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🏛️ Brilliant Designs or Billion-Dollar Liabilities? How This LA Ruling May Disrupt Big Tech!

Christian Hetrick

Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.

🏛️ Brilliant Designs or Billion-Dollar Liabilities? How This LA Ruling May Disrupt Big Tech!
Adem AY on Unsplash

🔦 Spotlight

Ever suspected your go-to black hole of time, I mean social media app, might have a secret plan to keep you hooked? Well, a judge in Los Angeles seems to think so! 📱👀⚖️

A Los Angeles judge has rejected the dismissal of significant lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Google. The lawsuits claim that these platforms are deliberately designed to addict and exacerbate mental health disorders in teenagers, potentially leading to multibillion-dollar liabilities. The judge ruled that the companies cannot use Section 230, a legal shield often employed by Big Tech, to evade some claims. The decision is based on the assertion that it is the design features of the platforms, not the specific content, that cause harm to users.

The lawsuits, brought forth by numerous government officials and parents of minors, argue thatsocial media platforms function as defective products, contributing to issues like eating disorders, anxiety, and even suicide among young users. The focus on design elements aims to bypass the legal protection historically granted by Section 230, which shields tech companies from liability as third-party publishers. The judge's decision also allows allegations that Meta may have concealed internal research on the negative impacts of Instagram on minors' mental health to proceed. This includes data suggesting that young users spending extended time on the platform experience heightened anxiety and depression.

So what does this all mean…

In summary, this ruling could mark a significant turning point in how tech companies are held accountable for the potential negative impacts of their platforms. It may lead to increased scrutiny, regulatory changes, and shifts in industry practices to prioritize user well-being.🛀🤳🏛️

🎉 Don’t forget about our referral contest this month! 🎉

Competition Status: Number of referrals to beat is 3 with just over a week remaining!

Dwight Office Tv GIF by The Office

Gif by trt_network on Giphy

The contest is simple: whoever refers the most friends to dot.LA using our referral program by October 31st will get a coffee and conversation with Zillow, Pacaso, and dot.LA co-founder Spencer Rascoff, where you can pitch him, get business advice, or just shoot the breeze. This is a great opportunity for any current or future entrepreneur, so good luck referring! ☕️☕️☕️

P.S. If you’re not based in LA, you can hop on a Zoom instead 💻

🤝 Venture Deals

LA Startups

  • Arctop, a developer of cognition software, raised a $10M Series A co-led by Fifth Growth Fund and Supermoon Capital. - learn more
  • Jam & Tea Studios, a startup building a remote-first multi-player game studio, raised a $3.2M Seed Round led by London Venture Partners, with participation from Sisu Game Ventures and 1Up Ventures. - learn more
  • Salted, a developer of quick-serve restaurant brands, raised a $14M Series B led by Creadev and participation from Proof Ventures and B. Riley Financial. - learn more
  • K2 Space, a spacecraft startup, raised a $7M Funding Round from Alpine Space Ventures. - learn more

LA Funds

LA Exits

  • Moment, a livestream platform for events and ticketed experiences, was acquired by Patreon, which connects creators with paying fans. -learn more

Stifel Venture Banking | Where Innovation Grows

Stifel’s Venture Bankers are here to support the innovation economy. From founder dinners to industry-focused events, our LA-based team enjoys bringing people together to build lasting relationships and further strengthen the community. We focus on both VC firms and VC-backed companies from inception to exit across all sectors, including Consumer, Fintech, Enterprise Software, Frontier Tech, Health Tech, and Climate Tech. We aim to provide high-touch, white-glove service to our clients while offering attractive interest rates on deposits. Debt financing is also a critical component, and we are active lenders in the space for both venture debt, lines of credit, and capital call lines.

Al Guerrero, Managing Director, leads Stifel Venture Banking in Los Angeles. Greg Singer and Sam Wogan work with Al as Relationship Managers. Hunter Briggs handles Treasury Management for clients, and Charlie Smith serves as a Fund Banker for venture and private equity firms.

Stifel Venture Banking launched in 2018 and expanded in Los Angeles in March of this year. We are part of Stifel, a global wealth management and investment banking company founded in 1890. Entrepreneurial culture is at the core of our Firm – with over 30 accretive acquisitions in the past 20 years. The strength and diversity of Stifel’s business gives our venture banking clients’ professional guidance on managing their personal finances and planning for the future. As a founders’ business grows, our Investment Banking team can provide guidance on navigating public markets, accessing debt and equity capital markets, and more.

