PledgeLA

Join us for the first-ever PledgeLA Catalyst Awards on December 18th at the historic El Rey Theater! ?? Featuring a special conversation with Mayor Karen Bass, we’ll be honoring L.A.’s most outstanding entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, and ecosystem builders making waves in our city. We welcome our network and community members to join us to celebrate and cheer on these trailblazing leaders– all in one unforgettable night! ? ??? Space is limited– RSVP now to claim your spot: https://lu.ma/bxrfv4pb?

?? How does the PledgeLA VC Fellowship prepare and empower emerging leaders in venture capital? Hear from our powerhouse program alumni Brandon Gunning, Evan Boswell Hamilton, Aileen Kim, Spencer Pratt, and Debbie Rumbo about their experiences in the program! ??Don’t miss the priority application review deadline on December 15— final submissions are due by January 5: https://lnkd.in/gycsQNVM ?? Visit our website to learn more about program eligibility and dates:? https://lnkd.in/d3vm_Tzi ?? Have questions? Register for our virtual program info session on December 4: https://lu.ma/d9amcry0 Cinematica Labs Annenberg Foundation

???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????????! Explore exciting opportunities in VC: ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????? (New Enterprise Associates (NEA)) ?????????????????? (Samsung Next) ????????????????????, ????????/???? (Upfront Ventures) ?????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? (Struck Capital) ???????????????? (SE Ventures) ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? (Aramco Ventures) ?????????????????? ??????????????????, ???????????? ???????????? (JPMorganChase) Discover these roles and more on our job board! https://lnkd.in/gEKGTNc9 #venturecapital #investmentroles #jobboard #vcjobs

????Calling all graduate students interested in VC! Don’t miss the chance to apply for our 2025 VC Fellowship, hosted in partnership with Cinematica Labs. ?? ?? Visit our website to learn more about program eligibility and dates:? https://lnkd.in/d3vm_Tzi ? Submit your application by the priority review deadline on December 15— final submissions are due by January 5: https://lnkd.in/gycsQNVM ?? Have questions? Register for our virtual program info session on December 4: https://lu.ma/d9amcry0

?? Applications close November 20th! ?? Need a little help? Join our one-hour session for last-minute tips before it's too late. During this session, we will cover how to make your application stand out, navigate the Techstars accelerator, answer any questions you may have. Don’t miss out! ?? November 12th at 1:00 pm ET ?? https://tsta.rs/a6Xg50TTC89 ?? Elliott Mack, Investment Associate at Techstars NYC ?? Misti Cain, Venture Partner at Techstars Anywhere Remote Accelerator ?? Sylvia Bouloutas, Investment Associate at Techstars San Francisco

??Thinking about applying to the PledgeLA VC Fellowship? Hear from 2024 PledgeLA VC fellows Alan Cortez, Tatiana Jackson, Siani Mora Mak, Humnah Memon, and Bryan Reyes about their experiences in the program! ??Don’t miss the priority application review deadline on December 15— final submissions are due by January 5: https://lnkd.in/gycsQNVM ?? Visit our website to learn more about program eligibility and dates:? https://lnkd.in/d3vm_Tzi ?? Have questions? Register for our virtual program info session on December 4: https://lu.ma/d9amcry0 Cinematica Labs Annenberg Foundation

??? #LATechWeek Recap!! We had a blast supporting 9 community-centered events across the city. ?? We kicked-off the week alongside AWSM SCTY and Grid110 during the Founders and Funders Brunch, followed by LaFamilia Foundation and Techqueria’s Dále Summit, gathering Latinx/e startup and VC leaders. ? We joined VamosVentures and Unshackled Ventures to catalyze connections between immigrant entrepreneurs and VC leaders during their Smoothie Soirée, before Plug In Ventures, SomosVC, VamosVentures, and BLCK VC’s Founders and Funders Happy Hour, bringing together ecosystem key players. ?? We supported powerhouse entrepreneurs and investors working to transform the food system at Thursday’s Supply Change Capital’s Food & Ag Tech Ecosystem event. ?? We joined Friday’s special Building Bridges for Women of Color Investors event alongside Cap Table Coalition, Emmeline Ventures, Sisters with Ventures Podcast, and the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies - USC Marshall, followed by Grid110’s Founder Showcase, celebrating trailblazing LA entrepreneurs. ? We wrapped up the week with BLCK VC’s Venture on the Green Golf Tournament and culminating dinner, building connections shape the future of tech and venture in LA! Grateful to all of our ecosystem partners and participants who made these events possible! ?? TECH WEEK by a16z #LosAngeles #TechWeek #Entrepreneurship #VentureCapital

???? Applications for the 2025 PledgeLA VC Fellowship are now LIVE!! Hosted in partnership with Cinematica Labs, the program is open to graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in breaking into venture capital. Fellows will gain hands-on VC experience by: ?? Training with experts on VC fundamentals in Spring 2025 ?? Receiving $10K for a full-time and paid summer internship at an LA venture firm? ?? Getting access to a network of LA VC’s and investors ?? Visit our website to learn more about program eligibility, dates, and to apply: https://lnkd.in/d3vm_Tzi ?? Have questions? Register for our virtual program info session on December 4: https://lu.ma/d9amcry0?

Interested to learn what we’re looking for in Friends & Family applications? Sign up for our next virtual info session at ff.slauson.co ?? Applications are open now until November 3.

???EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ???Today we introduce our newest initiative, in partnership with Wurwand Foundation, to create clearer pathways to success for early-stage entrepreneurs — particularly those with a community-centric mission. Introducing the Community Business Accelerator (CBA)! This 16-week intensive program is designed to empower and elevate Los Angeles-based businesses serving the local community. CBA will provide hands-on support to companies that are driven not only by profit but by a shared mission to uplift their communities—whether through job creation, equitable access to resources, or any other way of pouring back into local LA neighborhoods. Throughout this program,?founders will develop a tailored approach to securing capital, refining product-market fit, building a high-performing team, and implementing operational roadmaps to drive sustained growth. ???Learn more, sign up for an info session, and apply by October 21: grid110.org/cba #Community #LosAngeles #LocalImpact #Entrepreneurship