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  <title>A $26M Push Into Power in LA</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:17:35 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-04-18T12:17:35Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello, Los Angeles.</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Coachella Weekend 2 is here, which usually means LA is either heading back to the desert or happily staying put this time around. Back in the city, the focus this week is less about music infrastructure and more about something far more critical, power.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That’s where this week’s news comes in.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.criticalloop.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Critical Loop</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a Los Angeles-based energy startup, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.criticalloop.com/news/blog/critical-loop-raises-26m-series-a-to-accelerate-grid-interconnection?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">raised a $26 million Series A</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to tackle one of the least talked about bottlenecks in tech right now, grid interconnection. In simple terms, it’s the process of getting power to where it’s needed, and increasingly, that process is too slow to keep up.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Critical Loop is building modular microgrid systems that can be deployed in days instead of years, giving industrial operators, data centers, and other energy-heavy users faster access to power without waiting on traditional grid upgrades. The round was led by Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover, with participation from Better Ventures, Climate Capital, Adapt Nation Capital, and Cyrus Ventures.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The timing here matters. Between AI infrastructure demands, electrification, and a broader push toward domestic energy resilience, power is quickly becoming a gating factor for growth. You can build the data center, the factory, or the next big thing, but none of it works if you can’t turn it on.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That’s what makes companies like Critical Loop worth watching. They’re not building the flashiest part of the stack, but they’re solving for the piece everything else depends on.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">And in a city that knows a thing or two about scaling ambition quickly, that might be the most important layer of all.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Below are this week’s fund announcements across LA 👇</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://anthoscapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anthos Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://Wealth.com?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wealth.com</a><a class="link" href="http://wealth.com?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $65M Series B, backing the AI-powered estate and tax planning platform as it scales across financial institutions. The oversubscribed round included new investors like Titanium Ventures and Pruven Capital alongside existing backers, and the company plans to use the funding to expand product development, pursue acquisitions, and grow its enterprise footprint as demand rises for AI-driven wealth management solutions. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wealth.com/resources/press/wealth-com-raises-65-million-series-b-to-power-ai-future-of-wealth-management/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/anamika-ventures/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anamika Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://sagehavenforkids.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sage Haven’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $3M pre-seed round, backing the AI-powered messaging and calling app designed to create a safer communication environment for kids. The round was led by Anamika Ventures alongside Fabric Ventures and a group of early-stage investors, as the company launches a platform focused on preventing cyberbullying through real-time AI moderation and parent oversight tools. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260416830993/en/Sage-Haven-Launches-AI-Moderated-Messaging-and-Calling-App-for-Kids?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://factory.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Factory’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $150M Series C, backing the AI startup as it builds autonomous software engineering systems for enterprise teams. The round was led by Khosla Ventures and included firms like Sequoia Capital, Blackstone, Insight Partners, and NEA, valuing the company at $1.5 billion. Factory plans to use the funding to invest further in product development and global expansion as demand grows for AI-driven tools that can automate large portions of the software development process. </span><a class="link" href="https://factory.ai/news/series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://uplane.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Uplane’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $4.5M seed round, backing the AI startup as it looks to replace traditional marketing agencies with a platform that automates ad creation, testing, and budget optimization. The round was led by Play Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, 20VC, and Multimodal Ventures, and the company says its technology can improve return on ad spend by automating performance marketing workflows. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/uplane-raises-4-5m-in-seed-round?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://presight.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Presight Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://alloytx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alloy Therapeutics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $40M Series E, backing the biotech infrastructure company as it scales its AI-powered platform for drug discovery and development. The round included a mix of new investors like 8VC and JIC Venture Growth Investments alongside returning backers, valuing the company at $1 billion and underscoring continued interest in platforms that combine AI, data, and lab services across the biopharma lifecycle. </span><a class="link" href="https://alloytx.com/alloy-therapeutics-announces-40m-series-e-to-scale-tech-enabled-biotech-infrastructure/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.finality.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Finality Capital Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://hyfix.ai/?srsltid=AfmBOopEVCAoshMj1TAR-cs4j2CDu7CdHlx5_AUXnmop-nDfq-1jTCyA&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HYFIX’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $15M seed round, backing the semiconductor startup as it builds American-made chips designed to power drones and autonomous robots. The round was led by Craft Ventures with participation from Catapult Ventures, Multicoin Capital, and Sky Dayton, and the company is developing an integrated system-on-a-chip to replace fragmented hardware stacks and reduce reliance on foreign components. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyfix-announces-15m-seed-round-to-build-american-made-chips-powering-the-next-generation-of-drones-and-robots-302743129.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rainfall.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rainfall Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://stendr.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Stendr’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5.4M pre-seed round, backing the Norwegian defense tech startup as it builds an AI-native platform for drone detection and counter-drone operations. The round was co-led by Rainfall alongside ACME Capital and Skyfall, with additional participation from Antler, StartupLab, and other early-stage investors, and the company plans to use the funding to accelerate development of its multi-sensor technology and expand engineering capabilities. </span><a class="link" href="https://stendr.com/news/stendr-pre-seed-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.slauson.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Slauson & Co.</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.slate.auto/en?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Slate Auto’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $650M funding round, backing the EV startup as it works to bring a lower-cost electric pickup truck to market. The round was led by TWG Global and comes as the Bezos-backed company prepares to begin production, targeting a more affordable segment of the EV market with a customizable truck expected to launch later this year. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/13/slate-auto-raises-650m-to-fund-its-affordable-ev-truck-plans/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.navitascap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Navitas Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.primepoint.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Primepoint’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $10M seed round, backing the AI startup as it builds a platform that reads and connects complex construction drawings to streamline project workflows. The round also included investors like Penny Jar Capital, NextView Ventures, GS Futures, and Aglaé Ventures, and the company plans to use the funding to expand its platform and grow adoption among large commercial contractors. </span><a class="link" href="https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/primepoint-closes-10m-seed-round-220500489.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://neomorph.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Neomorph’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $100M Series B, backing the biotech company as it advances its molecular glue degrader platform targeting previously undruggable diseases. The round was led by Deerfield Management with participation from Regeneron Ventures, Longwood Fund, and Binney Street Capital, and the company plans to use the funding to support ongoing clinical trials and expand its broader drug development pipeline. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/04/13/3272523/0/en/Neomorph-Announces-Closing-of-100-Million-Series-B-Financing.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=a-26m-push-into-power-in-la"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=b408dc2d-f31f-4f8d-b831-49ce6f8e5001&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Valar Atomics Wants to Power AI, Literally</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:48:22 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-04-03T16:48:22Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello, Los Angeles.</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This week’s spotlight belongs to a startup chasing one of the biggest and messiest questions in tech right now: where all the power for AI is actually supposed to come from. El Segundo-based </span><a class="link" href="https://www.valaratomics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Valar Atomics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, founded by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaiahptaylor/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Isaiah Taylor</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, is reportedly raising </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/palmer-luckey-backed-valar-atomics-450m-2b-valuation-ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$450 million at a $2 billion valuation</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to build clusters of small nuclear reactors aimed at powering data centers and other energy-hungry industrial sites.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That is not a subtle ambition. On its website, Valar says it wants to build “hundreds of nuclear reactors” on what it calls gigasites, focusing on grid-independent products including data center power, hydrogen, heavy industrial power, and clean hydrocarbon fuels. Its reactor approach is based on high-temperature gas reactor design principles using TRISO fuel, and the company is explicitly pitching its model as a way to meet the surge in power demand coming from AI.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Valar’s investor roster also helps explain why the company has drawn so much attention. The startup is backed by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/palmer-luckey-21a16959/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Palmer Luckey</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and Palantir CTO </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyamsankar/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Shyam Sankar</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, and its earlier $130M round in November 2025 was led by Snowpoint Ventures.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What makes the story especially interesting is that this is not just another AI infrastructure company talking about faster chips or more efficient software. It is a bet that the next bottleneck is electricity itself, and that the winning response might look a lot more like hard infrastructure than cloud optimization. In a market full of startups promising to power the future metaphorically, Valar is making a much stranger and bolder claim: it wants to do it literally.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The company is also moving with unusual speed. Valar says it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to achieve criticality on American soil by July 4, 2026 under the administration’s accelerated nuclear program, and related company materials tie its Project NOVA work to the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program. Whether that timeline proves realistic or not, it tells you something important about the kind of company this wants to be: not a distant science project, but a startup trying to force nuclear power onto AI’s timetable.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">And maybe that is the bigger LA angle here. For all the conversation around software, content, and consumer apps, Southern California keeps producing founders who are drawn to the hard stuff: defense, aerospace, energy, logistics, real-world systems with real-world constraints. Valar may still have plenty to prove, but it is hard to accuse this one of thinking small.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now onto this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattervp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Matter Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://anvil.bot/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anvil Robotics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5.5M seed round, which it led and which also included Humba Ventures, DNX Ventures, Vivek Sodera, Spacecadet Ventures, and Position Ventures. Anvil said it is building a kind of “Legos for robots” platform for physical AI teams, with open-source custom robots that can ship in one to two days, and has already delivered more than 100 units globally while surpassing seven figures in revenue. </span><a class="link" href="https://news.crunchbase.com/robotics/physical-ai-custom-robot-builder-seed-funding-anvil/?_gl=1*wneyj5*_gcl_au*MTY4MTcwOTIuMTc2OTcwOTYzOS4xNzIyMDY1NzQ1LjE3NzUxODI2MTYuMTc3NTE4MjYxNw..*_ga*MTQ4MjUyNjYzLjE3Njk3MDk2Mzk.*_ga_97DKWJJNRK*czE3NzUyMzEwOTIkbzY0JGcxJHQxNzc1MjMxMTM5JGoxMyRsMCRoMA..&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.withdaydream.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">daydream’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $15M Series A, backing the AI-native SEO agency alongside First Round Capital and Basis Set Ventures. daydream said the round brings total funding to $21M and will be used to accelerate hiring, product development, and go-to-market expansion as it combines SEO agents with human experts to help companies navigate both traditional search and AI search. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/daydream-raises-15m-series-a-to-build-the-worlds-best-ai-native-agency-for-seo-302732323.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.embark.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Embark Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://viaseparations.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Via Separations</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $36M funding round, which also brought in new strategic backing from Climate Investment, Aramco Ventures, and Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Via said the capital will help deploy more commercial projects and expand its membrane-based industrial filtration platform into refining and chemicals, building on commercial traction in pulp and paper and a pilot completed at a major Gulf Coast refinery. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260401520172/en/Via-Separations-Raises-%2436-Million-to-Deploy-Commercial-Projects-Expand-into-Refining-and-Chemicals-Markets?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.finality.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Finality Capital Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://alien.org/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alien’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $7.1M round alongside Initialized, backing the company’s push to build identity infrastructure for both humans and AI agents. According to the X post announcing the raise, Alien plans to use the funding to develop unique identity systems at a time when proving whether an entity online is human or agentic is becoming increasingly important. </span><a class="link" href="https://x.com/kirillzzy/status/2039375944901644550?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.m13.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">M13</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.openfx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">OpenFX’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $94M Series A, as the company builds API infrastructure for global FX liquidity. OpenFX said it now moves more than $45B a year across borders, settles 98% of transactions in under 60 minutes, and plans to use the funding to expand its institutional-grade, API-first platform for cross-border payments and treasury operations. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.openfx.com/blog/announcing-openfx-s-94m-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.m13.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">M13</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://jiminihealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Jimini Health’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $17M seed round, backing the company alongside Town Hall Ventures, LionBird, Zetta Venture Partners, and OneMind as it builds a clinician-supervised AI platform for behavioral health. Jimini said the funding will help scale Sage into more care settings and deepen partnerships with major behavioral health providers across the U.S., positioning it as a safer alternative to unsupervised consumer AI tools for mental health support.</span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/jimini-health-secures-17m-from-m13-zetta-to-scale-safe-ai-in-behavioural-health/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://depthfirst.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">depthfirst’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $80M Series B, which was led by Meritech Capital and also included Forerunner Ventures, The House Fund, Accel, Box Group, Liquid 2 Ventures, and Alt Capital. The company said the new funding will be used to train additional security models, grow its AI research team, and scale enterprise adoption as it builds an AI-native platform for software security and launches its first in-house security model. </span><a class="link" href="https://depthfirst.com/post/series-b-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://freeflow.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freeflow Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.tippingpointbiosciences.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TippingPoint Biosciences’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $4.5M seed round, joining SOSV, LKS Fund, Sazze Partners, StoryHouse Ventures, Sontag Innovation Fund, BrightEdge, XEIA Venture Partners, West Coast Angel Network, and others. The company said the financing will help de-risk its epigenetic discovery platform as it works to translate chromatin biology into new therapeutics.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/laurajhsieh_im-thrilled-to-share-that-weve-closed-a-activity-7444705446487257088-A7Q5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAD8eHF8BqcE_O4IYRrfBsvOTvrynXZqIAFk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wmg.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Warner Music Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> agreed to acquire </span><a class="link" href="https://revelator.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Revelator</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a B2B music platform focused on digital distribution, rights management, royalty accounting, and real-time analytics for independent labels, artists, and distributors. WMG said the deal will strengthen its distribution and label services business, expand the tools available through its labels and ADA, and allow Revelator to keep serving its existing customers while scaling through WMG’s global infrastructure. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wmg.com/news/warner-music-group-agrees-to-acquire-revelator-state-of-the-art-independent-music-platform?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://omniagentsolutions.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Omni Agent Solutions</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.fortress.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fortress Investment Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which said the deal will provide long-term capital and resources to expand Omni’s tech-forward platform for bankruptcy and restructuring case administration. Omni said the investment will support continued technology development and scale across services such as claims management, noticing, solicitation support, securities services, disbursements, and call center operations, while its executive and operational teams remain in place. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.fortress.com/media/2026-03-31-omni-agent-solutions-acquired-by-fortress-investment-group?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://apium.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Apium Swarm Robotics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://redcat.red/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Red Cat</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, adding its distributed control technology for autonomous swarming drones and uncrewed surface vessels to Red Cat’s broader defense platform. Red Cat said Apium will continue operating independently while its autonomy stack is integrated across the business to strengthen coordinated multi-agent operations in contested and communications-degraded environments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/30/3264914/0/en/Red-Cat-Closes-Acquisition-of-Apium-Swarm-Robotics.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://hopwtr.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HOPWTR</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being fully acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cbrands.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Constellation Brands</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which first invested in the non-alcoholic sparkling water brand through its venture arm in 2021. Constellation said the deal strengthens its no- and low-alcohol portfolio as consumer demand in the space grows, while HOPWTR is expected to keep operating as it does today in the near term with CEO Jordan Bass remaining involved. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cbrands.com/blogs/press-releases/constellation-brands-announces-agreement-to-acquire-non-alcoholic-brand-hopwtr?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=valar-atomics-wants-to-power-ai-literally"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=81006bff-6ab1-4312-a3f9-e4f8700e9435&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>This LA Startup Just Raised $49M for the Chaos Behind High-Stakes Lawsuits</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:43:52 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-03-27T15:43:52Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday, Los Angeles. </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">In a startup market obsessed with AI copilots and productivity promises, </span><a class="link" href="https://steno.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Steno</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> just </span><a class="link" href="https://brief.steno.com/steno-raises-49m-series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">raised $49M</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> for something far less glamorous and probably far more durable: the machinery behind depositions, transcripts, and high-stakes litigation. It is the kind of business that sounds boring right up until you realize how much money, urgency, and operational chaos moves through it every day.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The LA legal tech company, which positions itself as both a court reporting service and a software platform, said the Series C was led by Savano Capital Partners, with continued backing from First Round Capital, The Legal Tech Fund, and other strategic investors. Steno plans to use the funding to expand geographically, deepen its reach into the AmLaw 200, and roll out the next evolution of its AI-powered Transcript Genius product.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Steno’s bet is not that lawyers want another standalone AI tool dropped into an already messy workflow. It is betting that the real opportunity is owning more of the process itself, from court reporting and remote depositions to transcript analysis and financing, then using software to make the whole machine run faster.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That is what makes this story interesting: Steno is building around legal work that is already happening, already expensive, and already painful. In a market full of companies trying to invent new behavior, there is something compelling about one focused on making an old, high-friction system work better.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now, onto this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://sigmas.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">SIGMAS</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $1M seed round co-led by </span><a class="link" href="https://mucker.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mucker Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and HongShan Capital as the performancewear brand expands from marketplace incubation into a broader direct-to-consumer push. The company, which was incubated through SHEIN’s Supply Chain as a Service program, said it has already launched more than 600 men’s activewear SKUs and plans to use SHOPLINE to support its owned-channel and international growth. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sigmas-raises-1m-seed-round-led-by-mucker-capital-and-hongshan-capital-formerly-sequoia-china-302725851.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.solaceconcierge.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Solace</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> received an initial $50,000 investment from Audos as part of the launch of the </span><a class="link" href="https://audos.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Audos</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Publishing House, a new platform aimed at helping everyday entrepreneurs build AI-native businesses. The Santa Monica startup, created by founder Sarah Gwilliam after losing her father, is building an AI-powered grief coaching platform focused on active coaching, guided journaling, and memory preservation, with Audos also offering up to $100,000 in non-dilutive funding through a 15% revenue-share model. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/901891575/solace-receives-receives-initial-50-000-investment-from-audos-as-part-of-inaugural-cohort?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.trianglehealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Triangle Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> emerged with $4M in pre-seed funding after cofounder Arun Verma turned his own brain cancer diagnosis into the inspiration for the company’s AI-powered health navigation platform. The Pasadena startup says its product helps patients gather complete medical records, surface treatment options and clinical trials, and review findings with a licensed physician, with backing from investors including Kevin Mahaffey, Hannah Grey, Antler Criticality Fund, John Hering, Marty Tenenbaum, and Kestrin Pantera. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/after-a-surprise-brain-cancer-diagnosis-a-tech-veteran-raised-4m-to-build-the-ai-health-tool-he-wished-hed-had-302723632.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://primestor.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Primestor</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured a $10M equity investment from New Jersey Community Capital for The Walk, its mixed-use development in Norwalk, marking NJCC’s expansion into Southern California. The 8.2-acre project is planned to include 374 homes, 56 of them affordable, along with about 94,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space as Primestor advances a broader community-focused development effort in the region. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-jersey-community-capital-expands-with-southern-california-investment-302722214.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.siftstack.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sift</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $42M Series B led by StepStone Group, with GV as its largest investor, bringing total funding to $67M as it builds what it calls an observability layer for hardware engineering. The El Segundo company said the funding will help scale its platform for turning fragmented telemetry from spacecraft, defense systems, autonomous vehicles, and factories into real-time, AI-ready data. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.siftstack.com/mission-critical/we-raised-42m-to-replace-the-legacy-tooling-hardware-engineers-still-depend-on?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.emmelineventures.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Emmeline Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://pricklypear.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Prickly Pear Health’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s follow-on pre-seed round, helping bring the company’s total funding to more than $600,000 alongside existing backers Bayless Ventures and AZ Venture Capital Inc. Prickly Pear said it will use the new capital to accelerate user growth and expand deployments of its AI-powered women’s brain health platform with mental health practices, beginning in Arizona, after surpassing 2,000 active users since launching in 2024. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arizona-femtech-startup-prickly-pear-health-expands-pre-seed-funding-to-more-than-600k-with-investment-from-emmeline-ventures-302725910.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://riot.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Riot Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://shield.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Shield AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> new financing round, which values the defense tech company at $12.7B and accompanies its planned acquisition of software simulation company Aechelon. Shield AI said the capital will support growth across its autonomy software and broader defense platform, while the Aechelon deal is meant to strengthen its simulation and training capabilities as it scales AI-powered systems for military customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://shield.ai/shield-ai-to-acquire-software-simulation-company-aechelon-and-raise-2b-at-12-7b-valuation/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://starshotcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Starshot Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://rumin8.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rumin8’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> latest funding round, which added a new $3M commitment from AgriZeroNZ as the company pushes toward commercializing its methane-reducing livestock feed additives in New Zealand. Rumin8 said the new backing will help support pivotal trials and move it toward final registration, with first commercial sales in New Zealand targeted for 2027. </span><a class="link" href="https://rumin8.com/rumin8-to-accelerate-new-zealand-commercialisation-with-agrizeronz-funding/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://compa.xyz/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Compa Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://kairosswap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kairos Labs’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $2.4M seed round, which was led by 6th Man Ventures and also included Lattice and Advancit Capital. The company said the funding follows a beta that generated more than $300M in notional swap volume and will help support the launch of its permissionless, non-custodial interest rate swap protocol on Ethereum mainnet and Base in the coming weeks. </span><a class="link" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/kairos-raises-2-4m-to-bring-the-500t-swap-market-onchain-1035962332?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://morpheus.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Morpheus Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.applied-atomics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Applied Atomics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $8.3M seed round, backing the company alongside Transition as it works to deploy full-stack nuclear power plants for industrial infrastructure customers. Applied Atomics said the funding will help bring test and integration stands online, strengthen its supply chain, and move toward deployment, with plans over the next 12 months to secure first host sites and customer agreements, advance NRC Part 50 licensing engagement, and push toward first commercial construction. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/25/3262324/0/en/Applied-Atomics-Raises-8-Million-to-Advance-Full-Stack-Nuclear-Power-Plant-Deployment.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://neonmoneytalks.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Neon’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> financing round, which brought in more than $25M in combined equity and credit from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Upper90, and other investors. The company said the new capital brings total funding to nearly $27M following a $1.5M pre-seed led by Upfront, as Neon scales its platform for paying users for anonymized conversation data and supplying that audio and video data to AI labs. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260325327391/en/Neon-Sets-Strong-Financial-Foundation-for-Future-Growth?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://heliospartnership.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Helios&Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://WhatIsMyAEO.com?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WhatIsMyAEO.com</a><a class="link" href="http://whatismyaeo.com?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> strategic investment round, backing the platform as it builds free AI-driven brand visibility diagnostics for answer engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. The company said the funding will help scale its open-source efforts and expand access to tools that measure brand citations, sentiment, trust signals, and technical AI-readiness as zero-click search becomes more common. </span><a class="link" href="https://en.prnasia.com/releases/apac/helios-partners-makes-strategic-investment-in-whatismyaeo-com-to-pioneer-ai-driven-brand-visibility-diagnostics-526605.shtml?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://moda.app/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Moda’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $7.5M seed round, which was led by General Catalyst and also included Pear VC, as the company publicly launched its AI design platform. Moda said its product gives professionals a brand-aware design agent that can generate fully editable presentations, social posts, and other visual assets, and that thousands of beta users are already using it for materials like investor decks and marketing collateral. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.citybiz.co/article/822682/moda-raises-7-5m/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.clocktowerventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Clocktower Technology Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in</span><a class="link" href="https://www.blissapp.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Bliss’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> R$ 57 million, or about $11M USD, Series A round, which was co-led by Kfund and Grupo Bradesco and also included Actyus. Bliss said the funding will help expand its AI-powered platform for health insurance brokers beyond São Paulo into cities including Rio de Janeiro and Brasília, while adding to its product and technology teams as it works to modernize health-plan sales for SMEs in Brazil. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.segs.com.br/seguros/443544-bliss-levanta-r-57-milhoes-para-transformar-a-venda-de-planos-de-saude-no-brasil/amp?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.magic.fund/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MAGIC Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in Guangzhou Weixiao Technology’s new strategic financing round, joining IDG Capital, 37 Interactive Entertainment, and miHoYo in the investment. The company said the new capital will be used to accelerate product development and market expansion, though it did not disclose the size of the round. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.iyiou.com/data/202603241125015?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mantis Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.doctronic.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Doctronic’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $40M Series B, which was co-led by Abstract and Lightspeed Venture Partners and also included Union Square Ventures, Seven Stars, and Tusk Ventures. The company said the new funding follows rapid growth to more than 300,000 weekly users and eight-figure annualized revenue, and will help it expand its AI-powered care platform after becoming the first AI-native system authorized to autonomously renew prescriptions under Utah’s AI Learning Lab.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/23/ai-doctor-startup-doctronic-raises-40-million/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://rezyfi.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RezyFi</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://ecgiholdings.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ECGI Holdings</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in a $25M transaction that would bring a 29-state licensed mortgage origination platform and about $140M in annual mortgage funding onto ECGI’s platform. ECGI said the deal is meant to pair RezyFi’s lending infrastructure with its mortgage tokenization strategy, following a pilot program to tokenize up to $10M of residential mortgage loans and as it prepares to launch an investor portal. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/ecgi-signs-definitive-25-million-agreement-to-acquire-rezyfi-1151115?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.saltandstone.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Salt & Stone</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.adventinternational.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Advent</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which signed a deal to buy a majority stake in the Los Angeles premium body care brand. The company said the partnership will help fuel its next phase of global growth after surpassing $165M in revenue in 2025, with founder and CEO Nima Jalali staying on as an equity holder and remaining in leadership alongside President Meagan Rosson and CMO Abby Tellam. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260324145498/en/Advent-to-Acquire-Salt-Stone-the-Premium-Body-Care-Brand?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.victoryyachts.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Victory Holdings</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> signed a definitive agreement to acquire </span><a class="link" href="https://dgbh.us/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dunn & Groux</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Beverage Holdings, marking its move into the functional beverage market. The company said the deal will make DGBH a wholly owned subsidiary and give it a platform to build and scale multiple beverage products around patented fulvic acid formulations and a distribution-first model, with initial expansion focused on California, Arizona, and Texas. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/1150544msn/victory-holdings-announces-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-dunn-groux-beverage-holdings-and-enter-190b-functional-beverage-market?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=this-la-startup-just-raised-49m-for-the-chaos-behind-high-stakes-lawsuits"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=5bba8ab6-3e4c-42f2-a0b8-dcad9b7958de&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Arc’s $50M Push Into Commercial Maritime</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:23:29 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-03-20T17:23:29Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hey LA, </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">As the city pushes through a record-breaking March heat wave, one of the week’s most interesting LA startup stories came with a reminder that climate tech gets a lot more real when it leaves the pitch deck and hits the water. In Arc’s case, that means tugboats.