![blue cat[1]](https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12225832/blue-cat1*540xx1986-1117-0-555.jpg)
CAA said it will work with Cool Cats on opportunities for the NFT characters in licensing and merchandising, animated content, brand partnerships, live events, publishing and more.
Cool Cats
Creative Artists Agency has signed on to represent Cool Cats, producers of the Cool Cats and Cool Pets non-fungible token collections.
CAA said it will work with the Tampa, Florida-based NFT company to identify and create opportunities for Cool Cats characters across an array of areas, including licensing and merchandising, animated content, brand partnerships, live events, publishing and more.
Cool Cats, which has amassed the equivalent of $250 million in sales since its launch last year, said there are currently more than 5,300 unique holders of Cool Cats, including Reese Witherspoon, DJ Steve Aoki, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, as well as companies such as Time and Puma.
In other L.A.-area technology news:
- Bird has unveiled shared wheelchairs in a New York City pilot program. The Santa Monica-based company is testing a new, battery-powered attachment for wheelchairs to increase accessible mobility for people with disabilities. The pilot program is part of an expanded e-scooter program currently being tested in the Bronx and is free to participants, according to TechCrunch.
- Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) has acquired NextMind, a Paris-based neurotech company for undisclosed sum. Snap said NextMind, which will continue to operate out of Paris, will help drive long-term augmented reality research efforts within Snap Lab.
- WeWork has expanded its WeWork Growth Campus program to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. The company, which launched the program in New York City in February, is committing an additional $35 million in space for startups and nonprofits, including $5.2 million worth of space in Los Angeles.
- RideAmigos, a management platform that powers some of the largest public and workplace transportation programs in the U.S. and Europe, has launched a new app-based employee benefit program for commuters. The company said its Pave Commute app combines artificial intelligence with behavioral nudges and incentives to help employees and groups make more sustainable transportation choices.
Kokolu's sneakers are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic using 3D knitting technology.
KOKOLU
- Kokolu has released its first sustainable sneaker using 3D knitting technology and made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The sneakers also feature GreenKSole, a lightweight sole made from recycled rubber waste and sustainably harvested natural rubber. Founded in 2018, Kokolu is a certified B-Corp.
GreenPower’s zero-emission Nano BEAST Type A school bus
GreenPower Motor Co.
- GreenPower Motor Co. (Nasdaq: GP) a manufacturer of electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, has launched Nano BEAST, a battery-electric school bus. The Canadian company, which has a sales and administration office in Rancho Cucamonga, said the Nano BEAST is the first purpose-built, zero-emission, Type A school bus on the market and will have the largest standard battery pack for a Type A school bus. Initial deliveries will begin in the coming months.
Funding
- The $2 billion venture fund FTX Ventures is investing $100 million in banking app Dave Inc. (Nasdaq: DAVE). The company has partnered with West Realm Shires Services Inc., owner and operator of FTX US, the cryptocurrency exchange that ran a Super Bowl ad starring Larry David, and is adding cryptocurrency to its fintech platform.
- Firstbase, developer of a management platform for companies with remote workers, has raised $50 million in a Series B round led by Kleiner Perkins, bringing the company’s total funding raised to date to $65 million. Existing investors participating in the round included Andreessen Horowitz, Alpaca VC and Forum Ventures. Firstbase said the fresh capital will continue to fuel its aggressive hiring, product development, operations and geographic expansion.
- Digital learning platform Subject has closed a $29.4 million Series A round of funding. The round, led by edtech investor Owl Ventures, included additional participation from seed investors Kleiner Perkins and SoftBank Group, as well as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Moving Capital. Subject has now raised a total of $34.7 million. Tory Patterson, Owl Ventures cofounder and managing director, has joined Subject's board of directors.
Gamefam provides creators with tools, resources and processes to manage their games.
Gamefam
- Gamefam, a game publisher and developer on Roblox, has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round led by Konvoy Ventures, with participation from Play Ventures, Makers Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners and Galaxy Interactive. The company said the raise has allowed it to grow its staff to more than 100. Gamefam said it provides creators with tools, resources and processes to manage their games more effectively.
- MetaMagnet Ltd., operator of the universal blockchain gaming platform built on the Terra blockchain, C2X, has closed on a $25 million funding round led by FTX Ventures, Jump Crypto and Animoca Brands. The round was conducted as a private token sale at a $500 million valuation to the platform.
- Workorder Inc. has raised a 1.1 million pre-seed round from UBMB and Mucker Capital to help launch its software for the construction industry. Spencer Gaffney from UBMB has joined the company’s board of directors. Workorder has been operating in a private beta with many of the largest construction companies in North America, including DPR Construction, PCL and Performance Contracting Inc.
- Luxury Presence said it received an additional boost to its Series B funding round from an investment by Spencer Rascoff’s L.A.-based venture capital firm 75 & Sunny. The company recently raised $25.9 million for its Series B led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Rascoff joins Bessemer Venture Partners and fellow existing investors Toba Capital and Switch Ventures. Luxury Presence said it plans to use the funds to build new marketing products for agents, enhance its offering for teams and grow its Networks feature.
- Richard Kayne of Kayne Anderson and biotech executive Leen Kawas have launched a new L.A.-based equity investment firm, Propel Bio Partners LP, focused on life science companies. The company said it aims to support entrepreneurs advancing groundbreaking life-science technologies and therapies that improve human health and companies focused on changing standard of care and improving quality of life.
People
- Influential, a Los Angeles-based influencer marketing company, has hired Alex Mandel as its chief financial officer. Mandel, who previously was CFO at Fluent, will be based in New York were the company has more than 75 employees.
