In this article, we will focus on the top 10 Los Angeles fastest-growing companies of 2021, with a mix of already established private companies from Inc. 5000 2021’s list and Growjo’s top startups, focusing both on revenue and number of employees.

1. Heartbeat

Heartbeat is an advertising and marketing company established by Brian Freeman in Los Angeles in 2013. This marketplace connects brands with content creators and social media influencers to promote their products on Instagram and TikTok. What sets Heartbeat apart is that its creators are not high-scale but micro-influencers. This means they are everyday people that really connect with the brand they are promoting.

As one of Los Angeles’ fastest-growing companies, HeartBeat has grown 784% over the past two years making it number 23 on Inc.’s list for California companies. It currently has over 300,000 content creators and is responsible for thousands of user-generated posts every week.

2. Viola

Viola Brands is a producer and licensed wholesaler focused on premium cannabis products. Founded in 2011 by former NBA player Al Harrington, the Los Angeles company hones in the healing power of cannabis and is named after Harrington’s grandmother who used the plant to help with her glaucoma. Viola has grown 713% over the last couple of years and reached $7.8M in yearly income. The company also works a lot on minority ownership and reinvesting in the community.

As for the future, Viola does not only plan to extend its line of products but also fight the systematic oppression of minority communities through education and re-entry tools for those previously incarcerated.

3. AvantStay

AvantStay is a travel and hospitality company that offers short-term rentals in over 20 US locations (like Lake Tahoe or Charleston) and has also started expanding into Mexico. Its aim is to set a new standard for short-term stays, offering authentic travel experiences. The Los Angeles-based company was set up in 2017 and has grown 1411% over the last three years with a current yearly income of $47.8M and having doubled its employees over the past year. 

4. K&J Growth

Growth hacking might sound a bit dubious but is actually a sub-field of marketing focused on company growth. K&J Growth is a digital marketing agency that covers this field particularly for e-commerce and venture-backed companies.

Founded in 2017, K&J Growth has already worked with giants like TikTok and Xfinity. As one of Los Angeles’ fastest-growing companies, it has grown 663% in the last two years. Its services include Facebook and Instagram ROI marketing, lead generation campaigns, and viral mobile app growth campaigns.

5. Startr Co.

Startr Co. is a public relations company founded in 2016. In addition to achieving 494% growth during the past two years, they were also dubbed one of Inc. Best Workplaces in 2020 and “One of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Business Journal both in 2020 and 2021.

The Los Angeles company focuses on helping startups and emerging businesses through press materials, media relations and influencer marketing. Some of its clients include Craft City, Capello’s and Beanfields.

6. Sidecar Health

Sidecar Health has received $163M in funding since being established in 2018 and has managed to reach $10.8 in yearly income, more than doubling its workforce in the past year. 

The Los Angeles-based health insurer revolves around affordability, personalization, transparency and simplicity. Not only does this startup provide more affordable health insurance, but it also prioritizes giving back to the community by donating to charitable organizations that promote better health.

7. StartEngine

StartEngine is focused on helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams by turning everyday people into angel investors. The Los Angeles fintech startup was founded in 2011 by Howard Marks and Ron Miller, amassing over 20,000 shareholders since then. It makes $19.9M in revenue per year and has increased its workforce by almost 50% in the past year.

StartEngine has found success by democratizing funding. However, companies have the option to choose between crowdfunding through its founding portal at no cost (with a cap of $5M per year) or using the company’s broker-dealer which costs between $50,000 and $75,000 (with a cap of $75M per year).

8. B. Riley Financial

B. Riley Financial has been providing companies with tailored financial solutions since 1997. Its services include investment banking and capital markets, venture capital, and retail solutions among many others.

In addition to reaching $88.8 in yearly revenue and 423 employees, the finance company has earned numerous awards within its various areas of expertise. Moreover, in addition to Los Angeles, B. Riley has dozens of offices across the US.

9. Deviation Games

Founded in 2020, Deviation Games is fresh out of the gate. Long-time gamers Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell decided to team up for this creative project which has definitely paid off. In just over a year, the Los Angeles gaming startup has already reached $19.3M in revenue and has 94 employees. In addition to being number 5 on Growjo’s Fastest Growing Companies in Los Angeles, it is also number 1 on their Fastest Growing Entertainment Companies list.