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">LA based </span><a class="link" href="https://arcboats.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Arc</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, founded in 2021 by a team of SpaceX alumni, </span><a class="link" href="https://arcboats.com/blog/arc-boats-series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announced</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> a $50M Series C this week, led by Eclipse, a16z, Menlo Ventures, Lowercarbon, Necessary Ventures, and Offline Ventures, as it pushes deeper into commercial maritime. The raise follows Arc’s $160M contract with Curtin Maritime to deliver eight hybrid-electric tugboats beginning at the Port of Los Angeles, with the first expected to hit the water this year.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/93959fc3-e9dc-44b4-bbdb-7bd8f6431ceb/Arc_Image.jpeg?t=1774027187"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Arc</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That feels notable not just because of the funding, but because it marks a clear evolution in Arc’s business. What started as a premium electric boat company is now making a serious push into the industrial side of maritime transportation, with ambitions spanning tugboats, ferries, and defense vessels.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">There is also something fitting about this story happening in Los Angeles. This is a city known for spectacle, but Arc is building in a category where performance actually has to perform. No amount of branding can fake a working tugboat, and that is exactly why this moment feels worth paying attention to.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now, onto this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://talinofoundry.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Talino</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> closed a $7.5M Series A led by Chemonics International, with participation from Mt Sinai Capital and Gulf Blvd, as it shifts from a venture studio into what it calls a global fintech foundry. The company said the new funding will help build an API-first cross-border payments infrastructure layer connecting the U.S. with emerging markets, starting with the Philippines, where it is targeting faster, more compliant financial product launches and modernizing legacy rails with stablecoin and real-time payment capabilities. </span><a class="link" href="https://talinofoundry.com/blog/talino-closes-7-5m-series-a-to-launch-a-global-fintech-foundry-and-modernize-cross-border-infrastructure?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://pado.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">PADO AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $6M seed round led by NovaWave Capital to expand its AI-powered orchestration software for mid-market colocation data centers. The company said the funding will support product delivery and global growth as it helps operators better manage power, compute, cooling, and distributed energy resources to increase GPU utilization and maximize “compute per megawatt” without requiring major new infrastructure buildouts.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/19/3258928/0/en/PADO-AI-Announces-6-Million-Seed-Round-to-Deliver-AI-Powered-Workload-Orchestration-Resources-for-Data-Centers-to-Maximize-Compute-per-Megawatt.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.meadowmemorials.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Meadow Memorials</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $9M Series A led by Lachy Groom and Haystack to expand its software-enabled funeral planning platform, which lets families arrange services online or by phone. Founded in 2024 by former Stripe executive Sam Gerstenzang and Emma Gilsanz, the company says it is using a real-estate-light model to offer lower-cost funerals as it expands beyond California into states including Texas, Washington, and Arizona. </span><a class="link" href="https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/stripe-alum-raises-online-funeral-planning-startup-meadow/?_gl=1*npqrii*_gcl_au*MTY4MTcwOTIuMTc2OTcwOTYzOS4zMTExNDQ1MjYuMTc3MzE2MjQ2OS4xNzczMTYyNDcw*_ga*MTQ4MjUyNjYzLjE3Njk3MDk2Mzk.*_ga_97DKWJJNRK*czE3NzM5NDk3NTIkbzUxJGcxJHQxNzczOTUyMTUxJGozNSRsMCRoMA..&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://anthoscapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anthos Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://bsky.social/about?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bluesky’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $100M Series B, which was led by Bain Capital Crypto and also included Alumni Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Knight Foundation, and True Ventures. The company said the round gave it the resources to scale both the Bluesky app and the broader AT Protocol ecosystem, which it says has grown to more than 43 million users and now supports a fast-expanding network of third-party apps and developers. </span><a class="link" href="https://bsky.social/about/blog/03-19-2026-series-b?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.navigatevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Navigate Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.verbaflo.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">VerbaFlo’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $7M seed round, which was led by Pi Labs and also included Haatch and Old College Capital. VerbaFlo said it plans to use the funding to scale its conversational AI platform for real estate operators, building on traction across more than 200,000 units and expanding further into markets including the U.S., Middle East, and Australia. </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/verbaflo-pi-labs-real-estate-ai-agents-pitch-deck/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://marchcp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">March Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://xage.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Xage Security’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $15M equity financing round, which was led by Piva Capital as the company posted 81% year-over-year revenue growth and expanded its Zero Trust platform for AI and critical infrastructure. Xage said the funding, which closed in December 2025, will support go-to-market expansion and continued product innovation, including new AI security capabilities, as demand grows across sectors such as energy, manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and defense. </span><a class="link" href="https://xage.com/press/xage-security-hits-record-growth-by-architecting-the-future-of-zero-trust-for-ai-and-critical-infrastructure/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://knoxsystems.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Knox Systems’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $25M Series A, backing the company’s push to scale what it says is the largest AI-managed federal cloud and dramatically shorten the FedRAMP authorization process for software vendors. Knox said the new funding will help accelerate growth after its June 2025 seed round, with the goal of helping customers achieve FedRAMP authorization in as little as 90 days at roughly 90% lower first-year cost, while expanding adoption across both government and commercial environments. </span><a class="link" href="https://knoxsystems.com/blog/knox-systems-raises-25m-series-a-to-scale-largest-ai-managed-cloud-to-deliver-90-day-fedramp-at-90-lower-cost?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://tenkara.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tenkara’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $7M round, which was led by True Ventures as the company builds AI-powered operations agents for American manufacturers. Tenkara said it is creating tooling to help factories handle sourcing and operational work more efficiently at a time of rising supply-chain pressure, with backing from a broader investor group that also included Articulate Capital, Night Capital, HF0, SF1, and Transpose Platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://tenkara.ai/blogs/i-spent-a-decade-building-factories-now-i-m-building-the-tooling-i-wish-existed?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.auroracap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Aurora Capita</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">l participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://niv-ai.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Niv-AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $12M seed round, backing the startup alongside Glilot Capital, Grove Ventures, Arc VC, Encoded VC, and Leap Forward as it emerged from stealth. Niv-AI is building sensors and software to measure millisecond-scale GPU power surges and help data centers use electricity more efficiently, with plans to deploy its system in a handful of U.S. facilities within the next six to eight months. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/17/niv-ai-exits-stealth-to-wring-more-power-performance-out-of-gpus/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.clocktowerventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Clocktower Technology Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.fusefinance.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fuse’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $25M Series A, which TechCrunch reported was led by Footwork, Primary Venture Partners, NextView Ventures, and Commerce Ventures, with Fuse also naming Clocktower Ventures among its backers. The company said it plans to use the funding to expand its AI-native loan origination and account opening platform for credit unions, building on traction with more than 100 customers and a $5M “rescue fund” aimed at helping institutions switch off legacy systems. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/16/fuse-raises-25m-to-disrupt-aging-loan-origination-systems-used-by-u-s-credit-unions/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.kairosventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kairos Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://alomana.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alomana’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> €4M seed round, which was led by CDP Venture Capital and also included Founders Factory, Italian Angels for Growth, Club degli Investitori, and others. Alomana said it will use the funding to strengthen its enterprise AI platform, add more capabilities for autonomous workflow automation, and support larger deployments across Europe as demand grows in sectors like finance, manufacturing, and pharma. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.founderstoday.news/alomana-raises-4m-seed-round/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.winwithoptimal.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Optimal’s Entertainment Media</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> division is being acquired by Capstone Point Holdings, with the business set to operate under its legacy name, Optimad Media, following the deal. The transaction keeps founder Kevin Weisberg in place to lead the company from Los Angeles, while giving Optimad more backing to expand its entertainment media planning, buying, and prints-and-advertising investment capabilities across theatrical, streaming, and broadcast campaigns. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260316575446/en/Capstone-Point-Holdings-LLC-Acquires-Entertainment-Media-division-of-Optimal-Expanding-Media-Investment-Capabilities?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=arc-s-50m-push-into-commercial-maritime"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=bbd7c54b-2b3c-4fdf-bf32-bd17a735030b&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Inside Tinder’s Biggest Product Shift in Years</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:56:14 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-03-13T15:56:14Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Hailey Chang</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[Deep Dive]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
    <div class='beehiiv'><style>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello Los Angeles, </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Despite headlines about swipe fatigue and dating app burnout, </span><a class="link" href="https://tinder.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tinder</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> believes the problem isn’t that people are tired of dating. They’re tired of bad dating experiences.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">So it felt fitting that Tinder chose the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, a venue known for reinvention, to make its case that the category is far from over.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Walking into the El Rey, it was clear Tinder wanted this to feel less like a tech launch and more like a cultural moment. Music was bumping, the room buzzed with chatter and excited energy, red light beams cut through the room, and chandeliers glowed overhead.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">At </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Tinder Sparks 2026: Start Something New</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, Match Group and Tinder CEO </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerrascoff?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Spencer Rascoff</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> took the stage to outline what the company calls the biggest evolution of the app in years. </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Tinder remains the largest dating app in the world, used by tens of millions of people across more than 185 countries and responsible for billions of matches every year.</b></span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d9a36d3c-46ae-4e94-921e-a6b2ebe7b893/IMG_8808.jpg?t=1773416771"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Match Group and Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Rascoff framed the shift around a broader cultural reality. In a world where people increasingly interact with machines, technology and AI, the need for real human connection has not gone away. If anything, Tinder believes it has only grown stronger. </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">To respond to that shift, Tinder says it’s focusing on what it calls “sparks,” the moments when a match actually turns into a real conversation.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">As Rascoff put it on stage:</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>“We are not optimizing for swipes or likes. We are optimizing for sparks.”</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">That philosophy is shaping a wave of new features discussed throughout the keynote by Tinder’s leadership team, including </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjkantor/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mark Kantor</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, SVP and Head of Product, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoelroth/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Yoel Roth</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, SVP of Trust & Safety, and product leaders </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-w-953aa359/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Claire Watanabe</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/growthproduct/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hillary Paine</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/9e3ae099-f5a6-42b7-9fce-71a7da279d09/Astrology_Mode_Press_Asset.png?t=1773416840"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Tinder</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Among the updates are </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Music Mode</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which lets users connect through shared songs and artists, and a new </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Astrology Mode</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> that highlights compatibility between zodiac signs. Tinder is also leaning further into social dating with </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Double Date</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a feature that lets friends match with other pairs together. The feature is already gaining traction with Gen Z users, reflecting a broader shift toward more social and lower-pressure ways to meet people.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/d354ca37-75eb-46ad-87bf-2dc9a5db9468/Camera_Roll_Scan_Press_Asset.png?t=1773416867"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Tinder</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Tinder is also redesigning profiles to help users express more personality. New tools can surface stronger photos from a user’s camera roll, improve lighting, and highlight interests more visually, while integrations with platforms like Spotify, Duolingo and the restaurant app Belly bring more of a person’s real life into their profile.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/7cce5b64-9686-4afb-976f-13ce96a0f59e/Events_Press_Asset.png?t=1773416893"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Tinder</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">But the most interesting experiment might be happening right here in LA. Tinder is launching </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>IRL Events</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in the city, letting users browse and RSVP to real-world meetups directly through the app. Think coffee shop raves, trivia nights and pickleball tournaments. The idea is simple. Dating works better when it feels like a social activity instead of an interview.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/2011f603-5864-4bf6-92e3-7abc771dfc95/AYSDTBY_Press_Asset.png?t=1773416923"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Tinder</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Under the hood, Tinder is also leaning more heavily on AI to improve recommendations. New tools like </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Learning Mode</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Chemistry</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> aim to better understand what users are actually looking for and surface stronger matches faster. At the same time, the company is investing heavily in safety, expanding </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Face Check</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a facial verification system designed to reduce bots and impersonation accounts.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Closing out the presentation, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissahobley/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Melissa Hobley</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, Tinder’s Chief Marketing Officer, zoomed out from the product roadmap to the brand’s cultural footprint, noting that Tinder is mentioned in billions of TikTok videos and has become shorthand for how younger generations talk about dating.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Taken together, the updates represent Tinder’s most significant evolution in years. And judging by the energy inside the El Rey this week, the company believes the next chapter of dating will be more social, more expressive and more intentional. It’s a shift being shaped right here in Los Angeles, and one that could redefine how the next generation meets.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now onto this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.hurraysgirlbeer.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hurray’s GIRL BEER</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $5M seed round led by Lakehouse Ventures, with participation from Spice Capital plus CPG insiders and entertainment executives, as it accelerates national expansion. The LA-based flavored light beer brand says it has already landed retail placements at Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, and Whole Foods, and plans to use the new capital to deepen distribution, enter new markets, and ramp up marketing, alongside a rollout of seven new flavors. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hurrays-girl-beer-announces-5m-funding-round-and-retail-expansion-into-walmart-kroger-and-albertsons-302710765.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://freestyle.world/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freestyle</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> closed a $10M Series A led by Silas Capital, with significant participation from ECP Growth. The company also noted continued backing from existing investors including </span><a class="link" href="https://mucker.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mucker Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, Adapt Ventures, and Superangel, as it scales its premium diapers and wipes business following nationwide launches at Walmart and Target. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freestyle-closes-10m-series-a-funding-led-by-silas-capital-302711004.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://maxbiopharma.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MAX BioPharma</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> announced a new investment and partnership with Technomark Life Sciences to advance Oxy210, its oxysterol-based, orally available drug candidate for MASH. Technomark is joining as a strategic lead investor by participating in MAX BioPharma’s $13M Series A to fund a Phase 1a/1b first-in-human study, and the companies say the collaboration will pair MAX’s therapeutic platform with Technomark’s drug development experience. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/biotechnology/max-biopharma-and-technomark-life-sciences-announce-investment-and-partnership-agreem-1145516?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.orolabs.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ORO Labs’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $100M Series C, which was led by Brighton Park Capital and Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, as the company pushes deeper into what it calls agentic procurement orchestration. ORO said the new funding follows 300% revenue growth over the past year and will be used to speed up product development, expand go-to-market and customer teams globally, and broaden enterprise use cases across procurement, finance, legal, and supply chain workflows. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.orolabs.ai/newsroom/oro-series-c-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://alimentcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Aliment Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://tropic.bio/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tropic’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $105M Series C, which was co-led by Forbion’s Bioeconomy Fund and Corteva as the company scales the commercial rollout of its gene-edited tropical crops. Tropic said the funding will help expand production of its banana portfolio, accelerate its banana and rice pipelines, and support entry into additional climate-resilient crops, following the 2025 launch of its first new banana varieties in more than 75 years and demand that is already outpacing supply. </span><a class="link" href="https://tropic.bio/series-c-raise/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> doubled down in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/axiommath/posts/?feedView=all&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Axiom’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $200M Series A, which valued the company at more than $1.6 billion and was led by Menlo Ventures. Axiom said the new funding will help it extend its lead from formal mathematics into what it calls “Verified AI,” with plans to apply its technology beyond mathematical discovery into software and hardware verification. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/axiommath_axiom-came-out-of-stealth-last-october-sharing-activity-7437871128997601280-Atar/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAD-VdZoBWsNYgCoScxt-mdtX4BT2-nWJhFE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.quince.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Quince’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $500M Series E, a round led by ICONIQ that values the manufacturer-to-consumer retail platform at $10.1B post-money. Quince says it will use the fresh capital to accelerate growth and global expansion of its proprietary M2C operating system, which uses AI-driven demand forecasting and direct factory partnerships to cut traditional retail markups. Other investors in the round included Basis Set Ventures, Wellington Management, MarcyPen Capital Partners, Baillie Gifford, Notable Capital, and DST Global. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quince-raises-500m-series-e-resulting-in-10-1b-valuation-to-accelerate-the-manufacturer-to-consumer-platform-302710298.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattervp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Matter Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://eridu.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Eridu’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed Series A, part of $200M+ raised as the AI networking startup emerges from stealth to tackle what it calls the “network wall” bottleneck in AI data centers. </span><a class="link" href="https://eridu.ai/pr/eridu-emerges-from-stealth-with-over-200m-in-funding/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattervp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Matter Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.rhoda.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rhoda AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $450M Series A, backing the startup as it comes out of 18 months in stealth with FutureVision, a video-predictive control platform aimed at helping robots operate reliably in messy, real-world industrial environments. The round included a large syndicate of investors, including Capricorn Investment Group, Khosla Ventures, Leitmotif, Mayfield, Premji Invest, Prelude Ventures, Temasek, Xora, and John Doerr, and the company says the funding will accelerate development and industrial deployments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310715139/en/Rhoda-AI-Exits-Stealth-with-%24450-Million-Series-A-to-Bring-Robots-Out-of-the-Lab-and-Into-the-Real-World?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://halogenvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Halogen Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://rasa-legal.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rasa Legal’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5M late-seed round, backing the company’s push to scale its tech-enabled criminal record sealing and expungement service nationwide. The round was led by Rethink Education with participation from Social Finance and the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and Rasa says the funding will help it expand leadership, speed product development, and grow beyond its current footprint (Utah, Arizona, and Pennsylvania). </span><a class="link" href="https://rasa-legal.com/press-releases/rasa-legal-raises-5-million/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://halogenvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Halogen Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nyad.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nyad’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $1.3M oversubscribed pre-seed round, backing the Birmingham-based startup as it launches an AI decision-support tool for wastewater treatment operators. The round was led by Boost VC with participation from Draper Associates, Ollin Ventures, Apprentis, First Avenue Ventures, and strategic angel Troy Wallwork, and Nyad says it will use the funding to hire, grow customers, and keep building the product as retirements thin the wastewater workforce. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/clean-technology/nyad-launches-ai-solution-for-wastewater-operators-on-the-heels-of-1.3m-funding-1145088?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS VC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://scanner.dev/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Scanner’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $22M Series A, which was led by Sequoia Capital and also included CRV, as the company builds a high-speed security data layer for AI-driven threat investigation. Scanner said the funding comes as security teams at companies like Notion, Ramp, and BeyondTrust use its platform to search years of log data quickly and power agentic workflows that help hunt threats, triage alerts, and investigate incidents more efficiently. </span><a class="link" href="https://scanner.dev/blog/scanner-raises-series-a-led-by-sequoia-capital?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.chapterone.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Chapter One</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://zodl.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zcash Open Development Lab’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $25M+ seed round, joining a syndicate that included Paradigm, a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Cypherpunk Technologies, and Maelstrom. The new company, formed by former Electric Coin Company team members, said the funding will support continued development of privacy-focused infrastructure for the Zcash ecosystem, including its self-custodial wallet and broader shielded payments tooling. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zcash-open-development-lab_zcash-open-development-lab-zodl-has-secured-activity-7436767113064644608-YYM2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEO7AVkBHp-vaCtv8s7p9Fs033tjw6Ra0bM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.civ.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CIV</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.isembard.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Isembard’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $50M Series A, which was led by Union Square Ventures and also included Tamarack Global, IQ Capital, and existing backer Notion Capital. Isembard said the new funding will help it open 25 AI-powered factories by the end of 2026, expand its engineering team, and enter Germany, France, and Ukraine as it scales software-driven component manufacturing for aerospace and defense customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.isembard.com/blogs-and-articles/isembard-raises-50m-series-a-to-open-25-ai-powered-factories-serving-aerospace-and-defence?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.crafting.dev/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crafting’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5.5M seed round, which was led by Mischief as the startup launched general availability for Crafting for Agents. The company said the new capital will support its push to become core infrastructure for AI-driven engineering teams, giving agents secure access to production-like environments so they can validate, test, and ship code inside complex enterprise systems used by customers including Brex, Faire, and Webflow. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/09/3252022/0/en/Crafting-Announces-General-Availability-of-Crafting-for-Agents-and-5-5M-Seed-Round-to-Build-Infrastructure-for-AI-Driven-Engineering.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.hireguide.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hireguide</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.hirevue.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HireVue</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is buying Hireguide’s underlying technology and bringing the Hireguide team into HireVue’s product org. HireVue says the deal accelerates its agentic AI roadmap, starting with a voice-based AI interviewer designed to help employers qualify candidates earlier and run smarter, more conversational hiring workflows. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/10/3252648/0/en/Hirevue-Acquires-Hireguide-Technology-to-Accelerate-Agentic-AI-Hiring.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.ultracor.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ultracor</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://appliedaero.space/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Applied Aerospace & Defense</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing the California-based maker of specialized honeycomb core materials into Applied’s advanced composites platform. Applied says the deal supports its selective vertical integration strategy by strengthening supply chain control and boosting speed and capacity for space and defense programs, from satellites and missiles to antennas, radomes, and next-gen aircraft. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/applied-aerospace--defense-acquires-ultracor-enhancing-vertical-integration-in-advanced-composite-manufacturing-302707348.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-biggest-product-shift-in-years"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=aa7c7ae9-7bdf-41b3-9bdd-21d25eabfaf9&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Montgomery Summit Is Back at the Fairmont Miramar</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar</link>
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  <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:59:23 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-03-06T15:59:23Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hey Los Angeles, </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you’re looking to stack your March with the right rooms and the right people, </span><a class="link" href="https://montgomerysummit.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Montgomery Summit</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, presented by </span><a class="link" href="https://marchcp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">March Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, is coming back to Santa Monica (March 10–11, 2026) at the Fairmont Miramar. It’s been running since 2004, founded by March Capital co-founder Jamie Montgomery, and it consistently draws a tight mix of founders, investors, and execs who show up to have real conversations, not just do the conference lap.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This year’s program is shaping up to be a big one: 1,200+ attendees, 180+ speakers, and CEOs from 120+ carefully selected private tech companies. In other words, if you want early looks at breakout companies and the context you can’t get from a headline scroll, this is one of LA’s most high-signal two-day events.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What I like about Montgomery is the vibe. It’s less “conference chaos” and more “high-signal collisions,” with structured ways to connect, including 1:1 meeting scheduling through the Summit app for eligible attendees. The agenda doesn’t stop when the panels do, there’s a Getty Villa reception and a closing reception, so the Summit keeps moving well past the main stage hours.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">It’s invitation-only, but you can </span><a class="link" href="https://montgomerysummit.com/request-invitation/?utm_source=external-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=organic-social&utm_content=dotsla-newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">request an invitation here</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">. </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Keep scrolling for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.vastspace.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vast</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured $500M in new financing, made up of $300M in Series A equity and $200M in debt, to accelerate production of its Haven commercial space stations and expand its facilities and team. The round was led by Balerion Space Ventures with participation from IQT, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui & Co., MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, Earthrise Ventures, and founder/first investor Jed McCaleb, as Vast pushes toward Haven-1 and its longer-term successor vision. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.vastspace.com/updates/vast-secures-500m-in-funding-to-accelerate-production-of-haven-space-stations?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://partspulse.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">PartsPulse</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has raised $3M from </span><a class="link" href="https://UP.Partners?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UP.Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and used the momentum to officially launch its unified AI platform at CONEXPO in Las Vegas. The startup says its “command center” combines inventory planning, pricing optimization, and sales intelligence into one system for OEMs, dealers, and fleet managers, and it was built with UP.Labs and co-developed with Wabash to help parts businesses spot revenue opportunities and stock the right parts at the right time.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/03/04/3249281/0/en/PartsPulse-Launches-Unified-AI-Platform-to-Streamline-Parts-Operations.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.tryprocode.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Procode AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> launched out of stealth with $4M in venture funding and acquired The Auctus Group, a major revenue cycle management (RCM) firm that bills for 300+ plastic surgery and dermatology providers. The company says the combination will bring AI into private-practice surgical billing, using its “Coding Copilot” to translate operative reports into billing codes faster and reduce denials, while Auctus continues operating under CEO John Gwin. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/procode-ai-launches-from-stealth-with-4m-and-the-acquisition-of-the-auctus-group-to-bring-ai-powered-rcm-to-private-practice-surgeons-302700050.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://smacktechnologies.com/about?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Smack</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has raised $32M across Seed and Series A to scale what it calls the first “frontier AI lab” built specifically for national security, after landing contracts with multiple branches of the U.S. military in 2025. The Series A was led by Geodesic Capital and Costanoa Ventures, with participation from Point72 Ventures, Felicis, First In, Scribble Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, Washington Harbour Partners, Palumni VC, Fulcrum Venture Group, Anomaly Fund, and Fortitude Ventures. </span><a class="link" href="https://smacktechnologies.com/journal/smack-announces-32m-in-funding-to-build-the-first-frontier-ai-lab-for-national-security?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://boldcapitalpartners.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BOLD Capital Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.keycare.org/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">KeyCare’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $27.4M financing round, backing the Epic-native virtual care company as it scales an AI-enabled model designed to extend health systems’ capacity with 24/7 virtual urgent, preventive, chronic, and virtual-first primary care. The round was led by HealthX Ventures and also included 8VC, LRVHealth, and Ikigai Venture Partners, plus strategic investors such as WellSpan Health, Allina Health, University of Chicago Ventures, Edge Ventures, and Exact Sciences, bringing KeyCare’s total funding to $55M+. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303870542/en/KeyCare-Raises-%2427.4-Million-to-Scale-their-AI-Powered-Epic-Based-Virtual-Care-Solution-for-Health-Systems?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fifthwall.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fifth Wall</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.renofi.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RenoFi’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $22M Series B, backing the Philadelphia startup’s push to make renovation financing simpler through an AI-enabled platform that underwrites loans based on a home’s after-renovation value. The round also included meaningful participation from Progressive Insurance and additional support from investors such as HighSage Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Flintlock Capital, and Gaingels, plus continued backing from Canaan, First Round Capital, Curql, TruStage Ventures, and several credit union partners. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renofi-raises-22m-series-b-to-redefine-renovation-financing-302702566.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://bounceinfinity.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bounce’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5M internal round alongside existing backers Accel and Qualcomm Ventures, extending fresh capital without bringing in new investors. Bounce founder Vivekananda Hallekere told The Economic Times the round underscores continued support from its current investors as the electric mobility startup pushes forward in the EV space. </span><a class="link" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/ev-startup-bounce-raises-5-million-from-accel-b-capital-qualcomm/articleshow/128942453.cms?UTM_Source=Google_Newsstand&UTM_Campaign=RSS_Feed&UTM_Medium=Referral&from=mdr&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://silent-house.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Silent House Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by concert staging and live-experiences giant </span><a class="link" href="https://www.taittowers.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TAIT,</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> formalizing a long-running partnership between the two companies. The deal pairs Silent House’s LA-born creative and production chops, behind major tours and live experiences including Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour and Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National Tour, with TAIT’s engineering, staging, and global delivery capabilities to build touring, experiential, and broadcast productions at any scale. