Billion-Dollar Milestones and Snapchat’s New Features

Billion-Dollar Milestones and Snapchat’s New Features

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

This week’s spotlight showcases LA’s thriving tech scene, featuring Snapchat’s latest feature updates and two local startups Liquid Death and Altruist, making TechCrunch’s Unicorn List for 2024.

Image Source: Snap

Snapchat’s recent fall updates bring fresh features, including a new iPhone camera shortcut for instant snaps, Halloween-inspired AI-powered Lenses, and Bitmoji costumes inspired by Mean Girls and Yellowstone. Bitmoji stickers now reflect trending Gen-Z expressions like “slay” and heart symbols for added flair in chats. Plus, the “Footsteps” feature on Snap Map allows users to track their past adventures privately, adding a nostalgic touch.

Image Source: Liquid Death

ICYMI, two LA startups joined the Unicorn Club—achieving valuations over $1 billion. Liquid Death, based in Santa Monica, is a canned water company with edgy branding and a humorous sustainability focus. Known for viral marketing and brand partnerships, it redefines bottled water as a lifestyle brand and environmental statement. In March, Liquid Death closed $67 million in strategic financing, raising its total funding to over $267 million and valuing it at $1.4 billion.

Image Source: Altruist

Altruist, a Culver City-based fintech platform, offers financial advisors streamlined tools to better serve their clients. With a user-friendly investment and account management platform, Altruist has gained strong traction in the finance world. In May, it announced a $169 million Series E funding round, bringing its total funding to over $449 million and earning a valuation of $1.5 billion.

Together, Liquid Death and Altruist exemplify LA’s capacity for innovation across diverse sectors, from lifestyle branding to fintech. Whether reshaping financial tools or redefining sustainable branding, these companies showcase LA’s unique entrepreneurial spirit. Go LA!

Check out TechCrunch’s 2024 Unicorn List here. And don’t miss Snapchat’s latest features—perfect for adding some fun, connection and maybe a few selfies this weekend!


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Freeform, a company bringing AI to metal 3D printing, raised $14M in funding from NVIDIA’s NVentures and AE Ventures to further develop its AI-powered 3D printing technology for industrial-scale production. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
  • Anthos Capital participated in a $70M Series D round for Carbon Robotics, which develops AI-powered robotics for precision agriculture, and the funding will be used to accelerate the growth of its autonomous weeding technology. - learn more
  • Anthos Capital participated in a $3.5M seed round for Plasma Network, aimed at expanding access to USDT stablecoins on the Bitcoin network, with the investment supporting the network’s growth and efforts to enhance stablecoin accessibility through the Lightning Network. - learn more

LA Exits


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      LA Tech Week 2025: Sunday’s Event Lineup

      Here's the Sunday, October 19th lineup for LA Tech Week 2025, organized by location so you can easily explore events that fit your goals and schedule. Dive in and see what’s happening near you!

      ARTS DISTRICT

      3:00 PM

      BEL AIR

      3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

      BURBANK

      6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

      CULVER CITY

      9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

      4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

      INGLEWOOD

      10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

      • Spinovation: The Future Is Femme, The Future is Frequency: See Details Here
        Sonder Impact, Black Women Spin, Sip & Sonder

      KOREATOWN

      12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

      MARINA DEL REY

      12:00 PM

      • Sunday Tech Brunch
        Sawubona

      MID CITY

      9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

      • Women in Cleantech Hike and Network: See Details Here
        Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

      SANTA MONICA

      9:00 AM

      10:00 AM

      3:45 PM

      4:00 PM – 7:30 PM

      • OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival: See Details Here
        Spin PR Group, City of Santa Monica, Tech St.

      6:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      • Pritam: A Musical Legend - Live in Concert: See Details Here
        American South Asian Network

      7:00 PM

      • Building AI workflow editor in React with Workflow Builder SDK: See Details Here
        Workflow Builder

      7:00 PM

      8:00 PM

      • Unlock Apple's Corporate Advantage for your Startup!: See Details Here
        iStore by St. Moritz

      TOPANGA CANYON

      3:00 PM

      • Dreamore Hike and Picnic: LA Tech Week: *Invite Only*
        Dreamore

      VENICE

      10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

      • Coffee, Walk, and Schmooze: See Details Here
        JFE (Jews For Entrepreneurship) Network

      VIRTUAL (LA)

      10:00 AM

      • Level Up with LinkedIn: A Student’s Guide to Networking & Opportunities (Virtual Event): See Details Here
        FIMAC

      10:00 AM

      WEST ADAMS

      1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

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

      Enjoy LA Tech Week 2025!

      Download the dot.LA App


      LA Tech Week 2025: Saturday’s Event Lineup

      Here's the Saturday, October 18th lineup for LA Tech Week 2025, organized by location so you can easily explore events that fit your goals and schedule. Dive in and see what’s happening near you!

