For the past several years, Los Angeles has been quickly making a name for itself in the global startup scene. From a rapidly expanding startup ecosystem to connections to the entertainment industry to a diverse customer-driven infrastructure, LA is a veritable hotbed of entrepreneurship.
To prove LA’s worth as a haven for founders, we’ve compiled a list of ten successful entrepreneurs who are proud to call Los Angeles their home.
Applications to the Los Angeles Founder Institute are now open!
Elon Musk
As the Founder of SpaceX and cofounder of PayPal, Tesla Motors, and Zip2, Elon Musk needs little introduction, and is renowned for his forward-thinking predictions of technology that seem right out of a science fiction movie.
You want to be extra rigorous about making the best possible thing you can. Find everything that’s wrong with it and fix it. Seek negative feedback, particularly from friends.”
Nicole Silveira
Nicole Silveira is a seasoned television executive and serves as the Head of Development for Gurney Productions, as well as the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the women’s organization Levo League, founded by Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook.
A big part of ‘playing the game’ is being liked, so make an effort to be social every day. Whether that’s being thoughtful and getting someone coffee who looks like they’re having a bad day, or just making an effort to do your rounds on a Monday morning and ask people how their weekend was, it’s important to be social and be seen as more than just someone who works hard.”
Scott Painter
An investor and serial entrepreneur in the technology and automotive industries, Scott Painter is the Founder and CEO of TrueCar, a negotiation-free car-buying platform that brings truth and transparency to the auto industry.
Truth is a more profitable way of doing business.”
Roberta Inez
Roberta Inez is one of the industry’s top celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists, having spent time working on music videos and television shows, and, more impressively, traveling with Britney Spears on her 2008 worldwide tour.
Believe in yourself and the vision you see for yourself. Then, execute it. It takes a lot of dedication but when you’re tired, don’t give up. When you’re fearful, push harder. When you’re weak, stand strong!”
Blaine Vess
Blaine Vess is the Co-founder and CEO of StudyMode, the “go-to” source for students, parents and educators that began as a dorm room project into a multinational company of 15 Web properties that reaches more than 90 million visitors per month.
Learn how to code! Even just a little. You can have the best idea in the world. You can be a world class educator. But if you don’t know how to do basic coding, you will always be beholden to someone else to ensure your product is up and running.”
Kerry Benjamin
An award winning esthetician and skincare expert, Kerry Benjamin is renowned for developing StackedSkincare, a unique approach to innovative skin therapy, and has closed multimillion dollar accounts with Fortune 500 companies and national retail chains, including Gap, Macy’s, Williams Sonoma and more.
Don’t question how you will be successful. Just do something every day to move your idea forward and it will happen.”
Ophir Tanz
Ophir Tanz is CEO of GumGum, a business he started at age 25 that is world’s first in-image advertising platform, made possible by securing venture capitalist funding through high-profile investors.
Focus. Entrepreneurs are typically idea people, which means they have, well, lots of ideas. Resist the urge to pursue 'side projects' and short-term revenue. I know how tempting it could be, but it will detract from, and potentially endanger, the larger goal.”
Shin
One of the world’s top hairstylists, Shin has worked with Philip B. on two products in his line, Shin Shine and Shinade Pomade, and opened her own high-profile salon on Los Angeles’ Westside.
Wake up everyday with a brief list of imperative tasks that have to be accomplished that day. Deal with bits at a time, it helps to compensate for being overwhelmed (especially for me going from artist to business owner).”
Peter Kim
As the Founder and CEO of Hudson Jeans, a global leader in premium denim, Peter Kim has made it his mission to inspire people around the world to live out their passions, push life to its fullest, and challenge themselves to be their very best.
I think there is so much nonsense out in the world that we just accept because ‘that's the way it always been done or thought about.’ I believe it's time that we do not accept things as they are anymore and start to build a new future that makes sense… from a humanitarian perspective.”
Phoebe Scott
Technical business analyst Phoebe Scott is the Founder and former CEO of Laudville, a platform dedicated to social discovery of movies, TV, music, and books, and has been praised by top-tier tech and entertainment press.
If you’re struggling to advance in your work, its not worth your energy. Success comes from doing something that comes naturally and working hard at it every day.”
Jeff Platt
Jeff Platt is the CEO of Sky Zone, the world’s first indoor trampoline park. Whatever fears he has about not being taken seriously were soon quelled when his idea attracted the interest of investors when he was only 22 years old.
The things that are most important are passion and hard work. You can't replace those two and you can't teach that. The more passionate you are, the harder you will work. If you work hard and are passionate and have integrity, you can accomplish almost anything.”
Ready to launch your dream company? Apply to the Los Angeles Founder Institute today and get started.
(Night view of downtown Los Angeles image by Shutterstock)
