A weekly roundup of must-read L.A. tech investments and acquisitions.
Lowercase Capital
$46.1 Million
Type: Venture fund raise
Location: Hermosa Beach
Investors: Undisclosed
Description: Chris Sacca’s seed investment firm Lowercase Capital has raised a $46.1 million fund, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm’s prior seed funds were invested in companies such as Uber Technologies Inc., WordPress and Medium. Sacca became chairman of Lowercase in June. The firm’s investments are now led by Managing Director Matt Mazzeo, who previously worked in business development at Creative Artists Agency.
Beyond Meat
$17 Million
Type: Equity
Location: El Segundo
Investor: Undisclosed
Description: The fake-meat manufacturer has raised a $17 million Series E round, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Beyond Meat engineers and manufactures faux-chicken and beef products from plant proteins. Its previous backers include prominent tech investors such as Menlo Park’s Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and San Francisco’s Obvious Ventures.
17 Hats
$4 million
Type: Equity
Location: Pasadena
Investors: The round was led by Wavemaker Partners, with participation from Talmadge O’Neill and Harry Tsao of Mezi Media and Tamim Mourad of PriceGrabber.
Description: 17Hats develops business management software for so-called solo entrepreneurs. The software’s features include contact management, bookkeeping, workflow guides and calendars.
Service
$3.1 million
Type: Equity
Location: Beverly Hills
Investors: The round was led by the Founders Fund, with participation from Menlo Ventures, Maveron, Eight Ventures, Arena Ventures, Alex Bard, Tikhon Bernstam, Brenden Mulligan and Robin Chan.
Description: Service’s software and employees handle and resolves business complaints so that disgruntled customers don’t have to wait on the phone themselves. Service doesn’t yet charge for its customer complaint help, but may eventually charge a flat fee, a percentage of each claim or even a monthly membership.
Technology reporter Garrett Reim can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @garrettreim for the latest in L.A. tech news.