Learn more about Stifel Venture Banking here 😎

✨Featured Event (11/9)✨

RECURRING REVENUE CONFERENCE on November 9th in Culver City

Southern California's premier SaaS and Subscription conference, this one-day event draws 600+ top founders, executives, investors, and Cloud experts. Experience a dynamic program with 20+ sessions, including leading industry speakers, fireside chats, breakout sessions, and roundtable discussions. This year's insights span AI, metrics that matter, scaling strategies, making a pivot, the changing role of the CFO, what investors are looking for, and more. Keynotes include ChowNow and HackerOne CEOs. Attendees will enjoy plenty of networking time during breakfast, lunch, coffee cart breaks, and cocktails on the patio. Join us on November 9th at the Culver City Hilton to learn from industry leaders.

Learn more and register using DOTLA229 for a discounted ticket rate of $229 (regularly $399): bit.ly/3EitWB5

Early-stage founders get a discounted ticket rate ($59). Apply here today!

Want your event featured? Shoot us an email!

📅 LA Tech Calendar

Tuesday, October 24th

Wednesday, October 25th

Thursday, October 26th

Have an awesome event coming up? Reach out to be featured on next week’s Newsletter!

📙 What We’re Reading

  • Learn about NBC’s new streaming service that bets on high school and amateur sports. - read more
  • Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard in $69-billion gaming deal. - read more
  • MetAlert gets first order for its gun tracker device. - read more
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS) is celebrating a milestone of its flagship startup program AWS Activate , the 10th anniversary of the program’s launch. - read more
  • Netflix raises prices and adds nearly 9 million subscribers in Q3 with ad-supported plans up nearly 70% from Q2. - read more
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los angeles tech news

LA’s Data Center Supply Crunch

Christine Rothacker
LA’s Data Center Supply Crunch

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday Los Angeles!

The Los Angeles data center market is experiencing a significant supply crunch, ranking 12th in growth among top markets since 2020 with only 265 megawatts of colocation inventory (data centers where businesses rent space to store their computing hardware and servers). Despite this, demand is surging, driven by AI, cloud, and hyperscaler needs, with AI accounting for 20% of new data center demand nationally. This scarcity is creating a highly competitive environment, with vacancy rates at a record low 3% and asking rents rising 13-37% year-over-year. For Los Angeles, this presents both challenges and opportunities in the big picture. The city's strategic position as a global entertainment hub and its connectivity to international markets through subsea cables make it an attractive location for data centers. However, the limited inventory and rising costs could potentially hinder growth and innovation in the tech sector. To maintain its competitive edge, Los Angeles will need to address these constraints through new developments, such as GI Partners' 16 MW addition at One Wilshire, and by focusing on high-connectivity, high-power capacity submarkets. The city's tech community should prepare for a landscape of increased competition for quality data center space, higher costs, and the need for innovative solutions to meet growing demand, particularly in AI and cloud services. While Los Angeles faces a challenging data center supply crunch, its strategic advantages and ongoing developments offer a promising path forward.


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Daisy, a one-year-old startup that designs and installs smart home and office technology systems, raised a $7M Series B co-led by Goldcrest and Bungalow, with previous investors Bullish and Burst Capital also stepping up. The company has raised a total of $13.3 million. - learn more

LA Venture Funds


    ✨ Featured Event ✨

    LA TECH CEO SUMMIT

    LA’s tech leadership is set to reunite after a long break! This two day summit will focus on building strong connections, sharing insights, and fortifying the local tech community.

    Learn More Here

    Register Here


    Download the dot.LA App

    tech newslos angeles tech newsnewsletter
    los angeles tech news

    🌐Decentralizing Data & Vacations: Sony's Web3 Leap and Sensible Weather's KOA Partnership

    Christine Rothacker
    🌐Decentralizing Data & Vacations: Sony's Web3 Leap and Sensible Weather's KOA Partnership

    🔦 Spotlight

    Happy Long Weekend Los Angeles!

    Sony Group is making a significant push into the blockchain and Web3 space, leveraging its Sony Pictures and Sony Music divisions along with a new global incubator. The company has developed the Soneium blockchain through Sony Block Solutions Labs, a joint venture aimed at accelerating Web3 innovation. Sony is launching the "Soneium Minato" public testnet and a developer incubation program called "Soneium Spark" to foster ecosystem growth and adoption. The initiative includes strategic partnerships with Web3 companies such as Astar Network, Circle, and Optimism. Sony aims to create a fan community centered on creators and connect diverse values through Soneium, with the ultimate goal of integrating Web3 services into people's daily lives. While the company acknowledges the challenges faced by Web3, including limited user adoption and the need for mainstream use cases, it remains committed to decentralizing the concentrated power of the current internet landscape.

