Los Angeles
Down bad
Welcome back to Chain Reaction. Last week, we talked about layoffs and the Winklevoss rock gods. This week, we’re looking at a new layer of crypto doom and gloom. Get this newsletter in your inb
How the myth of the ‘girlboss’ harms emerging women in tech
On Lafayette Street in SoHo, young, fashionable women lined up around the block to enter a minimalist, millennial oasis, the most perfect Instagram feed brought to life. Staff members glided around th
Bonfire Ventures secures $230M for two new funds targeting B2B software startups
Bonfire Ventures aims to help B2B software startups make it to Series A.
Niantic transcends Discord to build Campfire, an AR social network, and unveils Lightship VPS
Since the launch of Pokémon Go in 2016, players have been coordinating meetups, in-game raids and battles on platforms like Reddit and Discord. This summer, parent company Niantic is unveiling Campfi
Uber Eats pilots autonomous delivery with Serve Robotics, Motional
Uber Eats is launching two autonomous delivery pilots in Los Angeles on Monday with Serve Robotics, a robotic sidewalk delivery startup, and Motional, an autonomous vehicle technology company. The new
China’s gaming giant NetEase opens first US studio in Austin
NetEase, the second-largest gaming company in China and the sixth-largest in the world, has opened its first U.S.-based studio in Austin as China’s gaming industry slows. The company’s arc
Upgrade gives hair stylists tools to market, sell custom wigs from one marketplace
Remember Mary J. Blige’s hair at the Super Bowl? That was via Upgrade.
Food Rocket blasts off after securing funding, grocery delivery deal with Circle K parent
CEO says it's not just about delivering groceries, but creating new customer habits.
Nowadays puts its spin on plant-based nuggets
Its first product is a crispy, plant-based riff on chicken nuggets that is made with just seven ingredients.
How compassion and inclusivity are helping Kindbody change the fertility industry
When the topic of fertility comes up, we often hear hushed tones discussing someone else’s or their own journey through infertility.
Cake adds newest ingredient to sexual wellness recipe: Entrance into Target
Four of Cake's products are now available in 1,000 Target stores.
Playhouse is TikTok meets Zillow for the next generation of homeowners
We’re all guilty of it: Sometimes, even when we’re not looking to move, it’s fun to look at home listings on Zillow just to see what’s out there. If that sounds weird to you… I don’t b
How long can Zuckerberg afford to bankroll the AR/VR market?
Hello friends, and welcome back to Week in Review! Last week, we talked about the “de-stonkifying” of the market. This week, we’re looking at a wounded Facebook/Meta that finds itsel
PortalOne raises $60M as it levels up to launch its hybrid, immersive gaming platform later this year
Gaming has been one of the most popular entertainment categories in the last two years of pandemic living. Now, a gaming startup that’s building a new kind of platform that it thinks will be a &
Glossier just laid off one-third of its corporate employees, mostly in tech
Glossier, the popular beauty brand led by former blogger Emily Weiss, let go of 80 of its corporate employees today, according to an internal email obtained by Modern Retail. The cuts, which amount to
Starship Technologies picks up €50M from the EU’s investment arm to expand its fleet of autonomous delivery robots
Starship Technologies, one of the bigger names in the world of autonomous delivery robots — those little caboose-like, boxy delivery vehicles that self-drive around cities — has been on a
AvantStay, a platform for kitting out — and then renting out — high-end vacation rental homes, raises $160M
Another travel startup that found itself scrambling to pivot as the COVID-19 pandemic took off is now announcing a huge round of funding after finding its feet and proving that it can grow, even under
Papaya raises $50M to give you a way to pay bills via its mobile app
Paying bills is hardly a fun thing. So I think it’s safe to say that any technology that can make the process easier is welcome by all. Papaya is a Los Angeles-based startup with a mission to do jus
AKUA lands $3.2M to turn kelp into burgers
AKUA aims to replace the unsustainable part of food — factory farming — with regenerative ocean farming.
Shareholders approve Bird-SPAC merger, stock promptly falls
Shares of Switchback II Corporation are off more than 14% today, appearing to sell off sharply following news that the SPAC's merger with scooter company Bird has been approved by shareholders.