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/concert-staging-company-tait-acquires-silent-house/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=montgomery-summit-is-back-at-the-fairmont-miramar"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=7121cca9-d41a-44e7-bb22-07ba261283bf&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>Revel’s Afterburner Round: $150M for Hard Tech Infrastructure</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-02-27T17:13:48Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello Los Angeles, </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This week’s biggest hard tech funding headline belongs to </span><a class="link" href="https://www.revel.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Revel</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which just raised a </span><a class="link" href="https://www.revel.io/newsroom/accelerating-revel?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$150M Series B</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to modernize the software layer behind hardware test and control. The round was led by Index Ventures, with major participation from Redpoint Ventures and returning investors Thrive Capital, Felicis, and Abstract Ventures, plus angel participation including Figma CEO Dylan Field.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/b569c216-3260-4947-8c76-0a339d3531e7/696adb8cddd13c44cb74ebee_DASHBOARD_-_ENGINE-p-3200.jpg?t=1772212250"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Revel</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Revel’s pitch is simple: rockets, advanced energy, robotics, and defense systems have evolved fast, but the tooling that tests and commands them is still stuck in the past. The company says its platform can cut test stand setup time from 14 days to about 8 hours, and that teams go from testing every other day to multiple tests per day. One customer, Impulse Space, reportedly runs 80+ instances of RevelTest, and Revel claims every pilot it has run has converted into a paying customer. </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What makes this more than “just another big round” is where Revel is aiming next: expanding from test stands into industrial control across critical infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, power stations, refineries, water treatment, data centers, and biomedical manufacturing. Their platform includes live telemetry and safe command execution, and even a purpose built language, RevelCode, designed for deterministic, debuggable control in high consequence environments. In other words, if LA is becoming a capital of hard tech, Revel is trying to become the control room software those companies standardize on.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Keep scrolling for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://thirdway.health/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Third Way Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised an oversubscribed $15M Series A led by Health Velocity Capital to scale its AI-enabled hybrid human and automation front-office operations for medical practices. The company says it will use the funding to accelerate customer growth, expand operations, and deepen its AI and automation roadmap, building on its claim of supporting practices serving 5M+ patients annually. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226523354/en/Third-Way-Health-Raises-%2415M-to-Expand-AI-Powered-Healthcare-Front-Office-Operations?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.inhouse.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Inhouse</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $5M in seed funding to grow its AI legal platform that helps small and midsize businesses generate contracts, get answers to complex legal questions, and bring in attorneys when needed. The round included backing from Run Ventures, Royal Street Ventures, Switch, and LegalZoom cofounder and former CEO Brian Liu, and the company says it will use the new capital to expand its AI agent capabilities and increase automation across contract lifecycle management, compliance, and proactive risk management. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/895098391/inhouse-raises-5m-for-ai-empowering-business-owners-to-solve-their-own-legal-needs?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://subject.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Subject</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $28M growth investment led by </span><a class="link" href="https://vistaragrowth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vistara Growth</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, with participation from new backers NextEquity Partners, Green Street Impact Partners, and Outcomes Collective, plus existing investors including Kleiner Perkins and others. The company says it will use the funding to accelerate development of its AI-powered K–12 curriculum and online learning platform, expand accredited course offerings, and scale adoption with more districts and educators worldwide. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subject-secures-28m-investment-led-by-vistara-growth-to-accelerate-ai-powered-k12-curriculum-and-online-learning-platform-302695051.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.usemogul.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mogul</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $5M in a round led by the Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, with participation from Urban Innovation Fund, Mindset Ventures, Fairway Capital Partners, and renewed support from Amplify LA and Wonder Ventures. The royalty management platform says it will use the funding to expand services for artists and their teams, building on traction like processing over $1.5B in royalties and launching its new Catalog Valuation Center to help creators understand the value of their catalogs. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.usemogul.com/post/mogul-raises-5m-in-funding?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.handlhealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Handl Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $14.2M Series A led by Arthur Ventures, with follow-on investment from Syndra Capital Partners, an additional strategic investor, and increased participation from existing backers Mucker Capital, Riverfront Ventures, Digital Health Venture Partners, and Boutique Venture Partners. The company says it will use the new capital to expand its platform and deliver deeper analytics that help employers and benefits decision-makers design lower-cost health plans with more predictable pricing and better care outcomes. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.handlhealth.com/post/handl-health-secures-14m-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://skorppio.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Skorppio</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> launched a self-serve, on-premise high-performance computer rental platform that lets AI teams, VFX studios, researchers, and schools rent enterprise-grade systems without buying hardware or locking into the cloud. The company says its fleet includes everything from performance laptops to DGX-class AI systems and GPU servers, supported through a PNY Pro partnership that makes NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs available, plus curated “KIT” bundles designed for specific workflows. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-premise-computer-rentals-now-self-serve-skorppio-launches-platform-with-nvidia-blackwell-gpus-302693940.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.gushwork.one/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Gushwork’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $9M seed round, backing the startup’s bet that “AI search” will become a major new channel for B2B lead generation. The round was co-led by Susquehanna International Group and Lightspeed, and Gushwork says it’s helping businesses show up in answers from tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity using automated marketing agents that generate search optimized content and backlinks.</span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/gushwork-bets-on-ai-search-for-customer-leads-and-early-results-are-emerging/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://UP.Partners?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UP.Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://beyondmath.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BeyondMath’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $18.5M seed round, backing the company as it scales its “generative physics” approach to faster engineering-grade simulation. The raise included a $10M seed extension led by Cambridge Innovation Capital, with additional participation from Insight Partners and InMotion Ventures. </span><a class="link" href="https://beyondmath.com/news/seed-round-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://solve.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">SolveAI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $50M funding round, backing the company as it launches a platform that lets employees build enterprise applications using natural language instead of code. The raise included a $45M Series A led by GV plus a previously undisclosed $5M pre-seed led by Accel, with additional participation from Northzone, NeverLift, and angels including Mike LoSapio, Pushmeet Kohli, and Olivier Godement.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.vestbee.com/insights/articles/solve-ai-launches-with-50-m?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fabricvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fabric VC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://kash.bot/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kash’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $2M pre-seed round, backing the startup as it embeds prediction markets directly into social media starting with X. Kash says users can turn posts into live, tradable markets through its @kash_bot, letting people express conviction on real-world outcomes inside the feed rather than in separate apps. The round also included investors such as Big Brain Holdings, Spartan Group, Coinbase Ventures, Kosmos Ventures, Halo Capital, MoonRock Capital, and Polaris Fund. </span><a class="link" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/kash-raises-2m-pre-seed-to-bring-prediction-markets-to-social-media-1035861998?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.m13.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">M13</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led</span><a class="link" href="https://www.luminos.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> LuminosAI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> latest funding round as the company launched Lighthouse, a new feature it says can automatically test generative and agentic AI systems for concrete legal liability. LuminosAI says the new capital will help it accelerate growth and expand its team to support a growing customer base, with participation from investors including Bloomberg Beta, Hawktail, AME Cloud Ventures, Crosscourt, Octave, Great Oaks, Fundrise, and others. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.luminos.ai/resource-center/the-future-of-ai-governance-is-here-introducing-lighthouse-and-our-new-funding-round?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Niagen Bioscience has sold its ChromaDex Reference Standards business to LGC in an all-cash transaction that closed on Feb. 24, 2026, as the company sharpens its focus on its core longevity strategy. Niagen says the divestiture helps it fully exit non-core operations and concentrate resources on NAD+ science, intellectual property, and commercial growth around its Niagen solutions, while LGC adds the standards portfolio to deepen its reference materials offering for pharma and lab customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226997493/en/Niagen-Bioscience-to-Streamline-and-Focus-its-Operations-with-the-Sale-of-ChromaDex-Reference-Standards-Business-to-LGC-in-All-Cash-Transaction?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mutiny.gg/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mutiny</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by LA-based investment firm </span><a class="link" href="https://shamrockcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Shamrock Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which says the deal will help Mutiny accelerate growth and strengthen its position as a leading gaming-focused creative agency. Founded in 2021 and previously incubated within Trailer Park Group, Mutiny works with publishers and brands on research-driven, player-first creative, social, and community campaigns. Shamrock says Mutiny will continue scaling as a standalone business, with support that could include strategic acquisitions. </span><a class="link" href="https://shamrockcap.com/media/shamrock-capital-acquires-leading-gaming-agency-mutiny/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://vestigoaerospace.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vestigo Aerospace</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://appliedaero.space/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Applied Aerospace & Defense</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing Vestigo’s Spinnaker deorbit drag-sail product line into Applied’s portfolio. Applied says Spinnaker helps satellite and launch-vehicle operators meet tightening orbital debris rules by providing a lightweight, cost-effective way to deorbit objects in low Earth orbit, and Vestigo founder and CEO Dr. David Spencer will join Applied as VP of Deployable Systems. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/applied-aerospace--defense-invests-in-deorbit-systems-with-acquisition-of-vestigo-aerospace-and-its-spinnaker-product-line-302695877.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=revel-s-afterburner-round-150m-for-hard-tech-infrastructure"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=4330cef7-dace-47d2-9e28-34272fce223a&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Snap’s New Growth Engine Isn’t Ads</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:57:43 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-02-20T17:57:43Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hey LA, </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">This week’s most interesting story isn’t a flashy new feature, it’s a quieter flex: Snapchat is getting people to pay for Snapchat, on purpose.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>Snap just proved “free app” isn’t the only business model</b></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Snap says its direct revenue business is now running at a <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a class="link" href="https://newsroom.snap.com/snap-1b-direct-revenue-25m-subscription?lang=en-US&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: rgb(71, 154, 210)">$1B annualized pace</a></span>, with 25M+ subscribers paying across a growing menu of products like Snapchat+, Lens+, Snapchat Premium, and Memories Storage Plans. That matters because it’s not just a nice add-on to ads, it’s a different kind of relationship with users. Ads monetize attention. Subscriptions monetize intent.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">And intent is sticky. If someone pulls out a card for you, they don’t churn the way an algorithm does.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>Creator Subscriptions are the real tell</b></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Snap is also launching <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a class="link" href="https://newsroom.snap.com/snapchat-launches-creator-subscriptions?lang=en-US&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: rgb(71, 154, 210)">Creator Subscriptions</a></span>, starting with an alpha on February 23 for select U.S. creators, then expanding to Snap Stars in Canada, the U.K., and France in the following weeks. The offer is straightforward: subscriber-only Stories and Snaps, priority replies, and an ad-free experience inside that creator’s Stories.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">The strategic move is even simpler. Snap wants “paying for closeness” to happen inside Stories and Chat, not on some external membership page. If they get that right, creators stop treating Snapchat as just a top-of-funnel channel and start treating it like a place to actually monetize their audience. Snap, meanwhile, gets a revenue stream that doesn’t care what CPMs are doing this quarter.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>Meanwhile, IRL: lululemon’s Studio Yet.</b></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">Lululemon’s Studio Yet. <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a class="link" href="https://www.lululemonstudioyet.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" style="color: rgb(71, 154, 210)">pop-up</a></span> is running Feb. 18 through March 8 at 8175 Melrose Ave. It’s a ticketed, limited-capacity lineup of workouts and community programming, with proceeds (less fees) supporting BlacklistLA.</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Keep scrolling for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://radiantnuclear.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Radiant</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> announced a strategic investment from Lockheed Martin via </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/lockheed-martin-ventures.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lockheed Martin Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, further oversubscribing the company’s current financing round. Radiant is developing its 1 MW Kaleidos portable nuclear microreactor and says it’s targeting a first reactor startup this summer at Idaho National Laboratory, with initial customer deployments planned for 2028. </span><a class="link" href="https://radiantnuclear.com/blog/lockheed-strategic-investment/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.meshoptical.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mesh Optical Technologies</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> announced it has raised over $50M, led by Thrive Capital, to scale production of its Alpha C1 optical transceiver, which converts electrical signals to light at 1.6 Tbps for AI data centers. The startup says its edge is manufacturing: it builds the optical engine using fast, repeatable flip-chip die bonding to make high-volume, U.S.-based production of optical links possible, backed by a team with experience from SpaceX and Intel. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.meshoptical.com/blog/introducing-mesh?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated as an existing investor in </span><a class="link" href="https://ten63tx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ten63 Therapeutics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ latest strategic financing, which also included participation from </span><a class="link" href="https://morpheus.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Morpheus Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and added new backers such as Chugai Venture Fund and the Gates Foundation, bringing total funding to more than $45M. Ten63 says it will use the capital to scale BEYOND, its AI-driven “Large Quantum Chemistry Model” platform for designing small-molecule drugs against historically “undruggable” targets, including programs in oncology and an HPV-focused effort supported by the Gates Foundation.-</span><a class="link" href="https://ten63tx.com/ten63-therapeutics-closes-strategic-financing-bringing-total-funding-to-more-than-45m-to-scale-the-next-generation-of-artificial-intelligent-drug-discovery/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.codemetal.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Code Metal’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $125M Series B, a round led by Salesforce Ventures that valued the company at $1.25B, alongside investors including Accel, J2 Ventures, Shield Capital, Smith Point Capital, and others.Code Metal says it will use the new capital to expand engineering, accelerate product development, grow government and commercial partnerships, and scale go-to-market for its “verifiable” AI code generation and translation platform used in mission-critical environments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.codemetal.ai/news/code-metal-closes-125-million-series-b?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.bonfirevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bonfire Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.odynn.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Odynn’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $9.5M seed round alongside 8VC, with participation from Khosla Ventures and General Catalyst. Odynn says it’s building personalized AI infrastructure for travel companies, aiming to replace one-size-fits-all booking portals with dynamic experiences that tailor search, recommendations, and conversion flows to each traveler. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/19/3241198/0/en/Odynn-Raises-9-5M-Seed-Round-to-Disrupt-Travel-Portals-with-Personalized-AI-Infrastructure.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://mtechcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MTech Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.qumis.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Qumis’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $4.3M oversubscribed seed round, which also brought in American Family Ventures as a new strategic investor and pushed total funding to $6.75M. The company says it’s building an attorney-trained AI platform for commercial insurance “coverage intelligence,” and will use the funding to expand go-to-market and deepen product capabilities as adoption grows among large brokers and carriers (including NFP). </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/19/3241222/0/en/Qumis-Raises-4-3M-to-Bring-Attorney-Grade-Coverage-Intelligence-to-Commercial-Insurance.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mansa.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mansa’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> seed funding round, which the company says totaled $12M and was led by MaC Venture Capital. Mansa is now launching a vertical “micro-drama” format inside its app, debuting with the 27-episode original series The Heiress, The Baller & The Secret Society and positioning the feature as a mobile-first way to release serialized stories globally. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260219876123/en/Mansa-Unveils-New-Vertical-Micro-Dramas-Debuting-With-Original-Series?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.alphaedison.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alpha Edison</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.ownwell.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ownwell’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $50M Series B, with </span><a class="link" href="https://wondervc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wonder Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participating alongside investors including Mercato Partners, Intuit Ventures, Left Lane Capital, First Round Capital, Long Journey Ventures, and PROOF Fund. The round includes $30M in equity and $20M in debt financing from Western Alliance Bank, and Ownwell says it will use the capital to expand nationally and simplify the property-tax appeal process through a new “National Appeals Packet” product. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ownwell-raises-50m-launches-national-service-to-streamline-property-tax-appeals-and-make-home-ownership-more-affordable-302692103.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.threesixzero.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Three Six Zero</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated as an existing investor in </span><a class="link" href="https://hookmusic.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hook’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $10M Series A, which was led by Khosla Ventures with participation from Point72 Ventures, Imaginary Ventures, and Waverley Capital, bringing Hook’s total funding to $16M. Hook is an artist-first social platform that lets fans legally remix licensed songs using simple AI-powered tools and share them across social platforms, and it says the new capital will fund user growth plus product expansion like an Android app, richer creation formats, and deeper ecosystem integrations. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/893173105/hook-raises-10m-series-a-funding-led-by-khosla-ventures-to-expand-the-social-music-platform-for-fan-creation?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.overture.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Overture Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated as an existing investor in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.zerohomes.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zero Homes’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $16.8M Series A, which was led by Prelude Ventures alongside SJF Ventures and the Exelon Foundation. Zero Homes says it’s using the funding to expand into new markets, broaden its home-upgrade offerings, and grow its contractor network, powered by a smartphone-based “digital twin” approach that produces upgrade designs and pricing remotely. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.zerohomes.com/blog/series-a-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://sphinxhq.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sphinx’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $7.1M seed round, which was led by Cherry Ventures alongside Y Combinator, Deel Ventures, and Singularity Capital. Sphinx is building browser-native compliance agents that work inside banks’ and fintechs’ existing tools to automate AML, KYC, and KYB work, with the new funding earmarked to scale that “agentic compliance workforce.” </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217308151/en/Sphinx-Raises-%247.1M-to-Build-Every-Financial-Institutions-Last-Compliance-Hire?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattervp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Matter Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://chipagents.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ChipAgents’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $50M Series A1, bringing total capital raised to $74M, with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, Micron, MediaTek, and Ericsson. ChipAgents says it will use the new funding to scale its agentic AI platform for chip design and verification, expand engineering and research, and accelerate global deployment of multi-agent “chip teams,” alongside a new HQ buildout in Santa Clara. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217568914/en/ChipAgents-Raises-%2474M-to-Scale-an-Agentic-AI-Platform-to-Accelerate-Chip-Design?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://memorialcareinnovationfund.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MemorialCare Innovation Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://spendrule.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">SpendRule’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $2M round, which was led by Abundant Venture Partners with additional backing from Zeal Capital Partners. SpendRule is emerging from stealth with an AI-driven platform that helps hospitals validate invoices against complex contract terms before payments go out, aiming to reduce overspending and “contract leakage” across purchased services. The company says early customers include health systems like MemorialCare, Kettering Health, and MUSC Health.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/spendrule_spendrule-raises-2m-emerges-from-stealth-activity-7429532405608378368-THeT/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEO7AVkBHp-vaCtv8s7p9Fs033tjw6Ra0bM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://fredsegal.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fred Segal</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.aritzia.com/us/en?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Aritzia</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is buying the brand’s rights/IP (terms not disclosed) and planning a revival under its ownership. Melrose Avenue is central to the deal too, since Aritzia is also taking a lease on Fred Segal’s iconic ivy-covered site at 8100 Melrose as part of the comeback plan. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2026/02/19/aritzia-buys-rights-to-us-fashion-retailer-fred-segal-leases-iconic-melrose-site/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.theexpert.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Expert</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://havenlybrands.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Havenly</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in an all-equity deal (terms not disclosed), bringing The Expert’s high-end virtual designer consultations and trade-oriented marketplace into Havenly’s broader home and commerce ecosystem. Lee Anne Blake will join Havenly as chief commercial officer, and while The Expert will remain a standalone website, Havenly plans to plug in its tech to strengthen The Expert’s purchasing and procurement tools for designers. </span><a class="link" href="https://businessofhome.com/articles/havenly-acquires-the-expert?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=snap-s-new-growth-engine-isn-t-ads"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=038148c9-0eb6-40f0-bf2b-a6dc5adc3da8&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>💘Zeitview’s New Valentine : Catching Methane Leaks </title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:20:58 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-02-13T18:20:58Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello Los Angeles, happy Friday and happy Valentine’s Day weekend. </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">While the rest of us are debating flowers vs. gifts vs. reservations, LA’s infrastructure nerds are out here celebrating a different kind of romance: finding leaks before they ghost your entire operation.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Zeitview just made methane a first-class feature</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.zeitview.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zeitview</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has </span><a class="link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2026/02/11/zeitview-insight-m-acquisition-methane?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">acquired</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span><a class="link" href="https://www.insightm.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Insight M</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, folding high-frequency aerial methane detection into its broader “see it, measure it, fix it” play for critical infrastructure. The combined offering pairs methane monitoring with Zeitview’s predictive asset-health and inspection workflows, so operators can spot emissions faster, prioritize repairs, and tie results back to ROI instead of vibes.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>What Zeitview actually does, beyond the buzzwords</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you haven’t been tracking them, Zeitview is essentially the operating layer for inspecting big, physical assets using drones, aircraft, and computer vision. They can analyze imagery you already have or capture fresh data, then turn it into inspection reports and analytics through their Asset Insights platform.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Zeitview was previously known as DroneBase and rebranded after raising an expansion round, signaling a broader push beyond “drones” into enterprise-grade infrastructure intelligence across energy and other asset-heavy industries.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Why Insight M fits, and why this isn’t just “climate tech”</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Methane is the rare climate problem that also hits the P&L, because a leak is both emissions and lost product. Insight M has built credibility around methane monitoring that’s meant to be operational, not just observational, and that plugs neatly into Zeitview’s inspection footprint.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Put together, this looks less like a single acquisition and more like a workflow upgrade: one system that finds a problem, quantifies it, routes it to the right team, and proves it was fixed. The least romantic Valentine’s message of all, maybe, but also the most adult: “I noticed something small, and I handled it before it became expensive.”</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Keep scrolling for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.hawkskids.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HAWKs</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> (Hiking Adventures With Kids), a nature-based children’s enrichment brand founded in Los Angeles, secured a strategic investment from </span><a class="link" href="https://www.postinvestmentgroup.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Post Investment Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to accelerate its nationwide franchise expansion. The company plans to scale its mobile, outdoor-program model (after-school adventures, camps, and weekend sessions) by opening franchise territories across the U.S. while using Post’s franchising platform to build the operational infrastructure and support system for new operators. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nature-based-enrichment-brand-hawks-hiking-adventures-with-kids-secures-investment-from-post-investment-group-to-fuel-national-franchise-expansion-302683403.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/allomer-capital-group/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Allomer Capital Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://trucesoftware.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TRUCE Software’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> newly closed Series B, a round led by Yttrium with additional backing from New Amsterdam Growth Capital. The company did not disclose the amount, but says it will use the funding to scale go-to-market for two mobile-first product suites: an AI video telematics platform for commercial fleets that runs on standard smartphones, and TRUCE Family, a software approach to limiting student phone distractions in K–12 schools.</span><a class="link" href="https://trucesoftware.com/truce-series-b-funding/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://wondervc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wonder Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.tbc.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks#1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Biological Computing Company’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $25M seed round, which was led by Primary Venture Partners alongside Builders VC, Refactor Capital, E1 Ventures, Proximity, and Tusk Ventures. The startup is commercializing “biological compute,” connecting living neurons to modern AI systems to make certain tasks dramatically more energy-efficient, and says its first product shows a 23x retained improvement in video model efficiency while also helping discover new AI architectures. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.primary.vc/articles/the-biological-computing-company-raises-25m-seed?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.bonfirevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bonfire Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.santehq.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Santé’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $7.6M seed round, with backing from Operator Collective, Y Combinator, and Veridical Ventures. Santé is building an AI- and fintech-driven operating system for wine and liquor retailers that brings POS, inventory, e-commerce, delivery orders, and invoice workflows into one platform to replace a lot of manual, fragmented processes. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.santehq.com/blog/sante-liquor-pos-raises-seed-round-bonfire?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://apptronik.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Apptronik’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> initial 2025 Series A and participated again in the company’s new $520M Series A extension, bringing the total Series A to $935M+ (nearly $1B raised overall). The company says it will use the fresh capital to ramp production and deployments of its Apollo humanoid robots and invest in facilities for robot training and data collection, with the extension also bringing in new backers like AT&T Ventures, John Deere, and Qatar Investment Authority alongside repeat investors including Google and Mercedes-Benz. </span><a class="link" href="https://apptronik.com/news-collection/apptronik-closes-over-935-million-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://inertia.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Inertia Enterprises’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> new $450M Series A, a round led by Bessemer Venture Partners with additional investors including GV, Modern Capital, and Threshold Ventures. The company says it will use the milestone-based financing to commercialize laser-based fusion built on physics proven at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, including building its “Thunderwall” high-power laser system and scaling a production line to mass-manufacture fusion fuel targets. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/11/3236274/0/en/Inertia-raises-450-million-to-commercialize-the-only-proven-fusion-science.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://riot.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Riot Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated as a returning investor in </span><a class="link" href="https://integrate.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Integrate’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $17M Series A, which was led by FPV Ventures with participation from Fuse VC and Rsquared VC. Integrate is pitching an ultra-secure project management platform built for classified, multi-organization programs, and says it has become a requirement for certain U.S. Space Force launch efforts. The company plans to use the new funding to ship additional capabilities for government customers and scale go-to-market across the defense tech sector. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/integrate-raises-17m-to-commercialize-the-worlds-first-ultra-secure-project-management-platform-for-classified-programs-302684794.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://projectomega.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Project Omega’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $12M oversubscribed seed round, which was led by Starship Ventures alongside Buckley Ventures, Decisive Point, Slow Ventures, and others. Project Omega is emerging from stealth to build an end-to-end nuclear fuel recycling capability in the U.S., aiming to turn spent nuclear fuel into long-duration power sources and critical materials, with early lab demonstrations underway and an ARPA-E partnership to validate a commercially viable recycling pathway.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260211071777/en/Project-Omega-Emerges-From-Stealth-to-Recycle-Americas-Spent-Nuclear-Fuel?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.pluscapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Plus Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.garnerhealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Garner Health’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $118M round, which was led by Khosla Ventures with additional backing from Founders Fund and existing investors including Maverick Ventures and Thrive Capital, valuing the company at $1.35B. Garner says it helps employers steer members to high-quality doctors using its “Smart Match” provider recommendations and a reimbursement-style incentive called “Garner Rewards,” and it will use the funding to expand its offerings, grow its care team, and scale partnerships with payers and health systems. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/garner-health-raises-118-million-to-close-the-healthcare-quality-and-cost-gap-reaches-1-35-billion-valuation-302680953.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://emerging.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Emerging Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.taiv.tv/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Taiv’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $13M Series A+ alongside IDC Ventures, with continued support from investors including Y Combinator and Garage Capital. Taiv says it will use the funding to scale its “Business TV” platform, which uses AI to detect and swap TV commercials in venues like bars and restaurants with more relevant ads and on-screen content, as it expands across major North American markets. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.taiv.tv/blog/taiv-raises-13m-series-a-plus-to-accelerate-the-future-of-business-tv?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattel163.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mattel163</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://about.mattel.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mattel</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is buying out NetEase’s remaining 50% stake and valuing the mobile games studio at $318M. The deal gives Mattel full ownership and control of the team behind its IP driven mobile titles, strengthening its in-house publishing and user acquisition capabilities as it expands its digital games business. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260210654553/en/Mattel-to-Acquire-Full-Ownership-of-Mattel163-Mobile-Games-Studio-Strengthening-its-Digital-Games-Business?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.djmexcorp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">DJ Mex Corp</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">. is set to be acquired in part by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.marwynnholdings.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Marwynn Holdings</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which signed a non-binding letter of intent to purchase a 51% stake in the U.S.-based e-waste sourcing and logistics company. The deal would bring DJ Mex into Marwynn’s EcoLoopX platform to expand its asset-light “reverse supply chain” services for recyclable materials, though it’s still subject to due diligence and final agreements. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/marwynn-holdings-signs-letter-of-intent-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-d-1135626?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=zeitview-s-new-valentine-catching-methane-leaks"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=149652ad-1dcd-4e0f-afea-a3fa8fb154a8&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Skyryse Raised $300M+ to Do What Most Startups Can’t</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:27:35 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-02-06T17:27:35Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[Deep Dive]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
