Built In LA’s 10 Featured Companies of February

Los Angeles has long been known as a home to the entertainment industry. But LA’s tech industry has been steadily growing — especially since the early 2000’s — and is now the third largest startup ecosystem in the United States.

Across LA’s sweeping valley, the tech industry influence can be seen not just in the apps and products we use in our daily lives, but also in the most literal sense: the buildings we drive by on commutes or while running errands. Tech companies hold over 5.5 million square feet of real estate in the city, after all.

A plethora of companies of all sizes and niches can be found everywhere, but this month Built In LA has chosen 10 to spotlight. Read more about what they’ve been up to recently, the benefits that attract talent in a competitive market, and the team members that have helped make them what they are today.

 

 

 

What Pluto TV does: Pluto TV is a free online television broadcast service that hosts hundreds of channels of live and on-demand programming. 

 

What’s powering Pluto TV: President and CEO for Paramount Streaming Tom Ryan broke down the novelty of Pluto TV’s “contrarian” free streaming model in a world of paid subscription services. “With those contrarian insights, we launched Pluto TV,” Ryan said. “People like to be programmed to.”

 

Now hiring: Pluto TV is now hiring in various roles and areas. Check out its postings on Built In LA. 

 

 

 

What Mythical Games does: Blockchain company Mythical Games is a game technology studio that aims to bring verified digital ownership of assets within video games. 

 

What’s to come: Mythical Games recently shared a teaser video for its upcoming NFL Rivals game, which distinguishes itself from similar sports games with a Gen Z-skewed art style and fast-paced gameplay. The game also allows players to acquire and trade NFTs of their favorite NFL players. 

 

Blockchain: Mythical Games became the first to adopt mythos — or MYTH — tokens, which provide Web3 game utility in a decentralized ecosystem. “MYTH token holders will be the driving force as we, in collaboration with the Mythos Foundation and other industry partners, continue to revolutionize and democratize gaming in order to give everyone a seat at the table,” said CEO John Lindon in a press release. 

 

 

 

 

What Thrive Market does: Thrive Market is a subscription-based marketplace that connects users to sustainable and healthy products. Every paid subscription is matched by Thrive and donated to someone in need. 

 

Waste reduction: Sustainability is central to Thrive Market’s mission, and the company recently received a gold certification from the TRUE ratings systems, which tracks and encourages waste reduction and sustainable practices. “Earning this certification ladders up to our five-year sustainability goals, including achieving zero waste certification across our fulfillment network in 2022,” said Co-founder and CEO Nick Green in a statement. 

 

Noteworthy goals: Thrive Market was spotlighted in Fast Company’s “Brands That Matter 2022” list, in part due to its aim to be carbon negative by 2025 and plastic neutral by 2023, while offsetting 100 percent of its carbon emissions by last year. 

 

 

 

What Slickdeals does: Over 12 million shoppers use Slickdeals to share and discover products and compare pricing to find the best deals. 

 

Flexible work: Chief Financial Officer Stephen Loh told Built In LA about maintaining integrity and trust in a remote work environment: “Our team understands what success and failure looks like, so having clear goals that everyone can trust is critical for working effectively. Our core values were truly embraced during the transition to remote work; now, they’ve become second nature.” 

 

Focus on Belonging: “You don’t separate yourself from home and work,” said Ren Rodriguez. workplace experience manager, in a 2022 interview with Built In LA. “You bring your entire self wherever you go. If we can create a workspace in which people feel safe, happy, informed, motivated and inspired, those are the themes we’re always trying to reach for. That’s our north star.”

 

 

 

 

What Zest AI does: Zest AI is a fintech software company that applies machine learning to credit underwriting, allowing companies to automate compliance, reduce risk and increase revenue.  

 

Management skills: VP of Product Nidhi Mykletun spoke with Built In LA in 2022 about what advice she has for women as they move into management. “Humans are complicated, but great managers take the time to understand and play to the individual strengths of their team members to help them achieve at the highest level,” said Mykletun.

 

Equifax partnership: In 2022, Equifax partnered with Zest AI. “Equifax and Zest AI’s partnership gives them the ability to automate more inclusive lending outcomes and expand credit access, so that they can continue community-focused services their members expect,” Jose Valentin, SVP of partnerships for Zest AI, said in a statement.

 

 

 

What BCG X does: As the tech build and design unit of the Boston Consulting Group, BCG X provides organizations with deep industry knowledge and functional expertise. 

 

Advice from a leader: Built In LA chatted with Product Director Angela Qin about what her past experiences have taught her about taking on a leadership role: “The advice I would give to a product professional is to learn to let go of your product and share it with others. Releasing a bit of that control and opening the opportunities for others to provide suggestions different from yours will only make it better.”

 

Internships: Internship season is fast approaching. Last year, Built In LA interviewed Data Scientist Sanjeet Dutta about how his internship at BCG X eventually led to a full-time position. “The team innovates with speed here, testing and learning from challenges early and fast. I had a great support network of senior engineers and venture coaches who helped me push myself to think outside of the box and upskill myself,” said Dutta. 

 

 

 

 

What Tebra does: Healthtech company Tebra provides independent practices with solutions for operations and growth through its products Kareo and PatientPop. 

 

Mission-driven teams: At Tebra, team members have the opportunity to create impact. “As someone with a chronic illness who spends a lot of time interacting with healthcare providers, I’m very passionate about our mission,” said VP of Go-To-Market Operations and Enablement Daire Manning in an interview with Built In LA in November 2022. 

 

Development opportunities: At Tebra, professional development begins as soon as onboarding does and is a continued investment from there on out. “At Tebra, employee experience isn’t just what spontaneously happens,” said Director of People and Culture Jordan King in a Built In LA interview in 2023. “It’s not something that is farmed out to a business partner or something the recruiting team has to do in addition to their primary function. It’s cool to see Tebra investing so many resources to support employee experience.”

 

 

 

What Albert does: Albert is a financial management app that unites banking, savings, investing, budgeting and working in a single destination. 

 

 

The mission: While discussing Albert’s mission with Built In LA in 2022, Head of People Ryan Elberg said, “We’re focused on diminishing an artificial wealth gap that's created by an inequitable access to sound financial guidance and underserved by traditional institutions. The people that work at Albert are deeply motivated by that mission and passionate about changing the paradigm.”

 

 

 

 

What Emotive does: Emotive is an SMS marketing growth platform that helps e-commerce businesses grow their opt-in list, generate conversation and acquisition experiences, and boost engagement. 

 

 

Sales success: While chatting with Built In LA in 2022, Business Development Manager Victoria Simbol spoke about what traits make a successful salesperson. “Ask every question that comes to mind. Become a sponge. Learn about your industry, its common challenges, ideal customer profile, clients, product and whatever else you can,” said Simbol. 

 

 

 

What Who What Wear does: Who What Wear is an e-commerce fashion company known for its content sites and clothing and jewelry lines. 

 

Supportive teams: At Who What Wear, employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work and deliver their best work. “We connect each person’s job role to the company’s objectives and ensure our employees know how they contribute,” said People and Talent Manager Kia Topps in a 2022 interview with Built In LA.