    In completely unrelated and more digestible news Sensible Weather, a leading weather protection provider that we’ve featured many times, has partnered with Kampgrounds of America (KOA) to offer Weather Guarantees at over 450 KOA Campgrounds across the United States. This collaboration allows campers to purchase weather protection for their outdoor experiences, providing peace of mind and potential reimbursements of up to 100% of their nightly rate if weather conditions exceed predefined parameters. The partnership comes at an opportune time, as camping has seen a significant increase in popularity, with active campers growing by 68% over the past decade. If you are looking to do some camping this fall make sure you look into Sensible Weather protections to ensure that unpredictable weather won't dampen (nailed it) your camping experience.


    🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • Space and Time, a blockchain data warehouse developer, raised a $20M Series A led by Framework Ventures. - learn more
    • Miris, a provider of spatial content streaming solutions, raised a $26M Seed Round led by IAG Capital Partners. - learn more

    LA Venture Funds

    • Fika Ventures led a $4.55M Seed Round for Revenew, a San Francisco startup that aims to help digital platforms and marketplaces manage their payments and optimize financial operations. - learn more
    • Bonfire Ventures participated in a $25M Series A for Supio, an AI platform for personal injury law firms. - learn more
    • Amplify LA participated in a $2M Seed Round for Pryzm, a startup that provides tools and data to help businesses navigate government contracting more efficiently. - learn more

      ✨ Featured Event ✨

      LA TECH CEO SUMMIT

      LA’s tech leadership is set to reunite after a long break! This two day summit will focus on building strong connections, sharing insights, and fortifying the local tech community.

      Learn More Here

      Register Here


      Download the dot.LA App

      tech newslos angeles tech newsnewsletter
      los angeles tech news

      Personality Assessments Improving Workplace Dynamics

      Christine Rothacker
      Personality Assessments Improving Workplace Dynamics

      Misunderstandings can have significant and sometimes severe impacts, far beyond the hilarious cake pictured above. Many organizations are increasingly using personality assessments to improve team dynamics and productivity. Tests like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and DISC assessment are valuable tools for developing existing teams in addition to hiring new employees. These assessments provide insights into team members' motivations, communication styles, and work preferences, helping colleagues understand each other better. By highlighting the different personalities within a team, these tests can enhance communication, resolve conflicts, and optimize task assignments based on individual strengths. As companies aim for greater efficiency and collaboration, the Enneagram, MBTI, and DISC assessments are becoming essential for transforming established teams into more effective and cohesive units.


      Image Source: iEQ9

      Enneagram

      The Enneagram test is a sophisticated personality assessment that categorizes individuals into nine distinct personality types, each defined by unique motivations, fears,and behavioral patterns. This holistic approach enhances team dynamics in a business setting by fostering self-awareness, improving communication, and facilitating conflict resolution among team members. By understanding different personality types, teams can optimize their composition, tailor professional development, and create a more empathetic and collaborative environment. This framework not only helps leaders adapt their styles to better support diverse team members but also promotes inclusivity and effective collaboration, ultimately leading to improved team performance, productivity, and retention.

      Resources:iEQ9. We recommend getting an Enneagram coach to get the most out of the results.

      Key Features: Focus on core motivations. Accounts for personality shifts under stress or growth. Offers practical, actionable guidance for personal growth. Uses a dynamic, adaptive questioning approach. Claims 95% accuracy rate through advanced techniques.


      Image Source: DiSC Profile

      DiSC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness)

      The DiSC assessment is a widely used behavioral analysis tool that categorizes individuals into four primary personality types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. For businesses, DiSC provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, work preferences, and motivations. By understanding these behavioral tendencies, teams can improve collaboration, reduce conflicts, and enhance overall productivity. Implementing DiSC in a business setting can lead to more effective leadership, tailored communication strategies, and optimized task allocation based on individual strengths.

      Resources:DiSC Profile.

      Key Features: Designed specifically for workplace applications. Focuses on observable behaviors rather than psychological traits. Widely researched and validated over 40+ years. Provides practical strategies for improving interactions.


      Image Source: The Myers-Briggs Company

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

      The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment tool that categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types based on four dichotomies: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. For businesses, the MBTI provides valuable insights into employees' communication styles, decision-making processes, and work preferences.This helps promote a more productive workplace, and enables employees to become involved in more meaningful ways, all while leveraging everyone’s unique strengths.

      Resources:The Myers-Briggs Company.

      Key Features: Focuses on preferences rather than traits. Focuses on how people perceive and judge information. Widely used in business and career counseling


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