• EvoNexus this month named Bob Genthert as managing director of the Southern California startup incubator’s location in Irvine.
The financial and operations executive has 35 years of experience under his belt, including chief financial officer and senior vice president roles at Fortune 50 companies, such as Time Warner and Walt Disney Co.
Genthert also took part in several venture-backed startups, including The New Release, which provides DVD rental via kiosks in 2,000 grocery stores throughout North America, and telecommunications company Sky MobileMedia Inc.
He was involved in successful business exits such as co-founding electronics recycling company EcoATM, which was sold for $350 million in 2013 to Outerwall Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTR), operator of the Coinstar coin-counting kiosks and Redbox DVD and video game rental kiosks.
EcoATM wasn’t an intuitive solution for the electronics recycling sector, he said.
“As with many startups, we had a plethora of hurdles to overcome to introduce the world’s fully automated kiosk for recycling mobile electronics.”
Genthert said he has “walked in the shoes of every single entrepreneur who has started a venture and strived to scale a successful business.” His goal is to “[increase] the quantity and quality of startups accepted into the incubator in Irvine.”
EvoNexus is a nonprofit technology startup incubator, backed in part by Newport Beach-based Irvine Co., and has been in operation since 2009.
It started with a San Diego location and then added a spot at UCI Research Park, the business park next to the campus of the University of California-Irvine.
Members of EvoNexus get access to capital and strategic partnerships, executive mentorship, as well as Class A office and dry-lab space.
EvoNexus said it has more than 190 companies in its San Diego and Irvine portfolios; those firms have seen about $1.5 billion worth of funding deals and other outcomes.
Genthert in recent years served as a volunteer, mentor, adviser and selection committee member for EvoNexus Irvine, according to EvoNexus Chief Executive Rory Moore.
— Sherry Hsieh
• Rael, a natural feminine-care products maker based in Buena Park, is ramping up staff following the close of a $17.5 million Series A funding last month.
The company—which now reports employing about 30 people—is seeking a brand marketing manager and an Amazon account manager position, according to LinkedIn.
Its priority is to acquire and retain customers on Amazon, according to the job listings. Its products are also available online through Walmart Inc., the company’s website and other small retailers.
The Business Journal reported last month on the funding, led by South Korea-based investors Mirae Asset Financial Group and GS Retail.
Rael plans to use the proceeds to grow its e-commerce channel.
The company was founded in 2016 by Yanghee Paik, Aness An and Binna Won. Last year, it launched its organic cotton pad on Amazon where it became a best-seller, according to Chief Executive Paik.
It now offers other feminine hygiene and beauty products.
Rael prides itself on its lean rather than mass production to better respond to feedback, and positions itself as a healthy alternative to feminine-care products with toxic chemicals.
— Meghan Kliewer
