The Roundup: L.A. startup and innovation news you need to know:
AI INCUBATOR: NumberOne AI, based in Newport Beach, announced it raised $13 million. The incubator will use the funds to create an AI platform and program it to start building new companies. This platform will use data science to create companies that operate based on prediction and prevention, rather than the traditional detect and respond method.
Stuart McClure is the founder of NumberOne AI. He previously founded Foundstone (acquired by McAfee in 2004) and Cylance (acquired by Blackberry in 2019).
Cylance applied data science to cybersecurity, using predictive AI to stop certain kinds of cyberattacks, which that company claims eliminated the need for traditional antivirus and enterprise detect and respond tools.
NumberOne AI's round was led by serial CEOs, founders and investors, including Art Coviello, Drumwright Investments, B5 Capital and Miramar Digital Ventures.
ENTERTAINMENT: Muus Collective announced it closed a $5 million seed round. It’s an entertainment studio that creates experiences spanning mobile games and digital collectibles.
The round was led by Griffin Gaming Partners, a VC firm exclusively focused on the gaming and web3 markets, with more than $1 billion in assets under management.
Muus Collective and Griffin Gaming Partners want to advance diversity in gaming, web3 and fashion through inclusion, collaboration and empowerment.
SPATIAL COMPUTING: Talespin, which focuses on workforce knowledge transfer and skills mobility, announced new funding from the WestRiver Group. The amount of the investment has not been disclosed.
The deal also includes Talespin's acquisition of the Pioneer Adaptive Learning Platform from Singularity Group, and includes the addition of new employees and advisors from Singularity.
The Metaverse is part of the web3 tech market. Education and workforce skills development are two growing uses within the Metaverse space, with companies like Meta, Microsoft and Cisco investing in tech that’s designed to enable immersive learning.
Talespin appears to be benefiting from this increasing demand, with interest in the Metaverse from leaders in learning, workforce transformation and human-capital investment.
AT-HOME VET SERVICE: The Vets, a mobile veterinary service, announced its expansion into the Los Angeles market, marking the 16th city the company has expanded to since launching in 2021. The Vets enables veterinarians to develop relationships with pets and their owners in a home environment, where the pets feel more comfortable. Cats and dogs can receive a full range of at-home treatments including wellness exams, diagnostics and treatments.