    <div class='beehiiv'><style>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello Los Angeles</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">LA just minted another aviation unicorn, and it is not because someone built a prettier helicopter demo. It’s because </span><a class="link" href="https://www.skyryse.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Skyryse</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is trying to do the rarest thing in tech: turn software into something regulators will sign their name to, and that pilots will trust when conditions are at their worst.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>El Segundo’s newest unicorn is simplifying the cockpit</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Skyryse </span><a class="link" href="https://www.skyryse.com/resources/skyryse-achieves-1-15b-valuation-raises-over-300m-series-c-to-advance-certification-and-scaling-of-its-universal-operating-system-for-flight-skyos-tm?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">raised $300M+</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in a Series C at a $1.15B valuation. The round was led by Autopilot Ventures and returning investor Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from Qatar Investment Authority, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides, BAM Elevate, Baron Capital Group, Durable Capital Partners, Positive Sum, Rokos (RCM Private Markets Fund), and Woodline Partners, among others.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1d98447e-ddb3-48f6-9e9d-556f75bbbab2/687b2764468fe49932643635_8b85fe8686cc73b9a93069b35aa53f3f_SkyOS_cockpit-2-p-2000.png?t=1770397960"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Skyryse</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The pitch is bold and deceptively simple. Skyryse is building a “universal operating system for flight,” SkyOS, designed to replace the cockpit’s maze of mechanical controls with a computer-driven system that makes routine flight easier and emergency situations more manageable. The bigger claim is standardization: if you can make the interface and controls feel consistent across aircraft, you reduce training friction, lower pilot workload, and create fewer opportunities for human error when the stakes spike.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>The real work starts after the press release</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Skyryse says the funding will be used to accelerate FAA certification and scale SkyOS across additional aircraft platforms, including the Black Hawk. That is the hard part, and also the part most startups never reach. Aviation is where software has to prove itself in edge cases, repeatedly, with zero tolerance for surprises, because “mostly works” is another way of saying “eventually fails.”</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>The bet hiding inside the headlines</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If Skyryse clears certification and can port SkyOS across aircraft types the way software ports across devices, it could unlock a new category of safety automation for fleets that cannot afford downtime, confusion, or long training cycles. Emergency response, defense modernization, and industrial aviation are all markets where reliability is the product, and simplicity is the differentiator. In a world obsessed with shipping faster, Skyryse is playing a different game: getting permission to ship at all.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Keep scrolling for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.accrual.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Accrual</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> announced it has raised $75M in new funding led by General Catalyst, with participation from Go Global Ventures, Pruven Capital, Edward Jones Ventures, and a group of founders and industry executives. The company says the raise supports its official launch and continued buildout, alongside early partner firms, investors, and advisors. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/accrual_today-were-excited-to-officially-launch-activity-7425191851814522882-TAh3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEO7AVkBHp-vaCtv8s7p9Fs033tjw6Ra0bM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.morpheus.space/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Morpheus Space</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured a $15M strategic investment led by Alpine Space Ventures and the European Investment Fund, with continued support from existing investors, to fuel its next phase of growth. The company says it will use the capital to expand mass-production capacity and its team at its Dresden “Reloaded” facility, helping industrialize its GO-2 electric propulsion systems and meet rising demand from large satellite constellations. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/morpheus-space-secures-a-15-million-strategic-investment-to-accelerate-mass-production-expansion-302678253.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://machinalabs.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Machina Labs</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $124M Series C to build its first large-scale “Intelligent Factory,” a U.S.-based production site aimed at rapidly manufacturing complex metal structures for defense, aerospace, and advanced mobility. The company says the funding, backed by investors including Woven Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, and Strategic Development Fund, will help it scale its AI-and-robotics “software-defined” manufacturing approach from breakthrough tech into high-throughput production infrastructure. </span><a class="link" href="https://machinalabs.ai/resources/machina-labs-raises-124-million-to-scale-manufacturing-infrastructure-for-defense-and-advanced-mobility?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.joinmidi.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Midi Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $100M Series D led by Goodwater Capital, with new investors Foresite Capital and Serena Ventures joining and existing backers including GV, Emerson Collective, and others returning, valuing the company at over $1B. The women’s telehealth provider says it will use the funding to scale beyond menopause care into a broader, AI-enabled women’s health platform, expanding access and using AI to personalize care and streamline clinical operations. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.joinmidi.com/press-release/series-d-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mitra-ev.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mitra EV</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $27M in financing, combining equity led by Ultra Capital with a credit facility from S2G Investments, to expand its “no upfront capital” fleet electrification model. The Los Angeles-based company says it will use the money to grow its shared charging network, roll out additional fleet solutions, and expand into new markets, positioning itself as a fully managed package that bundles EV leasing, overnight charging, and access to shared fast-charging hubs. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260203472028/en/Mitra-EV-Raises-%2427-Million-to-Scale-Capital-Efficient-Fleet-Electrification?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://plugmotors.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Plug</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $20M Series A to scale its EV-first marketplace, following $60M in used EV sales since launching in 2024. The round was led by Lightspeed with participation from Galvanize and existing investors including Autotech Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, and Renn Global, as Plug positions itself as infrastructure for the coming wave of off-lease EV inventory with EV-native pricing, battery health insights, and faster dealer transactions.</span><a class="link" href="https://plugmotors.com/resources/plug-raises-20m-series-a-used-ev-marketplace?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.breezy.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Breezy</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a Los Angeles-based AI operating system for residential real estate professionals, raised an oversubscribed $10M pre-seed round led by Ribbit Capital, with participation from Fifth Wall, DST Global, Liquid 2 Ventures, O.G. Venture Partners, and others. The company says it will use the funding to strengthen its product and data platform, grow engineering and design, invest in security, and prepare for broader U.S. and international rollout.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.thesaasnews.com/news/breezy-raises-10-million-in-funding?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.daytona.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Daytona’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $24M Series A, a round led by FirstMark Capital with participation from Pace Capital and existing investors E2VC and Darkmode, plus strategic checks from Datadog and Figma Ventures. Daytona is building “composable computers” for AI agents, essentially programmatic, stateful sandboxes that can be spun up, paused, and snapshotted on demand so agents can safely run code and explore many paths in parallel at scale. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/daytona-raises-24m-series-a-to-give-every-agent-a-computer-302680740.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.secondsightventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Second Sight Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://drinkwillies.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Willie’s Remedy+’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $15M Series A, a round led by Left Lane Capital to fuel national retail expansion and continued product development for its hemp-derived THC beverages positioned as an alcohol alternative. The company says it has already sold 400,000+ bottles in under a year and claims the top spot for online THC beverage sales as it gears up for broader distribution in 2026. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.fb101.com/willie-nelsons-willies-remedy-raises-15m-to-take-thc-drinks-nationwide-no-hangover-all-remedy/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.navitascap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Navitas Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://cadastral.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cadastral’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $9.5M funding round, with participation from JLL Spark Global Ventures, AvalonBay, Equity Residential, and 1Sharpe. Cadastral says it will use the capital to accelerate product development and expand go-to-market for its vertical AI platform, positioning the product as an “AI analyst in a box” that automates core commercial real estate workflows like underwriting and due diligence. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cadastral-raises-9-5-million-to-build-the-preeminent-vertical-ai-platform-for-commercial-real-estate-302680050.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lunarenergy.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lunar Energy’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $232M raise, which the company disclosed as two rounds: a $102M Series D led by B Capital and Prelude Ventures, and a previously unannounced $130M Series C led by Activate Capital. The startup says it will use the capital to rapidly scale home-battery manufacturing and deployments, turning those distributed systems into a grid-supporting virtual power plant as electricity demand surges. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/lunar-energy-raises-232m-to-deploy-home-batteries-that-prop-up-the-grid/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.goodfire.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Goodfire’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $150M Series B at a $1.25B valuation, a round that also included investors like Juniper Ventures, DFJ Growth, Salesforce Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Lightspeed, South Park Commons, Wing, and Eric Schmidt. Goodfire says it will use the funding to scale its interpretability-driven “model design environment,” aimed at helping teams understand, debug, and deliberately shape how AI models behave in high-stakes settings. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.goodfire.ai/blog/our-series-b?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://helena.org/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Helena</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.positron.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Positron AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $230M Series B at a post-money valuation above $1B, alongside strategic investors including Qatar Investment Authority and Arm. The round was co-led by ARENA Private Wealth, Jump Trading, and Unless, and the company says it will use the capital to scale energy-efficient AI inference now and accelerate its next-generation “Asimov” silicon roadmap. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260204250472/en/Positron-AI-Raises-%24230-Million-Series-B-at-Over-%241-Billion-Valuation-to-Scale-Energy-Efficient-AI-Inference?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://smashcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Smash Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://elevenlabs.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ElevenLabs’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $500M Series D, which values the company at $11B as it scales its voice and conversational AI products for enterprise use. The round was led by Sequoia Capital with support from existing backers like Andreessen Horowitz and ICONIQ Capital, plus additional participation including Lightspeed Venture Partners.</span><a class="link" href="https://elevenlabs.io/blog/series-d?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://mtechcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MTech Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://pasito.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pasito’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $21M Series A, a round led by Insight Partners with additional participation from Y Combinator. Pasito says it’s building an AI-native workspace for group health, life, and retirement benefits that turns messy, unstructured plan and census data into a unified layer so carriers and brokers can automate workflows end-to-end, from quoting and enrollment to support and claims. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pasito-raises-21-million-series-a-led-by-insight-partners-to-build-ai-workspace-for-the-benefits-industry-302675272.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://ruvo.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ruvo’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $4.6M seed round, led by 1confirmation with participation from Coinbase Ventures and others, as the Y Combinator-backed fintech expands its cross-border payments infrastructure between Brazil and the U.S. Ruvo says it operates like a U.S. dollar account for Brazilians, combining Pix, stablecoins, ACH/wire transfers, and a Visa card in one app to speed up remittances by reducing intermediaries. </span><a class="link" href="https://startupi.com.br/ruvo-capta-us-46-milhoes/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rainfall.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rainfall Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in a seed funding round for </span><a class="link" href="https://www.deftai.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Deft Robotics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> alongside Spring Camp, backing the company’s push to build AI-driven automation tools for manufacturers. The round amount wasn’t disclosed in the announcement, but the funding is positioned to help Deft scale product development and customer deployments in industrial settings. </span><a class="link" href="https://dealert.ai/deal_public/rainfall-ventures-springcamp-deft-robotics-ko0k?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://trousdale.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Trousdale Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cesiumastro.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CesiumAstro’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Series C by leading the $270M equity portion of a $470M total growth-capital raise, alongside investors including Woven Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, and Airbus Ventures. CesiumAstro says the broader financing also includes $200M from Export-Import Bank of the United States and J.P. Morgan, and will fund a major U.S. scale-up including a new 270,000-square-foot HQ and expanded manufacturing to accelerate deployment of its software-defined, AI-enabled space communications platforms. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cesiumastro.com/press-release/cesiumastro-closes-470m-series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://mucker.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mucker Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://linqapp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Linq’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $20M Series A, which was led by TQ Ventures to help the company become infrastructure for AI assistants that run directly inside messaging apps. Linq’s platform lets developers and businesses deploy assistants through channels like iMessage, RCS, and SMS, and the company says the funding will go toward expanding the team, building a go-to-market motion, and continuing to develop the product. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/02/linq-raises-20m-to-enable-ai-assistants-to-live-within-messaging-apps/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.soundventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sound Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://day.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Day AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $20M Series A, which was led by Sequoia Capital with additional participation from Greenoaks, Conviction, and Permanent Capital. Day AI says the funding will help scale its AI-native CRM platform and support its move into general availability, positioning “CRMx” as a faster, context-driven alternative to legacy systems that turn simple questions into slow projects. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.day.ai/resources/series-a-and-the-beginning-of-the-shift-in-crm?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.chaacventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Chaac Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.findarbor.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Arbor’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $6.3M seed round, which was led by 645 Ventures with additional backing from Next Play Ventures, Comma Capital, and angel investors. Arbor is building an AI interview and research platform that captures frontline employee and customer conversations and turns that qualitative “ground truth” into structured operational intelligence leaders can act on quickly, without slow surveys or pricey consultants. </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/arbor-raises-6-3m-seed-ai-frontline-insights/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.forwhen.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">When’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $10.2M Series A, a round co-led by ManchesterStory and 7wire, with new investor Mairs & Power Venture Capital and returning backers Enfield Capital Partners, TTV Capital, and Alumni Ventures. When says it helps employers and departing or transitioning employees navigate health coverage changes by steering people to more affordable alternatives to COBRA through an AI-powered marketplace and targeted reimbursements, with the new capital going toward team growth and expanding into more transition scenarios like Medicare eligibility and early retirements. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/886735111/when-raises-10m-series-a-to-transform-employee-health-benefits-during-critical-moments?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=skyryse-raised-300m-to-do-what-most-startups-can-t"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=ae53feb7-380c-4a9c-81e2-cdcf9853914a&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>$100M and a Space Force Deal: Northwood’s One-Two Punch</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:43:55 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-01-30T16:43:55Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello Los Angeles</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The most underrated part of the space boom isn’t what gets launched, it’s what happens after. A satellite can be flawless in orbit and still be functionally useless if you can’t talk to it fast, often, and reliably, especially when something breaks.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Torrance is proving the next space race is won on the ground</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.northwoodspace.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Northwood Space</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, operating out of a 35,000-square-foot facility in Torrance, just landed a rare one-two punch: a $100M Series B and a roughly $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract tied to upgrades for the Satellite Control Network, the system that supports launches, early operations, tracking and control, and emergency support when satellites go sideways. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.northwoodspace.io/media?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Series B</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was led by Washington Harbour Partners, co-led by Andreessen Horowitz, and included participation from Alpine Space Ventures, Founders Fund, StepStone, Balerion, Fulcrum, Pax, 137 Ventures, and others.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f5f450d6-6fb6-4019-8e62-817162094ce2/Northwood_Space_copy.jpeg?t=1769791065"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Northwood Space</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What’s intriguing here isn’t just the dollars, it’s the thesis. Northwood is arguing that the next wave of space companies won’t be constrained by rockets, but by operations and connectivity, meaning the ground layer becomes the strategic choke point. Their approach combines vertically integrated ground infrastructure with phased-array systems (“Portal”) that can steer multiple beams electronically and support missions across LEO, MEO, and GEO, aiming to make ground access feel less like bespoke aerospace procurement and more like scalable infrastructure.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Why this matters right now</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">In a market where “space” headlines often center on what’s above the atmosphere, this week’s signal is that the decisive advantage may live down here. If Northwood can make satellite communications more frequent, more flexible, and easier to scale, it doesn’t just help one mission, it changes the economics of operating entire fleets.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Scroll on for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.theoriginway.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Origin</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a pelvic floor physical therapy and women’s musculoskeletal care provider, raised a Series B led by SJF Ventures with participation from Blue Venture Fund and Gratitude Railroad, plus financing from California’s IBank and several angel investors. The company says it will use the funding to expand access to its hybrid model of in-person clinics and nationwide virtual care, and to invest in AI-enabled clinical tools, clinician training through Origin University, and additional clinical research. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/theoriginway_were-thrilled-to-announce-that-origin-has-activity-7422278900757532673-c44v?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAEO7AVkBHp-vaCtv8s7p9Fs033tjw6Ra0bM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://opendrives.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">OpenDrives</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> announced new funding led by IAG Capital Partners to support growth of its software platform for video data management used by media, sports, and enterprise teams. Alongside the investment, the company named longtime COO Trevor Morgan as CEO as it continues shifting from a hardware-first business to a software-focused platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/885941462/opendrives-announces-new-funding-led-by-iag-capital-partners-and-appoints-trevor-morgan-as-ceo?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://rogo.ai/series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rogo’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $75M Series C, a round led by Sequoia that values the AI “agent” platform at about $750M. The company says it will use the new funding to scale its AI system for investment-banking workflows and accelerate its European expansion, including opening its first international office in London. </span><a class="link" href="https://rogo.ai/news/scaling-rogo-to-build-the-future-of-investment-banking-our-75m-series-c-and-european-expansion?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://palebluedot.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">PaleBlueDot AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $150M Series B, pushing the AI compute platform’s valuation to over $1B. The company says it will use the funding to deepen its core tech and platform engineering, expand go-to-market, and scale across North America and Asia to meet rising enterprise demand for cost-efficient AI infrastructure.</span><a class="link" href="https://palebluedot.ai/newsRoom?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://modelence.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Modelence’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> seed round, which raised $3M and was led by Y Combinator alongside other investors. Modelence is building an all-in-one TypeScript toolkit that bundles essentials like auth, databases, hosting, and LLM observability to reduce the “stitching things together” headaches that come with vibe-coding and modern app infrastructure. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/28/modelence-raises-13-million-to-smooth-out-the-vibe-coding-stack/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://trex.bio/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TRexBio’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $50M financing alongside several new investors and existing backers. The company says it will use the funds to advance TRB-061, its TNFR2 agonist designed to selectively activate regulatory T cells, in an ongoing Phase 1a/b study for atopic dermatitis, and to move preclinical programs TRB-071 and TRB-081 toward the clinic.</span><a class="link" href="https://trex.bio/trexbio-closes-50-million-financing-to-support-a-growing-clinical-stage-immunology-pipeline-of-tissue-targeted-treg-therapeutics/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.bonfirevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bonfire Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.tryrisotto.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Risotto’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s $10M seed round to help the startup bring AI into help desk workflows and make ticketing systems easier to use. Risotto aims to autonomously resolve support tickets by sitting between tools like Jira and a company’s internal systems, using an AI layer designed to keep model outputs reliable and controlled. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/27/risotto-raises-10m-seed-to-use-ai-to-make-ticketing-systems-easier-to-use/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.calibratevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Calibrate Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated as a returning investor in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.grid.aero/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Grid Aero’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $20M Series A, which was co-led by Bison Ventures and Geodesic Capital. The aerospace and defense startup says it will use the funding to move its Lifter Lite autonomous aircraft from testing into operational deployments, supporting major exercises and early customer use cases as it scales long-range, low-cost autonomous airlift for contested environments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126456111/en/Aerospace-Defense-Startup-Grid-Aero-Raises-%2420M-Series-A-to-Scale-Long-Range-Autonomous-Airlift?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.bridg.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bridg</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://partech.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">PAR Technology</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> (from Cardlytics) in a deal valued at $27.5M in PAR stock, with the price potentially adjusting up to $30M, and it’s expected to close in Q1 2026. PAR plans to integrate Bridg’s identity-resolution capabilities so restaurants and retailers can unify loyalty and non-loyalty purchase data, recognize previously anonymous customers, and run and measure marketing more effectively. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126781721/en/PAR-Technology-to-Acquire-Bridg-Bringing-Loyalty-and-NonLoyalty-Data-Together-for-Smarter-Retail-and-Restaurant-Activation?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://joinassembly.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Assembly</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, an employee recognition and rewards platform founded in 2018 and used by 500+ organizations, is being acquired by talent-management provider </span><a class="link" href="https://www.quantumworkplace.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Quantum Workplace</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">. The deal adds built-in rewards to Quantum Workplace’s suite and is intended to connect recognition data with engagement, performance, development, and retention insights so leaders can better spot impact, reinforce values, and invest in keeping top talent. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.quantumworkplace.com/press-releases/quantum-workplace-acquires-assembly-recognition-rewards-platform?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=100m-and-a-space-force-deal-northwood-s-one-two-punch"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=d6726777-34ad-477d-ae9e-df7b7182a8e8&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Brex’s $5.15B Deal With Capital One Marks A New Era For Fintech</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:19:12 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-01-23T19:19:12Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[Deep Dive]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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    <div class='beehiiv'><style>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday, Los Angeles</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> 💳</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The first big fintech plot twist of 2026 is here. </span><a class="link" href="https://investor.capitalone.com/news-releases/news-release-details/capital-one-acquire-brex?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Capital One is buying Brex</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in a cash and stock deal valued at about $5.15 billion, in what the companies are calling the largest bank - fintech deal in history.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>From college dropouts to a multibillion exit</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.brex.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Brex</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> launched in 2017, when Brazilian founders </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/henriquedubugras/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Henrique Dubugras</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/pfranceschi/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pedro Franceschi</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, then in their early 20s after dropping out of Stanford, set out to fix the “startup card” problem. That project turned into an AI-native finance platform that now serves tens of thousands of companies, from early-stage startups to hundreds of public enterprises.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">A few years into that journey, both founders moved to Los Angeles and continued running Brex from here as the company embraced a fully remote model. Now that same LA-based duo is steering a multibillion-dollar acquisition that will plug their software directly into one of the biggest banks in the country. Pedro will stay on as CEO of Brex inside Capital One, with the brand and product continuing rather than disappearing into a rebrand.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Why this looks like a win</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">“Big bank buys fintech” can sound like the end of the startup story, but here it reads more like an expansion pack. Capital One gets Brex’s cloud-based spend stack, AI-powered controls and roughly $13 billion in commercial deposits. Brex gets a massive balance sheet, a regulated rails partner and access to the mainstream business market it has been edging toward for years.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">For founders and operators here, it is also quiet validation that building hard fintech infrastructure still pays off. Brex spent years doing the unglamorous work of licenses, compliance, underwriting and integrations. The outcome isn’t a hype cycle spike; it is a classic, real-money exit for a very modern stack.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>What it signals for LA’s ecosystem</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">LA is not getting a new headquarters out of this. Brex has embraced a “no HQ” model. What the city does have is a pair of founders who chose to build their lives here and just proved that you can run a global finance platform from Los Angeles and end up selling it to a top-six U.S. bank.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">It also fits a broader pattern our ecosystem is leaning into. Whether it is fintech, defense tech or climate, the most interesting LA stories right now are not about front-end apps. They are about deep, regulated infrastructure that incumbents eventually need more than startups need them.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">For Brex, this is the start of a new chapter inside Capital One. For LA, it is one more data point that the city’s founders can build products the rest of the financial system has to buy.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Scroll on for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://l-nutra.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">L-Nutra</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured a new $36.5M investment from </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mubadala/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mubadala</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing its total Series D proceeds to $83.5M. The company, which develops longevity-focused and medical nutrition therapies, plans to use the funding to accelerate global expansion, advance clinical research, and scale adoption of its nutrition programs across healthcare providers and consumers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/l-nutra-secures-36-5m-investment-from-mubadala-raising-series-d-proceeds-to-83-5m-and-accelerating-global-expansion-of-its-longevity-and-medical-nutrition-therapies-302666171.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://riskfront.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RiskFront AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $3.3M in pre-seed funding to make financial crime and compliance work far less manual. The US-based startup uses “agentic AI” to automate time-consuming tasks like research, data analysis and documentation, with its Airos platform handling much of the day-to-day workload so human analysts can focus on higher-value judgment calls. The new capital will help expand engineering and product teams and deepen integrations with banks and fintechs already piloting the system. </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/riskfront-ai-raises-3-3m-agentic-ai-financial-crime-compliance/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.balancehomes.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Balance Homes</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> relaunched with a $30M investment led by Falco Group to scale its equity-sharing model for homeowners who are “house rich but cash and credit constrained.” The company buys a co-ownership stake in a home to free up trapped equity so owners can pay down mortgages and high-interest debt while staying in their homes, instead of being forced to sell. After stabilizing its existing portfolio following EasyKnock’s shutdown, Balance Homes is now resuming originations in six states, with plans to expand as affordability and household debt pressures intensify. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.housingwire.com/articles/balance-homes-relaunch-equity/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="http://www.distributedglobal.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Distributed Global</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co-led </span><a class="link" href="https://superstate.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Superstate’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $82.5M Series B, backing the Robert Leshner - founded tokenization platform as it builds regulated, on-chain capital markets infrastructure. The round, alongside Bain Capital Crypto and other institutional investors, will help Superstate expand beyond its existing tokenized U.S. Treasury funds to a full issuance layer for SEC-registered equities on Ethereum and Solana. The company, which already manages over $1.1B in tokenized assets, plans to scale its Opening Bell platform and transfer agent stack so public companies can issue and manage compliant on-chain shares directly. </span><a class="link" href="https://superstate.com/newsroom/superstate-raises-82.5m-series-b-financing?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.krewcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Krew Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in GIGR </span><a class="link" href="http://playad.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">(</a><a class="link" href="https://Playad.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Playad.ai</a><a class="link" href="http://playad.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">)’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $5.4M pre-seed round, backing the San Francisco based startup as it builds multi-agent AI workflows for marketing teams. GIGR’s Playad platform starts with interactive ads, using AI agents to help marketers create, test and iterate on playable and other ad formats much faster while turning performance data into continuous creative improvement. The new funding will support product development, expansion of its AI-native creative workflow and scaling to more customers looking to cut production costs and tighten the loop between ad performance and creative decisions. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigrplayadai-raises-5-4m-pre-seed-to-build-multi-agent-ai-marketing-workflows-302666685.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://trousdale.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Trousdale Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.aheadcomputing.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">AheadComputing’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> additional $30M Seed2 round, backing the Portland-based chip startup as it reimagines CPU architecture for the AI era. AheadComputing is developing high-performance RISC-V based CPUs and breakthrough microarchitecture aimed at handling the growing wave of AI data center, workstation and embedded workloads where CPU performance has become a bottleneck. The new funding, which brings total capital raised to $53M, will support R&D, software innovation and test chip development as the company races to deliver next-generation general purpose processors. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.aheadcomputing.com/press-releases/aheadcomputing-inc-raises-additional-30m-seed2-round-to-reimagine-cpu-architecture?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.untapped.ventures/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Untapped Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://Nexxa.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nexxa.ai</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $9M seed round, backing the Sunnyvale-based startup as it scales specialized AI agents for heavy-industry workflows. Nexxa’s Nitro platform layers multi-agent automation on top of existing tools used in sectors like rail, construction, manufacturing and critical infrastructure, helping engineers plan and execute complex projects without ripping out legacy systems. The new funding brings </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><a class="link" href="https://Nexxa.