Tuesday, April 23, 2024Former Snap Employees Launch Generative AI Firm Easel
A new startup, Easel, alucnhed today, saying that it has developed a generative AI app which lets you create images of yourself and friends "doing cool things", from Apple's iMessage. The company's founders are CEO Rajan Vaish and Sven Kratz, both former employees at Los Angeles-based Snap. Both apparently were at Snap until 2022, when they were laid off from the company after working in Snap's research division....Continue →
Tuesday, April 23, 2024Elf Labs Combines AI, Branded Characters
Los Angeles-based Elf Labs said this morning that it has launched a new company, which is combining hundreds of trademarked, iconic fairytale characters with "AI-powered production and distribution technology"....Continue →
Tuesday, April 23, 2024High Temperature Superconductors Gets $5M From DOE
Santa Barbara-based High Temperature Superconductors (HTS), which is developing high-temperature superconducting tape says it has received $5M from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), via the DOE's Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). According to the company, the $5M award will go towards the development of "transformational energy technology applications for fusion power reactors, power transmission cables, and electric aircraft." HTSI is led by CEO Ray Karam.Continue →
Tuesday, April 23, 2024Headspace Aims Health Coaching At Consumer Market
Santa Monica-based Headspace is aiming at the consumer market with a new mental health coaching service, the company said this morning. According to the company, it will start allowing U.S. consumers to access one-to-one support from a Headspace mental health coach. The company said those coaches are aimed at helping consumer "tackle a wide range of life challenges that may not require a therapist." The company said the service will cost $99....Continue →
Monday, April 22, 2024MSBAI Reports Delivery Of AI Tools To Air Force
Los Angeles-based MSBAI, which develops artificial intelligence software, said it has successfull completed an AFWERX Phase 2 SBIR contract for the US Air Force. The company said it provided an AI-driven tool, GURU, which autonomously sets up and runs high speed airplane design simulations for the Air Force. The company did not say how much that Phase 2 SBIR contract was worth. MSBAI was part of the Air Force Techstars 2020 class, according to the company.Continue →
Monday, April 22, 2024Grindr Sued For Allegedly Revealing HIV Status To Advertisers
Los Angeles-based LGBT dating app operator Grindr has been sued, alleging that the company had shared its users' HIV status with advertisers. According to a report from the BBC, the claims alleges that "covert tracking technology" was deployed and that information illegally shared with advertisers. In a statement to the BBC, the company said the claim "appears to be based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago"....Continue →
Friday, April 19, 2024DermTech Seeks Buyer, Chops More Than Half Of Workforce
San Diego-based dermatology technology developer DermTech said yesterday afternoon that it is seeking "strategic alternatives" for the company, and has hired an investment banker to advise it in its efforts. According to the company, a special committee of its board of directors has engaged investment bank TD Cowen to "conduct a process exploring strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value....Continue →
Friday, April 19, 2024Triller In Merger With AGBA
Los Angeles-based short form video app developer Triller--which competes against TikTok--is merging with a company called AGBA Group Holding Limited, the companies said this week. According to the two, the deal--worth $4 billion--will make AGBA 80 perecent owned by current Triller stockholders and restricted stock unit holders....Continue →
Thursday, April 18, 2024Angeles Equity Partners Rolls Up Another Company
Los Angeles-based private equity investor Angeles Equity Partners said this week that one of its portfolio companies, Data Clean Corporation, has acquired DC Canada, Inc., a provider of decontamination services for data centers across Canada. Financial details of the buy were not announced. Angeles Equity Partners and Data Clean said the acquisition is the fourth strategic acquisition by Data Clean since its acquisition by Angeles Equity.Continue →
Thursday, April 18, 2024CommentSold Launches AI-Powered Video Generator
