LAUNCH
Irvine-based MyJane, a wellness community geared toward women that delivers personalized cannabis products to its members, has released two new products: the Sleep Box, a collection of products to help with sleeping; and the Time to Paws Box, which includes products for pets suffering from anxiety.The Time to Paws Box is sold exclusively through Seal Beach-based Cuddly, a pet product marketplace.
MyJane was born out of See Jane Go, a now-defunct Uber-like riding-sharing service for women. In March, it was acquired by cannabis logistics company ManifestSeven, formerly known as MJIC Inc, which is exploring a public listing on a non-U.S. exchange. Since the acquisition, MyJane has moved from Fullerton to a space in Manifest-Seven’s 3,000 square foot office in Irvine. The company has 22 employees, and is currently hiring in several areas.
MyJane works with dispensaries to distribute cannabis products that aid women with anxiety, insomnia and stress, among other health-related reasons, said founder and Chief Executive Kim Kovacs. Kovacs started MyJane after a close relative used cannabis products to establish a pain management regiment and wean off of opioids.
Real estate tech company Sold.com, whose home selling recommendation platform—think Priceline.com for homes—has been geared toward those selling a house since its launch in February, now has an offering for prospective homebuyers.
The Irvine-based firm has “been committed to educating home sellers about their options and analyzing their scenarios to provide personalized recommendations,” said founder and President Matt Woods in a statement.
“It’s a natural next step for us to leverage our partner network and expertise to expand our offering to homebuyers to help them achieve the most efficient and cost-effective outcome when purchasing a home.”
After users take a survey to identify personal preferences and objectives, Sold.com’s machine learning-powered engine considers the criteria, along with the current state of the local market, and makes a personalized recommendation.
The company’s software then connects users with its partners, real estate agents or institutional buyers, among others, to complete the process.
Sold.com will also help users with securing a mortgage, insurance, and other home-related services “in the future,” said Woods. The company has 32 employees and is hiring.
SPACE
Jobot, an AI-powered recruiting company, has more than tripled in size with an employee count going from 19 to 75 in just three months.
The company’s headquarters at WeWork’s space in Irvine at The Boardwalk office development along Jamboree Road, has also doubled in size.
The Boardwalk offices are expected to be a temporary home for Jobot. The company is currently searching for a 30,000-square-foot office in the Orange County area. It’s expecting to hire another 75 employees within a year, said founder and Chief Executive Heidi Golledge.
The company has been working in collaboration with Google AI and just launched Jobot.com, a new website for job seekers that utilizes artificial intelligence to match applicant qualifications to the right jobs.
“The AI software helps job seekers find more suitable job opportunities, allows recruiters to match qualified candidates to positions and ultimately creates a better fit for the client,” said Golledge. “By using AI, coupled with our experienced recruiters, we’re making it easier to find and fill positions.
We are uniquely positioned in the staffing and recruiting marketplace because of our strong automation and human talent.”
FUNDING
SymphonyRM, a healthcare tech company that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help health organizations anticipate consumer needs and automate various processes, recently closed a $10 million Series A round led by Adam Street Partners.
SymphonyRM’s AI-powered platform identifies Next Best Actions for every consumer, patient, and provider, enabling healthcare organizations to provide personalized and proactive engagement across every touchpoint. The company said its products have generated over $400 million in value for its clients, including Orange-based Prospect Medical Group.
The company’s Irvine office, currently hiring, is focused on engineering; it also has locations in Palo Alto, where most of its executive team is based; and Pittsburgh.
PARTNERSHIPS
Irvine-based Qmerit Inc., a supply chain management company that also has a contractor management offering used by automotive companies to manage electric vehicle charging station installations for customers at homes and other locations, has announced a partnership with General Motors Co.
As General Motors’ exclusive provider of pre-qualified installers, Qmerit will serve across all of its brands—Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC.
Under the program, GM e-car buyers can enter their home address, which will check for certified charging station installers in their area, and provide a quote for installation.
Other Qmerit automaker clients include Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. and BMW.
Qmerit launched in 2015 as a spinoff from ABM Industries Inc. (NYSE: ABM), a Fortune 500 facility services company.
Qmerit received $11.8 million in VC financing last year, with El Segundo-based Strandview Capital leading the investment.
Buy It Installed Inc., an e-commerce service company led by Tech Coast Angels Chairman Grant Van Cleve, has announced a partnership with Bestop, the leading manufacturer of premium soft tops and accessories for vehicles, and the exclusive supplier for Jeep Wranglers.
When purchasing a soft top with Bestop, customers can include professional home installation, by clicking the Buy It Installed button at checkout.
“We’re thrilled to launch this partnership with a company like Bestop,” said Van Cleve. “They’re leading the charge as retailers adjust their strategy to meet consumers’ expectations and deliver convenience, quality and choice.”
Buy It Installed, which connects buyers of electronics and other products with professional contractors who can install those products, has also partnered with Dish, Micro Center and Western Digital, among others.
