Armed with some data from our friends at CrunchBase, I broke down the largest LA startup funding rounds during April 2021. I have included some additional information as well such as industry and brief funding description, to further the analysis for the state of venture capital in LA. For the purposes of this analysis, only equity funding rounds were considered.
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10. Pearpop $10.0M
Round: Series A
Description: Pearpop the marketplace for social collaborations between the teeming hordes of musicians, craftspeople, chefs, clowns, diarists. Founded by Cole Mason and Spencer Markel in 2020, Pearpop has now raised a total of $16.0M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include Bessemer Venture Partners, Sound Ventures, Slow Ventures, Mark Cuban, and Seven Seven Six.
Investors in the round: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, Amy Schumer, Atelier Ventures, Chapter One Ventures, Christopher Comstock, Gary Vaynerchuk, Griffin Johnson, Jimmy Donaldson, Josh Richards, Kevin Durant, Kevin Hart, Mark Cuban, Michael Gruen, Moe Shalizi, Rich Miner, Sean Combs, Slow Ventures, Snoop Dogg, Sound Ventures, The Chainsmokers
Industry: Internet, Social Media
Founders: Cole Mason, Spencer Markel
Founding year: 2020
Total equity funding raised: $16.0M
9. Pragma $12.0M
Round: Series A
Description: Pragma is a platform and a set of tools that enable multiplayer and social games. Founded by Chris Cobb and Eden Chen in 2020, Pragma has now raised a total of $16.2M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include Greylock, Upfront Ventures, Advancit Capital, Mark Pincus, and William Hockey.
Investors in the round: Advancit Capital, Amr Awadallah, Greylock, Mark Pincus, Nate Mitchell, Upfront Ventures
Industry:
Founders: Chris Cobb, Eden Chen
Founding year: 2020
Total equity funding raised: $16.2M
9. CreatorPlus $12.0M
Round: Venture
Description: CreatorPlus builds new film studio and streaming platform for digital-first storytellers and their audience who are hungry to support them. Founded by Benjamin Grubbs and Jonathan Shambroom in 2021, CreatorPlus is backed by investors that include Freestyle Capital, Petra Group, Selina Tobaccowala, Peter Hollens, and Wengie Ayche.
Investors in the round: Freestyle Capital, Jake Roper, Judd Zebersky, Peter Hollens, Petra Group, Selina Tobaccowala, Wengie Ayche
Industry: Digital Entertainment, Film
Founders: Benjamin Grubbs, Jonathan Shambroom
Founding year: 2021
Total equity funding raised: $12.0M
Make an impact on your bottom line and drive leads in 2021!
The LA TechWatch audience is driving progress and innovation on a global scale. There are a number of options to reach this audience of the world’s most innovative organizations and startups at scale including strategic brand placement, lead generation, and thought leadership in front of an audience that comprises the vast majority of key decision-makers in the LA business community and beyond. Learn more about advertising to LA Tech, at scale.
8. Virtualitics $18.0M
Round: Series B
Description: Virtualitics provides data visualization in virtual reality and augmented reality environments. Founded by Ciro Donalek, George Djorgovski, Michael Amori, and Scott Davidoff in 2015, Virtualitics has now raised a total of $26.4M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include The Venture Reality Fund/VRF, Centricus, and North Sound Ventures.
Investors in the round: Centricus, North Sound Ventures, The Venture Reality Fund/VRF
Industry: Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Software, Virtual Reality
Founders: Ciro Donalek, George Djorgovski, Michael Amori, Scott Davidoff
Founding year: 2015
Total equity funding raised: $26.4M
LA TechWatch’s exclusive coverage of this round: Virtualitics Raises $18M for its Data Analytics and Visualization Platform
8. IRIS.TV $18.0M
Round: Series B
Description: IRIS.TV is a video data platform focused on onboarding, processing, and activating video data. Founded by Field Garthwaite, Richie Hyden, and Robert Bardunias in 2013, IRIS.TV has now raised a total of $24.1M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include Intel Capital, Progress Ventures, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Social Starts, and Quest Venture Partners.
Investors in the round: Ari Paparo, Intel Capital, Michael Shehan, Mike Baker, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Quest Venture Partners, WISE Ventures
Industry: Advertising, Advertising Platforms, Analytics, Brand Marketing, Data Integration, Publishing, Software, Video
Founders: Field Garthwaite, Richie Hyden, Robert Bardunias
Founding year: 2013
Total equity funding raised: $24.1M
7. Universal Hydrogen $20.5M
Round: Series A
Description: Universal Hydrogen is the company fueling carbon-free flight by making hydrogen-powered commercial flight a near-term reality. Founded by Jason Chua, John-Paul Clarke, Jon Gordon, and Paul Eremenko in 2020, Universal Hydrogen is backed by investors that include Plug Power, Playground Global, Global Founders Capital, Coatue, and Airbus Ventures.