10. Emotive

Emotive is a human-to-human marketing company that helps e-commerce businesses create and improve their customer relations through conversational texting. Founded in Los Angeles in 2018, the startup has reached $17.8M in revenue per year and almost tripled its employees, reaching 123 this year.

When it comes to its customers, Emotive helps them reach over $500,000 in sales in the first six months and increase their ROI 69 times. The company also offers a wide range of integrations, such as Mailchimp and Slack, to make the work smoother.

Final thoughts on Los Angeles fastest-growing companies 2021

Although there is a lot of variety in this list, as you can see, marketing seems to be taking on the lead, with finance and funding companies following close behind. What all of these companies seem to have in common, however, is that they have focused on innovation and keeping up to date in their field.

We hope this article has given you an interesting overview of the top 10 Los Angeles fastest-growing companies of 2021. If you are also interested in the San Francisco scene, you can check out our article on its booming startups.

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What is the Mobile World Congress?

The Mobile World Congress is an event organized by GSMA, an association that represents the interests of over 750 operators plus nearly 400 companies (from the mobile industry and the development community). The event had its origins back in 1987 as the GSM World Congress and was held in Cannes up until 2006. Today, it is the largest mobile industry exhibition in the world and is held in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Barcelona every year. The Barcelona congress usually takes place in February or March, while the Los Angeles event is quite new, having had its first edition in September 2018 (with a previous MWC Americas edition having been held in San Francisco in 2017). However, this year’s Shanghai event was held back in February, the Barcelona congress was held just a few weeks ago (from June 28 to July 1) and you can expect the Los Angeles event in October 2021. Attendees to the conference include representatives from mobile operators, content owners, tech providers, vendors and manufacturers.

What is SpaceX?

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., more commonly known as SpaceX, is an aerospace manufacturer founded in 2002 in Hawthrone, a city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, by Elon Musk. It was created with the goal to make life multi-planetary.

The Los Angeles company developed the first private liquid fuel rocket to reach orbit on Earth back in 2008 and hasn’t stopped innovating in aerospace technology since then. Today, it is working on Starship, a rocket that is meant to establish a base on the Moon and a city on Mars.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a plan to provide the world with “high-speed, low latency broadband internet” via satellite and it is powered by SpaceX. SpaceX has already delivered two-thirds of all required satellites to orbit and will continue to work on expanding the network this year. Starlink should have near-global coverage of populated areas sometime in 2021. Its broadband service is ideally suited to reach rural and remote communities, providing them with reliable access to the internet.

Why did SpaceX choose Los Angeles as headquarters?

Los Angeles is known around the globe as the home of the entertainment industry. It houses all the major studios and some of the biggest stars. However, in recent years, as companies have expanded away from Silicon Valley, Los Angeles has become quite the entrepreneurial hub. Major companies such as Google, Buzzfeed and Facebook have opened offices in L.A.’s Silicon Beach region and there are countless tech companies in this area of Los Angeles. Moreover, the city also houses quite a few incubators and accelerators like Disney Accelerator and Amplify L.A.

Though the Los Angeles industry is still quite diversified (with tourism and finances also heavily involved), the area is buzzing with tech development activity and is a great place to visit, particularly if you are also a fan of the Hollywood life.

Talk highlights

Elon Musk’s interview was moderated by Justin Springham, a Publisher for Mobile World Live. The entrepreneur discussed both his work with Starlink and the latest developments with the SpaceX program. Let’s take a look at the most relevant news for both of these projects.

About Starlink Los Angeles

When it comes to Starlink, Musk stated that he was driven by the need for connectivity in places currently lacking it or where it is very limited or expensive. Therefore, Starlink is meant to fill up the gaps between 5G and fiber. Here are the current developments and the ones expected for the next year.