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nexxa.ai</a></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s total capital raised to $14M and will go toward expanding deployments, forward-deployed engineering teams and support for more industrial customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://nexxa.ai/seed-round?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://UP.Partners?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UP.Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://zanskar.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zanskar</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $115M Series C, backing the Salt Lake City based geothermal startup as it uses AI to uncover overlooked conventional geothermal resources across the Western U.S. The company has already validated several high-potential sites and plans to use the funding to expand its discovery platform and begin developing multiple greenfield power plants, with a goal of bringing significant new clean baseload capacity to the grid before 2030. </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/zanskar-thinks-1-tw-of-geothermal-power-is-being-overlooked/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://smashcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Smash Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in</span><a class="link" href="https://stream.co/en-us?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Stream’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $90M Series D, backing the UK based workplace finance startup as it ramps expansion into the U.S. market. Formerly known as Wagestream, Stream partners with employers to offer workers tools like earned wage access, savings, budgeting and pensions in a single app, targeting financial stress for lower and middle income employees. The new funding, led by Sofina, brings total capital raised to about $228M and will help Stream scale its multi-product platform across more brands and workers globally. </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/stream-raises-90m-series-d-expands-workplace-finance-us/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fika.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fika Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.ivo.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ivo’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $55M funding round, backing the San Francisco based legal AI startup alongside lead investor Blackbird and others. Ivo builds contract intelligence tools for in-house legal teams and enterprises, using a highly structured approach that breaks reviews into hundreds of smaller AI tasks to boost accuracy and reduce hallucinations. The new capital, which reportedly values the company at around $355M, will go toward accelerating product development and hiring more sales and go-to-market talent to meet growing demand. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/legal-ai-startup-ivo-raises-55-million-latest-funding-round-2026-01-20/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://Amplify.LA?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Amplify.LA</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://over.world/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Overworld’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> latest funding round, backing the AI startup as it unveils a real-time diffusion world model for playable, AI-native worlds. Overworld’s system runs locally and generates persistent, interactive environments on the fly, aiming to become core infrastructure for next-generation games, simulations and creative tools built around world models rather than static assets. The new capital will support further development of its Waypoint 1 research preview and help the team expand its platform for researchers, engineers and builders working on interactive AI experiences. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/20/3222189/0/en/Overworld-Unveils-Real-Time-Diffusion-World-Model-for-Playable-AI-Native-Worlds.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.dangerous.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dangerous Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.carbogenics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Carbogenics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $3M investment and grant funding round, backing the Edinburgh-based bio-carbon startup as it scales its carbon removal technology. Carbogenics turns difficult-to-recycle organic waste into CreChar, a biochar product that boosts biogas production, supports wastewater treatment and locks away carbon. The new funding will help the company expand manufacturing in the US, grow its centralized UK operations and deploy its biocarbon products across the UK, Europe and North America.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.carbogenics.com/news/carbogenics-secures-3-million-investment-for-growth-and-international-expansion/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://farcaster.xyz/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Farcaster</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://neynar.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Neynar</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the infrastructure company that already powers much of the Farcaster ecosystem, in a full-stack handoff from Merkle Manufactory. Neynar will assume control of the decentralized social protocol’s smart contracts, code repositories, official app and Clanker client, while Farcaster co-founders Dan Romero and Varun Srinivasan step back from day-to-day operations after five years. The deal keeps the network running without disruption and sets Neynar up to roll out a new, builder-focused roadmap for on-chain social. </span><a class="link" href="https://neynar.com/blog/neynar-is-acquiring-farcaster?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.scribblevet.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ScribbleVet</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://instinct.vet/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instinct Science</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is folding the veterinary AI-scribing startup into its Instinct EMR platform to create what it calls an “intelligent-native” practice management system. The combined offering aims to move traditional PIMS beyond record-keeping by embedding AI scribing, workflow automation and clinical decision support in one system, reducing documentation burden and helping veterinary teams focus more on patient care. ScribbleVet’s team is joining Instinct, with founder and CEO Rohan Relan taking on a key role leading product strategy for intelligence features across the platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instinct-science-acquires-scribblevet-to-deliver-the-next-generation-of-intelligent-native-veterinary-practice-management-software-302663643.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=brex-s-5-15b-deal-with-capital-one-marks-a-new-era-for-fintech"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=b86bb23b-a9bd-4c43-87a7-37370c76ad4c&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>JetZero Just Raised $175M to Rewrite How We Fly</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:08:36 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-01-16T15:08:36Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[Best Of La]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday, Los Angeles</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> ✈️</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">While everyone in tech is still busy arguing about the next AI model, one startup based out of Long Beach just raised a whole lot of money to change the shape of the airplane itself.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/197f4782-4692-4b6f-a495-d8885e41bef0/JetZero_EnvPan_Blue_Still2-600w.png?t=1768574739"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: JetZero</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.jetzero.aero/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">JetZero</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> closed a </span><a class="link" href="https://www.jetzero.aero/jetzero-raises-175-million-in-series-b-financing?hs_preview=cDAeQNgB-204849107557&hsLang=en&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">$175 million Series B</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to build its blended wing body “all-wing” airliner, with </span><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> leading the round alongside United Airlines Ventures, Northrop Grumman, 3M Ventures, Trucks VC and RTX Ventures. The company is working toward a full-scale Demonstrator aircraft that targets at least 30% better fuel efficiency than today’s tube-and-wing jets, with a first flight planned for 2027 and a commercial Z4 airliner to follow in the early 2030s.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This is not a small bet. JetZero’s pitch is that airlines and regulators need a way to hit climate targets without waiting on sci-fi batteries or hydrogen infrastructure, and that a radically more efficient airframe is the most realistic path. It is also very much an LA story: deep aerospace talent, strategic money at the table, and a product that looks like a mashup of climate tech, defense tech and old-school manufacturing rather than another SaaS dashboard.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">There is still a long way to go. The next few years are about turning simulations and wind-tunnel charts into flight data, working with regulators and proving that a manta-ray-shaped jet can slot into a world built for Boeings and Airbuses. But if JetZero gets anywhere close, it will mean that one of the most ambitious hardware bets in commercial aviation is being engineered out of Long Beach.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Scroll on for the latest LA venture rounds, fund news and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.noagentlist.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">No Agent List</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured $10M in private investment to launch its AI powered real estate platform ahead of a planned Spring 2026 debut. The Los Angeles based company aims to put “agent level” tools directly in the hands of buyers, sellers and vendors, offering direct access to off market properties, FSBOs, distressed assets, foreclosures, tax liens and auctions that have traditionally been gated by agents and insiders. The funding will support product development and rollout of the platform, which promises more control over transactions while using AI to surface opportunities and streamline the deal process. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/882461120/no-agent-list-secures-10-million-in-private-investment-to-launch-ai-powered-platform-redefining-the-real-estate-space?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.hadrian.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hadrian</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the Los Angeles based advanced manufacturing startup, announced new capital led by accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates to accelerate its push to “reindustrialize” American manufacturing. The financing, which also includes Altimeter Capital, D1 Capital Partners, StepStone Group, 1789 Capital, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, a16z, Construct Capital and others, values the company at $1.6B and will be used to expand its high-throughput factories, grow its workforce and deploy more AI, software and automation across its “factories-as-a-service” platform for aerospace, defense and critical infrastructure customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hadrian-partners-with-t-rowe-price-to-accelerate-the-reindustrialization-of-america-302657125.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://bluebearcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Blue Bear Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://hydrosat.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hydrosat’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $60M Series B, backing the thermal infrared satellite data company alongside lead investors Hartree Partners, Subutai Capital Partners and Space 4 Earth. The funding will help Hydrosat expand its constellation beyond its two current satellites, ramp global coverage and deepen its AI-powered “thermal intelligence” products for water resource management, agriculture, civil government and defense customers worldwide. </span><a class="link" href="https://spacenews.com/hydrosat-raises-60-million-in-series-b-funding/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://elysianpark.ventures/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Elysian Park Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led a $12M growth round for </span><a class="link" href="https://www.diamondkinetics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diamond Kinetics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, backing the Pittsburgh-based baseball tech company as it doubles down on youth development. The new capital will help Diamond Kinetics scale sidelineHD, its AI-powered youth baseball and softball live streaming and highlights platform, and expand its broader suite of training tools as MLB’s Trusted Youth Development Platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/01/15/diamond-kinetics-raises-12m-round-to-scale-youth-offering/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://depthfirst.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Depthfirst’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $40M Series A round, backing the San Francisco based applied AI lab alongside lead investor Accel, Alt Capital, BoxGroup, Liquid 2 Ventures and SV Angel. Depthfirst is building an AI-native “General Security Intelligence” platform that uses autonomous agents to detect, triage and remediate software vulnerabilities across code and infrastructure, aiming to outpace a new wave of AI-powered cyberattacks. The fresh capital will fund R&D, go-to-market efforts and hiring as the company scales its security platform for enterprise customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114573872/en/depthfirst-Announces-%2440M-Series-A-to-Secure-the-Worlds-Software?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://cedarssinaihv.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cedars-Sinai Health Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://vista.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vista AI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $29.5M Series B, joining a slate of leading health systems backing the company’s automated MRI scanning software. The Palo Alto-based startup will use the funding to expand its FDA-cleared cardiac MRI platform to additional anatomies like brain, prostate and spine, and to roll out remote scanning services that let hospitals without in-house MRI expertise offer advanced imaging while easing backlogs and technologist shortages </span><a class="link" href="https://vista.ai/vista-ai-secures-29-5m-in-series-b-funding-as-health-systems-back-automated-mri-scanning/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://fourwardventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fourward Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is leading a new strategic growth investment in Mermaid Gin, backing the Isle of Wight–based premium spirits brand as it accelerates expansion in the U.S. market. The round brings Fourward’s founder Will Ward onto the board as lead investor and is paired with a national distribution partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, plus the appointment of longtime Moët Hennessy veteran Jim Clerkin as CEO for the U.S. push. The capital and partnership are aimed at scaling Mermaid Gin in the fast-growing U.S. super-premium gin segment while preserving its sustainability-focused, Isle of Wight roots. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mermaid-gin-announces-strategic-growth-partnership-to-accelerate-us-expansion-302659778.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://hyperion-cp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hyperion Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.haiqu.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Haiqu’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s $11M seed round, backing the quantum software startup alongside Primary Venture Partners, Collaborative Fund, Alumni Ventures, Qudit Ventures, Silicon Roundabout Ventures, Harlow Capital, Toyota Ventures and MaC Venture Capital. Haiqu is building a hardware-aware quantum operating system and middleware layer that boosts the performance of today’s noisy quantum hardware, with the new funding going toward productizing its platform and enabling near-term commercial use cases in areas like finance, cybersecurity and scientific computing.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.haiqu.ai/insights/raise?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly#raise" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.soundventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sound Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://witness.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WitnessAI’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $58M strategic funding round, backing the Mountain View based AI security and governance platform alongside investors including Fin Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, Samsung Ventures and Forgepoint Capital Partners. The company will use the capital to accelerate global go-to-market efforts and expand its platform, which secures AI agents and models by monitoring agent activity, linking human and agent actions, and blocking prompt injection and other attacks in real time. WitnessAI also unveiled new agentic AI governance tools that give enterprises deeper observability and policy control as they scale AI agents across their operations. </span><a class="link" href="https://witness.ai/resources/witnessai-raises-58-million-for-global-expansion-and-announces-new-ways-to-secure-ai-agents/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://proximabio.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Proxima’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $80M seed financing, backing the newly rebranded AI-native biotech (formerly VantAI) alongside lead investor DCVC, NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture arm), Braidwell, Roivant and others. Proxima is building a generative AI driven platform for “proximity-based medicines” that modulate protein protein interactions, including molecular glues and PROTACs, to go after historically undruggable targets in oncology, immunology and beyond. The new capital will accelerate its NeoLink structural proteomics and Neo AI model stack, and advance a pipeline of first-in-class proximity-modulating therapeutics toward the clinic. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113074220/en/Proxima-Raises-%2480-Million-Led-by-DCVC-to-Power-the-Next-Generation-of-Proximity-Based-Medicines?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more </a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.clocktowerventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Clocktower Technology Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.weatherpromise.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WeatherPromise</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s oversubscribed $12.8M Series A, backing the weather-guarantee startup alongside lead investor Maveron, 1Sharpe, Lerer Hippeau, Commerce Ventures, MS Transverse, Start Ventures, 1Flourish and others. WeatherPromise partners with major travel brands like Marriott, Expedia and JetBlue to offer “weather guarantees” that automatically refund trips when conditions are worse than promised, driving demand for travel, events and outdoor experiences. The new capital will accelerate product development, expand strategic partnerships and scale the platform across more consumer categories. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/weatherpromise-closes-oversubscribed-series-a-round-led-by-maveron-302659489.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.sandstone.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sandstone’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $10M seed round, backing the AI-native legal tech startup alongside lead investor Sequoia Capital and others. Sandstone is building an operating system for in-house legal teams that uses AI agents to route requests, draft and review contracts, and surface answers directly inside tools like email, Slack and Salesforce, turning institutional legal knowledge into reusable workflows. The new capital will help the Brooklyn-based company scale its product and grow its customer base of corporate legal departments. </span><a class="link" href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/legal-ops-and-tech/sequoia-leads-backing-of-ai-legal-technology-startup-sandstone?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://strongvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Strong Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://hupo.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hupo’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $10M Series A round, backing the Singapore-based AI sales coaching startup alongside lead investor DST Global Partners, Collaborative Fund, January Capital and Goodwater Capital. Hupo’s platform uses AI to coach frontline banking, insurance and financial services sales teams in real time, helping them ramp faster and close more deals across highly regulated markets in APAC and Europe. The new funding will support product development, expansion of its coaching features and scaling enterprise deployments as the company eyes broader international growth. </span><a class="link" href="https://hupo.co/news/hupo-series-a/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://freeflow.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freeflow Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://viveretx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vivere Oncotherapies’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> more than $10M funding round, backing the UC Berkeley spinout alongside YK Bioventures, Pillar, Berkeley Frontier Fund and the National Cancer Institute. Vivere is developing targeted immunotherapies for “cold” solid tumors like colorectal and ovarian cancers, aiming to activate the immune system against tumors that typically evade detection and resist existing treatments. The new capital will support advancement of its proprietary bioengineering platform and pipeline of therapies for patients with few effective options today. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113501299/en/Vivere-Oncotherapies-Announces-%2410M-Funding-to-Develop-Targeted-Therapies-for-Solid-Tumors?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined</span><a class="link" href="https://www.precede.bio/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Precede Biosciences</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $63.5M Series B equity round, part of an $83.5M total financing package that also includes a $20M strategic, non-dilutive credit facility. The Boston based precision diagnostics and data company is scaling its blood-based platform, which measures target expression and pathway activity to support next-generation cancer therapies like drug, radio and immune conjugates. The new capital will help Precede meet growing demand from biopharma partners developing these precision medicines and accelerate commercialization and health system adoption. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.precede.bio/news/seriesb-financing?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://recludixpharma.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Recludix Pharma’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> new equity financing round alongside Access Biotechnology, NEA and Westlake BioPartners, with additional strategic investment from Eli Lilly. The San Diego based, clinical-stage biotech will use the $123M in total equity raised to advance clinical development of its novel SH2 domain inhibitor pipeline for inflammatory diseases and to tap Lilly’s TuneLab AI/ML platform to accelerate discovery across its broader SH2 domain program. </span><a class="link" href="https://recludixpharma.com/recludix-pharma-announces-equity-financing-to-advance-clinical-development-of-novel-sh2-domain-inhibitors/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://boldcapitalpartners.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BOLD Capital Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.magiccube.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MagicCube’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s $10M funding round, backing the Cupertino-based software security company alongside strategic investor Verifone and other existing backers. MagicCube plans to use the capital to expand beyond its core tap-to-phone payments offering into biometrics, identity verification and AI-driven device security, while scaling its Software Defined Trust platform that delivers hardware-grade protection through software on standard mobile and IoT devices.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magiccube-raises-10-million-to-expand-beyond-tap-to-phone-adds-verifone-as-strategic-investor-302657858.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.webalo.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Webalo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prometheusgroup.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Prometheus Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is folding the Los Angeles based “no-code for the frontline” platform into its enterprise asset management software suite. The deal will combine Webalo’s mobile, real-time workflows for frontline workers with Prometheus Group’s planning and scheduling tools, aiming to create a closed-loop digital execution platform that connects shopfloor actions directly back into systems of record like SAP and Oracle. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114630870/en/Prometheus-Group-Acquires-Webalo-to-Deliver-a-Closed-Loop-Digital-Execution-Platform-from-the-Frontline-to-the-System-of-Record?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=jetzero-just-raised-175m-to-rewrite-how-we-fly"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=dcd90eb3-9e19-4005-a5bc-5fe8c1153717&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Inside Tinder’s 380-Matches-Per-Second Sunday</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:28:03 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2026-01-09T17:28:03Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[Deep Dive]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
    <div class='beehiiv'><style>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy New Year, Los Angeles. </b></span>💘</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you want a clear read on how people actually behave when the calendar flips, you do not need a survey. You need Tinder’s Dating Sunday data. The numbers below are from January 2025, compared with 2024, and they show a pattern the app sees every year when millions of people log in and take their love life off pause.</span></p><h3 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="tinders-annual-traffic-spike-by-the">🔥<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b> Tinder’s Annual Traffic Spike, By The Numbers</b></span></h3><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">On Dating Sunday, the first Sunday of the year, </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><a class="link" href="https://tinder.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tinder</a></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> hit its biggest activity spike on the calendar. Compared with the app’s typical daily averages for that year, and trends versus the prior year:</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">📈<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Swipes were nearly </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>13%</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> higher</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">💬<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Messages were nearly </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>10%</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> higher</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">❤️ Likes were over </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>10%</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> higher</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">🗣️ Users had almost </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>7%</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> more conversations</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;">🤝<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Matches climbed to about 380 matches per second, roughly a 10% lift compared to the rest of the year</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Across Peak Season, from January 1 through February 14, Tinder saw on the order of 10 million more messages per day and roughly 40 million additional likes than its non peak baseline.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The figures are from last January, but the shape of this curve is remarkably consistent year after year, which is why they are a solid proxy for what is happening again at the start of 2026.</span></p><h3 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="not-just-more-use-different-use"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>⚡ Not Just More Use, Different Use</b></span></h3><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What makes the Dating Sunday data more interesting than a simple “usage went up” story is how behavior shifted compared with the same day the year before.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Users replied about 2 hours and 25 minutes faster on average while also sending more messages, more likes and starting more conversations. That looks less like background swiping and more like a concentrated intent spike, people coming back to the app with a clear goal and actually engaging.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">From a product and infrastructure perspective, that turns this one Sunday into a full stack exercise. Ranking, recommendations, notifications, trust and safety and core scale all get hammered at once, with high signal data flooding the system over a short window. Most apps only see that kind of behavior during a one off viral moment or a big launch. Tinder sees it every January.</span></p><h3 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="what-the-surge-actually-signals">📊<span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b> What The Surge Actually Signals</b></span></h3><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">There is plenty of talk about people being tired of apps. The behavior here tells a more nuanced story.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">When the calendar flipped last year, people reopened Tinder, used it more, started more conversations and replied faster than they had the year before. That does not look like a category that has lost its grip on users. It looks like a mature consumer network that can still generate predictable, measurable spikes of attention and intent on cue.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If those patterns hold, the first few weeks of 2026 once again look less like a slow reset and more like a live load test for an LA built product at global scale.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now keep scrolling for this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.cambium-usa.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cambium</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, an El Segundo based advanced materials startup, raised a $100M Series B led by 8VC. The company uses AI, chemical informatics and high-performance computing to design new polymers and composites for defense, aerospace and other high-performance sectors, and will use the funding to accelerate its product pipeline and scale manufacturing capacity across the U.S. and Europe following its acquisition of SHD. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cambium-secures-100-million-series-b-to-accelerate-the-discovery-and-scaling-of-advanced-materials-302649717.html?tc=eml_cleartime&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.pluscapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Plus Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.pomelocare.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pomelo Care’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $92M Series C, backing the New York based virtual care company at a $1.7B valuation alongside lead investor Stripes, Andreessen Horowitz, Atomico, BoxGroup and SV Angel. Pomelo, which already covers about 25 million lives and nearly 7% of U.S. births, will use the funding to take its proven, outcomes-driven maternity model and expand it across women’s and children’s health more broadly, from reproductive care and pediatrics through hormonal health, perimenopause and menopause. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pomelo-care-raises-92-million-series-c-reaches-1-7-billion-valuation-to-expand-its-proven-model-beyond-maternity--set-a-new-national-standard-for-womens-and-childrens-healthcare-302656418.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.kittyhawkvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kittyhawk</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Frontier is leading a $2M seed round in Denver based </span><a class="link" href="https://www.encoord.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">encoord</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, joining new and existing investors to back the company’s grid-planning software platform. encoord’s flagship product, SAInt, is designed to give utilities, developers, data centers and grid operators an integrated financial and operational view of the power system, helping cut interconnection timelines by up to five years and optimize capital planning. The new capital will go toward expanding the team, advancing the platform and scaling into key markets as demand for smarter, electrification-ready grid planning tools accelerates. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.einpresswire.com/article/881311373/kittyhawk-frontier-leads-2m-seed-round-in-encoord-to-accelerate-grid-planning-innovation?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Real Estate Equities</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mediartx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mediar Therapeutics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $76M Series B, joining new investors like Longwood Fund and Asahi Kasei Pharma Ventures in a round co-led by Amplitude Ventures and ICG. The Boston-based biotech will use the funding to advance its first-in-class fibrosis portfolio, including MTX-474, now in a global Phase 2a trial for systemic sclerosis, and MTX-439, which is moving into Phase 1 studies for fibrosis associated with chronic kidney disease, alongside its partnered MTX-463 program with Eli Lilly. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mediartx.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mediar-Series-B-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.gordonmdglobalinvestment.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GordonMD Global Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://soleytherapeutics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Soley Therapeutics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $200M Series C, backing the South San Francisco based biotech as it advances its AI-enabled cell stress sensing platform and oncology pipeline. The round, led by Surveyor Capital with participation from new and existing investors, will fund IND-enabling work and early clinical trials for Soley’s lead acute myeloid leukemia (AML) program and a second solid-tumor asset, while also expanding non-oncology programs in neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases and scaling the platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://soleytherapeutics.com/soley-therapeutics-announces-200-million-series-c-financing-to-propel-lead-oncology-programs-into-the-clinic-and-scale-its-cell-stress-sensing-platform/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.carerev.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CareRev</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.intelycare.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">IntelyCare</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is combining its post-acute healthcare staffing platform with CareRev’s on-demand workforce marketplace for acute care. The deal creates one of the more comprehensive clinical labor platforms in the market, spanning clinician-facing job boards, internal resource pool tools, contingent labor and recruiter solutions to help health systems manage permanent and flexible staff in one place. Both brands will continue operating under their existing names while integrating offerings for hospitals, health systems and clinicians. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intelycare-acquires-carerev-to-create-comprehensive-workforce-staffing-platform-for-health-systems-302655511.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=inside-tinder-s-380-matches-per-second-sunday"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=c67ceced-4fa1-4842-8a95-7dcd255053bc&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>LA Is Betting on Nukes, Netflix and Next-Gen Attention</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:31:33 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-12-19T19:31:33Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hey Los Angeles.</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you were looking for a quiet week, this was not it. LA is backing a portable nuclear reactor, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.netflix.com/browse?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Netflix</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> just took a big step closer to owning </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wbd.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Warner Bros. Discovery’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> future, and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.snap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Snapchat</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is basically handing the city a mirror and saying, “Here is what you did with your attention all year.”</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Let’s dive in.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Radiant’s microreactors and LA’s new nuclear moment</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://radiantnuclear.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Radiant Nuclear</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised </span><a class="link" href="https://radiantnuclear.com/blog/series-d-announcement/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">more than $300M in a Series D round</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to build Kaleidos, a one megawatt portable nuclear microreactor that is designed to roll off a factory line, ship in a standard container and replace diesel generators at remote sites, military bases and disaster zones. The new capital will fund a full scale test at Idaho National Lab and the build out of Radiant’s R 50 factory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which aims to produce up to 50 reactors a year starting later this decade.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">For LA’s climate and infrastructure ecosystem, this is a big tell. The city that got rich on pipelines of content is now funding pipelines of electrons, betting that small, modular nuclear can be part of the grid story that powers everything from data centers to defense. It is a very different flavor of LA tech, but the pattern is familiar: take a frontier technology, wrap it in product thinking and try to make it feel as boring and reliable as a utility bill.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery: one step closer</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">On the media front, Netflix just received an </span><a class="link" href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-welcomes-wbd-board-recommendation?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">official recommendation</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> from Warner Bros. Discovery’s board to proceed with the planned acquisition of WBD’s studios and streaming business. The board reaffirmed that the Netflix deal, which would fold Warner Bros. film and TV, HBO and HBO Max into Netflix, is in the best interest of shareholders, even as competing ideas swirl around what to do with the company.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Practically, this does not mean the deal is done. It means the process has moved from “big idea in a press release” into the slower, more serious phase of shareholder approvals and regulatory review. For Los Angeles, every incremental step like this reinforces the likely end state: a world where a handful of global platforms control not just distribution but also the studios and libraries that defined Hollywood’s last century.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Snapchat’s 2025 Recap and the attention economy in our backyard</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Then there is Snapchat, which used its </span><a class="link" href="https://newsroom.snap.com/snapchat-recap-2025?lang=en-US&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">2025 Recap</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to show off what its mostly Gen Z and Gen Alpha users actually did on the app this year. The company is leaning into personalized “year in review” stories that highlight top chats, memories, maps moments and creator content, while quietly reminding brands and investors that Snap still owns a very specific slice of youth attention that is hard to find anywhere else.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">For LA, Snapchat’s recap is more than a cute end of year product. It is a reminder that some of the most important social infrastructure for the next generation is being built and iterated a short drive from Santa Monica Boulevard. While the grown ups argue about nuclear reactors and studio mergers, Snap is training the next wave of consumers how to communicate, create and remember their lives on a platform that barely existed fifteen years ago.