UTA represents stars such as Harrison Ford and Bad Bunny, as well as popular pro gamers like Symfuhny. Its new venture reflects the Beverly Hills-based agency’s growing interest in esports, as it eyes ways to boost its music stars through collaborations with gaming giants.
Here’s what else we’re reading in the news:
- Uber agrees to pay $9 million California settlement on sexual assault reporting failure.
- Culver City-based gaming startup 100 Thieves raises $60 million in new funding.
- A new report finds a predictive policing tool used by the LAPD is riddled with bias.
- California’s state treasurer is among 6 others to urge Activision Blizzard to institute change or risk losing their pension investment.
- A new economic forecast predicts Southern California will see uneven recovery through 2022.
- L.A.-based robot maker Coco releases a new model with more carrying capacity.
- Tesla quietly releases an all-electric ATV for kids.
- Bird’s CEO buys a former drug kingpin’s mansion in Miami.
UTA’s Gaming SPAC Lands on Nasdaq
One of the world’s largest talent agencies launched its first SPAC on the Nasdaq exchange on Thursday. United Talent Agency’s UTA Acquisition Corp. raised $200 million in the IPO, fueling its efforts to snap up a “compelling” gaming or creator economy business.
Tagger Raises $15 Million to Tap Into the Creator Economy
Launched in 2015 as a music discovery service, the Santa Monica-based startup has evolved into an influencer marketing platform that helps companies search for influencers to promote their services or products. That shift has apparently paid off.
Why Kairos Ventures Sees a Massive Opportunity in Academia
Originally focused on the research coming out of Caltech, the firm was founded of the belief that innovation that begins in academia has the power to reshape medicine, climate and the world we live in. Hear why its chief R&D officer believes VCs should take bigger chances and how the peer-review process fits into his investment strategy. Listen to LA Venture on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
