Introducing the 2017 Innovation & Technology NextGen 10. As the local strength and global impact of Los Angeles’ innovation and technology entrepreneurs and companies grows, so too does the strength and impact of our NextGen 10. This year’s group, compiled with the help of some of the city’s brightest minds and creative talents (including Anthony Pritzker and Chuck Davis), features an eclectic mix of founders, CEOs, and other C-Suite executives whose companies have reshaped the way we live our lives today and continue to mold how we will live them tomorrow. We’re proud to introduce, recognize, and honor the 2017 Innovation & Technology NextGen 10.
TOM ALEXANDER [35]
Founder & CEO
PK4 Media
Education UC San Diego
Residence West LA
Company HQ El Segundo
Company Founded 2009
Industry Digital Advertising
Mentors While no specific mentors, I have learned much from so many people.
Awards & Honors Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Semifinalist; Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 Award Winner 2015; 2-Time Forbes Most Promising Company; 3-Time Inc. 500|5000 Award Winner; 3-Time LA Business Journal Fastest Growing Minority-Owned Company; 3-Time LA Business Journal Fastest Growing Company
App I Can’t Live Without Things App (my to-do list)
Why LA Tech Is Exciting The incredible growth and collaboration in the LA tech scene
Tech Companies / PEOPLE Admired Jeff Bezos, Jeff Weiner, and Apple
Last Thing Before Bed Read to decompress
STEFANIE BOTELHO [30]
Founder & CEO
Fitzroy Toys
Education Harvard College; Harvard Business School
Residence West Hollywood
Company HQ Downtown LA
Company Founded 2014
Industry Retail Technology
Mentors Jason Lehmbeck, David Lee, Chris Ahearn, and Chuck Davis
Awards & Honors 2016 Forbes 30 under 30 in Enterprise Technology; Interop/InformationWeek Elite 100; 2016 Pearl Award
App I Can’t Live Without Instagram. It’s my favorite way to source new makers and stockists for our marketplace.
Why LA Tech Is Exciting LA tech feels like a small world and there is a strong sense of community focused on collaboration, partnership, and shared growth.
Tech Company admired Alibaba for spearheading B2B e-commerce
Last Thing Before Bed Make a to-do list for the next day and disconnect
MICHAEL BROUKHIM [31]
Co-CEO / Co-founder
FabFitFun
Education Harvard College; Stanford Law School
Residence West Hollywood
Company HQ Los Angeles
COMPANY Founded 2010
Industry eCommerce
Mentors My co-founders, Daniel Broukhim & Katie Kitchens; my parents
Awards & Honors Steven J. Sample Teaching Award at USC School of Cinematic Arts; Harvard College’s Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for research on ethical consumption
App I Can’t Live Without Slack
Why LA Tech Is Exciting Limitless ambition thanks to companies like SpaceX and Snap, Inc. It’s hard to put a ceiling on what we can build in LA.
Tech Companies / People Admired Amazon & Jeff Bezos, SpaceX/Tesla & Elon Musk
Last Thing Before Bed Read
RACHEL BULLOCK [36]
COO
Render Media
Age 36
Education Wake Forest University; Brandeis University
Residence West Hollywood
Company HQ Los Angeles
Company Founded 2011
Industry Digital Media
Mentors Pat McKee, a publisher at McGraw-Hill where I worked my first 4 years in Los Angeles
Awards & Honors #2 fastest-growing media company in the nation on the 2016 Inc. 5000 list; #33 nationally and #2 in Los Angeles on the Deloitte Fast 500 list
Apps I Can’t Live Without LinkedIn and Uber
Why LA Tech Is Exciting There are fewer preconceived notions about who can and should do what, which results in a “let’s try it” attitude. There’s a real sense that the sky’s the limit.
Tech Companies / People Admired Gil Elbaz at Factual, The Honest Company, Snap, Inc.
