LA’s diverse and innovative character shined last week as several tech developers focused on highlighting the excellence of underrepresented groups made growth moves. Check out what these companies are building on the West Coast. This is the Built In LA Weekly Refresh.
Sega announced plans to acquire Rovio. Operating a U.S. headquarters in Irvine, gaming company Sega announced plans to acquire Rovio, the mobile game developer behind the Angry Birds franchise. By adding Rovio to its ranks, Sega wants to expand its presence within the mobile gaming space and fuel the development of mobile versions of its existing games. [CNBC]
Nativo secured $25M. Digital advertising company Nativo pulled in a round of structured capital from Capital IP. Nativo’s platform works to help brands connect with audiences at scale using artificial intelligence and machine learning tech. The new money signifies the company’s next stage of growth as it continues to expand its tech. [PR Newswire]
LA Tech Quote of the Week
“Hip-hop is an art form that many people doubted from day one, but our culture continues to rise to higher heights. I’m honored that Rock The Bells is leading this resurgence of timeless hip-hop, while simultaneously bridging the generations. I’m so excited about all of the amazing things we have planned for the community, fans and brands.” — LL Cool J, founder and CEO of Rock The Bells
Rock The Bells got $15M. Entertainment platform Rock The Bells raised Series B funding co-led by Raine Ventures, Irving Azoff of Iconic Artists Group and Paramount Global. The LA-based company focuses on hip-hop culture and provides consumers with content, commerce and experiences surrounding the topic. Its new capital will go toward scaling the three main pillars of the business. [PR Newswire]
Mansa raised $8M. Mansa, a streaming service and content aggregator for Black cultural content, announced the launch of its platform and a round of seed funding. The company has licensed over 1,500 hours of content so far, including on-demand movies, TV shows and user-generated videos. Mansa is currently hiring new talent to create original shows on its platform. [TechCrunch]
Shield pulled in $2.1M. Prioritizing growth and innovation alongside security, Shield developed an API solution that helps companies prevent crypto exploits while increasing the trust of their users. Outfitted with seed capital from Kraken Ventures, Eterna Capital and others, Shield plans to deliver its security solutions to organizations across various industries. [PR Newswire]