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Taken together, this week says a lot about what “LA tech” means in 2025. On one end, you have Radiant trying to change how we power the physical world. On the other, Netflix and Snapchat are fighting over how we package and monetize the stories that live in our heads. Somewhere in the middle are the founders, investors and operators here who see all of this as raw material.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now keep scrolling for this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://fixated.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fixated</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured a $50M strategic investment from Eldridge Industries to fuel what it calls the “next era of creator-led empires.” The company says the capital will help it expand its capabilities and partnerships that support creators in building and scaling their own brands and businesses beyond traditional sponsorship deals. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fixated-secures-50-million-strategic-investment-from-eldridge-industries-to-power-next-era-of-creator-led-empires-302645398.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.vital-lyfe.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vital Lyfe</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $24M in financing, including more than $18M in seed funding, in a round led by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/interlagoscapital/about/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Interlagos</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and General Catalyst with participation from Generational Partners, Cantos, </span><a class="link" href="https://Space.VC?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Space.VC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and Also Capital. The Hawthorne based startup, founded by former SpaceX engineers, will use the capital to ramp manufacturing of its portable, autonomous “water making” systems, expand early deployments with partners like maritime operators and NGOs, and prepare for its first consumer ready products in 2026. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vital-lyfe-announces-24-million-seed-round-to-redefine-global-water-access-302642755.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Molly Sims’ </span><a class="link" href="https://www.ysebeauty.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">YSE Beauty</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> closed a $15M Series A growth equity round led by Silas Capital, with participation from L Catterton and existing backers Willow Growth Partners and </span><a class="link" href="https://halogenvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Halogen Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">. The clinically tested skincare brand, which targets women 35+ and recently rolled out nationally at Sephora, will use the funding to fuel product development, expand across Sephora doors in the U.S., and grow its direct-to-consumer e-commerce business. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/molly-sims-yse-beauty-closes-15m-series-a-growth-equity-investment-from-silas-capital-and-l-catterton-302642934.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.emberlifesciences.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ember LifeSciences</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $16.5M Series A led by Sea Court Capital, with participation from Cardinal Health, Carrier Ventures and other strategic investors including former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The Los Angeles based cold chain tech company will use the funding to launch its next generation Ember Cube 2 shipping system and expand globally, helping pharma and healthcare customers cut temperature related losses and waste in medicine distribution. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.emberlifesciences.com/post/ember-lifesciences-secures-16-5-million-series-a-funding-to-advance-breakthrough-cold-chain-solutio?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://strada.tech/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Strada</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a Los Angeles–based media collaboration startup, received a strategic investment from Other World Computing (OWC) to accelerate its product roadmap. The company’s peer-to-peer platform lets video pros access, share and review large files directly from local drives anywhere in the world, without uploading to the cloud. The partnership will also include co-marketing efforts, joint NAB 2026 presence, and bundled offerings that pair Strada’s software with OWC’s storage and workflow hardware. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251215702396/en/Strada-Receives-Strategic-Investment-from-OWC?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.calibratevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Calibrate Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.manifold.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Manifold’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> Series B round, backing the company as it scales its AI technology platform. Manifold plans to use the new capital to accelerate product development, deepen its capabilities for enterprise customers, and grow its team to support broader commercial rollout. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.manifold.ai/resources/manifold-series-b?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.smartgate.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">SmartGateVC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.neuraworx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NeuraWorx’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed seed round, which was led by Nexus NeuroTech to back the company’s neurotechnology based therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. NeuraWorx plans to use the capital to advance its R&D and early clinical work, build out its technology and product pipeline, and expand its team as it moves toward bringing new CNS treatments to market. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251217796461/en/NeuraWorx-Closes-Oversubscribed-Seed-Round-Led-by-Nexus-NeuroTech-to-Advance-Neurotechnology-Therapy-for-CNS-Disorders?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.kinshipventures.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kinship Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://lovable.dev/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lovable’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $330M Series B, which values the Stockholm based “vibe coding” platform at $6.6B in a round co-led by CapitalG and Menlo Ventures’ Anthology fund. The company lets non developers build full stack software from natural language prompts, and says it will use the new capital to scale its AI native platform globally, deepen enterprise features and integrations, and support a fast growing base of business users building production apps on Lovable. </span><a class="link" href="https://lovable.dev/blog/series-b?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.moengage.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MoEngage’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $180M Series F follow-on, which brings the customer engagement platform’s total Series F raise to $280M. The round was led by ChrysCapital and Dragon Funds, with Schroders Capital and TR Capital also joining, and will be used to accelerate MoEngage’s Merlin AI product roadmap, expand go-to-market teams across North America and EMEA, and pursue strategic acquisitions while also funding an employee and early-investor liquidity program. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.moengage.com/blog/moengage-series-f-180-million/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.oneilcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">O&#39;Neil Strategic Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.hentechnologies.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HEN Technologies’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $22M financing, which combines a $20M oversubscribed Series A with $2M in venture debt, to build what the company calls the industry’s first operating system for fire defense. The Hayward based startup will use the capital to scale its IoT enabled hardware and Fluid IQ predictive AI platform, capture a comprehensive operational fire dataset, and expand global deployments with distributors and agencies as it aims to make fire suppression faster, more efficient and data driven. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251217794062/en/HEN-Technologies-Secures-%2422M-to-Build-the-Industrys-First-Operating-System-for-Fire-Defense?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://corevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Core Innovation Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.transparency-analytics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Transparency Analytics’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> second funding round, backing the company alongside lead investor Deciens Capital, Allianz Life Ventures, Mouro Capital, FJ Labs and SUM Ventures. Transparency Analytics, which provides quantitative, tech enabled credit ratings and benchmarking for private credit, will use the funding to scale its platform, refine go to market strategy and build out products like its private credit index as the asset class grows. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251217587578/en/Transparency-Analytics-Completes-Second-Funding-Round-Led-by-Deciens-Capital?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nanit.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nanit’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $50M growth round, which was led by Springcoast Partners with support from JVP. The company will use the funding to expand its AI powered Parenting Intelligence System and related tools that give parents real time, personalized insight into a baby’s sleep, health and development between pediatric visits. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nanit-raises-50m-to-expand-its-ai-powered-systems-giving-parents-real-time-insights-into-infant-health-and-development-302643439.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more </a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.integritygp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Integrity Growth Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> fully funded </span><a class="link" href="https://www.fluency.inc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fluency’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $40M Series A, coming in as the company’s first major institutional investor. Fluency, a “digital advertising operating system,” centralizes and automates paid media across Google, Meta, TikTok, programmatic and more, already powering nearly $3B in annual ad spend and over 250,000 monthly campaigns. The company plans to use the capital to enhance its automation and agentic AI capabilities, expand integrations with publishers and tech partners, and grow its team. </span><a class="link" href="https://vcnewsdaily.com/fluency/venture-capital-funding/qyzdtgpnnz?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://jamfund.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">JAM Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lastenergy.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Last Energy’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> oversubscribed $100M+ Series C, backing the advanced nuclear startup as it pushes to commercialize its factory built microreactors. The round was led by Astera Institute with investors including Gigafund, The Haskell Company, AE Ventures, Ultranative, Galaxy Interactive and Woori Technology. Last Energy plans to use the capital to complete its PWR-5 pilot reactor under the U.S. DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, ramp manufacturing in Texas, and advance its larger PWR-20 units toward commercial deployment in the U.S. and U.K. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lastenergy.com/news-press/last-energy-announces-oversubscribed-100-million-series-c?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.nextwave-talent.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">NextWave</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.pattern.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pattern</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing the TikTok-focused commerce agency under Pattern’s umbrella to strengthen its TikTok Shop and creator-led commerce capabilities. The deal folds NextWave’s expertise in TikTok Shop strategy, operations and creator partnerships into Pattern’s broader ecommerce platform, giving brands a single partner to manage marketplace, DTC and social shopping channels. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.pattern.com/news/pattern-announces-acquisition-of-nextwave-expanding-tiktok-shop-and-creator-led-commerce-capabilities?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.ubiquitousinfluence.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ubiquitous</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.humanz.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Humanz</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> as part of Humanz’s broader push to build a next-gen, data driven creator economy platform alongside its recently announced $15M funding round. The deal folds Ubiquitous’ creator marketing and TikTok/native social expertise into Humanz’s influencer analytics and campaign tooling, giving brands a more end-to-end partner for strategy, creator management and performance measurement across major social channels. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/humanz-powers-next-gen-creator-economy-with-15m-funding-and-two-strategic-acquisitions-302645962.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://silvertribemedia.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Silver Tribe Media</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by TPG-backed </span><a class="link" href="https://www.theinitialgroup.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Initial Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is folding the company into its broader sports and entertainment platform. The deal brings Silver Tribe’s storytelling, production and athlete brand work under Initial Group’s umbrella, giving it more capital and distribution while expanding Initial’s in-house content capabilities around teams, athletes and sponsors. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/12/17/silver-tribe-media-being-acquired-by-tpg-backed-initial-group/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.duffl.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Duffl,</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> the YC-backed campus delivery startup, is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://rev.delivery/password?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rev Delivery</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing its “10M campus delivery pioneer” operation under Rev’s umbrella. The acquisition folds Duffl’s college-focused, ultra-fast delivery network and playbook into Rev’s hyper-growth delivery operators, with the goal of scaling on-demand service across more campuses and strengthening Rev’s position in student-centered last-mile logistics. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rev-delivery-acquires-yc-backed-duffl-unifying-10m-campus-delivery-pioneer-with-hyper-growth-operators-302645155.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=la-is-betting-on-nukes-netflix-and-next-gen-attention"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=7ac46129-6ac1-4369-b218-a22c1c4c6a6e&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>Disney Picks AI, Paramount Picks a Fight</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:30:38 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-12-12T18:30:38Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday, Los Angeles.</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If last week felt like </span><a class="link" href="https://www.netflix.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Netflix</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> bought the script for Hollywood’s future, this week </span><a class="link" href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Disney</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.paramount.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Paramount</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> walked in with rewrites. One is handing its most valuable characters to an AI model. The other is trying to yank </span><a class="link" href="https://www.warnerbros.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Warner Bros.</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> away from Netflix with an all cash offer. Underneath both headlines is the same fight over who really owns the audience.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Disney, OpenAI and the AI powered vault</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Walt Disney Company</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> struck a </span><a class="link" href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-disney-company-and-openai-reach-landmark-agreement-to-bring-beloved-characters-from-across-disneys-brands-to-sora/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">multiyear agreement</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> with </span><a class="link" href="https://openai.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">OpenAI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> that turns Sora into a kind of licensed imagination engine for more than 200 characters across Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. Fans will be able to generate short, Sora made videos and images featuring Mickey, Moana, Darth Vader and others, with Disney curating select clips onto Disney Plus, while ChatGPT also rolls out inside the company.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">For a studio that has spent years guarding its IP with lawyers, this is a big tone shift. Disney is telling the next generation of fans that playing with the characters happens through an AI model, not just a camera or sketchbook. That could create new formats and jobs, but it also blurs the line between human made and machine made work and puts fresh pressure on ongoing union conversations about training data, credits and compensation.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Paramount crashes the Netflix and Warner Bros. story arc</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">On the deal side, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.warnerbros.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Warner Bros. Discovery</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is suddenly the lead in a love triangle. After Netflix announced plans to buy WBD’s studios and streaming business for a mix of cash and stock, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.paramount.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Paramount Skydance</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> came in with a hostile, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paramount-launches-all-cash-tender-offer-to-acquire-warner-bros-discovery-for-30-per-share-302635412.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">all cash tender offer</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> at 30 dollars per share for the entire company, including linear networks like CNN, TNT Sports and Discovery.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">So WBD investors are looking at two very different futures. A Netflix deal would bolt Warner’s IP and production engine onto the world’s largest streaming platform and strip away cable. A Paramount deal would fuse two legacy Hollywood houses and keep more of the old bundle intact. For creators and crews in LA, both paths point to the same reality: fewer, bigger buyers with more control over what gets made, how it is distributed and who gets paid.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Taken together, Disney’s OpenAI partnership and the escalating fight over Warner Bros. are not just AI news or M&A news. They are signals that the next version of Hollywood will be built by a tight circle of platforms that own the IP, the channels and now the models that sit between creators and audiences.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Now keep scrolling for this week’s LA venture deals, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.k2space.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight#" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">K2 Space</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a Torrance-based startup building large, high-power satellite platforms, raised a $250M Series C at a $3B valuation in a round led by Redpoint with participation from T. Rowe Price–advised accounts, Hedosophia, Altimeter, Lightspeed and Alpine Space Ventures. The company says the funding will accelerate deployment of its next generation “heavy-lift era” spacecraft, built to deliver far more power and capability than typical smallsats and to support missions across LEO, MEO and GEO for commercial and U.S. government customers, where it already has over $500M in signed contracts. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/k2-space-raises-250m-at-3b-valuation-to-roll-out-a-new-class-of-high-capability-satellites-302638936.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.drivestic.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Stic</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $10M bridge round led by Accretion Capital, bringing the Los Angeles based out of home adtech startup’s valuation to $200M. The company, which turns everyday drivers into mobile ad inventory for brands, plans to use the funding to expand across more than 30 U.S. states and Canada, deepen relationships with national advertisers and agencies, and strengthen its operations in new markets. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stic-raises-10m-bridge-round-bringing-its-valuation-to-200m-and-advancing-the-future-of-out-of-home-advertising-302638489.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://machinalabs.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Machina Labs</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> secured a strategic investment and initial partnership agreement from Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund, the investment arm of EDGE Group, as part of a plan to deploy its AI driven robotic manufacturing technology in the UAE. The deal includes an initial capital infusion with potential funding of up to AED 125 million as the parties explore a joint venture to produce advanced metal structures for sectors like aerospace, defense, and mobility. Machina Labs’ software defined RoboCraftsman platform will anchor the collaboration, enabling rapid, flexible production of complex metal components closer to regional demand. </span><a class="link" href="https://machinalabs.ai/resources/uae-strategic-development-fund-announces-investment-and-initial-partnership-with-machina-labs?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.anysignal.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">AnySignal</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $24M Series A led by </span><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, with participation from Also Capital, BlueYard Capital, Balerion Space Ventures, First In Ventures and other strategic backers. The Los Angeles based company plans to use the funding to scale production of its space communications and RF systems, expand its national security product lines, and build a new LA area facility that brings everything from algorithm design to high rate manufacturing under one roof. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anysignal-wins-24m-series-a-to-transform-mission-critical-space-and-national-security-infrastructure-302635913.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://saviynt.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Saviynt</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised a $700M Series B growth round at an approximately $3B valuation, in a financing led by KKR with participation from Sixth Street Growth, Ten Eleven, and existing backer Carrick Capital Partners. The Los Angeles based identity security company says it will use the capital to accelerate product development and integrations as enterprises lean on its AI powered platform to govern human, machine, and AI agent identities across applications, data, and infrastructure. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/saviynt-raises-700m-at-approximately-3b-valuation-in-kkr-led-round-to-establish-identity-security-as-the-foundation-for-the-ai-era-302636194.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://havenenergy.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Haven Energy</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $40M in new funding to accelerate its push into distributed residential power, combining an equity round led by Giant Ventures with a debt facility from Turtle Hill and additional backing from investors including the California Infrastructure Bank, Carnrite Ventures, Chaac Ventures, Comcast Ventures, and Lerer Hippeau. The Los Angeles based company plans to use the capital to deepen partnerships with utilities and community choice aggregators, expand its solar plus battery leasing model and Channel Partner Program for local installers, and scale one of the nation’s largest residential virtual power plant networks, building on more than 10 MW installed and over 50 MW in development for 2026. </span><a class="link" href="https://havenenergy.com/blog/raising-new-funds-to-speed-distributed-power?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.diald.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diald AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $3.75M in funding to expand its AI powered real estate due diligence and underwriting platform for investors and lenders. The company says it will use the capital to deepen its data coverage, enhance underwriting automation, and grow its customer base of institutional and private real estate investors looking to analyze deals faster and with more consistency across markets. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209990988/en/Diald-AI-Raises-%243.75M-to-Advance-Its-AI-Powered-Real-Estate-Due-Diligence-and-Underwriting-Platform?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://hotsmartrich.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hot Smart Rich</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, Maggie Sellers Reum’s fast growing “female ambition” media brand, has secured a seven figure strategic investment from Steven Bartlett’s media and investment company FlightStory. The partnership aims to turn HSR into a transatlantic platform that connects culture, content, capital, and community, with ambitions to 10x revenue and headcount across production, marketing, product, ecommerce, and membership. In under a year, Hot Smart Rich has already built a cult following with around 1.8M downloads and roughly 500,000 audience members by blending money and business talk with an intimate, group chat tone. </span><a class="link" href="https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/steven-bartletts-flightstory-invests-7-figures-in-hot-smart-rich/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://mucker.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mucker Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> backed </span><a class="link" href="https://www.orionsleep.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Orion Sleep’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $18M seed round, joining investors including Browder Capital and Second Sight to support the launch of the company’s AI powered Smart Cover. The startup’s mattress cover fits over any standard bed, uses built in sensors to track heart rate, breathing and sleep stages, and automatically heats or cools each side of the bed to optimize deep and REM sleep. Orion says the funding will help scale production and commercialization of its system, which starts at $2,295 and is designed as a more accessible alternative to fully replacing a mattress. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orion-sleep-launches-next-gen-ai-powered-smart-mattress-cover-following-18m-seed-raise-302638856.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://fervoenergy.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fervo Energy</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s oversubscribed $462M Series E, backing the Houston based company’s push to make next generation geothermal a core source of always on, carbon free power. Fervo says the round will accelerate buildout of its flagship Cape Station project in Utah, expected to reach 500 MW by 2028, and support early development of additional plants as rising AI and electrification demand strain the grid. </span><a class="link" href="https://fervoenergy.com/fervo-energy-raises-462-million-series-e-to-accelerate-geothermal-development-and-meet-surging-energy-demand-with-clean-firm-power/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://trousdale.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Trousdale Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.vatnsystems.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vatn Systems</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $60M Series A, a round led by BVVC that the Rhode Island based defense tech company says is one of the largest financings in the autonomous underwater vehicle space. Vatn plans to use the capital to expand its team, accelerate R&D, and scale manufacturing of its Skelmir AUV platforms and INStinct navigation system as it deepens work with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and grows its international customer base. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vatn-systems-raises-60-million-series-a-to-redefine-underwater-naval-warfare-at-scale-302637203.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://morpheus.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Morpheus Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nu-quantum.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nu Quantum</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $60M Series A, an oversubscribed round led by National Grid Partners with Gresham House Ventures also joining to back the company’s distributed quantum networking platform. Nu Quantum says it will use the capital to accelerate its “Entanglement Fabric” roadmap, scale its team, and expand globally as it connects multiple quantum processors into a modular, fault tolerant “quantum datacenter” architecture. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nu-quantum.com/nu-quantum-raises-60m-series-a-in-largest-financing-round-for-quantum-computer-networking?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://morpheus.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Morpheus Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://frescocooks.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fresco’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> €15M Series C round, backing the company’s push to power AI driven cooking experiences across a growing network of connected kitchen appliances. The round, which also included new and existing investors like Middleby, ACT Venture Capital, AE Ventures and Alsop Louie Partners, will help Fresco scale its AI Cooking Companion and KitchenOS platform globally, integrate more OEM partners, and deliver personalized, cross brand cooking guidance to home cooks. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fresco-raises-15m-series-c-to-power-the-future-of-ai-driven-cooking-and-the-connected-kitchen-ecosystem-302637247.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rainfall.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rainfall Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.zed.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zed</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $16.5M Series A, a round led by Accel that brings the company’s total funding to $22.5M. The husband and wife founded fintech, is building a digital bank for young professionals across Asia, and plans to use the new capital to expand its APAC footprint, grow its team in San Francisco and Manila, and deepen its AI driven underwriting and credit products for this demographic. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.zed.co/announcement-series-a/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.groundforcecapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GroundForce Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> invested in RTZN Brands, the company behind </span><a class="link" href="https://www.righteousfelon.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Righteous Felon</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, to help scale its cleaner, craft-first jerky and meat snack portfolio. The funding follows a year of triple digit sales growth and expanding national distribution, and will support broader retail rollout, deeper club and grocery partnerships, and new high protein, clean ingredient products as Righteous Felon pushes to become a defining brand in the better for you meat snack category. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209797798/en/Righteous-Felon-Raises-an-Investment-from-GroundForce-Capital-to-Power-Growth-of-Cleaner-Craft-First-Meat-Snacks?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://Amplify.la?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Amplify.la</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.pryzm.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pryzm’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $12.2M seed round, which was led by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism fund with additional backing from XYZ Venture Capital and Forum Ventures. Pryzm is building an AI powered operating system for federal procurement that helps government agencies discover, evaluate, and acquire emerging technology faster, while giving contractors a unified view of opportunities and capture workflows. The company plans to use the funding to scale its platform across more defense and civilian agencies and grow its team in key hubs like Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York. </span><a class="link" href="https://blog.pryzm.io/blog-posts/pryzm-raises-12m-led-by-andreessen-horowitz-to-transform-federal-procurement-with-ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.sabanventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Saban Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lin.health/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lin Health’s</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $11M oversubscribed Series A, backing the company’s virtual, neuroscience based chronic pain recovery platform alongside lead investor Proofpoint Capital and other new and existing backers. Lin Health plans to use the funding to advance product innovation, strengthen partnerships with major health systems and payers, and expand nationwide access to its non opioid, physician led and coach supported programs for conditions like migraines, IBS, and back and joint pain. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lin.health/lin-press/lin-health-raises-11-million-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.tvscientific.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">tvScientific</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.pinterest.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pinterest</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which has entered into a definitive agreement to buy the connected TV performance advertising platform as it pushes deeper into CTV. Pinterest plans to integrate tvScientific’s outcome based CTV buying, automation and attribution tools into its Performance+ and other AI powered ad products, giving advertisers a clearer view of how connected TV contributes to performance campaigns. The deal, which is subject to regulatory review and expected to close in the first half of 2026, will see tvScientific continue operating under its own brand while tapping Pinterest’s intent rich audience data across 600 million monthly users. </span><a class="link" href="https://newsroom.pinterest.com/news/pinterest-tvscientific/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://vueplanner.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">VuePlanner</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has been acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cadent.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cadent</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which is folding the YouTube ad planning and measurement startup into its predictive advertising platform to strengthen what it calls a “Total Video” strategy across linear TV, CTV, and YouTube. The deal gives Cadent’s clients access to VuePlanner’s AI and expert curated tools for contextual targeting, quality scoring, and independent measurement on YouTube, so advertisers can plan and activate campaigns across premium creator content and traditional TV from a single, end to end workflow. </span><a class="link" href="https://vueplanner.com/cadent-acquires-youtube-innovator-vueplanner-to-redefine-total-video-activation/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.cinapse.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cinapse</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wrapbook.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wrapbook</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and will join the film and TV payroll and production accounting platform to create a more “connected back office” that links scheduling, payroll, and accounts payable in one system. The deal brings Cinapse’s modern, cloud based scheduling tools and track record across more than $6 billion in productions into Wrapbook’s financial infrastructure, with the goal of giving producers, ADs, and studios a unified way to plan shoots and track every dollar from schedule to spend. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cinapse.io/resources/cinapse-is-joining-wrapbook?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=disney-picks-ai-paramount-picks-a-fight"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=88bdd2f2-db7a-4cdc-b09e-3af989c8862e&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Perelel, the LA startup quietly fixing women’s health</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:22:22 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-11-21T18:22:22Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday LA! </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">While the market obsesses over the latest AI tool, one of the most interesting checks this week went to something more basic and much harder to fake: women’s health. </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://perelelhealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Perelel</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a doctor founded, research backed supplement company for women, just raised </span><a class="link" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/perelel-secures-27m-growth-investment-164200056.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAeje9t3K_ObqNCZdirdn3FN--gro-rbzkS9sPVpMEn-adZIPYKv2NbZvFcbNf64ejSLg5gR6dbPUiG00hKx796kkdOmWhmp8j0oKA22KcfRaxj7ubJHBA73ow4DLQyzIxuEinx6C8yaidlMhtBdWhn5Y3jODR5hfUHygQEa-sRc&guccounter=2&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">27 million dollars</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in growth funding led by </span><a class="link" href="https://preludegrowth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Prelude Growth Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, with existing investors including Unilever Ventures, Willow Growth Partners and Selva Ventures coming back in. Co founded by CEO </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-thain-gioia/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Victoria Thain Gioia</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, who comes from a background in finance and operating roles at consumer brands, former media executive </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-taylor-18b19b12/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alex Taylor</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, and OB GYN </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/banafsheh-bayati-962076104/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dr. Banafsheh Bayati</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the company has spent the last five years quietly building a profitable business that has doubled revenue year over year and has some of the strongest subscriber retention in its category.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f0a20534-c535-4496-b408-d80566780338/Perelel-FounderPortraits2024-0102-composite-finals_1_1.jpeg?t=1763749087"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Perelel</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The wellness aisle is crowded with influencer brands and one size fits all multivitamins. Perelel is trying to be the adult in the room. The team designs products with OB GYN input, clinical backing and formulas tailored to specific chapters of a woman’s hormonal life, from fertility and pregnancy to postpartum, perimenopause and beyond. Most of its line now carries a Clean Label Project Purity Award, which is a polite way of saying they’re willing to have someone else check what’s actually in the bottle.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This round is less about a splashy launch and more about upgrading the cap table and the support system. The founders used the raise to buy out early angel investors and bring in Prelude Growth, a women-founded firm with a track record in modern consumer health and beauty. The new capital is aimed at deeper research, more life stage specific products and broader distribution rather than chasing the trend of the month.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">In a category that has historically treated women’s health as an afterthought, a clinically serious, women led company raising growth capital to build a full lifecycle platform feels like a meaningful data point. Scroll down for this week’s LA venture deals, funds and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://anthoscapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Anthos Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://kalshi.