The Los Angeles Business Journal brings you a weekly roundup of L.A. launches.
BeLinked: The West L.A. company, formerly LinkedUp!, is rebranding as BeLinked with the release of its updated mobile dating app, which makes matches through LinkedIn profiles. The new iOS app borrows Tinder’s “yes or no” swiping mechanism and also lets users forward date recommendations to their friends.
Campus Steps: The education tech platform helps students prepare for their college applications. Its portfolio of online and mobile apps match students to colleges, offer counseling and track students’ resumes relative to the national average. Campus Steps is being incubated in Santa Monica through college recruitment technology developer Campus Explorer.
Favrit: The iOS bookmarking app helps users save their favorite places, such as restaurants or concert venues, and share their lists with friends. Favrit is based in Santa Monica.
Heard: Heard offers a “social exchange” platform that matches people with user-generated content that is customized to their interests. The Santa Monica startup’s software is available for iOS, Android and desktop.
Knowledge Base: ProProfs, a provider of online testing and training tools, has launched Knowledge Base to help companies create online FAQs with searchable content and video tutorials. The company is privately held in Santa Monica.
Lyft Line: The San Francisco ride-sharing company has begun a limited launch of its carpool service, Lyft Line, in Los Angeles. Lyft Line connects riders on similar routes so they can share cars and split the fare.
MobLabs: The mobile products studio launched with plans to set up shop in Venice. Co-founder Andy Kleinman, a former Scopely exec, said MobLabs will focus on developing a range of apps on productivity, fitness, social or healthcare topics. Read more here.
Workpop: The job site targeting hourly workers launched Tuesday after raising $7.9 million. The Venice startup’s co-founders said they would focus on servicing the greater Los Angeles area before expanding into other cities. Read more here.
Staff reporter Melissah Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MelissahYang for the latest in L.A. tech news.
