Los Angeles Startup Community
When you’re building a tech startup in Los Angeles, speed is crucial. But your current network may be holding you back, leaving you with unanswered questions, missed opportunities, and wasted time. Join Founders Network to connect with a curated community of authentic LA tech founders who can provide the guidance, connections, and support you need to accelerate your success.
Our Local Leadership Team
Andrew Jacobson president at Navio Networks, Inc., and is an active investor in technology and start-ups. After practicing as a corporate securities attorney at Gray Cary (now DLA Piper) in Silicon Valley, Mr. Jacobson joined NBC Internet, Inc. as an executive. Upon completing NBC Internet’s acquisition by NBC/GE, Mr. Jacobson when on to Clearant, Inc., j2 Global Communications (NASDAQ: JCOM), Universal Sports (acquired by NBC), 360Candidate, Regent Equity and Tensormark where he held various legal and operational executive positions. Throughout his career Mr. Jacobson has completed equity, debt and merger transactions well in excess of $2.5 billion. Andrew Jacobson currently serves as president of TensorMark, Inc. and president at Navio Networks, Inc., and is an active investor in technology and start-ups. After practicing as a corporate securities attorney at Gray Cary (now DLA Piper) in Silicon Valley, Mr. Jacobson joined NBC Internet, Inc. as an executive. Upon completing NBC Internet’s acquisition by NBC/GE, Mr. Jacobson when on to Clearant, Inc., j2 Global Communications (NASDAQ: JCOM), Universal Sports (acquired by NBC), 360Candidate, and Regent Equity where he held various legal and operational executive positions. Throughout his career Mr. Jacobson has completed equity, debt and merger transactions well in excess of $2.5 billion.Representative Investments and Boards: Eventbrite, Paypal, Zoom, ChowNow, Gyft, Extreme Networks, Bridg, Weev, Silicon Spice, Air Media, Stream, Therma.
Auto-enrolled per Kevin direction on 2026-06-23. Please update via the Leadership profile flow with a current bio + photo.
The Los Angeles startup scene
Los Angeles is the #6 startup ecosystem in the world in Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, which also counts 46 active unicorns in the city.
The same profile puts total venture funding at $74 billion from 2021 to 2025 and $95 billion in exit value across 1,029 exits. Anduril, Saviynt and Castelion are among the best-funded local startups of the last two years, and Startup Genome lists life sciences, gaming and cleantech as the city’s sector strengths.
Founders Network in Los Angeles
Founders Network is a peer mentorship community for tech startup founders. Members get mentorship from other founders, chapter events, and introductions to investors and founders across a global network.
The Los Angeles chapter is run by volunteer member leaders, who are listed on this page. It is one of the chapters where local founders meet in person.
Meet us in Los Angeles
Membership is by nomination and approval. Request an invitation and we'll review your background. If it's a fit, we arrange a nomination and invite you to the Nominee Preview Q&A, a 30-minute Zoom where current members walk through how Founders Network works and take questions. The next one is Thursday, November 19 at 9:30 AM PT.
Request an invitationAlready nominated? RSVP to the Nominee Preview.
Upcoming Los Angeles events
Guests welcome. Your first event is on us with a one-time guest pass.
Los Angeles resources and communities
Los Angeles (LA) is a dynamic city with a thriving startup ecosystem and a diverse range of resources and communities that support entrepreneurs and startups.
Venture Capital Firms: LA boasts a robust venture capital landscape, with prominent firms like Mucker Capital, Upfront Ventures, and Greycroft Partners. These firms provide funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance to startups in LA, fueling their growth and success.
Startup Incubators and Accelerators: LA is home to several renowned startup incubators and accelerators that offer valuable support and resources. StartEngine, Amplify.LA, and Launchpad LA are prominent examples that provide mentorship, funding opportunities, and access to a strong network of mentors and industry experts.
Co-working Spaces: The city offers a range of co-working spaces that cater to startups’ workspace needs. Locations like Cross Campus, CTRL Collective, and WeWork provide flexible office solutions, collaborative environments, and networking opportunities for startups to thrive.
Networking Events and Meetups: LA hosts a vibrant array of networking events and meetups, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals to connect, share knowledge, and forge collaborations. Events such as LA Tech Week, Innovate LA, and Startup Grind LA offer platforms for idea exchange and relationship-building.
Frequently asked questions
What startup events can I attend in Los Angeles before joining?
Chapter events are open to guests by invitation. The Los Angeles chapter has met most months over the last year. Request an invitation and we'll send you the next date. Your first event is on us with a one-time guest pass. Upcoming dates are on the events page.
How do I get a feel for the members before I apply?
Listen to our podcast. It features the network's most successful members telling the story of how they built and sold their companies. Most members are somewhere along that journey, from first-time founder to serial founder, and the episodes show the kind of founder they are learning from.
Is Founders Network a Los Angeles group or a global one?
Global. Founders Network started in San Francisco in 2011 and now has city chapters and sector groups around the world, with the largest concentration of members in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Most of the program is online and runs every week: facilitated peer roundtables, live expert sessions, moderated founder forums, and 1-1 introductions to members in any city. Members meet in person at the annual conferences, fnIRL and fnSummit. The Los Angeles chapter adds local meetings on top of that, and they are a small part of the whole. The full program is on the mentoring tracks page.
Who are the members?
Founders of tech startups at every point on the journey, from a first company getting to market to serial founders who have exited. Each is nominated and approved, and what we select for is alignment with the network's values and vision rather than stage or sector. Members join to find customers, raise their first rounds, hire co-founders and early teams, and work through the hard parts of running a company with peers who have done it.
Can Founders Network help me raise money?
Founders Network can make you a more competent and better-connected fundraiser. It can't guarantee funding. The Scale plan is built for founders getting to market and raising seed: 1-on-1 pitch mentoring from VCs, a curated investor directory with warm opt-in introductions, and a pass to fnIRL, the annual San Francisco conference. On every plan you can ask the forums and get introduced to members who have raised at your stage. Plan details are on the membership page. Pricing is shared on approval.
How do I join Founders Network in Los Angeles?
Membership is by nomination and approval. Request an invitation and we'll review your background. If it's a fit, we arrange a nomination and invite you to an info call with current members. All memberships are annual, and we never take equity.
Get an invitation to the community.
Founders Network is an invite-only peer mentorship community for tech startup founders. Drop your email — we'll take it from there.
No spam. We review every request individually.