Last Thing Before Bed
Read (which sometimes keeps me up all night)
GABE GREENBAUM [38]
Partner
Pritzker Group Venture Capital
Education Washington University in St. Louis; Northwestern
Residence Santa Monica
Company HQ West LA
Company Founded 1996
Industry Venture Capital
Mentors Partnership at PGVC; my parents
Awards & Honors Crains #Tech50; Techweek 100
Apps I Can’t Live WIthout Amazon Prime Now, LinkedIn, Uber, Wunderlist
Why LA Tech Is Exciting The growing talent pool, with increasingly diversified skillsets, disrupting multiple industry verticals
Tech Companies / People Admired Jeff Bezos and Amazon for dynamic thought leadership and continuous innovation; Facebook, Google, and Elon Musk for his boldness in tackling some of the world’s largest problems
Last Thing Before Bed After tucking in my son and saying goodnight to my wife, I look at my calendar and think about ways that I might be more effective and helpful in the days ahead.
JAMES ILIFF [26]
Co-founder & Chief Creative Officer
Survios
Education USC
Residence Sawtelle (Japantown)
Company HQ Culver City
Company Founded 2013
Industry VR, Gaming
Mentor Eric Klein of Lemnos Labs
Awards & Honors 3 Proto Awards in 2014; GDC Narrative Award in 2013
Apps I Can’t Live Without I can live without a phone; it’s nice to unplug at every opportunity.
Why LA Tech Is Exciting It’s the nexus of entertainment, the perfect place for the VR revolution. We have everything at our fingertips for creating this new medium together.
Tech Company Admired Valve
Last Thing Before Bed Listen to a meditation app or read a science fiction novel
YAIR RIEMER [33]
CMO
CareerArc
Education Vanderbilt
Residence Sherman Oaks
Company HQ Burbank
Company Founded 2009
Industry Internet
Mentor Robin Richards
Awards & Honors Spoken on vast range of topics locally and nationally including at SXSW in Austin and Techfire in Los Angeles; also sit on the board of Medgar Evers College in NYC
App I Can’t Live Without Waze
Why LA Tech Is Exciting Seasoned entrepreneurs and VCs to collaborate with, a mayor that supports innovation, and top talent from local colleges and universities
Tech Companies Admired Amazon, Netflix, WhatsApp
Last Thing Before Bed Write in my 5 Minute Journal
JUSTIN REZVANI [28]
Founder & CEO
theAmplify
Education Cal Poly Pomona
Residence Venice Beach
Company HQ Culver City
Company Founded 2013
Industry Branding Technology
Mentors David Jones, Mike Rezvani (my father), and Emma Cookson
Awards & Honors College of Business Administration Class of 2011 Graduation Speaker; California State Assembly Certificate of Recognition 2011; Student of the Year International Business & Marketing Department in ‘09-’10
App I Can’t Live Without Instagram
Why LA Tech Is Exciting The collaboration and community. Everyone I have met is so supportive to help grow and collaborate on work to help the city and industry.
Tech Person Admired Ben Horowitz
Last Thing Before Bed Reflect on my day and ensure I completed the intentions I set out from the morning. Set my alarm to ensure I will get at least 7 hours of sleep, key to having an amazing day.
JEN RINGEL [34]
Director of Product
ZipRecruiter
Education Harvard
Residence West Hollywood
Company HQ Santa Monica
Company Founded 2010
Industry Technology
Mentor When I was at MTV, I spent 6 years working with the company’s EVP David Gale.
App I Can’t Live Without Spotify – more specifically, a country playlist I’ve been cultivating for the past 5 years
Why LA Tech Is Exciting I’ve had two polar opposite tech experiences in LA – first at a very small, struggling startup and now at rapidly expanding company in hyper-growth mode. The fact that there’s room for both of those to exist is exciting.
Tech Company admired I’m constantly delighted by all of the ways that Amazon continues to make my life easier.
Last Thing Before Bed Watch an old episode of Law & Order – any will do but SVU is obviously preferred
JULIE YOUNG [24]
Co-founder
SH//FT
Education The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Residence Pico-Robertson
Company HQ Los Angeles
Company Founded 2015
Industry Nonprofit
Mentors Erik Rydholm, Tom Gardner, Nonny de la Peña, Ollen Douglass
Awards & Honors Sundance Film Festival Official Selection 2016
App I Can’t Live Without Google Maps
Why LA Tech Is Exciting The opportunity to innovate storytelling using technology. This is especially true in the VR/AR space where creators and technologists are working together to immerse people within stories.
Tech Companies / People Admired Scooter Braun, Sheryl Sandberg, Crypton Future Media, 8i, Tencent
Last Thing Before Bed Turn on the same audio book I’ve been listening to for six months and then proceed to (once again) pass out before I’m able to retain any of it