      BEVERLY HILLS

      2:00 PM

      CENTURY CITY

      7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

      CULVER CITY

      9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

      10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

      1:00 PM

      DTLA

      7:00 PM

      • {MiniMax x Nakid x SkyPortalx}: TECH/MOTION/MUSIC/ART: See Details Here
        MiniMax (Hailuo AI)

      10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

      EL SEGUNDO

      10:00 AM

      • Venture on the Green: *Invite Only*
        BLCK VC

      4:00 PM

      INGLEWOOD

      7:00 PM

      • Valar Atomics, Durin and Discipulus Ventures - Night With A Nuclear Reactor: See Details Here
        Valar Atomics, Durin, Discipulus Ventures

      MARINA DEL REY

      8:30 AM

      12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

      5:00 PM

      • LOST iN Sunset Sail: Navigating the Tides of the Creator Economy & Media: See Details Here
        LOST iN

      PASADENA

      9:00 AM

      PLAYA VISTA

      2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

      SANTA MONICA

      7:00 AM

      9:00 AM

      • Pedal & Network: Tech Cyclists @ LA Tech Week 🚵: See Details Here
        Instafill.ai

      9:30 AM

      • Getty Center Guided Tour & (Optional) Photography Scavenger Hunt: See Details Here
        NEW MOON Impact Productions

      10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

      11:00 AM – 2:15 PM

      12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

      1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

      1:30 PM

      • Self-Defense in Court and the Streets: See Details Here
        Santa Monica Striking, Luri Inc.

      2:00 PM

      • SMARTUP 500: THE FIRST AT TECH WEEK LA - Launching the world’s first Startup Ranking: See Details Here
        Smart Times

      2:00 PM

      • NLPs (No Lame Panels) The Creator X Founder Rooftop Party: See Details Here
        Startup Village, Sanctuary

      3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

      4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

      • Just Do It?: Helping Founders Perform Like Olympians: See Details Here
        Elite Psychology Group

      5:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      • The Future of Hospitality: Poetry, Provenance & Passports: See Details Here
        Villa Kitchen, Airble, We Speak Dance, Techstars San Francisco

      7:00 PM

      • 🚀 Investor x Founder Open Mic Pitches: See Details Here
        Feathr, Los Angeles Fun Events

      7:00 PM

      • Life is a Pitch - LA Edition: *Invite Only*
        DeepMyst

      TOPANGA CANYON

      5:00 PM – 8:30 PM

      • Walk&Jam: Use AI to make art while hiking Topanga Canyon: See Details Here
        Formhaus llc, Wonderland Immersive Design

      TORRANCE

      1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

      • Crunches & Conversations Presented by The Differentials and KIS Training Studios: See Details Here
        The Differentials, KIS Training Studios

      VENICE

      1:00 PM – 4:30 PM

      • Beyond the Language Barrier: Exploring AI's Next Frontier: See Details Here
        Medusa AI

      VENICE BEACH

      8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

      • SŨRFED Club @ Venice Beach: Founders, Creators, Investors share the waves: See Details Here
        SŨRFED Club, Go Vitamins

      WEST ADAMS

      9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

      • Funders Shaping Democracy, AI & Media: See Details Here
        New Media Ventures, New Rising Ventures

      WEST HOLLYWOOD

      4:00 PM

      6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

      9:30 PM

      • Vibe Check Comedy Show, Tech Week Edition! @ Hollywood Improv: See Details Here
        Vibe Check Comedy

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

      Enjoy LA Tech Week 2025!

      Download the dot.LA App


      LA Tech Week 2025: Friday’s Event Lineup

      Here's the Friday, October 17th lineup for LA Tech Week 2025, organized by location so you can easily explore events that fit your goals and schedule. Dive in and see what’s happening near you!

      ARTS DISTRICT

      8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

      • Power Day: Ideas, Pitches, Connections: See Details Here
        Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)

      6:00 PM

      • WEB3 GAMING IS DEAD - Happy Hour: See Details Here
        Plassa Capital, Yee-Haw Monster Trucks

      BEVERLY HILLS

      10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

      1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

      2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

      3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

      4:00 PM

      6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      • So you went viral, Now what? (pt II): See Details Here
        Verci, Study Fetch, TechSpace

      8:00 PM

      • Private Pool: GP x LP x FO: *Invite Only*
        Visionlist Commons , Bay Area Innovest

      BRENTWOOD

      8:00 AM

      • Founders & Investors Hike: See Details Here
        Salehpour Legal, Technology Founders of America

      CARSON

      11:45 AM

      • Lightspeed x SVB Porsche Experience: *Invite Only*
        Lightspeed Venture Partners, SVB

      CULVER CITY

      8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

      11:00 AM

      1:00 PM

      • Surf Parks & Wave Pools: From Doja Cat to Mark Zuckerberg: See Details Here
        Surflytics

      8:00 PM – 12:00 AM

      EL SEGUNDO

      11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

      5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

      HOLLYWOOD

      10:00 AM

      • AI, Revenue, and Reality: How Fortune 500s Work With Startups That Ship: See Details Here
        Sunrise AI, OpenTable

