Cutting Edge Innovations at Disney's Imagineering Headquarters
By Chris Casacchia,
2024-04-25š¦ Spotlight
Image Source: Disney World
Disney's $60 billion expansion of the parks and experiences business is being propelled by tech innovation at the Disney Imagineering unit, including the HoloTile Floor and the BDX droids from Star Wars. The HoloTile Floor, developed by Disney research fellow Lanny Smoot, enables users to move in any direction on a small patch of flooring using LiDAR technology. This tool serves as a design aid for Imagineers, allowing them to quickly visualize and navigate through models of new attractions or parks. Additionally, due to its ability to accommodate multiple movements simultaneously without collisions, Disney is exploring its use as a dance floor or stage platform.
The BDX droids, currently being play-tested at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland Park, are interactive characters designed to engage with guests. Powered by batteries and guided by a human controller, these droids enhance the immersive experience in the park. Utilizing procedural or cinematic animation, Imagineers train the robots to imitate artist-provided motions within a short timeframe, making them adaptable to different scenarios and guest interactions.
These technologies highlight Disney's commitment to innovation in entertainment and immersive experiences. The HoloTile Floor facilitates rapid prototyping and visualization of new attractions, while the BDX droids enhance the interactive elements of theme park experiences. Both demonstrate Disney's ability to merge cutting-edge technology with creative storytelling to create unforgettable experiences for guests.
For the LA tech scene, these innovations underscore the region's leadership in entertainment technology. Los Angeles has long been a hub for the entertainment industry, and Disney Imagineering's groundbreaking work further solidifies the city's reputation for innovation in immersive experiences. As Disney continues to invest in and develop these technologies, it contributes to the growth and advancement of the LA tech ecosystem, attracting talent and fostering collaboration between entertainment and technology sectors. Moreover, these innovations set a precedent for other companies in the region, inspiring them to push the boundaries of technology and creativity to create unique and engaging experiences for audiences worldwide.
š¤ Venture Deals
LA Companies
- AccessHope, a startup changing the way leading-edge cancer expertise is delivered, raised a $33M Series B from City of Hope - learn more
- Bump, a financial management platform for creators, raised a $3M Seed Round from ImpactX, Capitalize, and Serac Ventures - learn more
- Handl Health, a provider of health care price transparency tools, raised a $2.4M Seed Round co-led by Mucker Capital and Everywhere VC - learn more
- General Galactic, a startup that makes methane from captured CO2, raised a $1.9M Pre-Seed Round from Box Group and Refactor - learn more
LA Venture Funds
- Grey Space Group participated in a $20M Series A extension for Wilde Brands, a maker of healthy snack chips - learn more
- Clocktower Ventures participated in a $1.7M Pre-Seed Round for Continuum, a b2b reverse logistics startup - learn more
- Overture participated in a $10.8M Seed Round for Halcyon, an AI-assisted search and information platform to help professionals navigate the energy transition - learn more
- Impatient Ventures participated in a $6.5M Seed Round for Anon, an automated authentication layer -
š What Weāre Reading
- Kiki World Inc., an LA-based community commerce platform leveraging blockchain technology, announces new tools and applications for peer-to-peer communication, engagement campaigns, and community management - learn more
- USC partners with Capital One to launch the USC-Capital One Center for Responsible AI and Decision Making in Finance - learn more
- Immersive entertainment firm Cosm is opening a āShared Realityā venue at LAās Hollywood Park on June 29th - learn more
š° Disney's Epic Investment Stands Out Amidst Gaming Industry Layoffs
Jun 06 2024
š¦ Spotlight
In the midst of widespread gaming industry layoffs, a glimmer of positive news emerges as Disney announces a significant move: a $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games. š°š°š
Image Source: Disney
Disney's $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, disclosed late Wednesday, signals a strategic alignment aimed at expanding the success of "Fortnite." The deal enhances Epic's growth prospects after financial setbacks, including layoffs, and strengthens the partnership between the two companies. With Disney gaining a larger equity stake in Epic, the collaboration will broaden the integration of beloved Disney franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Avatar into the game, potentially boosting its appeal and longevity. This significant investment underscores Disney's commitment to interactive entertainment and signifies a shift towards games as a primary revenue stream, aligning with the growing trend of digital engagement among younger demographics. Moreover, the potential for crossover sales of physical Disney products within "Fortnite" and the exploration of new content distribution channels are just some of the opportunities arising from this partnership.
