Over the last few years, as enterprises moved to containers to deploy and build applications, there was an increased need to manage these containers. Kubernetes emerged as the orchestration platform of choice for developers. For makers of enterprise applications, they then needed solutions to deploy Kubernetes applications to their customers’ environments. In comes Replicated, an […]
Funded in LA
Adway Raises $6M for its Mobility Based Ad Platform That Turns Any Vehicle Into an Ad Unit
Brands and marketers are always looking for new and innovative ways to reach target audiences. The convergence of technology and mobility solutions like rideshares has enabled a new wave of ad units. For example, taxis for several years have had ads in cars and on top of vehicles, which now have become digitized from analog. This LA startup takes it one step further. Adway is a digital advertising platform that uses proprietary projection technology to display ads on the side of any vehicle without any major modifications. The projectors are affixed to a vehicle’s mirrors and ad buyers can purchase slots based on geography in real-time, enabling sophisticated targeting. The platform also tracks the number of cellular devices in and around the vehicles through Bluetooth to provide measured reach metrics. Adway drivers are given a share of the advertising revenue based on the number of hours they drive. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO Sasha Krylov to learn more about how the idea for the business came to fruition, the company’s strategic plans, latest round of funding from investors that include Upfront Ventures, Revel Partners, Watertower Ventures, and Inflection Capital.
Mapped Raises Another $6.5M for its Data Infrastructure Platform for IoT
IoT devices in industrial and commercial settings have become increasingly accessible and more sophisticated with the data that they record and collect. Given the number of disparate sources, how the data collected flows through an organization’s data stack is now a significant concern. Solutions that can streamline the data to provide actionable insights are growing in popularity. Mapped is a cloud intelligence software that centralizes the data from devices from commercial and industrial environments. With a single API, the platform communicates with and extracts data in the device’s native language. For organizations using Mapped, there are a seemingly unlimited number of use cases but at its core, the platform makes connectivity for data collection and analysis seamless. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Founder Shaun Cooley to learn more about how Mapped empowers organizations to make next-generation software-powered industrial automation possible, the company’s strategic plans, latest round of funding from investors that include MetaProp, Allegion Ventures, Singtel Innov8, Greycroft, and ANIMO Ventures.
TRIPP Raises $11M for its Digital Psychedelic VR Platform
Meditation for self-healing has been transformative for both physical and mental ailments. Similar to meditation, the controlled use of psychedelics has been shown to be effective in relieving your body of the stress that accumulates in the mind. This LA startup is fusing the two with technology. TRIPP is a digital psychedelics platform that uses XR to immerse users into alternative realities to improve their mental, physical, and emotional state. Available for mobile, Oculus, and Playstation VR, the data-focused company is working towards tailoring its mixed reality offering to individuals to deliver more effective solutions. 2.5M+ sessions have been completed on TRIPP since its launch in 2018. The service starts at an accessible price point – $4.99 per month. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Nanea Reeves to learn more about the intersection of innovation and mental health treatments, the company’s strategic plans, and recent round of funding from investors that include Vine Ventures, Mayfield, AlphaBridge Ventures, Beni VC, Berkeley Club, CJ Group, CTR Capital, Evolution, Robert Goldberg, Tony Greenberg, Grit VC, Incisive Ventures, Inflect Health, Iter Investments, Joanna Popper, Jim Dew, Joe Polish, JLS Fund, Lionheart Ventures, Matt Mullenweg, Mike DeLuise, Murtaza Hussain, NeoKuma, Presence Capital, PsyMed Ventures, Redbeard Ventures, Re.Mind Capital, Social Leverage, WhatIf Ventures, Mike Wilson, and Mark Zittman.
Singularity 6 Raises $30M to Build Immersive Online Games That Deepen Players’ Lives
While the forced lockdowns of the pandemic led to isolation and loss of connection for many, gamers were already accustomed to building connections through screens. The pandemic also led to explosive growth in gaming for those who have never picked up a controller before. Singularity 6 is a game development studio that understands that the concept of socialization in games and its debut title, Palia, is a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game that focuses on building a community versus the typical attack, weapon-focused games. Founded by Riot Games veterans, Singularity 6 focuses on gameplay that emphasizes social connection and collaboration to progress. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Anthony Leung to learn more about the inspiration for the game studio, the launch of Palia, strategic plans, latest round of funding from investors that include FunPlus Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and LVP, Transcend, Anthos Capital, and Mitch Lasky.
Retina Raises $8M for its Customer Lifetime Value Optimization Platform
Customer lifetime value (CLV) is the single most important metric for understanding customer behavior. It’s nearly impossible to understand the impact of your marketing efforts and predict profitability without a focus on CLV. Retina is a customer intelligence platform that leverages AI and data analytics to understand CLV before a customer makes a purchase. Supported by better decisioning, high-growth businesses are able to target the right audience, segment, make product decisions, and drive conversions by integrating Retina into their operations. The Santa Monica-based company is trusted by companies like Penrose Hill, Ritual, Dollar Shave Club, and Nestle. LA TechWatch caught up with Cofounder and CEO Emad Hasan to learn more about how Retina is driving customer acquisition, the company’s strategic plans, latest round of funding by Alpha Intelligence Capital and Vertical Venture Partners.
