Top Tech Journalists Shaping LA’s Tech Scene in 2024

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.

Top Tech Journalists Shaping LA’s Tech Scene in 2024
Washington Post

🔦 Spotlight

Image Source: Business Insider

BEN BERGMAN

Ben is currently a senior correspondent at Business Insider, where he covers the intersection of technology and business. Based in Los Angeles, Ben writes in depth pieces on the latest trends in the tech industry, particularly focusing on startups and venture capital. Prior to joining Business Insider, Ben worked at dot.LA and was a reporter at KPCC, Southern California's largest public radio station. Ben Bergman's insightful reporting has positioned him as a trusted authority on the swiftly evolving tech landscape, not only in Los Angeles but also on a national scale.

Social Channels: Twitter and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: '2024 will be the year of the zombie VC reckoning.' The first wave of walking-dead venture firms is here and it's already causing headaches for tech founders.

Adam Neumann is now in the publishing business, with his residential real estate company buying a quirky Montauk surfing magazine

Image Source: The Verge

ALEX HEATH

Alex is the Deputy Editor for The Verge and the author of Command Line, a newsletter with interviews and coverage of tech’s most influential players. He is known for breaking major stories about companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. His deep connections within the industry allow him to provide exclusive insights and scoops. Alex's work has been featured in several high-profile publications, and he is a frequent guest on tech podcasts and panels. He regularly appears as an expert voice on programs like CNBC, NPR, BBC, and CNN.

Social Channels: Twitter and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: Google and OpenAI are racing to rewire the internet

Meta is quietly winning the AI wearable race

Image Source: Muck Rack

KATIE ROOF

Katie is a senior writer at Bloomberg, focusing on technology and venture capital. Katie has a reputation for her thorough and analytical reporting on tech startups and investment trends. She previously worked at TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal, where she honed her skills in covering the tech industry. Katie's articles often provide a deep dive into the financial aspects of tech companies, making her a respected voice in the field.

Social Channels: Twitter and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: Wearable AI Startup Humane Explores Potential Sale, Sources Say

Musk’s xAI Nears Close of Deal Valuing Startup at $24 Billion

Image Source: The Washington Post

TAYLOR LORENZ

Taylor is a technology columnist at The Washington Post, where she covers internet culture and the impact of social media on society. Taylor is known for her in-depth reporting on influencers, online trends, and the digital economy. Her work has been instrumental in highlighting the cultural shifts driven by social media platforms. Taylor's articles often explore the human side of technology, making her a unique voice in tech journalism. She also has a youtube channel and a podcast, Power User, that similarly explore the impact of technology.

Social Channels: Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: Twitch streamers become go-to news source for campus protest coverage

TikTok creators sue U.S. government over potential ban

Image Source: The New York Times

RYAN MAC

Ryan is a tech reporter at The New York Times, where he covers the intersection of technology, business, and policy. Based in Los Angeles, Ryan has a knack for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, particularly those involving major tech companies and their impact on society. Before joining The New York Times, he was a senior reporter at BuzzFeed News. Ryan's investigative reporting has earned him numerous accolades and a loyal readership.

Social Channels: Twitter and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: Elon Musk’s Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit.

Elon Musk Ramps Up Anti-Biden Posts on X

Image Source: NPR

BOBBY ALLYN

Bobby is a tech reporter at NPR, where he covers technology and its impact on society. Based in Los Angeles, Bobby's reporting spans a wide range of topics, from cybersecurity to the gig economy. He previously worked at WHYY in Philadelphia and has contributed to several national outlets. Bobby's storytelling ability and his knack for explaining complex tech issues in an accessible way make him a standout journalist in the field.

Social Channels: Twitter and LinkedIn

Recent Stories: Scarlett Johansson says she is 'shocked, angered' over new ChatGPT voice

Legal experts say a TikTok ban without specific evidence violates the First Amendment

🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

LA Venture Funds

LA Exits

  • AuditBoard, a startup that has built a cloud-based risk management platform to manage audit, risk, compliance, and ESG management, was acquired by Hg, a private equity firm, in a deal valued at $3 billion. - learn more
How to Navigate LA Tech Week 2026

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday, Los Angeles.

Next week, hundreds of tech events will take over the city, bringing founders, investors, engineers and creators together from October 12 through 18.

Calling LA Tech Week a conference does not quite capture the experience.

Presented by Andreessen Horowitz, Tech Week is a decentralized collection of panels, workshops, demonstrations and gatherings hosted independently by startups, venture firms and technology companies. There is no convention center or central stage. The programming stretches from Santa Monica and Venice to Culver City, Downtown, El Segundo and beyond.

In other words, the city is the venue.