For LA tech, the Disney-Epic Games partnership represents a validation of the region's burgeoning tech and gaming ecosystem. The substantial investment in Epic, who maintains a large Los Angeles office with 1,000+ employees (according to LinkedIn), reflects confidence in the LAās talent pool and innovation potential. Additionally, this partnership between two industry giants fosters an environment for further collaboration, investment, and growth within LA's tech sector. As Disney and Epic Games deepen their ties and explore new avenues for content integration and distribution, it not only elevates the prominence of LA as a tech hub but also stimulates economic growth and job creation in the region. This partnership highlights LA's unique position as a hub where technology and entertainment converge. With its ability to integrate diverse industries, LA is driving innovation and expansion in digital entertainment. ššøš®
š¤ Venture Deals
LA Companies
- ProducePay, a financing and marketplace platform for the fresh produce market, raised a $38M Series D led by Syngenta Group Ventures joined by Commonfund, Highgate Private Equity, G2 Venture Partners, Anterra Capital, Astanor Ventures, Endeavor8, Avenue Venture Opportunities, Avenue Sustainable Solutions, and Red Bear Angels. - learn more
- Blush, an invite-only dating app that drives users to local businesses on dates, raised a $7M Seed Round from individuals like Naval Ravikant. - learn more
- Mogul, a startup founded last year that provides an overview of an artist's royalty earnings and identifies areas where money is owed but has not yet been collected, raised a $1.9 million seed round from Wonder Ventures, United Talent Agency, AmplifyLA, and Creator Partners. - learn more
- Avnos, a hybrid direct air capture startup, raised a $36M Series A led by NextEra Energy and joined by Safran Corporate Ventures, Shell Ventures, Envisioning Partners, and Rusheen Capital Management. - learn more
- AI.fashion, startup whose mission is to help retailers enhance the online shopping experience by providing consumers with virtual try-ons and personalized fashion recommendations, raised a $3.6M Seed Round led by Neo. - learn more
- Suma Wealth, startup that aims to demystify financial topics and provide culturally relevant content, virtual experiences, and resources to help Latino users navigate financial challenges and opportunities, raised a $2.2M Seed Round . Radicle Impact led, and was joined by Vamos Ventures, OVO fund and the American Heart Association Impact Fund. - learn more
- 222, a startup that helps users discover their city and meet new people through unique social experiences, raised a $2.5M Seed Round. Investors included 1517 Fund, General Catalyst, Best Nights VC, Scrum Ventures, and Upfront Ventures. - learn more
- LimaCharlie, a security operations cloud platform, raised a $10.2M Series A led by Sands Capital. -
- Polycam, an app that uses a smartphoneās sensors to capture 3D scans of objects, raised an $18M Series A co-led by Left Lane Capital and Adjacent, and joined by Adobe Ventures and individuals like Chad Hurley and Shaun Maguire. -learn more.
LA Venture Funds
- M13 co-led a $6.5M Seed Round for Code, a micropayments startup building upon the kin (KIN) cryptocurrency. - learn more
- Wonder Ventures has garnered $102 million in fresh capital commitments. -
Actively Raising
- ReelCall, Inc., an entertainment technology company focused on powerful apps and platforms that help build and maintain the professional network of connections vital to career growth, is raising a $850K Pre-Seed Round. - learn more
- CZero, a startup building software to decarbonize logistics for logistics businesses and goods business through a vetted marketplace and optimization software. - learn more
- Couri, a technology startup addressing last-mile delivery issues, is raising a $450K Pre-Seed Round at a $2.2M post money valuation. - learn more
- Sweetie, a marketplace to help people plan date nights, is raising a $1.5M Pre Seed Round. -
- StartupStarter, an investment platform that provides real-time data and analytics on startups, is raising an $850K Angel Round. - learn more
If youāre a founder raising money in Los Angeles, give us a shout, and weād love to include you in the newsletter!
Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.
Venture Waves, Climate Tech Wins, and Silicon Beach's Ongoing Evolution
Jun 06 2024
Anduril Seeks $1.5B in VC Funds
Defense company Anduril Industries Inc., based in Costa Mesa and founded by Palmer Luckey, is seeking to raise $1.5 billion in fresh funds to boost its valuation to $12.5 billion or more, according to sources quoted by The Information. This fundraising effort, if successful, would mark one of the largest venture capital rounds of the year.
Image Source: Anduril
Anduril recently secured a contract to develop and test small unmanned fighter jet prototypes under the Air Forceās Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, beating out major defense companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Alongside General Atomics, Anduril will design, manufacture, and test these aircraft, with a final multibillion-dollar production decision expected in fiscal year 2026. This program aims to deliver at least 1,000 combat aircraft to fly in concert with manned platforms and is part of the Air Forceās Next Generation Air Dominance initiative. Central to Andurilās success in this contract is the Fury autonomous air vehicle, acquired through the purchase of Blue Force Technologies. This victory underscores Anduril's rapid advancement in the defense sector, aligning with Luckey's vision of building faster and more cost-effective defense assets. - learn more
Los Angeles Ranks Number 1 in Emerging Climate Tech Hub
The 2024 Emerging Climate Tech Hubs Report by Revolution highlights Los Angeles as a burgeoning center for climate tech innovation. LA's growth in this sector is driven by its diverse talent pool, strong research institutions, and a culture of environmental consciousness. The city's unique mix of legacy industries, such as entertainment and aerospace, alongside emerging tech companies, positions it as a pivotal player in the climate tech landscape. This shift reflects a broader trend of decentralized climate tech funding across the U.S., reducing the historical dominance of California's traditional hubs. - learn more
Silicon Beach: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Assessing the overall health of the startup market is challenging, especially as venture capital funding has decreased by an average of 61% from 2021 to 2023 across the top VC markets in the US. Markets with robust ecosystems in AI, SaaS, Biotech, Healthtech, and Fintech appear to be weathering the downturn better than those focused on Consumer and Gaming industries, areas where Los Angeles traditionally excels.
Percent Change In VC Funding By Region
LA Times paints a rather bleak outlook on the Los Angeles tech scene noting venture capital funding in Greater Los Angeles plummeted 73% from 2021 to 2022. Silicon Beach, once a vibrant tech corridor, currently faces high vacancy rates and lacks late-stage financiers, especially in the AI sector. However, there are positive signs, including growth in aerospace startups and increased venture capital investment in early 2024, suggesting a potential rebound for LA's tech ecosystem.
While LA may not be exceeding expectations during this period, its tech ecosystem warrants a nuanced evaluation, given the broader market dynamics and its strong performance in specific sectors. Reach out to us with your thoughts.
Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.
š SpaceX gears up for another stellar year, active raises, and more
Jun 06 2024
Happy Friday Los Angeles! You made it through the first week of 2024!
š¦ Spotlight
Elon Musk may be a divisive (albeit entertaining) figure, but the continued success of SpaceX is pivotal for the aerospace industry in Los Angeles and more broadly around the world.
Image Source: SpaceX webcast
What happened with SpaceX in 2023?
- Elon Musk challenged Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight.
- SpaceX launched 96 successful missions with its Falcon series of rockets, a 57% increase over its previous annual record.
- SpaceX conducted two test flights of the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, Starship.
- Roughly two-thirds of SpaceX's launches in 2023 were devoted to building out Starlink, the company's satellite-internet megaconstellation.
- Isaacsonās Elon Musk biography was published in September including everything from Muskās tumultuous relationship with his father to his work ethic and ādemon modeā.