Tapcart Raises $50M for its Platform That Lets Shopify Users Seamlessly Build Mobile Apps and More
The global market for mobile commerce is expected to balloon to $6.1T by 2027 from $1.9T in 2020. The pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way consumers look at e-commerce as lockdowns limited in-person activity. Businesses have had to adapt their digital strategies to address this growing interest as mobile becomes a significant driver of revenue growth. Shopify is the leading all-in-one platform for brands, small businesses, and entrepreneurs alike to establish digital storefronts. Tapcart is the mobile commerce platform that enables Shopify merchants to launch their own full-featured mobile apps – a much-needed complement in today’s digital landscape. While many e-commerce merchants have become overly reliant on paid digital, Tapcart’s easy-to-use drag and drop solution offers cost-efficient push notifications to merchants with plans to launch other value-add tools like marketing automation, personalization, and developer kits. During the uncertainty of the pandemic, the Santa Monica-based company was able to grow revenue 3x, handling mobile sale transactions exceeding $1.3B in gross merchandise value (GMV) for brands like Pier One Imports and FIGS. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Founder Eric Netsch to learn more about the inspiration for the business, the company’s strategic plans, and latest round of funding from investors that include Left Lane Capital, Shopify, SignalFire, Greycroft, Act One Ventures, and Amplify.LA.
Mythical Games Raises $75M to Marry NFTs and Gaming in One Platform
There has been a meteoric rise in the popularity of NFTs with creators scrambling to find novel use cases for the digital assets. Scarcity and hedonistic benefit are two of the fundamental core elements of game design that also align well with NFTs. Mythical Games is building a player-owned economic engine to seamlessly bring NFTs to games along with a marketplace where these assets can be transacted safely and securely. The company just launched early access for Blankos Block Party, its first title and an open-world multiplayer game, that allows users to earn, buy, and sell characters in its marketplace with plans to open up the marketplace technology to publishers, developers, and creators. LA TechWatch caught up with COO Jeff Poffenbarger to learn more about building an ecosystem for blockchain-based gaming, the company’s strategic plans, and latest round of funding from investors that includeWestCap Group, 01 Advisors, Gary Vaynerchuk’s VaynerFund, Galaxy Digital, Javelin Venture Partners, Alumni Ventures, and Stuck Capital.
iLife Raises $4M to Empower Life Insurance Professionals to Offer Modern Digitally-Focused Customer Experiences
Like most industries, the pandemic has accelerated the pace of digital adoption in the insurance industry. Life insurance professionals need to leverage technology to successfully engage with prospective and existing clients to deliver services that today’s digital-savvy consumers demand. iLife is a sales automation platform for the life insurance industry that streamlines building a digital presence, increases sales, manages leads and prospects, matches customer profiles to policies, and allows the seamless collection of application materials. The company’s most popular plan is offered for a nominal $99.99 per month and offers unlimited prospects, customized quote generation, one-click submission for underwriting, and a selection of more than 670K policies. By leveraging iLife, insurance brokers are able to reduce the time to quote from days and weeks to seconds, bringing a much-needed better tech-enabled customer experience to the customer. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Founder Nelson Lee to learn more about the inspiration for the business, how iLife is bringing much-needed advancement to a traditionally stalwart industry, the company’s future plans, and recent round of funding from investors that include Foundation Capital, AME Cloud Ventures, Plug and Play, Cherubic Ventures, and Expansion VC.
Sunbit Scores Another $130M for its Buy Now, Pay Later Platform for Everyday Services and Becomes LA’s Newest Unicorn
Platforms like Klarna and Affirm have popularized buy it now, pay later platforms to distribute payments over time for e-commerce purchases. Sunbit is the buy now, pay later platform that brings the flexibility and ease of these payments for everyday services like optical care, dental visits, automobile maintenance, and election healthcare. Transactions, for amounts as low as $60 to as high as $10K, can be approved for the flexible solution within 30-seconds in 7300+ locations. LA TechWatch caught up with Cofounder and CEO Arad Levertov to learn more about how Sunbit’s platform brings consumers peace of mind with the ability to pay over time, the company’s strategic plans, and latest round of funding from investors that include Group 11, Zeev Ventures, Migdal Insurance, Harel Group, AltaIR Capital, and More Investment House.
Arcturus Raises $5M to Allow Volumetric Video to Scale
Volumetric video captures a three-dimensional space or object using computer graphics, photogrammetry, and computation-based methods. Since these videos are recorded in 3D, they can be viewed on web or mobile without any specialized hardware or equipment. Arcturus is a suite of software that allows content creators can to easily record, edit, and distribute native volumetric content at scale. The company’s platform can be used in sports, gaming, e-commerce, live performances, real estate, or any other applications where dimension and perspective on depth and space can enhance the viewing experience. LA TechWatch caught up with Head of Marketing Piotr Uzarowicz to learn more about volumetric video, the company’s traction, future plans, and recent round of funding from investors that include BITKRAFT Ventures, HBSE Ventures, NTT Docomo Ventures, Build Ventures, Marc Merrill, and Craig Kallman.