LA Times Studios Business

The people, ideas and connections driving Los Angeles business come together at LA Executive Forum & Leadership Awards. Join the region’s leading decision-makers on June 8 at Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica for an evening of conversation, leadership and recognition. Get your tickets at latimes.com/laexec A special thank you to our Diamond sponsors Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Marsh McLennan. Platinum sponsors BMO, Daily Journal Corporation and Southern California Medical Center. Gold sponsor AECOM and Silver sponsors AltaMed Health Services, Forvis Mazars US and GHJ. #LAExecutive2026

Smart rings are becoming the next frontier in wearable health tech. ŌURA just unveiled a ring 40% smaller than its predecessor, signaling where the market is headed: smarter, sleeker and designed for everyday wear. The wearable tech race is no longer just about data. It’s about creating products consumers actually want to live in daily. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gBgs6MtX From the Newsroom, by Samantha Kelly and Mark Gurman Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.

With Reale Actives, Alix Earle is building more than a skincare brand. In an exclusive interview with Business by LA Times Studios, she shares how direct audience relationships are becoming a real business advantage. Audience trust is quickly becoming one of the most valuable forms of brand equity. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghsxPt9x Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.

The way we build space infrastructure is changing. On May 15 at the inaugural Aerospace & Defense Summit , hosted by LA Times Studios in partnership with Arizona State University, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration SCaN Deputy Associate Administrator Kevin Coggins outlined how government and commercial industry are working together to advance satellite communications, national security, and global connectivity. He said: "NASA should do what no one else can do. For infrastructure where commercial partners can deliver, we are going to lean in and help get there." That shift in posture has real implications for how the next generation of space communications gets built and who builds it. What part of space infrastructure do you think NASA should hand to commercial partners next? Watch the full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gJ_huGyS #Aerospace #DefenseIndustry #NationalSecurity #SpacePolicy #PublicPrivatePartnership

We're just a couple kids from Akron who want to change the way every American engages with their health and wellness. And like the GOAT, we found our way to LA and can't wait for Kin Health to be the next great consumer business to be built here, and locally! cc: Amit Parikh MD

Over 200 nominees across C-suite categories are gathering in one room on June 8 in Santa Monica. LA Executive Forum & Leadership Awards is the one evening where Los Angeles' most accomplished executives come together for high-level conversation, curated networking and recognition. The meeting you have been trying to book is already in the room. Get your tickets at latimes.com/laexec A special thank you to our Diamond sponsors Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Marsh McLennan Agency. Platinum sponsors BMO, Daily Journal Corporation and Southern California Medical Center. Gold sponsor AECOM and Silver sponsors AltaMed Health Services, Forvis Mazars US and GHJ. #LAExecutive2026

Healthcare’s biggest gap is not data, but understanding it. Kin Health’s $9M seed round reflects growing investor interest in tools that translate the doctor-patient conversation into clear, usable guidance. The company uses AI to turn clinical visits into structured summaries that improve patient comprehension and follow-through. As healthcare shifts toward prevention and distributed care, this kind of “translation layer” is becoming essential infrastructure. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g72RZJMd Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.

Hollywood’s next streaming battle may be happening in one-minute episodes. Issa Rae’s TikTok micro-drama “Screen Time,” produced through HOORAE in partnership with TikTok, has already generated more than 150 million views. The success of the series highlights how short-form storytelling is quickly evolving into a serious business opportunity as platforms race to capture mobile-first audiences. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gTFchYJ5 From the Newsroom, by Cerys Davies Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.

Waymo is preparing to launch a new, larger vehicle powered by its latest self-driving technology, signaling the next phase of competition in the autonomous transportation market. The move reflects how companies are expanding beyond pilot programs and investing in vehicles designed for broader commercial use cases, from ride-hailing to urban mobility. As autonomous tech continues to evolve, scale and passenger experience are becoming just as important as the software itself. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gWnPpjGk From the Newsroom, by Caroline Petrow-Cohen and Albert Brave Tiger Lee Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.

Can California’s recycling industry keep up with the state’s sustainability goals? Niagara Bottling is expanding its bottle-to-bottle recycling efforts in California as demand grows for recycled plastic and more brands face pressure to build sustainable supply chains. The investment highlights how companies across the consumer goods sector are treating recycling infrastructure as both an environmental priority and a long-term business strategy. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gGHXpaxB Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights.