The Immunity Project is a nonprofit initiative using a unique combination of crowdfunding and venture capital, along with a novel machine learning approach in devising an HIV vaccine. Since the official YC announcement and launch of their crowdfunding campaign, they’ve successfully raised an initial goal of $482,000; to fund a final immunization experiments before undergoing Phase I clinical studies.
Meet Nanxi Liu, CEO and a cofounder of Enplug. We discuss the serendipitous circumstances that brought the founding team together (one of the most unique founder stories I’ve heard to date) and move to topics surrounding the future of digital advertising.
Today, the Walt Disney Company & Techstars announce their plans to select ten startup companies for a three-month mentorship and seed-stage investment program. The LA-based program is powered by Techstars and focused on “technology-based companies focused on trnasformative media and entertainment experiences.” Applications are being accepted starting today, through April 16, 2014 for early-stage companies with innovative consumer media and entertainment product ideas. Visit www.disneyaccelerator.com for full details on applying for the program.
Some common startup myths have frequently been debunked, like how running your own company will give you freedom (yeah, right!) or how failure leads to future success (it could, but it’s certainly no golden ticket), and how all an entrepreneur needs is passion (who needs the ability to execute when you have passion, right?!).
The Annual TechZulu Startup Forecast is one of our most anticipated events. It’s about as close as you can get to a macro-level crystal ball for the tech industry, expressed through a rapidfire string of insights from the minds of some of tech’s biggest investors, founders, and gamechangers.
Today we bring you Plug.DJ Co-Founder & CEO, Alex Reinlieb. We discuss user acquisition, scaling issues, and get a great glimpse (and receive some invaluable lessons) into the challenges and inspiration behind Plug.DJ’s rocketship growth.
Join us February 27th as TechZulu & Gadget Review present REACH: The Connected Future. During this half day event (including an evening party), you’ll get a glimpse into the future of connected devices, courtesy of the industry’s thought leaders.
With over $2.5 billion under its management and a portfolio of over 60 companies, Greenspring Associates has led a $29.5 million round into Kareo, the doctor’s cloud-based platform. OpenView Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank also participated in the round
Why do we date? To connect. To go beyond fleeting, ephemeral interactions and sharing of internet cat photos to find support, understanding, romance, etc. But what happens when we go beyond preferences to conditional? It’s an intriguing question – just what LA-based CupidRadar is hoping to answer. They operate under the premise of the chance encounter – the one run-in that could yield a deep, meaningful, long term connection.
Overall, great news for our fair city with a 25% increase in funds raised in 2013 over the year before. This last year, we saw a record high of over $1 billion raised with 200 launches and 25 successful exits which yielded $1.11 billion.
These figures, among others, indicate LA’s digital startups aren’t simply keeping pace with past years, but exceeding them.