• Starlink has launched over 1500 satellites that are currently active. Their combined power is over 5 megawatts, capable of outputting 30 terabits per second of data.
• Starlink is currently operational in 12 countries with over 69,000 users and expects to expand to 500,000 users over the next year.
• Elon estimated that sometime in August 2021, Starlink should have global connectivity everywhere except the poles (since this interview, this plan had to go on hiatus due to unforeseen circumstances, however, they seem to be back on track now).
• Starlink expects to get latency down to under 20 milliseconds, getting virtually no lag. Moreover, there is no latency when changing from one satellite to another due to all of them functioning based on a phased array.
• Musk was also asked about the investment on Starlink, responding that before there is an actual positive cash flow the investment will amount to at least $5 million and it might reach $10 million.
• A Starlink satellite dish is extremely easy to connect and will cost $500 and then there will be a $100/month for the service.
• Starlink is also currently working on deals with several telecommunication companies to provide the service through them, particularly focusing on rural customers.

About SpaceX Los Angeles

According to Musk, SpaceX is trying to extend consciousness beyond Earth. Let’s see what’s new with this extremely ambitious project.

• Having already put 1500 Starlink satellites into orbit, SpaceX is getting ready to launch satellite 1.5, which has laser inter-satellite links. This model will be used to achieve continuous connectivity over the arctic and antarctic regions.
• Musk states that the Falcon 9 rocket has the most efficient reusability to date, with some boosters having already flown 10 times. Reusing this rocket translates into 70% in savings with every launch.
• SpaceX is currently developing Starship, which will be the biggest rocket ever developed and will also have twice the thrust of the Saturn Moon rocket. This rocket is designed for full and rapid reusability. Musk also expects Starship to be able to build a base on the moon and a city on Mars. Its first orbital launch attempt is expected to happen in the next few months.

Final thoughts

We believe Starlink is an outstanding project that can close the connectivity gap in remote or poorly serviced areas. We are also looking forward to seeing the Los Angeles-based company’s progress in making life multi-planetary. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Elon Musk!

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There are countless mobile app and tech events around the US and the rest of the world. Back in June, we covered the Mobile Growth Summit (MGS) San Francisco and, today, we’d like to focus on another important event: the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Los Angeles. The 2019 edition is coming up this October and, in this article, we’ll cover everything a mobile app developer (or anyone related to the industry) needs to know about it.

What is the Mobile World Congress?

The Mobile World Congress is organized by GSMA, an association that represents the interests of over 750 operators plus nearly 400 companies (from the mobile industry and the development community). The event had its origins back in 1987 as the GSM World Congress and was held in Cannes up until 2006. Today, it is the largest mobile industry exhibition in the world and is held in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Barcelona each year. The Barcelona congress usually takes place in February or March, while the Los Angeles event is quite new, having had its first edition during September 2018 (with a previous MWC Americas edition being held in San Francisco in 2017). This year’s Shanghai congress was held just a few weeks ago, back in June. Attendees to the conference include representatives from mobile operators, content owners, tech providers, vendors and manufacturers.

Why should you attend?

• The Mobile World Congress gives you a chance to network with the decision-makers of the industry. Last year’s Los Angeles congress included 22,000 attendees from almost 1000 companies as well as over 2500 CEOs and 230 media and industry analysts. Not to mention, 64% of all attendees held senior-level positions.
• You will have the opportunity to learn from the over 400 speakers that take part in the various events. Last year, 75 hours of premium content were shared over the course of three days.
• It isn’t a place just for companies that have settled into the market. Over 130 startups were in attendance last year for the 4YFN Startup Event, which aims at helping them connect with corporations and investors.
• Although the majority of attendees, exhibitors and speakers are from the US, you will get to meet and hear about people from all over the globe, with a strong presence from Europe and Asia.
• The MWC includes a wide variety of areas from the mobile app universe, from AI and IoT to blockchain and policy regulation.
• Exhibitors include big names such as Microsoft, Nokia and IBM, who will give you a sneak peek at the latest technology.
• There is a Women4Tech program that addresses issues like the gender gap, and includes a special summit as well as other events.

If you are still looking not convinced, here is the 2018 post-event report.

What should you expect this year?

1 – Date, location and cost

The 2019 Mobile World Congress Los Angeles will take place on October 22-24^th at the Los Angeles Convention Center and will revolve around intelligent connectivity. Passes are already for sale and you can choose a Silver Pass for $300, a Gold Pass for $1200 or a VIP Pass for $1800. The key extras of the Gold Pass include an exclusive networking reception and entry to the conference program, while the VIP Pass also offers private meeting rooms and content from past events. If you need any help regarding accommodation or transportation, you can find some guidance here.

