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LA Startups Supercharging Cars and Dating 🚗⚡💑
dot.LA Weekly Update
Christine Rothacker
September 13, 2024
🔦 Spotlight
Happy Friday Los Angeles!
Image Source: EVgo
EVgo Inc., a leading Electric Vehicle (EV) charging company based in West Los Angeles, has seen substantial growth under CEO Badar Khan. The company now operates over 3,400 fast chargers across 1,000 sites nationwide, strategically placed in high-traffic urban and suburban areas to enhance convenience for EV users. EVgo’s model focuses on owning and managing its charging stations to ensure a seamless experience, reflecting its commitment to supporting the mass adoption of electric vehicles and facilitating the transition to cleaner transportation.
In a different electrifying market, Joe Feminella, inspired by his own successful dating journey, launched the dating app, First Round’s On Me in El Segundo with $5 million in funding. This app differentiates itself by requiring users to schedule a date within 24 hours of matching, and after a soft launch in select markets, it expanded nationwide in 2024. As the dating app market faces criticism over algorithmic practices and premium features, First Round’s On Me aims to offer a more genuine and immediate dating experience. Both EVgo and First Round’s On Me exemplify how companies in different industries are addressing their respective market challenges with innovative approaches to improve user experience and engagement.
🤝 Venture Deals
LA Companies
3DEO, a startup that specializes in 3D printing small, high-volume metal parts, raised a $3.5M Strategic Investment Round from Mizuhio Bank. - learn more
Spotter, a startup that underwrites creators and offers AI tools, raised a $7.4M Funding Round. - learn more
Cashmere, a lead generation startup for wealth managers, raised a $3.6M Seed Round. Canapi Ventures led, and was joined by Benchstrength, Plug and Play, The House Fund, and Courtyard Ventures. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
Crosscut Ventures participated in an $8.9M Series A Extension for Nostra AI, a startup that helps e-commerce businesses improve their website performance by speeding up load times. - learn more
Calm Ventures participated in a $10M Series A for Operant AI, a runtime AI application protection platform. - learn more
Morpheus Ventures participated in a $110M Funding Round for SafetyCulture, a workplace safety company. - learn more
Fika Ventures, an eight-year-old Los Angeles venture capital firm, has raised a fourth fund in the amount of $160 million to invest in early-stage B2B startups. - learn more
✨ Featured Event ✨
LA’s tech leadership is set to reunite after a long break! This two-day summit will focus on building strong connections, sharing insights, and fortifying the local tech community.
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