Higher education is more expensive than ever. On average, Americans complete undergrad with approximately $35.5K in student loan debt according to Experian. U-Nest is the mobile app for college savings that encourages parents to take a proactive approach to college savings. By downloading the app, parents set up a tax-advantaged 529 college saving plan in just […]
Angel/Seed
The LA TechWatch 2019 LA Venture Capital Year in Review
Pepper Raises $5.6M to Enable DTC Companies to Avoid the Most Common Growth Mistakes
While WeWork made headlines this year for its irresponsible, rapid growth, Pepper Financial has built a financial analytics company that helps digital companies grow responsibly. DTC and app-based businesses face uncertainty about speculative customer lifetime value and customer acquisition cost, but through Pepper’s platform, businesses can project these costs and allocate money where it matters, […]
Modern Animal Raises $13.5M to Redefine the Vet Experience for Both Pets and Their Owners
The pet care industry is booming as pet owners, many of whom are millennials, are more attentive than ever, which can be seen in the popularity of brands like The Famer’s Dog . While pet food has benefitted from tremendous innovation, the veterinary industry has not adapted to today’s pet owner. Modern Animal has created the membership […]
The AlleyWatch August 2019 US Venture Capital Funding Report
The LA TechWatch August 2019 LA Venture Capital Funding Report
Today, I take a look at the state of venture capital and angel funding during the month of August in Los Angeles. Analyzing some publicly available data from our friends at CrunchBase, we break down the aggregate statistics for all funding deals by stage of funding (Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C+) including mention of notable rounds. This […]
Ready, Set, Food! Raises $2.2M to Bring Allergen Introduction to the Earliest Stage for Babies
Researchers estimate that 32M Americans have some form of food allergy and within this segment, approximately 17.5% are under the age of 18. With the number of people with allergies on the rise, there has been a surge of interest to understand the science of food allergy prevention and early detection. One of the best […]
Welcome Raises $1.2M to Deliver the Most Personalized Travel Itineraries Using AI
Instant gratification has a whole new meaning when it comes to travel and that’s because Welcome is the AI-powered platform that generates a personalized itinerary in real time, leveraging technology to minimize the time spent planning. Itineraries are smart and adaptive, changing depending on variables that include time of day, weather, and personal preferences. Welcome’s […]
Onsite Waste Technologies Raises $3.5M So That Medical Waste Can Be Thrown in the Regular Trash
This LA startup’s product was inspired by the vision of Jon Bricken back in the early 2000s, and in late June the company will be shipping to its first customers. OnSite Waste Technologies has completely pioneered the way in which medical waste is disposed of through its desktop-sized unit that converts regulated medical waste into sterile […]
The AlleyWatch March 2019 US Venture Capital Funding Report
Today, I take a look at the state of venture capital and seed funding during the month of March nationally, where over $6.4B was invested into startups. Analyzing some publicly available data from our friends at CrunchBase, we break down the aggregate statistics for all funding deals by stage of funding (Seed, Series A, Series B, and Series C+) including […]
Network Next Raises $3.2M for the Internet Fast Lane for Gaming and Interactive Content
The internet may not be as smart as you think. It currently treats all internet traffic exactly the same, which is a big problem for gamers because gaming traffic needs to be in real-time and highly responsive. The solution to this problem is the internet fast lane startup Network Next. This Santa Monica-based startup, founded […]