2 – Event themes

As we mentioned above, the 2019 congress will focus on intelligent connectivity. With that in mind it will cover four themes:

• 5G: The next generation of mobile internet is set to improve data download speed and provide higher reliability. You will be able to attend talks on 5G marketing, strategy and what it means for the future.
• IoT: We’ve been hearing about the Internet of Things for quite a while and it has already surpassed every expectation. This theme will cover some successful use cases and help identify opportunities within the area. There will be conferences related to smart cities, retail, healthcare and manufacturing, just to name a few.
• Disruptive innovation: Here you’ll have a chance to talk about all of those new technologies that keep bringing about radical changes in the mobile world. Topics will include AI ethics, blockchain, and data analytics.
• Immersive content: Virtual and augmented reality have brought about major changes and potential for how we experience services and products, particularly in the entertainment industry. This theme will cover topics such as content distribution and live entertainment.

3 – Speakers

This year’s keynote speakers include Niklas Heuveldop, the President and Head of Market Area for Ericsson North America, and Teri Posner, the CEO of AI4ALL. Specifically for the mobile app industry, Lior Netzer, CTO of Amakai and who focuses on IoT and mobile apps, will also be in attendance. Other noteworthy speakers include Shruti Jain (Head of Business Development for Google North America), Jefferson Wang (MD for Accenture), and Jen Barrett (Head of Entertainment for Facebook). You can find the full list here.

4 – Experiences

There will five main experiences this year (4FYN, Women4Tech, DARPA, Topic Tours and YoMo), in addition to custom experiences.

• The 4FYN Startup Event showcases cutting-edge technology and provides the opportunity for startups to mingle with potential partners. It includes a stage, exhibitions, a network program, and the 4FYN Los Angeles Awards.
• Women4Tech includes speed coaching, a networking session, a summit, and an equality tour, among other things. It focuses on the role diversity has on adding value, enhancing performance and improving the lives of our communities.
• DARPA (the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) holds a championship event and is looking to award almost 4 million dollars to groundbreaking spectrum sharing technologies.
• There will also be Topic Tours throughout the congress on 5G and NFV, IoT, Transformative AI and What’s Hot at MWC. You can catch them every day at $75 for each tour.
• YoMo is the Youth Mobile Festival that provides 15,000 school children with a chance to engage with science and technology. Both registered school groups and education professionals can attend free of charge. There will be various activities covering a diversity of topics and aimed at different age ranges.
• Custom programs: whether you are an app developer trying to get your mobile app idea out there, or are a mobile company leader looking for your business to grow, this program will provide you with access to industry experts, networking opportunities and exhibitors, among other perks.

5 – Exhibitors

Confirmed exhibitors for this year cover every area imaginable (like data analysis, antennas, smart systems and logistics) and include Verizon, Semtech and Ericsson. If you want to become an exhibitor, you can apply here.

6 – Networking

If you are looking to network and you happen to be a GSMA member, there will be an exclusive event on October 21^st. Otherwise, you’ll have the chance to attend the welcome reception, visit a VIP networking lounge, or take part in speed networking. Though you might not be able to do a lot of talking during it, a 5K run will be held bright and early on October 23^rd.

Why Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is known around the globe as the home of the entertainment industry. It houses all the major studios and some of the biggest stars. However, in recent years, as companies have expanded away from Silicon Valley, Los Angeles has become quite the entrepreneurial hub. Major companies such as Google, Buzzfeed and Facebook have opened offices in L.A.’s Silicon Beach region and there are countless mobile app development companies in this area of Los Angeles. Moreover, the city also houses quite a few incubators and accelerators like Disney Accelerator and Amplify L.A.

Though the Los Angeles industry is still quite diversified (with tourism and finances also heavily involved), the city is buzzing with tech development activity and is a great place to visit, particularly if you are also a fan of the Hollywood life.

