi-year agreements with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, marking a notable shift in media partnerships. ESPN will maintain its long-standing role, NBC returns as a network broadcaster after years away, and Amazon Prime Video will provide NBA games through its streaming platform. Starting with the 2025-2026 season, these deals will enhance the league's reach and revenue, aligning with the NBA's goal to expand its audience and adapt to evolving viewing habits. Whether you're catching the action on TV or streaming online, these changes promise to elevate the fan experience and bring more basketball excitement to Los Angeles.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Pearl, a startup that makes AI-powered software that assists dentists in identifying cavities, gum disease, and other dental conditions, raised a $58M Series B funding led by Left Lane Capital with Smash Capital, and others also participating. - learn more

LA Venture Funds

  • Fulcrum Venture Group participated in a prior $3.5M Pre-Seed Round for Code Metal, a developer tools startup. - learn more
  • B Capital co-led a $12.5M Seed Round for Star Catcher, a startup that aims to develop a space-based grid that captures solar energy in space and distributes it to satellites and other space assets. - learn more
  • Mantis VC and Amplify participated in a $140M Series C for Chainguard, an open source security startup. - learn more
  • Prominent LA venture capitalist, Carter Reum and wife, Paris Hilton, participated in a $14M Seed/Series A for W, the men’s personal care brand from Jake Paul. - learn more

LA Exits


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