Episode 86 – Los Angeles ‘Silicon Beach’ Innovation Hub & Tech Driven Industries getting VC attention

This podcast interview with Deepak Nanda, President of the LA Venture Fund, not just delves into venture capital criteria for investing in cutting edge technology, but also the competitive divide between Californian cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco’s reach to Silicon Valley. LA’s version is Silicon Beach, just 20 minutes out of LA, at Marina Del Ray and Playa Vista, with millions of dollars pouring in to create a technology and innovation hub.  We also discuss other American cities re-creating themselves, like Detroit and Atlanta, and the opportunities being created in education, manufacturing and how technology may not be a threat to jobs but a saviour to jobs and creating new industries.

What are VC’s looking for? Brain computer interface and augmented reality is only just beginning, where the Internet of Things is a whole new ball game. Cyber security is seeing security protocols being introduced into the market and VCs have the expectation that cryptography and cyber security is embedded into new technology and advancements.

This conversation covers unlocking the entrepreneurial passion, acting fast and if you’re a start-up with a strong business model and ready to scale – you will enjoy this interview. 
Recorded in Los Angeles, 26 May, 2018. Special thanks to Deepak for making himself available on a Saturday afternoon and his LA hospitality.