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LA startups to watch in 2. LA tech community. As it becomes clear to the rest of the world that Los Angeles is no longer just a hub for entertainment, the amount of tech talent and new companies popping up in the area means 2. Built In LA has carefully selected 5. When Vince Cacace revealed his startup to the world in September 2. Series A, it was clear that whatever he had been working on was worth the wait. As content producers find a new avenue in the form of virtual reality, Vertebrae has created a way to help them monetize their work.

The startup’s virtual reality advertising platform is integrated across the VR ecosystem and provides distribution tools with analytics to allow creators and publishers to effectively monetize their content. The process of renting a car is a pain. For co- founder Harry Hurst, a Brit who frequently traveled to LA, the last straw came when a car rental company demanded he put down an exorbitant amount of cash because he didn’t travel with credit cards. A few years later, Skurt is not only making it easier for users to rent a car, but it’s also helping challenge the idea of car ownership in general. Founded in 2. 01. LA, San Diego and Miami, and has plans to expand even further in 2. Speaking of annoying, confusing things, healthcare has long perplexed even the most intellectual Americans.

Impact Health has a solution that might change all that. The Pasadena- based startup uses data and predictive modeling to provide consumers with transparent healthcare costs and aid them as they choose the right plan. To date, the company has raised more than $3 million. Survios closed a very, very strong 2. Series C that will go toward expanding the company’s VR gaming efforts. Founded in 2. 01. VR companies really started garnering big rounds of funding.

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USA Today politics blog. Most Popular. General’s racy texts with soldier’s wife prompt Army probe. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is poised to become the 11th -- and the first to do. The Texarkana Gazette is the premier source for local news and sports in Texarkana and the surrounding Arklatex areas. Valley Glen, Los Angeles, what is the deal? Frappuccinos not cold enough? Coffee too hot? Your breakfast sandwiches taste rancid, or something? Whatever’s going on.

Its debut title, Raw Data, became the first VR game to top the global Steam Charts. Things were already looking up for Sherman Oaks- based Flo. Qast when they raised $6. March 2. 01. 6, but the company closed the year in record fashion, onboarding a number of big name clients (like the Los Angeles Lakers, for one). As of late September, the startup had grown its workforce by nearly 9. Virtual reality studio Within began as Vrse, but that all changed in June 2.

Series A. The company unites the abilities of director Chris Milk and technologist (and Santa Monica native) Aaron Koblin to create immersive stories in virtual reality. With clients like NBC, VICE and the United Nations, the Venice- based startup is poised for a big 2. Bonfire Studios emerged from stealth in mid- September with the announcement of a $2. Irvine- based startup wouldn’t give any specifics into their debut title, which is still in the works. When your founder is video game legend Rob Pardo, former lead designer for World of Warcraft, things are a bit different. Pardo was able to bring together a star- studded cast of Blizzard vets, and while we don’t know much about the project they’re working on, this startup is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Is Long Beach- based Zwift a fitness company? Is it a video game developer?

But the real question is, why can’t it be both? Founded in 2. 01. But what makes Zwift stand out is the ease at which players can join the game. By using a smart indoor bike, a road bike hooked up to a Bluetooth- connected smart trainer or a traditional indoor bike with a Bluetooth- connected sensor, users can download an easy to use i. OS or Android app and get started. In November, the company closed a $2. Series A while boasting a community of 2.

Irvine- based investing app Acorns turned all its hype into dollar signs. In April, the company received a $3. Pay. Pal, based on the 8.

Even more promising was the fact that 7. Founded by a few Hautelook veterans following the site’s acquisition by Nordstrom’s, Happy Returns partners with e- commerce brands to help manage their return policies via independent kiosks. Late in 2. 01. 6, the startup revealed a whole line of new partnerships — with both e- commerce sites and shopping mall brands — and expanded their physical locations to two more major cities in the US. By connecting companies to a shared infrastructure, Venice- based Gem’s allows companies to eliminate data silos and implement cross- industry working relationships. The company uses hardware security modules, key- based identity management and automated workflows to protect a company’s data. As businesses learn the power of blockchain technology, Gem’s platform for blockchain applications will be applied across a number of industries.

Founded in 2. 01. Open. Mail uses a data- first approach to help email marketers gather audience insights via their analytics platform. The startup’s innovative digital data warehouse allows marketers to collect user attributes in order to increase engagement, with the ultimate goal being to increase revenue. Profitable since early on, the company made a splash in July 2. Info. Space from Blucora for $4. There are certain situations in life everyone can agree suck — dealing with customer service is one of them.

West LA- based Hello. Tech changes this by offering an independent tech support service designed to streamline the way consumers purchase and get support for their new technologies. In October, the startup added industry veteran Ted Hong as its CMO, and its CEO, Richard Wolpert, is a prolific investor in his own right. Founded by Cal. Tech grad Thanh Khuu, who also served as the former CTO of Shoe.

Dazzle, Hollar is an e- commerce site offering a number of cheap, handy products for users to enjoy. The site’s blend of different products — all of which are insanely affordable — is quite addictive, and the startup landed a $3. November. The cash also allowed Hollar to move into a new office space, a repurposed 9. Cents Only Stores facility that will serve as headquarters and warehouse. Klickly Founder Cooper Harris didn’t move to LA to work in tech. In fact, she never really had plans to work in tech at all. Fast forward a few years, and her smart buy button startup, Klickly, is poised to make e- commerce purchases even easier, something both consumers and brands are interested in.

The technology very much resembles Amazon’s “1- Click” button, but with a remarketing twist, meaning you won’t have to search for that awesome pair of jeans. Klickly’s software, on behalf of your favorite brand, will present it to you as you surf the internet. Though only a year old, Markett is making waves with its new take on influencer marketing. The Venice- based company is focused on everyday people and not the Instagram celebrities we’ve come to associate with the term. Their platform turns regular Joe’s into brand representatives, and with each purchase using the rep’s promo code, the individual is rewarded with cash. In November, the company raised $2 million. Unlike apps that search for discount codes or aid with returns, Santa Monica- based Earny helps consumers claim money they could have saved on previous purchases via an innovative dashboard.

Backed by Science Inc., Earny has raised over $1 million to date and is rapidly onboarding new employees. As the e- commerce landscape continues to diversify, many startups are looking to improve the customer experience to differentiate themselves from the competition. That’s where Bringhub comes in. The Culver City- based startup has created a new way for customers to favorite and purchase items from the brands they love, making online shopping a more connected experience. To date, the company has received $5. Pasadena- based code. Spark is an educational software and game developer that specializes in products for children over the age of five. Watch This Is Not What I Expected (2017) Movie Online.

Founded in 2. 00. Grant Hosford, the startup has raised $4. Its first game, The Foos, teaches computer science concepts to kids in more than 2. Back in 2. 01. 5, we named loyalty program developer P4. RC to this same list. Two years later, the brains behind the project are back after rebranding as Coin- In.