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Welcome to issue #006 of Emerging LA

Hello, Emerging LA community,

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend and are excited for the week ahead.

For those who don’t know me (yet) – hello! 👋

I'm Brandon Hoffman, the founder of Emerging LA. I grew up in Southern California, and after stints in New York and Silicon Valley, I was excited to return home in 2019 and settle in Los Angeles! 

My vision for Emerging LA is an IRL community that unites people together to unlock LA’s full potential as a top emerging tech ecosystem in the world!

In this edition:  

• 📅 Event of the week: Mediatech LA on the Red Carpet on 1/31/24

• 🤩 Person of the week: Elana Dickman at Red Beard Ventures

• 📱 Post of the week: Challenges in Mental Health for Founders

• 🎙️ Pod of the week: LA Venture Minnie Ingersoll’s Unique Journey

• 📍 Place of the week: Dialog Café in West Hollywood

Enjoy the read, and see you soon!

📆 Featured Event

Where you should be to meet other amazing people

You wouldn’t want to miss this event!!

Mediatech LA on the Red Carpet (Hollywood): 01/31/2024

​​Sign up link

Walk the red carpet, watch award-winning short films, enjoy the after-party open bar, and mingle with media-tech founders, VC's, celebrities, and filmmakers! 

Hosted by Brandon Hoffman (Emerging LA & Sunset Ventures) and Brit MacRae (KINO).

Agenda

• ​6:30pm: Walk the Red Carpet & photographed by Getty

• ​7:00pm: Screening & Awards Ceremony

• ​9:00pm: VIP After Party (optional)

• ​11:00pm: Wrap up

​✅ Invite only

​Please RSVP HERE. Space is limited.

Other Events to Consider

01/25/24 Thursday at 6:00pm- 9:00pm - Product and Design Happy Hour

(Downtown LA - Arts District)

​Enjoy quality networking and happy hour in the Arts District! This event is mainly for product managers and designers from the LA region.

Hosted by PMALA. (Sign up link)

01/26/24 Saturday at 7:30am- 8:30am - Pitch and Run LA: Friday Runs

(Santa Monica, California)

Pitch and Run is designed to help you connect with others on ideas, passions, and life while enjoying a casual run (3.5 mile loop at an easy-conversational pace). Mainly focus on people in tech/startups, but are open to everyone!

Hosted by Niki Agrawal. (Sign up link)

🤩 Spotlighted Member

The VCs, founders, and leaders you should know! 

Elana Dickman, Partner at Red Beard Ventures

Elana Dickman, a key partner at Red Beard Ventures, plays a significant role in a comprehensive Web3 fund. 

The fund focuses on blockchain consumer applications, infrastructure, gaming, the metaverse, and DeFi startups. Along with her business partner, Dickman has made investments in 25 different companies. 

These investments include a comprehensive DAO named Zero Tech and Alethea AI, a collective investment that seeks to commercialize AI-generated media.

To date, the firm has invested over $50 million. Beyond her investment activities, Dickman has established The Girls Table, a company specializing in podcasts and events, dedicated to elevating the voices of entrepreneurs, creators, and investors. 

Elana has been featured in Business Insider’s “66 Rising Stars of VC in 2023” and Forbes’ “30 under 30” in Los Angeles list.

📱 Scrolling on Social 

The post from our weekly feed that you should read!

Founders face challenges in mental health like never before

Startups are facing funding shortages, closed IPOs, and unresponsive clients, increasing stress and potential mental health issues among founders. Investors are responding by funding mental health resources. 

Felicis and Seven Seven Six (776), for example, dedicate an extra 1% of each investment to subsidize founder-focused services like coaching and therapy.

The Grand, a standout in this area, provides group coaching for founders. The Grand is an investment in the Sunset Ventures portfolio, led by its founders Anita Hossain Choudhry + Rei Wang. They're a key contact for companies or funds looking to offer coaching support to their founders.

Click here to read the full post.

🎙️ Tech Talks

Sharing our favorite podcast picks, you should listen!

Minnie Ingersoll — TenOneTen

“I found it very hard like it did. It was not my strength. I'm going to pitch a roomful of investors and sort of think on my feet.” - Minnie Ingersoll

In this week’s episode, we will be highlighting Minnie Ingersoll’s unique journey and career path.

Minnie Ingersoll is renowned for co-founding Shift, an online marketplace for used cars, and has transitioned into a role in venture capital, supporting startups. 

She's also a podcast host and an advocate for diversity in tech, leveraging her extensive experience in the industry to foster growth and inclusion. 

Her career encapsulates entrepreneurship, investment, and community engagement, making her a significant figure in the tech world.

Check out her inspiring podcast of her journey: Minnie Ingersoll - LA Venture Podcast

📍 Location, Location, Location

Spots for your next meetup, meal, or remote work. You should visit! 

Dialog Café

Looking for a great spot for coffee, work, or a friendly meet-up?

Dialog Café is the place. Situated in the heart of West Hollywood, this unique Café was started by an Italian family and is popularly known for its coffee and sandwiches.

They also offer a fantastic selection of drinks and snacks, perfect for any time of the day. And the best part? It's dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend!

Whether you're aiming to get some work done or planning a relaxed meeting, the ambiance is ideal. It strikes the perfect balance between comfortable and conducive, making it a great spot for both productivity and casual conversations.

In short, Dialog Café is more than just a coffee spot. Whether you're there for work, a chat, or just a quick caffeine fix, it's a versatile hangout. Definitely worth checking out!

Emerging LA is Sponsored By

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