SpaceX preps for Falcon launch; GumGum establishes dental advertising outfit; Snap talks new features, redesign at partner summit.
Santa Monica-based advertising analytics startup GumGum Inc. created a spin-off of its dental services division April 5, Socaltech reports. GumGum’s new dental outfit will develop artificial intelligence advertising tools for the dental industry separate from its existing advertising and sports media divisions. Ophir Tanz will vacate his post as GumGum chief executive to lead the new entity, and Chief Operating Officer Phil Schraeder will assume the role of GumGum’s CEO.
SpaceX Prepares For Falcon Heavy Launch
Hawthorne-based SpaceX will launch a Falcon Heavy rocket April 7, the first since a test in February 2018. The launch will take a communications satellite developed by Lockheed Martin Corp. into orbit. TechCrunch reports the Falcon rocket is significant not only for its ability to carry larger than average payloads, but also because its launches cost roughly $100 million each, as compared to the current industry standard of $300 to $600 million per launch.
Snap Outlines Changes During Keynote Address
During its first keynote event, Santa Monica-based Snap Inc. outlined changes to its Snapchat app, including new content and slight redesigns aimed at holding user attention longer and increasing engagement. Snapchat added 10 new short-form television shows to its lineup and a new suite of augmented reality lenses, the L.A. Times reports. Back-end developer tools that allow other companies to integrate their content with the Snapchat app were also announced, with West Hollywood-based dating app Tinder Inc. and Fitbit Inc. the first two companies to do so.
Tech reporter Samson Amore can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 556-8335. Follow him on Twitter @samsonamore.
