Uber comes to LAX
The world's top ride service is finally taking on one of the world's top airports. Uber joins Lyft, who had been picking up from LAX since December, as a new transportation option from LAX. However, new airport surcharges will go into effect in accordance with the news, ranging from $4 to $5. [Uber cleared to pick up passengers at LAX: LA Biz]
USC links with Jaunt for virtual reality
The Walt Disney Company and Google Ventures-backed Jaunt, a developer of VR hardware and software, announced a new partnership with USC that would bring a virtual reality lab to the USC Cinema School. The VR incubator will be entirely donated by Jaunt and will be dubbed the Jaunt Cinematic Virtual Reality Lab. [Jaunt, USC Link On Virtual Reality Lab: SoCal Tech]
Los Angeles gets two new restaurant delivery options
Both UberEats and GrubHub expanded to Los Angeles this Friday. UberEats is the company's latest app that has recently launched in New York and Chicago to deliver food from local restaurants. GrubHub, a publicly-traded food delivery app based in Chicago, also entered the LA market on Friday. The company reportedly will be begin delivering food from 300 LA restaurants. [Los Angeles To Get Restaurant Deliveries Via Uber: SoCal Tech] [GrubHub Expands Food Delivery To Los Angeles: SoCal Tech]
Univision buys controlling stake in The Onion
Los Angeles-based Univision Communications, who owns the country's largest broadcasting channel for Spanish speakers, purchased a controlling stake in the satirical news website The Onion this week. The Onion was founded in Madison, Wisconsin and is currently based in Chicago. ["Area company" buys controlling stake in The Onion: Built In]
Fundings of the week
, $50 million
Investors: Not disclosed
Continuing their epic run of financing, FreedomPop added another $50 million this week, brining their total to $109 million. The company had raised a $30 million Series B six months ago before pursuing the new round. FreedomPop will reportedly use the funding to expand their free cell phone service to Europe, Asia and South America. [FreedomPop Raises $50 Million: LA Business Journal]
, $3.5 million
Investors: Subtraction Capital and included investments from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and Indicator Ventures
Manhattan Beach-based Caplinked, a cloud-based work optimization platform for secure enterprise coordination between multiple organizations, announced a $3.5 million round this week. CapLinked will reportedly use the new capital to expand their sales and marketing efforts to accelerate growth. [PayPal's Peter Thiel injects $3.5M into CapLinked: Built In]