AI remains the dominant theme for 2026, appearing across enterprise software, healthcare, finance, media and the creator economy. The schedule also reflects industries where Los Angeles has built a particular advantage, including aerospace, defense, robotics, advanced manufacturing, entertainment and consumer technology.

That range is what makes LA Tech Week distinct. It brings together the software companies shaping what comes next with the industries that already define Southern California.

The challenge is deciding where to show up.

Our advice: apply early and organize your schedule by neighborhood. Crossing from Santa Monica to Downtown may look manageable on a calendar created by someone who has never driven in Los Angeles.

To help you spend more time meeting people and less time crossing the city, we have organized each day’s events by location:

You can also browse the complete official LA Tech Week calendar.

Plan carefully, but do not fill every minute. The best conversation of the week may be the one that was never on your calendar.

More from this week’s LA startup and venture scene below.

🤝 Venture Deals

    LA Companies

    • El Segundo-based Gallatin AI raised a $50M Series A from new and existing investors including 8VC and Silent Ventures, bringing its total funding to $70M. The defense technology startup will expand its engineering team and advance Navigator, an AI platform that helps U.S. military units coordinate vehicle readiness, supplies, medical logistics and other mission-support operations. - learn more
    • Pasadena-based quantum computing startup Oratomic raised a $475M Series B at a $5.4B valuation, just three months after its Series A. ARCH Venture Partners, Spark Capital, Khosla Ventures, Index Ventures, General Catalyst and Bezos Expeditions co-led the round, bringing Oratomic’s total funding to $775M as it works toward a commercially viable, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2030. - learn more
    • Torrance-based Fortastra raised a $30M Series A led by First In, with participation from Upfront Ventures, Space Capital, Rsquared, Side Door Ventures, ATX Ventures and existing investors. The company will use the capital to develop its next-generation maneuverable spacecraft, expand its engineering and operations teams and scale production of systems designed to protect critical assets in orbit. - learn more
    • Parallel Systems raised a $100M Series C led by AVP, with participation from Hillspire, Agility Global, Cobalt Capital, Anthos Capital, Congruent Ventures, Riot Ventures and Collaborative Fund. Founded by former SpaceX engineers, the company will use the funding to scale production and commercial deployment of its autonomous, battery-electric Panther rail vehicles, which are designed to make short-haul freight more competitive with trucking. - learn more
    • Gaming studio Gardens Interactive secured more than $35M in a Series B led by Lightspeed, with participation from Sequoia Capital, Index Ventures, Accel, Innovation Endeavors, Zenith Capital and other investors. The company will use the funding to launch and operate its debut social role-playing “strandbox” game, an evolving multiplayer world shaped by players’ actions and interactions. - learn more
    • Outer Spaces raised an $8M pre-seed round led by Upfront Ventures, with participation from Unlock Venture Partners, Mucker Capital and Genius Ventures. The startup is developing outdoor furnishings with integrated solar panels and batteries, turning backyards into sources of clean energy and backup power. - learn more
    • Furientis raised a $25M seed round led by Benchmark at a reported $125M valuation, following a $5M pre-seed announced in May. The defense startup will use the capital to scale production of lower-cost missile interceptors designed to be assembled quickly with readily available components, with a long-term goal of producing 1,000 systems annually at each factory. - learn more
    • Hiyo raised a $20.8M Series B led by Constellation Brands, with returning investor Live Nation also participating. The nonalcoholic beverage company will use the funding to expand its adaptogen- and nootropic-infused social tonics across more than 13,000 retail locations while growing its presence at hospitality venues and live events. - learn more
    LA Venture Funds
    • Navitas Capital participated in Vesta’s $30M Series B, which was led by Conversion Capital and included backing from several major mortgage lenders and financial institutions. The company will use the funding to scale its AI agents across mortgage origination, automating tasks such as application reviews, underwriting decisions and closing-document checks. - learn more
    • MTech Capital led Nettle’s oversubscribed $4.8M seed round, with participation from Project A Ventures, Sure Valley Ventures, Portfolio Ventures and Ventures Together. The insurtech startup will use the funding to expand across the U.S. and Europe while growing its AI platform, which helps commercial insurers identify property risks, accelerate inspections and generate reports. - learn more
    • Bonfire Ventures doubled down on Santé by participating in the company’s $15M Series A, which was led by FINTOP and included other returning investors. The New York startup will use the funding to expand its AI-powered operating system for independent wine and liquor stores, which combines point-of-sale, e-commerce, payments, inventory and marketing tools in one platform. - learn more

    LA Exits

    • Winnow Solutions was acquired by Marina del Rey-based Spring Labs, with financial terms undisclosed. Winnow’s attorney-built library of more than 100,000 state and federal regulatory requirements will become a core part of SpringGRC, helping financial institutions connect changing laws directly to their compliance policies, controls and workflows. - learn more

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      LA Tech Week 2026: Sunday’s Event Lineup

      🔦 Spotlight

      LA Tech Week 2026 closes Sunday with one final day of events across Los Angeles. We have organized the remaining lineup by neighborhood so you can finish the week with a few last conversations before everyone returns to their regularly scheduled inboxes.