Mobile World Congress Conclusion

The Mobile World Congress Los Angeles is a great opportunity to network and get up-to-date with all the breakthroughs in the industry. You can check out their YouTube channel to take a look at conferences from past events. Moreover, you can visit their website for more information and check out the agenda for this year here.

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As the second-largest city in the US, it comes as no surprise that Los Angeles is brimming with activity. This is why we’ve put together a list of the best apps to help you navigate life in the City of Angels. So, if you are one of Los Angeles’ 4 million inhabitants, make sure you take a look at these 8 mobile apps you must have if you live in Los Angeles.

1. MyLA311 – Must have if you live in Los Angeles 

This is the city of Los Angeles’ official app and provides you with information about the official non-emergency services. It is helpful to navigate around the city and locate your nearest park, library, or public pool. You can also use it to request graffiti removal or pothole repair, and even pay your power and water bill right from your phone. The app is quite easy to navigate and has 4.2 stars on Google Play. You can check out the City of Los Angeles’ walkthrough video for using the app if you have any doubts.

2. Our Malibu Beaches

Los Angeles has some of the most popular beaches in California, with Malibu definitely being the most popular area to sunbathe and take a dive in the ocean. Our Malibu Beaches is a guide to Malibu’s public beaches that not only tells you how to access them (even the trickiest ones), but also which “No Trespassing” and “No Parking” signs are fake. Enjoy the 20 miles of beaches Malibu has to offer and make the most of your time there with the tips this mobile app has to offer. With a 4.8 rating in the App Store, it’s sure to not let you down.

3. Zillow

If you are looking to rent or buy your next crib in Los Angeles, Zillow is the right app for you. You can use it to look through real estate listings, compare prices, and connect with agents. On top of that, this mobile app will give you information on schools and nearby amenities (such as parks, coffee shops and restaurants). Moreover, you can choose to receive notifications for new listings or price drops. Find this app available for free for both Android and iOS.

4. OpenTable

If you are a fan of eating out, OpenTable will help you find the right restaurant and make a reservation. It offers dozens of filters (such as cuisine, price and rating), includes photos and menus, and shows you special promotions to make picking a restaurant a lot easier. You can even send out RSVP requests directly from the mobile app to organize a meal with friends in no time. OpenTable has received Editor’s Choice by the App Store and has over 5 million downloads in Google Play.

5. Dark Sky

We all know weather predictions can be tricky, but this mobile app claims to be the most accurate one—and its app store ratings and Wired and Wall Street Journal features seem to agree. It provides down-to-the-minute forecasts, has beautiful weather animations and includes push notifications so you can watch out for particularly hot days or rain—on those rare days it rains in Los Angeles. And that’s not all, it also provides historical data and future weather predictions.

6. 5 Every Day

This app will provide you with five interesting things to do around Los Angeles every day, giving you the opportunity to let your inner adventurer run wild. Local artists, musicians and designers are in charge of curating the daily calendar making it a very authentic experience. If you are looking for an interactive map or somewhere to upload photos, this isn’t it. But we can guarantee you will find new and refreshing activities each day. You can download the mobile app for free in the App Store or enjoy the Android web app.

7. Waze – An app you must have 

Many may think of LA as a great city to relax, but its traffic is a whole other matter. Waze is a free mobile app that uses community-based traffic reports to make your daily commute much easier and less stressful. The app adjusts your suggested route according to traffic, therefore saving you driving time. It will also alert you of any issues in your route as well as let you play your favorite music, and even help you find the cheapest gas station on your way. The app is free to download and has most definitely earned its nearly 5-star rating in the app stores.

8. SpotHero

So, you’ve found the best route thanks to Waze but now it’s time to park in a busy area. The SpotHero mobile app is your best friend when it comes to parking in Los Angeles, making it easy to find and reserve parking in garages, lots and valets. The app lets you compare prices and, if you see a spot you like, you can then pre-pay to reserve it. You can also make a business profile if you need it for work.

Conclusion: Apps you must have if you live in Los Angeles 

Living among the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles is exhilarating, but if the hassle of such a big city ever gets overwhelming, we hope this list will get you sorted. We have gathered some of the best-rated apps you must have if you live in Los Angeles to help you navigate around and we hope to help you make your life a little more exciting and a bit less complicated.

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