Latinos are one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States, representing approximately 20% of the US population. However, 50% of Latinos are underbanked. SUMA Wealth is the fintech platform designed specifically for the Latino community to engage, educate, and empower young millennial/ Gen Z Latinos to manage their finances and take control of their financial futures. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Beatríz Acevedo to learn more about the importance of financial inclusion for Latinos, the company’s goal to help create generational wealth, and future plans.
Made in LA
TeachMe’s Math Games Uses Gaming to Teach Math to Students
“Teachers who build math and language games are our best experts in curriculum, but they don’t fully understand how children play. Developers who build games don’t understand how children learn. We wanted to combine these worlds of learning and play in a powerful new way that can transform the learning experience for kids around the world.” LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Bill Kara to learn more about Math Games, how the shift to online learning has impacted demand, and the company’s future plans.
Centerfield is the Automated End-to-End Customer Acquisition Platform for the Biggest Brands
Jason Cohen, an ex-New Yorker sold his previous business, a performance-based marketing agency, and linked up with his cofounder, who had also recently sold his business. The duo launched Centerfield to bring technology-focused solutions to performance-based marketing. The company now automates end-to-end customer acquisition for brands, powering over 2M individual sales per year. Cohen shares some more insight into the state of acquisition and marketing, the company’s future plans, and impressive traction.
First Resonance Helps Manufacturing Move to an Operating System Rather Than an Assembly Line
The aerospace, defense, and automobile industries have long been reliant on obsolete processes for hardware design and manufacturing that do not harness technology. First Resonance, launched by former SpaceX engineers, is the modern manufacturing intelligence platform that allows next-gen hardware companies to innovate, iterate, and get products to market faster with unprecedented real-time visibility into production status. Replacing spreadsheets, documents, and costly legacy manufacturing processes, First Resonance’s ion Factory Operating System leverages data science, API integration, and machine learning to provides flexibility and collaboration between knowledge teams in established manufacturing workflows. LA TechWatch caught up with CEO and Cofounder Karan Talati to learn more about First Resonance, its impact on manufacturing, how its platform built with engineers and technicians in mind, and the company’s future plans as its emerges out of stealth.
Bingie is the Social App that Lets You Discover and Chat About What to Watch Next
Most have fallen into the trap of endlessly scrolling through Netflix’s immense library to find something to watch. The disproportionate time that people spend finding a series versus actually viewing has given rise to a new category of watchlist apps. Bingie is the entertainment recommendation app that taps into personal networks to help find relevant content. Bingie puts an emphasis on content suggestions from friends and family to create a highly-personalized interface where users can discuss, discover, and debate the merits of shows and movies. The platform works across the major streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. Cofounder Matt Knox shares more about launching the company during the pandemic, the company’s future plans, and differentiators.
Unplug Meditation is the World’s First Drop-in Meditation Studio and is Now Digital
The world’s first drop-in meditation studio, Unplug Meditation, is on a mission to create a global movement to de-stress people’s lives. Unplug Meditation has two locations in Santa Monica and another West Hollywood. In response to the pandemic, the company went digital seemingly overnight. Founder and CEO Suze Yalof Schwartz walks us through what inspired her to transition from a successful career in fashion as the Executive Fashion Editor At Large for Glamour to founding Unplug in 2014, the company’s future plans, and response to COVID.
Datch Raises $3.2M for its Voice Assistant Technology Platform for Industry
No more canary in a coal mine. Datch is the AI-powered voice assistant for the mining, manufacturing, and utility sectors. Mark Fosdike, a first-time founder and CEO of Datch, walks us through the practical application of Datch’s technology in industry, raising as a first-time founder in a new country, and the company’s recent funding round from investors that include Plug and Play Ventures, Stage Venture Partners, Acceleprise, Tuhua Ventures, and Predictive Venture Partners.
Hatch Credit Lets Students Build Credit Through Non-Traditional Means
Financing education is a problem with coasts soaring and this problem is compounded upon graduation when many do not have any significant credit history, with the only reference being a ballooning student loan. Hatch Credit allows users to build a credit score through non-traditional data points such as subscriptions. Hatch Credit’s Director of Public Relations, Shamara Carney, reveals more about Hatch and how this company is making the financial system more inclusive.
Dear Media Raises $8M for its Female-Focused Podcasting Network
Dear Media, the female-focused podcast network, has plans beyond traditional audio. CEO and Cofounder Michael Bosstick shares his vision for the future sustainable podcasting with a focus on monetization and incubation.
Beautify is the Three-Sided Marketplace for Street Art and Murals
Street art has always been a part of cities, but social media has given street art, specifically murals, a completely new dimension of exposure. Downtown districts, brands, and property owners all understand the powerful link between murals and foot traffic. Beautify has built a three-sided marketplace that connects property owners, brands, and artists. Beautify handles […]
Ad.net Enables Brands to Get New Customers Outside of the Traditional Search Ecosystem
Timing is everything! This founder launched the company in the early 2000s, sold it right before the ’08 economic recession hit, and then bought the company back in 2012.