Investors in the round: Airbus Ventures, Coatue, Future Shape, Global Founders Capital, JetBlue Technology Ventures, Playground Global, Plug Power, Sojitz, Toyota AI Ventures
Industry: Aerospace, Energy
Founders: Jason Chua, John-Paul Clarke, Jon Gordon, Paul Eremenko
Founding year: 2020
Total equity funding raised: $20.5M
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6. Welcome Technologies $35.0M
Round: Series B
Description: Welcome Technologies is a digital platform that builds data-driven services for immigrant communities. Founded by Amir Hemmat and Raul Lomeli in 2010, Welcome Technologies has now raised a total of $43.0M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include Owl Ventures, SB Opportunity Fund, TTV Capital, Next Play Capital, and Crosscut Ventures.
Investors in the round: Crosscut Ventures, Mubadala Capital | Ventures US, Next Play Capital, Owl Capital, Owl Ventures, SB Opportunity Fund, TTV Capital
Industry: Financial Services, FinTech, Health Care, Information Services, Market Research
Founders: Amir Hemmat, Raul Lomeli
Founding year: 2010
Total equity funding raised: $43.0M
LA TechWatch’s exclusive coverage of this round: Welcome Technologies Raises $35M to Level the Playing Field for Immigrants When it Comes to Banking
5. Seed Health $40.0M
Round: Series A
Description: Seed Health is a microbial company that focuses on therapeutics, consumer health innovations, and environmental solutions. Founded by Ara Katz and Raja Dhir in 2017, Seed Health is backed by investors that include Founders Fund, Alumni Ventures Group, BoxGroup, Slow Ventures, and 8VC.
Investors in the round: 8VC, Artis Ventures (AV), Founders Fund, GISEV Family Office, The Craftory
Industry: Biotechnology, Health Care, Medical, Therapeutics
Founders: Ara Katz, Raja Dhir
Founding year: 2017
Total equity funding raised: $40.0M
LA TechWatch’s exclusive coverage of this round: Seed Health Raises $40M to Bring Microbial Science to the Forefront
5. Community $40.0M
Round: Venture
Description: Community is an app that solves communication and engagement problems. Founded by Charlie Buffin, Josh Rosenheck, Matthew Peltier, and Max Levine in 2014, Community is backed by investors that include Twilio, Salesforce Ventures, Techstars, Sound Ventures, and Live Nation Entertainment.
Investors in the round: Live Nation Entertainment, Salesforce Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund, Sound Ventures, Twilio
Industry: Communities, Social Media, Telecommunications
Founders: Charlie Buffin, Josh Rosenheck, Matthew Peltier, Max Levine
Founding year: 2014
Total equity funding raised: $40.0M
Make an impact on your bottom line and drive leads in 2021!
The LA TechWatch audience is driving progress and innovation on a global scale. There are a number of options to reach this audience of the world’s most innovative organizations and startups at scale including strategic brand placement, lead generation, and thought leadership in front of an audience that comprises the vast majority of key decision-makers in the LA business community and beyond. Learn more about advertising to LA Tech, at scale.
4. 3PL Central $45.0M
Round: Venture
Description: 3PL Central is a warehouse management software Founded by John Watkins in 2006, 3PL Central has now raised a total of $62.5M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include Mainsail Partners.
Investors in the round: Mainsail Partners
Industry: Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Software
Founders: John Watkins
Founding year: 2006
Total equity funding raised: $62.5M
3. CareRev $50.0M
Round: Series A
Description: CareRev is an online technology platform where hospitals and outpatient facilities can directly access per diem medical staff. Founded by Sofia Pessanha and Will Patterson in 2015, CareRev has now raised a total of $51.3M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include FundersClub, Gaingels, Y Combinator, Transformation Capital, and Industry Ventures.
Investors in the round: Gaingels, Industry Ventures, Michael Seibel, Transformation Capital, Zach Coelius
Industry: Health Care, Human Resources, Marketplace
Founders: Sofia Pessanha, Will Patterson
Founding year: 2015
Total equity funding raised: $51.3M
2. GumGum $75.0M
Round: Series E
Description: GumGum is an Artificial Intelligence company that uses machine learning to extract value from digital content. Founded by Ari Mir and Ophir Tanz in 2008, GumGum has now raised a total of $133.8M in total equity funding and is backed by investors that include First Round Capital, New Enterprise Associates, Upfront Ventures, GS Growth, and NewView Capital.
Investors in the round: GS Growth
Industry: Advertising, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Computer Vision, Digital Media, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing
Founders: Ari Mir, Ophir Tanz
Founding year: 2008
Total equity funding raised: $133.8M
1. Skims $154.0M
Round: Venture
Description: Skims is a solutions-oriented brand creating the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear. Founded by Jens Grede and Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims is backed by investors that include Thrive Capital, Imaginary Ventures, and Alliance Consumer Growth.
Investors in the round: Alliance Consumer Growth, Imaginary Ventures, Thrive Capital
Industry: Fashion, Lingerie, Retail
Founders: Jens Grede, Kim Kardashian
Founding year: 2019
Total equity funding raised: $154.0M