      12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

      • Unplugged: LA Tech Week Recharge Experience with TAY × Checked Out: See Details Here
        TAY Fitness, Checked Out

      9:00 PM

      INGLEWOOD

      8:00 AM

      • TCSI Presents: Caffeine & Connections: See Details Here
        The Cyber Security Intellects Nonprofit

      LONG BEACH

      7:00 AM

      MALIBU

      10:00 AM

      • Great Leaders Podcast & Profiles: See Details Here
        NEW MOON Impact Productions, Origin Studios

      12:30 PM

      MARINA DEL REY

      9:00 AM

      • Keeping Your Freedom as a Founder: Real Talk on Funding: See Details Here
        Lighter Capital

      10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

      • D-Wave Research Day & Hackathon!: See Details Here
        USC Information Sciences Institute, D-Wave

      4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

      • The Sky is Not the Limit: All About Aerospace: See Details Here
        Sunstone Management, USC Viterbi Startup Garage

      PASADENA

      10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

      11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

      • Deep Tech Entrepreneurship Pillars of Pasadena Tech: See Details Here
        Innovate Pasadena, Pasadena SBDC, City of Pasadena

      PLAYA VISTA

      9:00 AM

      12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

      • Vision to Venture - AI Media Showcase powered by Google AI: See Details Here
        Google

      SANTA MONICA

      7:00 AM – 8:30 AM

      • Signal Run : RTC x Wildwood VC: See Details Here
        Run Tech Club, Wildwood Ventures

      7:30 AM

      8:45 AM – 10:45 AM

      9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

      • Slash Burn Rates & Scale Your Startup: See Details Here
        Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA)

      9:00 AM

      • Driving a Digital Ecology Relay: What is at Stake: See Details Here
        The PORT GLOBAL, GLOBAL PORTAL INSTITUTE

      9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

      10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

      • The Enduring Value of Inclusive Capital: See Details Here
        Founders Registry. Nervana

      10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

      10:30 AM

      11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

      • Advisors to Investors Lunch: Venture Capital for enterprise leaders: See Details Here
        Collinear Capital, Worlds

      12:00 PM

      • Powerhouse Capital & a16z speedrun Investor Lunch Mixer: See Details Here
        Powerhouse Capital, a16z, speedrun

      2:00 PM

      • Where Robotics Meets Heart - Embedding Family Values in a Future with AI: See Details Here
        Trove, Puerto Rico Blockchain Association, MindfulBytes

      2:00 PM

      3:00 PM

      3:00 PM

      3:00 PM

      • Workshop: Create An Enterprise Chatbot and Unlock the 70% of Data Data You’re Not Using: See Details Here
        Aparavi

      4:00 PM

      5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

      5:30 PM

      5:30 PM – 9:30 PM

      6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

      • USC Alumni Founders & Investors: See Details Here
        USC Alumni Entrepreneurship Network, Techstars

      6:00 PM

      • Social Currency Series/Greenlit presents PitchPop: See Details Here
        Social Currency Series, Greenlit

      6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      6:30 PM

      6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

      6:30 PM

      • Lets get the LA Bioeconomy brewing: See Details Here
        Founders, Friends & Fermentation, Saku Biosciences

      7:00 PM – 11:30 PM

      7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

      7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      • Liquid Equity 2: The Premiere Gathering for Founders, Creator
        Coeus Collective

      7:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      • For the Love of Tech | Speed Dating for Tech Professionals: See Details Here
        Feathr, Los Angeles Fun Events

      7:00 PM

      SOUTH LA

      3:00 PM

      TORRANCE

      9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

      • The Future of Space & Security Panel: See Details Here
        Northwood Space, Anduril Industries, Impulse Space, Astranis

      VENICE

      9:00 AM – 10:45 AM

      9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

      11:00 AM

      11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

      12:30 PM

      • Creative Partners: Human + AI Storytelling: See Details Here
        Othelia, Primordial Soup

      2:00 PM – 3:45 PM

      5:00 PM

      • EarthHouse: Critical Minerals, Mobility & Modern Power: See Details Here
        The Strategye Group, Alpha Sierra One

      6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      • Pizza+Soda: *Invite Only*
        Schmoozd , The KINN

      7:00 PM

      VENICE BEACH

      2:00 PM – 6:30 PM

      5:00 PM

      8:30 PM – 2:00 AM

      VIRTUAL (LA)

      2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

      3:00 PM

      • Government of Alberta: ProcurementAsCode // Done in 60 Seconds: See Details Here
        Government of Alberta

      4:00 PM

      • Stop Hitting Yourself 🥊: See Details Here
        Stop Hitting Yourself, HOWDY, Company Policy, Snowbird Global

      WEST HOLLYWOOD

      3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      WESTSIDE

      5:00 PM

      5:30 PM – 8:30 PM


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

      Enjoy LA Tech Week 2025!

      Download the dot.LA App


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