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kalshi’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s new $1B funding round, which values the CFTC-regulated prediction market platform at $11B and was led by returning investors Sequoia Capital and CapitalG alongside Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm and Neo. The capital will help Kalshi scale its event-contracts exchange, expand beyond politics into areas like macro data and business events, and compete more aggressively with rival prediction platforms as institutional and retail interest in trading real-world outcomes grows. </span><a class="link" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/kalshi-raises-1b-11b-valuation-211008122.html?guccounter=1&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://up.partners/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UP Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://pointonenav.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Point One Navigation</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $35M Series C round, backing the San Francisco-based precise location startup alongside lead investor Khosla Ventures and fellow existing investors IA Ventures and Alumni Ventures. The company provides centimeter-level GNSS correction and positioning services for “physical AI” applications like autonomous vehicles, robots and smart equipment, and plans to use the new funding to expand its Polaris RTK network, enhance its location platform and grow its team across R&D, OEM integrations and international operations. </span><a class="link" href="https://pointonenav.com/news/point-one-navigation-raises-35-million-series-c-to-define-the-future-of-precise-location-and-physical-ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.embark.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Embark Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.qsimulate.com/home?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">QSimulate</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s latest seed financing, which brings the Boston-based quantum simulation startup’s total funding to just over $11M. The company also launched QUELO v2.3, a new generation of its quantum-powered drug discovery platform that uses real-time quantum mechanics to model drug–protein interactions far faster than traditional methods, and it plans to use the capital to scale operations and support growing collaborations with major pharma and tech partners.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.qsimulate.com/news/QSimulate_Announces_New_Financing_and_Latest_Generation_of_Quantum_Technology_for_Drug_Discovery?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/cultivate-next/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cultivate Next</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, Chipotle Mexican Grill’s venture fund, participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.athian.ag/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Athian</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $4M Series A round, backing the Indianapolis-based startup alongside Ajinomoto Group Ventures, Mondelēz International’s Sustainable Futures platform and a roster of existing strategic investors from across the livestock and food value chain. Athian, founded in 2022, operates a platform that aggregates, verifies and monetizes on-farm greenhouse gas reductions so food brands can hit their Scope 3 climate targets, and it says it has already facilitated $18M in payments to farmers as it expands its protocols, species coverage and international footprint. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.athian.ag/knowledge-hub/post/athian-announces-18m-in-farmer-payments-closes-4m-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fika.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fika Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.coverbase.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Coverbase</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $16M Series A as a returning investor from the seed round, backing the company alongside lead investor Canapi Ventures and others. The San Francisco based startup uses AI agents to automate vendor procurement and third-party risk review for regulated enterprises, serving customers like Coinbase, Okta and Nationwide, and the new funding will help it expand into contract management, continuous security monitoring and a larger go-to-market team. </span><a class="link" href="https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/coverbase-raise-ai-powered-procurement/?_gl=1*8eph4n*_gcl_au*MTA4NDEyNzQ4Ni4xNzU3MDA1NzA3LjE2NTQzNTA3OTQuMTc1OTQ0NDAzNS4xNzU5NDQ0MDM0*_ga*MTY5NTExMTEwOC4xNzI0OTc3NzA4*_ga_97DKWJJNRK*czE3NjM2Njc3ODEkbzM1MiRnMSR0MTc2MzY2Nzg4MiRqMzUkbDAkaDA.&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://broadlightcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BroadLight Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.hartbeatventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HeartBeat Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> are among the investors backing </span><a class="link" href="https://www.functionhealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Function Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $298M Series B round, which values the company at $2.5B and supports its push to become a new standard in proactive, data-driven healthcare. The Austin-based startup offers a membership platform that combines extensive lab testing with AI to help people track and manage their health, and it’s using the new capital to launch its Medical Intelligence Lab, an initiative aimed at turning that data into personalized medical insights at scale. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-a-2-5b-valuation-function-becomes-the-new-standard-for-health-and-launches-medical-intelligence-lab-302620193.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.hallwoodmedia.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hallwood Media</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined Menlo Ventures and other investors in </span><a class="link" href="https://suno.com/home?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Suno</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $250M Series C round, which values the AI music startup at $2.45B. The Cambridge based company lets users generate fully produced songs from text prompts and is using the new funding to expand tools like its Suno Studio workstation and next-generation music models, even as it navigates high-profile copyright lawsuits from major record labels. </span><a class="link" href="https://suno.com/blog/series-c-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined the $7M seed round for </span><a class="link" href="https://www.alphaxiv.org/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">alphaXiv</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, investing alongside co-leads Menlo Ventures and Haystack, plus Shakti VC, Conviction Embed and several high-profile angels. The San Francisco based company runs a platform that helps AI practitioners and researchers discover, compare and apply cutting-edge AI papers, benchmarks and implementations, and it plans to use the new funding to further bridge the gap between fast-moving AI research and real-world production deployments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alphaxiv-raises-7m-seed-round-to-bridge-the-ai-research-to-practice-divide-302619615.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://Regeneration.vc?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Regeneration.vc</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.tulu.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TULU</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $37M Series A extension as an existing investor, backing the company alongside GreenSoil PropTech Ventures, Bosch Ventures, New Era Capital Partners and others. TULU runs an AI powered product access platform that installs shared, IoT enabled units inside residential and commercial buildings so residents can rent or buy items like appliances, e scooters and household essentials on demand, and the new funding will help the company scale its “TULU Brain” data engine and expand its footprint beyond the 500,000 residents it already serves across North America and Europe.</span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tulu-closes-series-a-funding-at-37m-to-expand-its-ai-powered-product-access-platform-302618920.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.method.security/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Method Security</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $26M combined seed and Series A round, alongside Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Blackstone Innovations and others. The startup, which operates out of New York and Washington DC, is building an autonomous cyber platform that combines offensive and defensive tools into a digital twin of an organization, helping US government agencies, the Department of Defense and large enterprises continuously test and strengthen their defenses against AI driven threats,  a thesis that fits neatly with WndrCo’s focus on infrastructure and security. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/method-security-raises-26-million-to-build-autonomous-systems-for-american-cyber-resilience-302620469.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.coraltreelp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Coral Tree Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has led a new Series B round for </span><a class="link" href="https://KERV.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">KERV.ai</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, backing the Austin based company as it scales its AI-powered contextual commerce and video advertising platform. The funding will be used to invest in R&D, technology, talent and infrastructure so </span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><a class="link" href="https://KERV.ai?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">KERV.ai</a></span><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> can further expand its interactive, shoppable video solutions and first-party data targeting tools for brands, agencies and publishers, while pushing into new markets and strategic partnerships.</span><a class="link" href="https://kerv.ai/kerv-ai-receives-series-b-funding-from-coral-tree-partners-fueling-next-phase-of-growth-in-ai-powered-contextual-commerce-media-solutions/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.cimgroup.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CIM Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://group11.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Group 11</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> are backing </span><a class="link" href="https://www.venn.city/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Venn</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s new $52M Series B, with CIM co-leading the round alongside NOA and Group 11 re-upping as an existing investor. The New York and Tel Aviv based company builds an operating system for multifamily housing that unifies data and workflows so landlords and operators can run buildings more efficiently and treat them like modern consumer brands. Over the last 18 months, Venn says it has expanded across dozens of U.S. states, partnered with hundreds of owners and operators, and grown annual recurring revenue ninefold, setting up this round to fuel further product development and market expansion. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/venn-city_after-growing-9-in-18-months-were-fueling-activity-7396579373811879937-UVUc/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACXhBSIBpcXogZBYbEQZVE_yG3HWU31PKbU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.walkabout.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Walkabout Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://thebarkerprice.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Barker</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $3.5M seed round, backing the New York based fintech as it builds warrantied AI valuations for illiquid, hard-to-price assets in asset-backed lending. Barker’s platform uses an “agentic valuation system” and insurance from Munich Re to warranty its AI-generated prices on assets like aircraft, equipment, art and GPUs, so lenders are protected if the collateral ultimately sells for less than the model predicted, and the new funding will help the company expand into more asset classes and deepen partnerships across banks and private lenders. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251118349552/en/Barker-Secures-$3.5-Million-to-Scale-Warrantied-AI-Valuations-for-Asset-Backed-Lending?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://freeflow.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freeflow Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://ergbio.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Erg Bio</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $6.5M seed round, investing alongside lead Azolla Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, Plug and Play and other strategic backers. Erg Bio is developing its Aspire platform, a flexible, low-temperature pretreatment and catalytic process that turns agricultural and forestry waste into intermediates for synthetic aviation fuel and critical biobased chemicals, and the new capital will help scale the technology, expand engineering and bioprocessing teams, and move toward pilot-scale demos. </span><a class="link" href="https://ergbio.com/erg-bio-closes-6-5-million-seed-round-to-scale-flexible-feedstock-technology-for-manufacturing-synthetic-aviation-fuelsand-critical-chemicals/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://pinegrove.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pinegrove Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://ramp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ramp</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s new $300M financing round, joining Lightspeed Venture Partners and a long list of existing and new backers as the company’s valuation hit $32B. The New York based spend management and corporate card platform now generates over $1B in annualized revenue, serves more than 50,000 business customers and processes upwards of $100B in annual purchase volume, and this fresh capital will support continued product expansion and enterprise growth. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramp-reaches-32-billion-valuation-doubling-revenue-and-customers-in-past-year-302616510.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://solvetx.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Solve Therapeutics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ new $120M financing round, backing the San Diego based biotech alongside lead investor Yosemite and a broader syndicate that includes Merck & Co. and other life sciences funds. The company is developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for solid tumors using its proprietary CloakLink linker platform, and it plans to use the capital to advance its lead programs SLV-154 and SLV-324 through Phase 1b trials and further build out its ADC and diagnostics pipeline. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251117481427/en/Solve-Therapeutics-Raises-%24120-Million-to-Develop-Best-in-Class-ADCs-for-Solid-Tumors?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.factorialfunds.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Factorial Funds</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://sakana.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sakana AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $135M Series B round, backing the Tokyo-based startup as it doubles down on building efficient, Japan-focused AI models rather than chasing ever-larger, compute-heavy systems. The financing, which values Sakana at about $2.65B, will help expand its “sustainable AI” research and grow its team as it rolls out sovereign, culturally tailored AI solutions for Japanese enterprises and sectors like finance, manufacturing, and government. </span><a class="link" href="https://sakana.ai/series-b/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://smashcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Smash Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined AVP and other investors in backing </span><a class="link" href="https://www.flatpay.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Flatpay</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s latest round, which raised roughly €145–170M and crowned the Danish SMB payments startup as Europe’s newest fintech unicorn at around a €1.5B valuation. The company, which offers flat-rate card terminals and POS systems for small merchants, has scaled to roughly 60,000 customers and over €100M in ARR, and will use the fresh capital to accelerate European expansion, deepen its product stack and significantly grow headcount. </span><a class="link" href="https://tech.eu/2025/11/17/flatpay-anointed-as-latest-danish-unicorn/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fusion-vc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fusion</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nobarrier.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">No Barrier</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s oversubscribed $2.7M seed round, investing alongside lead backers A-Squared Ventures, Esplanade Ventures and Rock Health Capital to scale the company’s AI-first approach to medical interpretation. The San Francisco based startup integrates real-time, HIPAA-compliant language interpretation into hospital systems and EHRs across 40+ languages, and will use the new funding to expand deployment across U.S. care settings and further reduce health disparities for patients with limited English proficiency. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nobarrier.ai/post/no-barrier-ai-interpretation-healthcare-funding?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mattervp.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Matter Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined Vertex Ventures and other global investors in backing Ruochuang Technology’s Pre A round, which totals tens of millions of dollars to fuel the company’s next stage of growth. The startup develops low speed robotics and related IoT hardware, spanning technology R and D, device manufacturing and sales, and this new capital will help it deepen intelligent hardware research and expand its market footprint as demand for smart manufacturing and IoT applications accelerates. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mgcj.net/kuaixun/1187355.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.shipday.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Shipday</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $7M Series A as a participating investor, re-upping after leading the company’s 2023 seed round and backing the Menlo Park–based startup alongside co-leads ECP Growth and Ibex Investors. Shipday provides an AI-powered last-mile delivery and logistics platform for SMBs like restaurants and local retailers, and it plans to use the new funding to build out features such as its AgentFlow automation engine, deepen integrations, and expand its global reach beyond the 5,000 businesses it already serves in 100+ countries. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shipday-closes-7-million-series-a-led-by-ecp-growth-and-ibex-investors-to-empower-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-with-ai-powered-last-mile-delivery-solutions-302617077.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.mantisvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MANTIS Venture Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://bedrockdata.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bedrock Data’</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">s $25M Series A round, joining lead investor Greylock Partners alongside Mangusta Capital, Pier 88 Investment Partners and others to back the Menlo Park based data security startup. Bedrock Data provides an AI-native, data-centric security and governance platform powered by its “Metadata Lake,” and it plans to use the new funding to accelerate product development and expand go-to-market efforts as enterprises look to secure data across cloud, SaaS and AI systems at multi-petabyte scale. </span><a class="link" href="https://bedrockdata.ai/news/press-release-bedrock-data-announces-usd25-million-series-a-to-fuel-growth-of-its-ai-native-data?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.tenoneten.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TenOneTen Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wedbushventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Wedbush Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.meadow.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Meadow AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $6M in total funding, including a $4.5M seed round they backed alongside co-lead Leadout Ventures and other investors. The Seattle-based startup is emerging from stealth with a multimodal AI platform that helps restaurants and retailers monitor real-time operations and automate “secret shopper” audits across 10–300-location chains, already driving more than $2.5M in contracted ARR as it targets further growth in physical retail. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/seattle-startup-meadow-ai-emerges-from-stealth-with-6m-to-help-physical-retailers-monitor-operations/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.neotech.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Neotech</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a long-time provider of high-reliability electronic manufacturing services, has been acquired by private equity firm </span><a class="link" href="https://www.arkviewcapital.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Arkview Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in a deal that marks a major new chapter for the company. With Arkview as its new owner, Neotech plans to strengthen its balance sheet, invest in next-generation manufacturing, and expand its capabilities across core markets like defense, aerospace, medical and industrial electronics, while continuing to emphasize quality, reliability and customer service. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.neotech.com/press/neotech-announces-acquisition-by-arkview-capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=perelel-the-la-startup-quietly-fixing-women-s-health"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=d5eb9705-3911-4a51-a64b-15f8bd2302d3&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>CHAOS in the Skies, Valar in the Core and Robotaxis on the 405</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
      <enclosure url="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/0416c5ce-8a29-437a-9916-559afc123c29/Newsletter_Cover_-_Rainy.png" length="1322032" type="image/png"/>
  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:25:52 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-11-14T17:25:52Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Hello LA! </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If you are reading this while watching the clouds stack up over the city, you are not wrong. The forecast is calling for heavy rain and possible flooding through Sunday, so consider this your permission slip to cancel a few plans, stay dry and catch up on what the hard-tech crowd has been building this week.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Let us start with the least subtle name in local defense tech. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.chaosinc.com/news/chaos-industries-raises-510-million-led-by-valor-equity-partners-to-accelerate-next-generation-defense-systems?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CHAOS Industries</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> just closed a $510 million dollar round led by Valor Equity Partners, valuing the company at $4.5 billion dollars and pushing its total funding past the $1 billion dollar mark in under three years. The company builds Coherent Distributed Networks radar, essentially a mesh of smaller, lower cost sensors that can pick up drones and other low flying threats minutes earlier than legacy radar systems, a gap that has become painfully obvious on modern battlefields. The new capital is going toward product development and manufacturing so militaries and border agencies can actually field these systems at scale rather than treating them as one-off experiments.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">What makes CHAOS interesting is not just the size of the round but the architecture choice. Instead of a single massive radar on a hill, they are betting on distributed, software first networks that can be upgraded, repositioned and re-tasked as threats change. It is a very cloud-era way of thinking about defense hardware, and it is pulling engineers from a mix of aerospace, gaming and traditional software backgrounds into a category that used to be the domain of slow, closed incumbents.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/ad236124-fad4-400b-ad86-b613101a0dcc/Valar_Atomics.jpeg?t=1763140773"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Valar Atomics</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If CHAOS is focused on keeping the skies manageable, </span><a class="link" href="https://www.valaratomics.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Valar Atomics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> wants to keep the lights on for everything that needs compute. The Hawthorne based nuclear startup </span><a class="link" href="https://techstartups.com/2025/11/10/valar-atomics-a-nuclear-startup-backed-by-palmer-luckey-and-palantir-cto-raises-130m-to-build-thousands-of-advanced-reactors/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">raised</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> $130 million dollars in Series A funding led by Snowpoint Ventures, with participation from </span><a class="link" href="https://crosscut.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crosscut Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and a roster of deep tech backers that includes Palmer Luckey and Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar. Valar is building compact, high temperature gas reactors that use TRISO fuel and helium coolant, designed for strong safety characteristics and very high operating temperatures.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Instead of a single gigantic nuclear plant, Valar’s plan is to mass produce one standardized reactor design and cluster hundreds of them on “gigasites” that sit directly behind the meter for big energy users. Think hydrogen production, AI data centers, heavy industry and synthetic fuel plants, not just electrons on the grid. Construction is already underway on a first test reactor in Utah, targeted for completion in 2026, and the company is positioning itself as part of a new wave of nuclear companies that treat reactors as a product you replicate, not a megaproject you tolerate.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/1657ae54-8689-416b-8a45-f5450af2029a/Waymo.jpeg?t=1763140807"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Waymo</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">On the consumer side, your weekend mobility options are getting an upgrade too, weather permitting. </span><a class="link" href="https://waymo.com/blog/2025/11/taking-riders-further-safely-with-freeways?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Waymo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has begun routing paid robotaxi rides onto freeways in Los Angeles, alongside San Francisco and Phoenix, after years of staying mostly on surface streets. The company says freeway segments can cut some trip times by as much as half, making a driverless ride to LAX or a cross town trek on the 405 feel less like a novelty and more like a practical option. Regulators and human drivers now have to figure out what it means to share the fast lane with cars that never get tired and never text at red lights.</span></p><div class="image"><img alt="" class="image__image" style="" src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/5f711d30-d46d-419a-94e7-779920be4199/Apple_Digital_ID.jpg?t=1763140836"/><div class="image__source"><span class="image__source_text"><p>Image Source: Apple</p></span></div></div><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.apple.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Apple</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is also coming for the least fun part of any LA trip: the airport ID check. The new </span><a class="link" href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/11/apple-introduces-digital-id-a-new-way-to-create-and-present-an-id-in-apple-wallet/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Digital ID feature</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> lets you create a passport based identity inside Apple Wallet that TSA will accept at more than 250 airports for domestic travel, including LAX. You scan your passport, verify with Face ID and then present your Digital ID at TSA checkpoints using your iPhone or Apple Watch without handing over your device. It will not replace a physical passport for international flights, but it does mean boarding passes, credit cards and ID can all live in the same tap-to-go flow the next time you sprint to Terminal 4.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Between radar that sees drones earlier, reactors that promise industrial scale clean power and robotaxis that hop on the freeway, a lot of the future is quietly being wired in while you hunt for an umbrella. Stay safe, stay dry this weekend and keep scrolling for this week’s venture rounds, fund announcements and acquisitions.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://skims.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Skims</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has raised $225M in new funding at a $5B valuation, in a round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives with participation from BDT & MSD Partners. The company plans to use the capital to accelerate its shift toward brick-and-mortar retail and international expansion, while continuing to invest in product innovation across intimates, shapewear, apparel, and activewear, including its new NikeSKIMS collaboration; Skims is on track to surpass $1B in net sales in 2025, just six years after launch. </span><a class="link" href="https://am.gs.com/en-us/institutions/news/press-release/2025/skims?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.neros.tech/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Neros</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has raised $75M in a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from existing investors Vy Capital US and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/interlagoscapital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Interlagos</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, bringing its total funding to over $120M. The El Segundo based defense drone startup will use the capital to massively scale production of its Archer and Archer Strike FPV drone platforms and ground control systems, expand industrial capacity, and deepen a China-free, allied supply chain. The raise coincides with Neros being selected as one of the primary FPV drone suppliers for the U.S. Army’s Purpose-Built Attritable Systems program, following a major Marine Corps drone order. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.neros.tech/articles/neros-closes-75m-series-b-fundraise-led-by-sequoia-capital?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.bam.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BAM Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.exowatt.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Exowatt</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s new $50M financing round, backing the Miami based company’s push to deliver dispatchable, American made solar power to AI data centers and other energy hungry industrial sites. The round, an extension of Exowatt’s $70M Series A led by MVP Ventures and 8090 Industries, brings the company’s total funding to $140M in under two years. Exowatt will use the capital to expand U.S. manufacturing and scale deployments of its modular P3 system, which stores solar energy as heat and converts it to electricity on demand to provide round the clock, grid independent power. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251112677469/en/Exowatt-Raises-Additional-$50-Million-to-Accelerate-U.S.-Rollout-of-Dispatchable-Solar-for-the-AI-Era?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.wndrco.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WndrCo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined the $145M Series B round for </span><a class="link" href="https://getalembic.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alembic</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the AI marketing analytics startup it first backed in early 2024, as the company’s valuation jumped to $645M. The round was led by Prysm Capital and Accenture and will help Alembic scale its platform, which uses AI to link brand marketing across channels like TV, podcasts and social media to real sales outcomes. Alembic also plans to use part of the funding to build a new Nvidia powered supercomputing cluster in San Jose to support growing demand from enterprise customers. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/accenture-and-jeffrey-katzenbergs-wndrco-invest-in-ai-marketing-startup-0d128cdf?mod=pls_whats_news_us_business_f&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.magnify.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Magnify Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.joy.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Joy</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $14M Series A round, backing the San Francisco based startup’s push to build an AI powered parenting platform that blends machine intelligence with real human experts. Co-led by Forerunner and Raga Partners, the funding coincides with the launch of the Joy Parenting Club app, which gives new parents and parents of toddlers 24/7 access to certified coaches plus AI driven guidance, milestone tracking and personalized product recommendations. Joy plans to use the capital to further develop its AI model, expand partnerships with baby and parenting brands, and grow its expert network to support families through more stages of childhood. </span><a class="link" href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/joy-secures-14-million-series-140000227.html?guccounter=1&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.overture.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Overture VC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, via its climate focused Overture Climate fund, reupped in </span><a class="link" href="https://harbingermotors.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Harbinger</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $160M Series C round as the medium duty electric and hybrid truck maker continues to scale its U.S. built EV platform. The round was co led by FedEx, Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund, and THOR Industries, and includes existing backers like Tiger Global, Ridgeline, Maniv Mobility, Schematic Ventures, Ironspring Ventures, ArcTern Ventures, Litquidity Ventures, and The Coca Cola System Sustainability Fund. Harbinger will use the capital to ramp production of its electric stripped chassis platform and fulfill an initial FedEx order for 53 Class 5 and 6 trucks, supporting large fleet electrification and last mile delivery use cases. </span><a class="link" href="https://harbingermotors.com/newsroom/harbinger-raises-160-million-series-c-co-led-by-fedex/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.soundventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sound Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined the $60M Series B round for </span><a class="link" href="https://gc.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">GC AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, an AI platform built for in-house legal teams, alongside lead investors Scale Venture Partners and Northzone. The new funding values the San Francisco based startup at $555M and brings its total capital raised to $73M. GC AI will use the money to accelerate product development and deepen its integrations and AI agents, building on rapid growth to more than 1,000 customers, $10M in ARR, and 1.75 million legal prompts processed in under a year. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251107988263/en/GC-AI-Raises-%2460-Million-Series-B-to-Give-Every-Company-a-Legal-Advantage?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fulcrumvg.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fulcrum Venture Group</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> doubled down on its backing of </span><a class="link" href="https://www.codemetal.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Code Metal</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, joining the startup’s $36.5M Series A to support its push to bring verifiable AI powered code translation to mission critical industries. Led by Accel at a $250M valuation, the round also brought in RTX Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Smith Point Capital, Overmatch VC, AE Ventures, Shield Capital, J2 Ventures, and several strategic angels. Code Metal will use the capital to expand its platform across defense, automotive, and semiconductor customers, promising formally verified, regulation-ready code that can be ported between chips and modernized much faster than traditional methods. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/code-metal-raises-36-5-million-for-verifiable-ai-powered-code-translation-302613568.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://marcypen.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MarcyPen Capital Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://fromrebel.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $25M oversubscribed Series B to scale the company’s returns recommerce marketplace, which helps retailers resell open box and overstock goods instead of sending them to landfills. The new capital will fund expansion into outdoor and sporting goods categories with existing retail partners and support broader growth of Rebel’s tech platform, which processes and resells returned products at up to 70 percent off retail while tackling the trillion dollar returns problem. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rebel-announces-25-million-series-b-led-by-marcypen-capital-partners-to-transform-the-1-trillion-returns-market-302613293.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://halogenvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Halogen Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://auditocity.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Auditocity</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $2M seed round alongside Techstars, Innovate Alabama, and several angel investors to help scale the company’s AI driven HR compliance auditing platform. The Alabama based startup plans to use the capital to expand nationally and deepen its intelligent automation tools so HR teams can spot compliance risks in real time and resolve issues before they become costly problems.</span><a class="link" href="https://auditocity.com/auditocity-raises-2m-seed-round-to-redefine-hr-compliance-auditing-through-intelligent-automation/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://upfront.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Upfront Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://majestic-labs.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Majestic Labs</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ more than $100M financing as the AI infrastructure startup emerged from stealth with a new memory centric server architecture. Founded by ex Google and Meta executives, the company claims its all in one servers deliver up to 1000 times the memory capacity of top tier GPU systems, effectively replacing multiple racks with a single box for the largest AI workloads. Majestic will use the capital to grow its team, finish its full software stack, and run pilot deployments with customers looking to cut power use and costs while training massive models. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251110896482/en/Led-by-Ex-Google-and-Meta-Executives-Majestic-Labs-Emerges-From-Stealth-with-%24100M-To-Redefine-AI-Infrastructure-by-Tearing-Down-the-Memory-Wall?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://freeflow.io/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freeflow Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined an oversubscribed round of more than $100M for </span><a class="link" href="https://www.iambic.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Iambic</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a San Diego based biotech using an AI driven discovery platform to develop new cancer therapies. The clinical stage company will use the fresh capital to expand its operations and advance a pipeline that includes IAM1363, a HER2 targeted candidate that has already shown early anti tumor activity, as well as additional AI designed programs and pharma partnerships. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.iambic.ai/post/iambic-raises-over-100-million?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/egb-capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EGB Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.extellis.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Extellis</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $6.8M oversubscribed seed round, backing the Durham based startup’s push to deliver reliable, all weather satellite imagery at industrial scale. Led by Oval Park Capital with participation from Duke Capital Partners, First Star Ventures, New Industry Ventures, Front Porch Venture Partners, and Blue Lake VC, the funding will support Extellis’ first satellite launch and initial product rollout. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.extellis.com/press/seed-round-announcement?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://corevc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Core Innovation Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://arrived.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Arrived</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $27M Series B style funding round, backing the Seattle startup’s push to make fractional real estate investing feel more like buying stocks. Led by Neo with participation from Forerunner Ventures, Bezos Expeditions, and other investors, the new capital will help Arrived scale its “stock market for real estate” platform and recently launched Secondary Market, which lets investors buy and sell shares of individual rental homes across the U.S. with just a few clicks. </span><a class="link" href="https://arrived.com/blog/series-b-fundraise?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://strongvc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Strong Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in a new pre Series A round for Provotive, the company behind AI packaging design platform </span><a class="link" href="https://packative.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Packative</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">. The round was led by Japanese VC firm Miraise, with Korean fund VNTG and a Japan based strategic CVC also joining. Provotive plans to use the capital to expand its AI driven packaging services across Japan, Korea, and the broader Asian market, helping brands quickly generate localized, customized packaging at scale. </span><a class="link" href="https://platum.kr/archives/274352?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.nativo.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nativo</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is being acquired by family safety and location app </span><a class="link" href="https://www.life360.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Life360</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in a cash and stock deal valued at about $120M. The acquisition folds Nativo’s native ad platform, programmatic tools, and publisher network into Life360’s advertising business so brands can reach families both inside the Life360 app and across CTV, mobile, and premium web environments. The companies say the combined platform will offer a full funnel, privacy minded, “family safe” ad solution and expect the deal to close in January 2026, pending customary approvals. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.nativo.com/newsroom/life360-to-acquire-nativo?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.realtymogul.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RealtyMogul</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, an online real estate crowdfunding and investment platform, has been acquired from its venture backers by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.widemanllc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Wideman Company</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a cash flow focused, high touch real estate investment firm. The deal gives RealtyMogul a long term owner while keeping its brand and digital marketplace intact, supporting a member base that has invested more than $1.2B of equity into properties valued above $8B. The Wideman Company says the acquisition will bring additional capital and strategic support to expand RealtyMogul’s offerings and deal flow for individual investors and real estate sponsors. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.kxan.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/864284779/the-wideman-company-acquires-real-estate-crowdfunding-platform-realtymogul-from-venture-investors/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chaos-in-the-skies-valar-in-the-core-and-robotaxis-on-the-405"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=40680689-5415-44e4-9e50-6bc5437ad49d&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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      <item>