Los Angeles-based CommentSold announced this week that it has launched a new, AI-powered software product which automatically pulls video from livestreams, aimed at helping to provide e-commerce sales. According to the company, the new product--AI ClipHero, uses AI to "sift through livestream content, pinpointing moments that are most likely to captivate audiences....Continue →
Wednesday, April 17, 2024Report: Former SpaceX Exec Launches New VC Firm
A former executive of SpaceX appears to have set up a new venture capital firm in El Segundo, according to a regulatory filing. The new venture firm is apparently named Interlagos Capital. According to reports, the new company is led by former SpaceX exec Tom Ochinero, who was most recently SpaceX's Senior Vice President of Commercial Business....Continue →
Tuesday, April 16, 2024BlackLine Names New CTO
Los Angeles-based accounting and finance software developer BlackLine announced this morning that it has named Jeremy Ung as the company's Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The company said Ung was most recently CTO at Apptio, and also had served at Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and MDA.Continue →
Tuesday, April 16, 2024MixMode Enhances AI Cybersecurity Product
Santa Barbara-based MixMode, which develops AI-powered cybersecurity software, says it has launched new enhancements to its platform. According to the company, the additions include AI-powered threat prioritization, which it says helps "surface the most severe and time-sensitive threats" to organizations. The company said the features are included to all of its customers as part of its latest release of its platform. MixMode is backed by PSG and Entrada Ventures....Continue →
Monday, April 15, 2024Ecotrak Gets $30M
Irvine-based Ecotrak, the developer of software used for facility management, has raised $30M in a funding round, the company said this morning. The funding was led by Respida Capital, and also included Carver Road Capital, plus Gala Capital Partners, an existing investor. The company said it will use the funding for product development and go-to-market....Continue →
Monday, April 15, 2024Yardi Adds Support For Federal Energy Rebate and Solar Programs
Santa Barbara-based Yardi said this morning that it has added new support for state and local agencies who are helping to implement programs under the Inflation Reducation Act (IRA) of 2021. According to the company, its new tool--Energy Relief from Yardi--helps state agencies administering programs such as Solar for All, Home Energy Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates....Continue →
Thursday, April 11, 2024BlackLine Joins AI Bandwagon
Los Angeles-based accounting software developer BlackLine announced a new, AI-powered feature, joining the trend of companies adopting AI in their software. According to BlackLine, its new product, Journals Risk Analyser, uses generative AI to "provide key trends, insights, and anomaly detection associated with journal entries"....Continue →
Thursday, April 11, 2024Wave Energy Company Plans Project At Port of Los Angeles
A European developer of a system for generating power from waves, Eco Wave Power Global AB, says it has signed a contract to demonstrate its wave energy systems at the Port of Los Angeles. The company said the demonstration project--run with a "major energy company"--will be its first project in the United States....Continue →
Thursday, April 11, 2024FloQast Gets $100M, Valued At $1.6 Billion
Los Angeles-based finance and accounting software developer FloQast said on Wednesday that it has raised $100M in a Series E funding round, which valued the company at $1.6 billion. The funding was led by ICONIQ Growth, and also included BDT & MSD Partners, WiL (World Innovation Lab), along with Meritech Capital and Sapphire Ventures. ICONIQ Growth's Roy Luo joins the company's board of directors as part of the funding. White Whitmire is CEO and co-founder of FloQast....Continue →
Wednesday, April 10, 2024FaceCake Rolls Out AI Shopping In AR
Los Angeles-based FaceCake said it is rolling out a new, AI shopping product called AVA. According to the company, the new AI-powered product stands for AVA (Acquire, Validate, Adapt), and will help provide personalized shopping in augmented reality, running in Google Cloud. FaceCake is led by CEO Linda Smith. The company said that AVA is a "cutting-edge AI personal shopper and stylist".Continue →
Tuesday, April 9, 2024USC To Hold Student Videogame Expo
USC Games, the game design program at the University of Southern California, is re-launching its annual showcase of student created games, the US Games Expo, according to the school. The showcase features 60 games created by students, along with a live esports tournament.Continue →