Moving forward what can we expect from SpaceX and its controversial founder? Continued innovation pushing the aerospace industry to new limits? Yes. More drama? Without a doubt.
Here is some of what is to come in 2024:
- SpaceX has already deployed direct-to-smartphone satellites in its first launch of 2024.
- Bill Gerstenmaier, SpaceX's vice president of build and flight reliability, announced that they are looking to increase flight rate to 144 flights during 2024.
- SpaceX will launch 5 astronaut missions in 2024 if everything goes to plan.
- Starlink will continue to build out the companyās satellite-internet megaconstellation in 2024 as they have permission to deploy double the current number of satellites in orbit.
- SpaceX is working to get other Starship vehicles ready, in keeping with the company's development philosophy, which prioritizes frequent test flights and rapid iteration.
- SpaceX is facing a complaint issued by a regional office of the National Labor Relations Board, for illegally firing employees in 2022 for circulating a letter critical of the companyās founder and chief executive, Elon Musk.
š¤ Venture Deals
Just Announced
Check back next week!
LA Exits
- CG Oncology, an Irvine, CA-based developer of immunotherapies for bladder cancer, filed for a $100M IPO. It plans to list on the Nasdaq (CGON) with Morgan Stanley as left lead underwriter, and has raised around $317m in VC funding. - learn more
- McNally Capital agreed to sell Advanced Micro Instruments, a Costa Mesa, CA-based maker of gas analyzers and sensing technologies, to Enpro (NYSE: NPO). - learn more
Actively Raising
- ReelCall, Inc., an entertainment technology company focused on powerful apps and platforms that help build and maintain the professional network of connections vital to career growth, is raising a $850K Pre-Seed Round. - learn more
- CZero, a hard-tech startup that is developing a technology for decarbonizing natural gas, is raising a $1.5M Seed Round. - learn more
- Couri, a technology startup addressing last-mile delivery issues, is raising a $450K Pre-Seed Round at a $2.2M post money valuation. - learn more
- Sweetie, a marketplace to help people plan date nights, is raising a $250K Angel Round. -
- StartupStarter, an investment platform that provides real-time data and analytics on startups, is raising an $850K Angel Round. - learn more
If youāre a founder raising money in Los Angeles, give us a shout, and weād love to include you in the newsletter!
š LA Tech Calendar
Sunday, January 7th
- LA Coffee Club x Popl - "Networking Gone Wild" Mansion Party & Panel - Join 310 Coffee Club for a panel discussion and networking in Beverly Hills. The panel will be discussing "Networking Tactics to 2x your Potential" with founders & CEOs including Jason Alvarez-Cohen of Popl, Nathan Green of Kin, Rory Garton-Smith of Checkmate, Christina Galbato of Create Her Empire, and Casey Adams ofListener.com!
Wednesday, January 10th
- Startup Cafe: Networking with a Kick - Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Tech Enthusiasts join together to meet and connect with like-minded people, industry professionals and investors, while enjoying a nice cup of coffee in Venice at The KINN. This weekās interactive discussion about AIās evolution in entertainment will feature Dr. Sam Khoze and Rachel Joy Victor.
- Venice Tech Happy Hour- Join Startup Coil and FoundrHaus Wednesday evening and enjoy the sunset from the rooftop, grab a bite overlooking Abbot Kinney, and mingle with other tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs by the bar on the patio.
Have an awesome event coming up? Reach out to be featured on next weekās Newsletter!
š What Weāre Reading
- Tune in to TenOneTen Partner Minnie Ingersollās conversation with Josh Porter, co-founder of FirstLook Partners. Josh explains why he thinks smaller funds make the best investment opportunities. He has seen hundreds of decks and digs in on how to evaluate funds and his unique approach to co-investments. - listen here
- Fisker will add dealerships to EV sales model. -
- 4 Predictions for AI in 2024. -
Christian Hetrick is dot.LA's Entertainment Tech Reporter. He was formerly a business reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and reported on New Jersey politics for the Observer and the Press of Atlantic City.
Itās essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0