  <title>Swipe Less, Know More, Build Faster: LA’s AI Push</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 18:26:17 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-11-07T18:26:17Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  <content:encoded><![CDATA[
    <div class='beehiiv'><style>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Happy Friday LA! </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">This week was about AI moving from side feature to core product strategy. </span><a class="link" href="https://tinder.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Tinder</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is testing an </span><a class="link" href="https://ir.mtch.com/investor-relations/news-events/news-events/news-details/2025/Match-Group-Announces-Third-Quarter-Results/default.aspx?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">opt-in “Chemistry” flow</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> that learns your interests with permission, including signals from your camera roll, to propose fewer, higher quality matches. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.snap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Snap</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> is wiring </span><a class="link" href="https://www.perplexity.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Perplexity</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s conversational, source linked answers directly into Snapchat. And </span><a class="link" href="https://rivian.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rivian</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> spun out Mind Robotics to take the industrial AI it built for its own lines to a broader market.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Tinder Bets on AI for Quality Over Quantity</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Tinder is piloting Chemistry, an opt-in experience that starts with a short Q&A and, with permission, analyzes cues from your camera roll to build a richer picture of what you like. The aim is to cut through swipe fatigue by presenting a smaller set of high intent matches each day, </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/05/tinder-to-use-ai-to-get-to-know-users-tap-into-their-camera-roll-photos/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">first in New Zealand and Australia</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, as part of Match Group’s larger 2026 product overhaul. The pitch is relevance and control, with phased rollout and consent front and center; if engagement lifts, expect tighter loops between real world signals and match recommendations.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Snap Brings Perplexity Answers into Snapchat</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Snap struck a </span><a class="link" href="https://investor.snap.com/news/news-details/2025/Snap-and-Perplexity-Partner-to-Bring-Conversational-AI-Search-to-Snapchat/default.aspx?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">deal with Perplexity</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to deliver conversational, source linked results inside Snapchat starting in early 2026, backed by a one year cash and equity package reportedly worth about 400 million dollars. Ask a question where you already spend time and get a cited answer without hopping to a mobile browser, with Snap emphasizing that Snapchat data will not train Perplexity’s models. The announcement landed alongside improving fundamentals, signaling Snap’s plan to make trustworthy answers feel native to social habits rather than a separate destination.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Rivian Spins Out Mind Robotics</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Rivian </span><a class="link" href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/04/rivian-creates-another-spinoff-company-called-mind-robotics/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">formed Mind Robotics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> to productize the software and systems that coordinate its own manufacturing, raising roughly 110 to 115 million dollars led by Eclipse. The goal is to sell factory floor intelligence beyond vehicles, including adaptive quality control, smarter material handling, and autonomous workflows that reduce downtime. With Rivian’s headquarters in Irvine and a growing regional robotics talent base, this puts Southern California on the map for next generation industrial automation tied to the EV supply chain.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Bottom line</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">LA’s tech scene is pushing AI toward measurable outcomes: better match quality, faster answers with clear citations, and more efficient production. Keep an eye on the unsexy details, including privacy choices and user consent, data boundaries between partners, and how each team turns these features into monetization. That is where this week’s announcements will turn into lasting advantage.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.evotrex.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Evotrex</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> exited stealth with a $16M Pre-A round led by Xstar Capital, with Unity Ventures, Kylinhall Partners, Vision Plus Capital, and founders of Anker Innovations participating; the capital will expand engineering and speed commercialization of its first product. The California startup plans to debut what it calls the world’s first power-generating RV trailer at CES 2026, designed to provide off-grid power and help extend EV range while towing. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/06/3182535/0/en/Evotrex-Exits-Stealth-with-16-Million-Pre-A-to-Debut-the-World-s-First-Power-Generating-RV-Trailer-at-CES-2026.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.zest.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Zest AI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, which provides AI-driven credit underwriting and lending intelligence for banks and credit unions, closed an oversubscribed, customer-led financing round from SchoolsFirst, Members 1st, ORNL, and Truliant credit unions, with participation from Citi Ventures. The company says the round came at a higher valuation than its prior growth raise and will fund more automation across the borrower journey and a broader rollout of LuLu, its generative AI lending-intelligence platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.zest.ai/company/announcements/zest-ai-secures-strategic-investment-from-customers-in-oversubscribed-round/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://estatemedia.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Estate Media</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the social first real estate media startup co-founded by “Million Dollar Listing” star </span><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshflagg/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Josh Flagg</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, says it has surpassed $6M in revenue and closed a $1M seed round, bringing total funding to $2.65M. New investors include Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen and real estate and media figures such as Samir Mezrahi (“Zillow Gone Wild”), Tracy Tutor, and Hudson Advisory, which the company says positions it for profitability and further growth. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.thewrap.com/josh-flagg-estate-media-funding-6-million-in-revenue/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/health-sciences-university/research/technology-innovations/team.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cedars Sinai Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined </span><a class="link" href="https://www.amaehealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Amae Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $25M Series B, led by Altos Ventures with participation from Quiet Capital, Bling Capital, Healthier Capital, and 8VC. The company, which is building an AI enabled clinic model for severe mental illness, says the funding will accelerate nationwide clinic openings, advance its AI care platform, and support research into conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and treatment resistant depression. Total funding now tops $50 million. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105989926/en/Amae-Health-Announces-%2425-Million-Series-B-to-Advance-Toward-a-Cure-for-Severe-Mental-Illness?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.magnify.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Magnify Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.misaludhealth.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">MiSalud Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s new funding round led by IGNIA, alongside Ulu Ventures, Redwood Ventures, Amplifica Capital, and client investor Taylor Farms. MiSalud, which delivers bilingual virtual and on-site care for blue-collar workforces, says the capital will help it expand into 20 new states and add services typically offered only in person; reports peg total funding at about $18.3 million. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.misaludhealth.com/news/misalud-health-announces-new-funding-110625?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.are.com/venture-investments.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Alexandria Venture Investments</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in Accipiter Biosciences’ $12.7M seed round, which was co-led by Takeda and Flying Fish Partners. The Seattle startup is developing AI-designed de novo protein therapeutics that can combine multiple mechanisms in a single molecule, and it also announced partnerships with Pfizer and Kite Pharma alongside the financing. The company says the funds will advance preclinical programs in immunology and oncology and further build out its computational design platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://trial.medpath.com/news/34bdb9037273f1c9/accipiter-biosciences-emerges-with-12-7m-seed-funding-to-develop-ai-designed-de-novo-protein-therapeutics?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://oncactus.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cactus</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $7M seed round alongside Wellington Management, Y Combinator, and Pelion Venture Partners. Cactus builds a 24/7 AI copilot for home service businesses that answers calls, qualifies leads, books jobs, and manages follow ups to capture after hours demand. The company says the funding will support product expansion and go to market growth in the United States. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cactus-raises-7m-seed-round-to-launch-ai-copilot-for-home-service-businesses-302605470.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://b.capital/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">B Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> joined the angel round for Microtide Biotechnology (also known as Weitao Bio), which raised over RMB 100 million, led by Qiming Venture Partners. The Shanghai company, spun out from Sile Biomedicine’s in vivo CAR T platform, is developing targeted LNP delivered in vivo CAR T therapies for blood cancers and autoimmune diseases, and will use the funds to advance its first candidate and further develop its core platform. </span><a class="link" href="https://view.inews.qq.com/k/20251105A01S6C00?web_channel=wap&openApp=false&no-redirect=1&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://patron.fund/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Patron</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> co led </span><a class="link" href="https://flintk12.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Flint</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $15M Series A, with participation from the </span><a class="link" href="https://viterbischool.usc.edu/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">USC Viterbi School of Engineering</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> alongside Basis Set Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Afore Capital, and Y Combinator. Flint builds an AI platform that helps teachers personalize K 12 learning, and the company says the funding will accelerate product development and scale the service to more schools. </span><a class="link" href="https://flintk12.com/blog/series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://freyavoice.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freya</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $3.5M round alongside Y Combinator, 212 VC, N1 Tech, BD Partners, and others. Freya is building voice automation tools that let companies create and manage natural language voice workflows, aiming to replace brittle IVR systems with more flexible, AI powered voice agents. The company says the funding will accelerate product development and early go to market efforts. </span><a class="link" href="https://startupkitchen.community/from-a-dorm-room-to-y-combinator-freya-raises-3-5m-to-revolutionize-voice-automation/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://Regeneration.VC?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Regeneration.VC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.hullbot.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Hullbot</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s roughly $10.6M Series A, with participation from Climate Tech Partners, Katapult Ocean, Folklore, Trinity Ventures, Rypples, NewSouth Innovations, and Bandera Capital. The Australian startup builds autonomous hull-cleaning robots that remove biofouling to cut ship fuel use and emissions, and it plans to use the funding to ramp manufacturing, expand global service hubs, and develop larger robotic platforms. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2025/11/04/hullbot-ship-cleaning-robots-regeneration?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.m13.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">M13</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.teleskope.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Teleskope</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $25M Series A, with continued participation from Primary Venture Partners and Lerer Hippeau. Teleskope builds an agentic data security platform for the AI era, and says the capital brings total funding to $32.2M to accelerate product development and scale go to market. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251031409379/en/Teleskope-Raises-%2425-Million-to-Accelerate-Adoption-of-the-Industrys-First-Agentic-Data-Security-Platform?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.smartgate.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">SmartGateVC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.coherenceneuro.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Coherence Neuro</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $10M seed round led by Topology Ventures and Artesian, alongside Blackbird, Possible Ventures, XEIA, Jumpspace, Divergent, Spacewalk VC, and others. San Francisco based Coherence Neuro is developing a closed-loop, bi-directional neurotechnology platform to treat cancers like glioblastoma by decoding and modulating electrical signals; the funding will support its first human trials and further product development.</span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/startup-in-spotlight-coherence-neuro-raises-10m-to-launch-closed-loop-neuro-dystem-for-cancer-treatment/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> - learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rebelfund.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rebel Fund</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mecha-health.ai/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mecha Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $4.1M seed round led by Valia Ventures, alongside Y Combinator, Reach Capital, and Phosphor Capital. Mecha Health is an applied AI lab that builds foundation models for radiology which read medical images and generate fully structured reports, and the new capital supports continued development and deployment of these systems. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.mecha-health.ai/blog/Mecha-raises-seed?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://greeneconome.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Green Econome</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://vca-green.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">VCA Green</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the sustainability practice of VCA Consultants. The Los Angeles firm is known for lifecycle strategies, building performance reporting, and compliance services like ENERGY STAR, LEED, CALGreen, and Title 24; combining it with VCA Green’s energy modeling, project management, and field verification creates a single team serving both new construction and existing buildings. Marika Erdely, Green Econome’s founder, is joining VCA Green as a principal. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vca-green-expands-sustainability-service-offering-with-acquisition-of-green-econome-302606115.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://indataconsulting.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">InData Consulting</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.the20.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The 20 MSP</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> as part of a three-company deal that also included Red Level Group and iStreet Solutions. The additions expand The 20 MSP’s footprint in California, Arizona, Michigan, and the Sacramento area, bringing its total to 44 acquisitions in about three years. The company says it sources targets from its peer group to speed integrations and reduce attrition. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-20-msp-announces-latest-trio-of-acquisitions-302603332.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://eatcaulipower.com/en/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Caulipower</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.urbanfarmer.net/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Urban Farmer</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company, creating a vertically integrated “better for you” frozen foods platform that pairs Urban Farmer’s manufacturing with Caulipower’s nationwide brand and distribution. Caulipower will continue operating under its name, with founder Gail Becker joining Urban Farmer’s board; financial terms were not disclosed. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/11/03/3179722/0/en/Urban-Farmer-and-CAULIPOWER-Complete-Transformative-Combination-to-Establish-the-Leading-Vertically-Integrated-Better-for-You-Frozen-Foods-Platform.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://sitero.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">StudyOS</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://sitero.com/leadership/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sitero</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, a technology-enabled CRO, which simultaneously launched SiteroAI to position itself as the industry’s first fully AI-powered CRO. StudyOS’s Ash clinical-trial agent will be integrated with Sitero’s Mentor eClinical suite, with Sitero projecting 20–30% efficiency gains across the trial lifecycle beginning in 2026; terms were not disclosed. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sitero-acquires-studyos-and-launches-siteroai-becoming-the-industrys-first-truly-ai-powered-cro-302602066.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=swipe-less-know-more-build-faster-la-s-ai-push"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=d6986349-0423-4e95-bc3f-a5fa48449102&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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  <title>Cap Tables to Costumes: Whatnot’s Mega Round and Your LA Weekend Plan 🎃</title>
  <description>dot.LA Weekly Update</description>
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  <link>https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan</link>
  <guid isPermaLink="true">https://dotla.beehiiv.com/p/cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan</guid>
  <pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
  <atom:published>2025-10-31T17:40:47Z</atom:published>
    <dc:creator>Grace Lee</dc:creator>
    <category><![CDATA[Weekly Update]]></category>
    <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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</style><div class='beehiiv__body'><h2 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="spotlight">🔦 Spotlight</h2><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Happy Friday Los Angeles! </span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Live shopping’s LA moment </b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.whatnot.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Whatnot</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the LA born marketplace for live auctions, </span><a class="link" href="https://blog.teamwhatnot.com/unitedstates/growingtogether?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">raised $225 million</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> at an $11.5 billion valuation. The round was co led by DST Global and CapitalG, with Sequoia, Alkeon, a16z, Greycroft, BOND, and others participating. The company says the money goes to international expansion, trust and safety, and seller tools - fuel for a category that has moved from “Is this a fad?” to “How big does this get in the West?”</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>Why it matters</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">If that valuation sounds sudden, you’re not imagining it. Whatnot’s </span><a class="link" href="https://dot.la/wildfire-recovery-resources-whatnot-raise-2670880652.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">last raise</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> in January valued the company around $5 billion. Less than 10 months later, the number has more than doubled, tracking a year of surging GMV and a social commerce flywheel spinning across TikTok Shop, YouTube, and Amazon. For LA, it’s a marquee bet on the creator commerce stack we do best: community, content, and culture that converts</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>The bigger picture</b></span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">The implications go well beyond trading cards. Live, personality led storefronts are evolving from hobby to underwritable small business. If Whatnot uses this cash to keep fraud low and throughput high, we could see an LA export take root globally, not just as an app category but as a job category. That is a storyline to watch into Q4 and beyond.</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"><b>From cap tables to costumes: Halloween in LA </b></span>🎃</p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">You’ve earned some offline fun. Heading into Halloween weekend (Oct. 31–Nov. 2), </span><a class="link" href="https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/best-events-halloween-weekend-los-angeles-southern-california-2025?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LAist’s guide</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> has a little of everything: neighborhood Día de los Muertos celebrations (from the Canoga Park family festival to an ofrenda for pets at Annenberg PetSpace in Playa Vista), the Frogtown Arts weekend along the LA River, plus plenty of screenings and concerts across town. Bookmark the list, pick your neighborhood, and maybe swap “add to cart” for “add to calendar.”</span></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">Send tips, sightings, and spooky term sheets our way. Venture deals for LA companies, funds, and acquisitions are below.</span></p><hr class="content_break"><h1 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="venture-deals">🤝 Venture Deals</h1><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Companies</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanrjohnson/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Bryan Johnson</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s longevity startup </span><a class="link" href="https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Blueprint</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $60M from a celebrity heavy group of backers including Kim Kardashian, Naval Ravikant, Alex Hormozi, Ari Emanuel, and the Winklevoss twins to turn Johnson’s personal Blueprint regimen into a broader consumer platform. The company says the funding will help package diagnostics, biomarker tracking, prescriptions, nutrition, and other longevity services into an accessible offering. The round underscores mainstream interest in data driven wellness despite past questions about Blueprint’s trajectory. </span><a class="link" href="https://longevity.technology/news/bryan-johnsons-blueprint-raises-star-studded-60m-funding-round/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.raritypbc.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rarity PBC</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $4.6M in seed financing to advance a one-time, autologous blood-stem-cell gene therapy for ADA-SCID (“bubble baby” disease) that it has licensed from UCLA researcher Dr. Donald Kohn. The round, led by biotech investor Steve Oliveira (Nemean Asset Management), will support manufacturing and steps toward commercial readiness. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251029335528/en/Rarity-PBC-Raises-%244.6-Million-Seed-Financing-to-Advance-Gene-Therapy-for-ADA-SCID?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.fruitist.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fruitist</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> raised $150M led by a vehicle managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with participation from </span><a class="link" href="https://alimentcap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Aliment Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and Ray Dalio’s family office. The LA-based superfruit brand says the funding will fuel crop expansion, cold storage, and automation as it scales distribution to 12,500+ stores and targets continued growth following roughly $400M in trailing sales. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/29/ray-dalio-jpmorgan-fruitist-new-funding.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://homecourt.co/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Homecourt</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the Los Angeles based luxury home and personal fragrance brand founded by Courteney Cox, raised an $8M Series A led by CULT Capital. The company says the funding will fuel brand marketing, team hires, and infrastructure as it expands beyond DTC into 300+ retail doors including Nordstrom, Bluemercury, and Revolve. Homecourt has broadened from home care into body and laundry collections since launching in 2022. </span><a class="link" href="https://pulse2.com/homecourt-8-million-series-a-raised-for-scaling-luxury-fragrance-and-homecare-brand/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Venture Funds</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.aliavia.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Aliavia Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.human.health/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Human Health</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $8.5M raise, joining LocalGlobe, Airtree, Skip Capital and Scale Investors to back the precision health platform from former Canva product leaders Georgia Vidler and Kate Lambridis. The funding will support international expansion, deepen product intelligence in areas like women’s health, respiratory and pain, and scale Human Evidence for patient driven research; Human Health reports more than 200,000 users and 20 million logged health actions to date. </span><a class="link" href="https://techfundingnews.com/ex-canva-product-leaders-raise-4m-ai-precision-healthcare/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.riot.vc/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Riot Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.endurosat.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EnduroSat</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $104M funding round, alongside Google Ventures, Lux Capital, the European Innovation Council Fund, and Shrug Capital. The Sofia based satellite manufacturer says the capital will scale production of its ESPA class (200 to 500 kg) modular satellite buses, targeting capacity of up to two satellites per day at a new 188,340 square foot Space Center so constellation customers can get to orbit faster. The raise is EnduroSat’s second this year and follows a €43 million round in May. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.endurosat.com/news/endurosat-secures-104-million-to-scale-espa-class-satellite-production/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.rocanaventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rocana Venture Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://takearecess.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Recess</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $30M Series B, which was led by CAVU Consumer Partners and included Midnight Ventures, Torch Capital, Doehler Ventures, KAS Venture Partners, Vanquish, and Craig Kallman. The relaxation-beverage company will use the capital to grow its team, expand retail distribution, and ramp marketing, and it also named former Nutrabolt executive Kyle Thomas as President and Co-CEO to help scale the brand. Recess says it now sells in more than 15,000 U.S. stores, positioning it to capitalize on demand for functional relaxation and alcohol-alternative drinks. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251029875121/en/Recess-the-Pioneer-of-the-Relaxation-Beverage-Space-Secured-%2430M-in-Series-B-Funding-Led-by-CAVU-and-Announces-the-Appointment-of-Kyle-Thomas-as-President-Co-CEO?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://terasaki.org/institute/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Terasaki Institute</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://iorgan.bio/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">iOrganBio</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $2M launch financing, joining First Star Ventures (lead), IndieBio, Cape Fear BioCapital, 2ndF, and Alix Ventures. The Chapel Hill based startup unveiled CellForge, an AI powered cell-manufacturing platform that pairs predictive models with high throughput control to engineer reproducible human cells and organoids for drug discovery and cell therapies. The funds support product development and early deployments. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251029644221/en/iOrganBio-Emerges-from-Stealth-with-%242M-and-Launches-CellForge-the-First-AI-Powered-Cell-Manufacturing-Platform?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.foxsports.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fox Sports</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> made a strategic investment in </span><a class="link" href="https://shadowlion.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Shadow Lion</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, the creative agency and IP studio co-founded by Tom Brady, forming a partnership to develop talent-led originals, digital content, long-form projects, and marquee live events. The deal includes a new Los Angeles hub for Shadow Lion on the Fox lot, with early tentpoles including a University of Michigan football docuseries from executive producers Brady and Jim Harbaugh and collaboration on the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/blog/2025/10/29/fox-sports-announces-strategic-investment-in-shadow-lion-a-creative-agency-and-ip-studio-co-founded-by-tom-brady/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.ebmrf.org/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">EB Medical Research Foundation</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.eliksa.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Eliksa Therapeutics</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ funding to advance ELK-003, a biological eye drop for ocular complications in epidermolysis bullosa. The round, led by DEBRA Research with support from Cure EB, the Abe Fund, and EB Research Partnership, backs an ongoing pilot study with 18 patients enrolled and no drug-related side effects reported among the first eight who completed treatment. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/29/3176374/0/en/DEBRA-Research-Invests-in-Eliksa-Therapeutics-to-Advance-ELK-003-a-Biological-Eye-Drop-for-Epidermolysis-Bullosa-Related-Ocular-Complications.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://patron.fund/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Patron</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> and </span><a class="link" href="https://www.hartbeatventures.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">HartBeat Ventures</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.sweatpals.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sweatpals</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’ $12M seed round alongside a16z speedrun, backing the community fitness platform as it expands its “daylife” model of IRL wellness events. The funding will support product and market expansion for hosts and gyms using Sweatpals for discovery, ticketing, memberships, and marketing. Business Insider reports the startup now reaches over 1 million monthly users and is growing into new U.S. cities. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sweatpals-secures-12m-in-seed-funding-from-patron-a16z-speedrun-and-hartbeat-ventures-to-redefine-connection-through-fitness-302596062.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://UP.Partners?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">UP.Partners</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> participated in </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lulacommerce.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Lula Commerce</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $8M Series A, led by SEMCAP AI with Rich Products Ventures, GO PA Fund, NZVC, Green Circle Foodtech Ventures, and Outlander VC also joining. The Philadelphia company, active with more than 2,000 retailers, offers an AI powered digital commerce suite for convenience stores covering order ahead, pickup, delivery, and back office tools, and says the round brings total funding to over $16M to meet rising demand. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.lulacommerce.com/lulacontent/lula-commerce-raises-8-million-series-a?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"></p></li><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.navitascap.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Navitas Capital</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> led </span><a class="link" href="https://www.workhero.pro/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">WorkHero</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">’s $5M seed to scale its AI powered back office platform for small HVAC contractors, with Workshop Ventures, York IE, and strategic angels also participating. WorkHero combines agentic AI with human account managers to handle invoicing, permits, rebates, warranty registrations, and pricebooks so owners spend less time on admin. The funding will expand engineering and product and add new services such as call answering and bookkeeping. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/workhero-raises-5m-seed-round-to-advance-its-ai-powered-back-offi-1091752?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><div class="section" style="background-color:transparent;margin:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;padding:0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><b>LA Exits</b></p><ul><li><p class="paragraph" style="text-align:left;"><a class="link" href="https://www.dmimusic.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">DMI</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);"> was acquired by </span><a class="link" href="https://www.stingray.com/?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Stingray</a><span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34);">, adding about 8,500 U.S. retail locations to Stingray’s in-store audio advertising network and bringing its total footprint to roughly 33,500 sites. The deal cements Stingray’s leadership in pharmacy retail audio across the two largest chains and brings DMI’s creative services, including cinema advertising and brand marketing, under its umbrella, with CEO Tena Clark staying on to help integrate and expand the offering. </span><a class="link" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/30/3177395/0/en/Stingray-Acquires-DMI-Adding-8-500-Locations-to-its-U-S-In-Store-Audio-Advertising-Network.html?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">- learn more</a></p></li></ul></div><hr class="content_break"><div class="button" style="text-align:center;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" class="button__link" style="background-color:#0A557F;" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dot-la/id6482981727?utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan"><span class="button__text" style="color:#F9FAFB;"> Download the dot.LA App </span></a></div><div class="custom_html"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:12px;text-align: right;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="facebook logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fb-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cap-tables-to-costumes-whatnot-s-mega-round-and-your-la-weekend-plan"><img alt="twitter logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-twitter-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F&utm_source=dotla.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=dot-la-weekly-update"><img alt="linkedin logo" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-linkedin-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="mailto:?body=mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20dot.LA&body=Dot.LA%20Weekly%20Update%3A%20Week%202%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fdotla.beehiiv.com%2F" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration:none"><img alt="mail icon" src="https://media.beehiiv.net/static_assets/inline-fwd-share.png" style="display:inline-block;width:25px" width="25"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h6 class="heading" style="text-align:left;" id="want-to-reach-17000-southern-califo">Want to reach 17,000+ Southern California founders, investors, and operators? <a class="link" href="mailto:nick@dot.la" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Reach out to learn more about sponsoring or hosting an event with dot.LA</a></h6></div><div class='beehiiv__footer'><br class='beehiiv__footer__break'><hr class='beehiiv__footer__line'><a target="_blank" class="beehiiv__footer_link" style="text-align: center;" href="https://www.beehiiv.com/?utm_campaign=81f445ac-7492-47b1-833c-c58301341181&utm_medium=post_rss&utm_source=dot_la">Powered by beehiiv</a></div></div>
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