      ARTS DISTRICT

      12:00 PM

      CARSON

      12:00 PM

      CULVER CITY

      9:00 AM

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

      6:00 PM

      • Founders pitch competition: See Details Here
        Biomorphix solutions, Nightingale regenerative

      HOLLYWOOD

      10:00 AM

      4:00 PM

      • AI International: Film, Music Video & Micro-Drama: See Details Here
        AI International Film Festivals

      MID CITY

      1:00 PM

      OTHER

      12:00 PM

      • ORGANIC LIFE LABS™ PRESENTS THE ALIGNMENT LAB: The Science of human performance: See Details Here
        The Blue Room Collective

      SANTA MONICA

      8:00 AM

      1:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      SOUTH LA

      2:00 PM

      • Future Builders : Family STEM Day: See Details Here
        Black L.A. Tech Week (Community Collective)

      VENICE

      10:00 AM

      12:00 PM

      • How to Raise Funds to Fund Any Business Using Digital Products.: See Details Here
        DN Events

      VIRTUAL

      5:00 PM

      WEST HOLLYWOOD

      3:00 PM

      Each session provides unique opportunities to gain insights, network, and explore various fields of tech innovation. For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

      Download the dot.LA App

      LA Tech Week 2026: Saturday’s Event Lineup

      🔦 Spotlight

      LA Tech Week 2026 heads into the weekend Saturday with more opportunities to learn, meet fellow builders and explore what is being created across the region. Browse the day’s events by neighborhood below and find the gatherings worth leaving the house for.

      ARTS DISTRICT

      5:30 PM

      BEL AIR

      5:00 PM

      CULVER CITY

      10:00 AM

      1:00 PM

      4:00 PM

      DOWNTOWN

      11:00 AM

      2:00 PM

      • South Asians in Space, Physical AI: See Details Here
        american south asian network

      5:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      HOLLYWOOD

      8:00 PM

      INGLEWOOD

      10:00 PM

      LONG BEACH

      10:00 AM

      12:00 PM

      LOS FELIZ

      8:30 AM

      • Griffith Observatory Hike with Longevity Cities & Don't Die LA: See Details Here
        Longevity Cities

      MALIBU

      5:00 PM

      MARINA DEL RAY

      9:30 AM

      • The Brazen Capital Walk: Connecting Women, Capital & Opportunity: See Details Here
        BrazenEra

      6:00 PM

      • Build an AI workflow editor, natively in Angular: See Details Here
        Workflow Builder

      SANTA MONICA

      7:00 AM

      • Founders Running Club Run in Santa Monica: See Details Here
        Founders Running Club, MongoDb

      9:00 AM

      • MOLTEN - Spatial hackathon (ElevenLabs, AssemblyAI, Rokoko, Datafeel...): See Details Here
        Field Lab

      2:00 PM

      3:30 PM

      6:00 PM

      7:00 PM

      SOUTH LA

      7:00 PM

      THE VALLEY

      7:30 PM

      UCLA

      11:00 AM

      USC

      9:00 AM

      10:00 AM

      10:30 AM

      VENICE

      8:00 AM

      • Open Air Health Tech: See Details Here
        Open Air Health Tech, Bowshock, Govitamins App

      10:00 AM

      10:30 AM

      11:00 AM

      12:00 PM

      6:00 PM

      • Bots, Bytes & Bubbles Benefit: See Details Here
        Distinguished Minds Institute dba thinqueBytes®

      VIRTUAL

      9:00 AM

      • Ask a VP of Sales: Live GTM Office Hours for Early-Stage B2B Founders: See Details Here
        Kat Rucker Consulting Group

      11:00 AM

      WEST HOLLYWOOD

      11:00 AM

      • The 10x Engineer Showed Up. The 10x Organization Didn't.: See Details Here
        Workflow Builder, Tentaro

      3:00 PM

      WESTSIDE

      11:00 AM

      2:00 PM

      • Graphic Design & Digital Printing Meetup: See Details Here
        Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of West LA

      7:00 PM

      WESTWOOD

      12:00 PM

      Each session provides unique opportunities to gain insights, network, and explore various fields of tech innovation. For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.

      Download the dot.LA App

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