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Weekly Tech Recap: Jeffrey Katzenberg Is Back At It
Weekly Tech Recap: Jeffrey Katzenberg Is Back At It
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Former DreamWorks CEO and Quibi founder Jeffrey Katzenberg is back at it. WndrCo, the venture capital firm he founded in 2017, is looking to raise $450 million for its second fund. The new fund follows the Hollywood-based company's $600 million first fund, which it raised in 2017.
WndrCo Managing Director Sujay Jaswa told dot.LA the firm's “focus is on cybersecurity, future of work, and consumer technology.” Speaking on a panel at the Upfront Summit in March, Katzenberg noted that WndrCo is also a big believer in NFTs and blockchain technology. “I'm still waiting to see and to understand the values of some of the things around crypto—but NFTs, I’m all in,” he said.
WndrCo isn't alone in seeing big opportunities for creatives in blockchain technology. This week saw several local startups raise seed rounds to help provide artists, musicians and other creators with web3 platforms and tools, including WeHo-based Superjoi, ticketing startup Afterparty and music startup Stem.
Meta Platforms Chief Officer Sheryl Sandberg was accused of squashing two stories about alleged harassment from her ex-boyfriend, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. Meanwhile, the company says it's playing ball with investigators looking Insider trading allegations at the company.
Netflix lost 200,000 subscribers from January to March. It’s expecting to lose 2 million more by the end of June.
The West L.A.-based card game “Exploding Kittens” will soon become the first entity to have both a video game and TV series on Netflix.
Superjoi’s raised a $2.5 million seed round. Its platform hopes to match creators with their fans and provide them ways to kickstart new projects, and give fans some equity in their success.
Afterparty, a Web3 startup, has raised $4 million to start an NFT-based ticketing platform for live events.
Music tech startup Stem raised $20 million to help artists distribute their tracks and collect payment.
You’re going to see fewer reposted TikTok videos in your Instagram feed. The company is rolling out a new algorithm to hide them.
Snap released its first-quarter earnings report this week, narrowly missing Wall Street expectations, and warned the future may be more challenging.
TikTok expanded its foray into the music industry, offering some users sound-editing tools through its new app, Mawf.
The Washington Post has revealed the identity of the person behind the controversial, conservative “Libs of TikTok” account. Now the publication is facing backlash for “doxxing.”
A former TikTok employee alleged that employees are pressured to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week.
The pandemic and war in Ukraine have many companies–including electric vehicle-makers–experimenting with a “hyperlocal” supply chain to reduce shipping costs and carbon emissions.
Italian battery manufacturer Italvolt says its planned $4 billion facility in the Inland Empire will produce enough batteries to supply 650,000 electric vehicles annually. The news came just as electric truck-maker Rivian’s CEO warned the industry is about to hit a shortage of supplies that could slow production over the next few years.
Chipotle unveiled its new $50 million venture fund aimed at early-stage restaurant tech startups.
Adtech startup Trust raised $5 million to provide small businesses access to advertising data insights.
See all this week's SoCal venture capital activity in this week's "raises" rundown.
On this episode of Office Hours, Aero Technologies CEO Uma Subramanian talks about her unique path in aviation and her plans to build and grow a luxury aviation company.
Heela Yang pushed past the naysayers who told her there was no market for her premium product “The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.” Within a few months of launching, it became Sephora’s best-selling skin care cream.
On this episode of the LA Venture podcast, Unicorn Ventures Managing Partner Jonathan Hung discusses his latest funds, manufacturing partners and investment mindset.
On this episode of Behind Her Empire, The Flex Co founder and CEO Lauren Wang discusses how she came to take on the menstrual products industry.
Rocket Lab has inked a contract with HawkEye 360 to send 15 satellites into space.
Inflation, rising interest rates and the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war have large tech companies acquiring fewer startups.
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