This App Hopes to Build a Support System for Homeless Angelenos — On Their Terms

Eric Zassenhaus
Eric Zassenhaus is dot.LA's managing editor for platforms and audience. He works to put dot.LA stories in front of the broadest audience in the best possible way. Prior to joining dot.LA, he served as an editorial and product lead at Pacific Standard magazine and at NPR affiliate KPCC in Los Angeles. He has also worked as a news producer, editor and art director. Follow him on Twitter for random thoughts on publishing and L.A. culture.
This App Hopes to Build a Support System for Homeless Angelenos — On Their Terms

Days after Doug Weber signed up for the Samaritan app at the suggestion of his case worker, he received his first donations — about $80 in total.


Weber found himself homeless in L.A. for six years after he says he was jilted by a business partner who ran away with his savings. He then found himself at the mercy of several persistent health problems. He was able to find temporary housing through a local nonprofit and get set up to receive food stamps, but for anything else, he relied on the kindness of strangers.

"I bought simple things. Socks, underwear. I went and bought a good leather belt — instead of a cheap one that you buy in a discount store. That was $25 alone — you know, something that's gonna hold up for a couple years and not fall apart."

The money came courtesy of users on the Samaritan app, a kind of Patreon for people experiencing homeless, or a social app introducing communities to their unhoused neighbors.

After a couple years honing its approach in Seattle, the startup is moving into Southern California, where L.A.'s sizeable homeless population and the tech world overlap, from the boardwalks of Silicon Beach to Downtown's arts district, among other places. The app hopes to grow the relationship between passersby and homeless people, beyond the quick exchange of a few crumpled dollars and a grave nod. It also hopes to give homeless users more agency in telling their story.

Samaritan, a for-profit benefit "B-corp" corporation, is partnering with L.A.-based nonprofit Pathways To Your Future to upload profiles of their homeless clients, including a little bit about their life story, the items they're saving for and their goals. Homeless users can also choose to be anonymous.

Users download the app, enter their city and see profiles of Pathways' clients and those of its other nonprofit partners. From there, they can scroll through profiles and donate money toward items users' need or goals they're trying to hit — everything from groceries to making regular AA meetings. The funds are administered by the partner organization — in this case, Pathways — which Samaritan hopes can help ensure the money (which is delivered through a prepaid PEX debit card) goes toward its intended purpose. One hundred percent of the funds go to the homeless users.

Born in Seattle

Samaritan was created in Seattle in 2015 by entrepreneur and filmmaker Jonathan Kumar. It graduated from Techstars' UnitedHealthcare startup accelerator in 2020, and raised $150,000 in seed funding from Jumpstart Health Investors and Right Side Capital Management. It has also received some grant funding from nonprofits, according to Samaritan spokesman Eric Hunter.

Initially, he said, the app relied heavily on beacon technology that would notify users that they were near someone who was looking for a donation.

"When you walk by a person it will notify you that you've walked by them, and allow you to donate to them, which was a big part of our Seattle pilot," said Hunter.

It was essentially virtual panhandling, which also allowed you to offer some encouragement or a kind word.

"We've since phased it out a little bit," he said.

The company still uses the beacons — a kind of keyfob —to allow homeless users to access their funds, but the app is now more focused on giving users the ability to afford "needs" (such as clothing) or give them a congratulatory boost for "action steps" (such as meeting regularly with a case worker) that the users set themselves.

Bill Greco, who oversees Samaritan's program with Pathways, said the idea isn't really about the immediate cash.

"The goal is to get them self-sufficient," he said. "Mentally, financially, spiritually — if you will — to become independent and circle back into society."

Another goal: Building empathy among the app's users.

"When we tell one story of one person's life struggle, it really changes the perceptions that people have about homelessness," Greco said. "This obviously is not going to solve [homelessness], but I think it's going to change, hopefully, people's perception about what the issue represents — with these individualized struggles."

Greco said Pathways clients have established real relationships through the messaging feature on the app. In some cases, users have gone far beyond cash donations, bringing bikes or art supplies directly to homeless people on the app who list the items among their needs.

A series of screenshots from Samaritan's app.

A Boost for Nonprofits

Samaritan hopes to license its technology to more nonprofits like Pathways, which pays a fee for access to the app. Hunter said it's been a fairly successful business model so far.

The partnership helps Pathways attract funding and gives its homeless clients a reason to check in regularly.

"It helps differentiate the organization from the hundreds of others that are out there," said Greco.

"What really intrigues me is that the platform gives these people a voice," he said. "You know, these people are somewhat invisible, but the platform allows them to tell their story, to talk about the positive outcomes they want to achieve and to engage with potential donors."

Doug Weber still has medical bills to pay and worries whether he'll be able to afford his rent -- and he's not counting on the app to help him reach those goals.

"It's not life changing money," he said. "But for somebody who's just trying to get back on their feet... where they're living day-to-day and they're trying to save some money — it's a good thing."

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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

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      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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