MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BCG Digital Ventures, the leading venture investment and incubation firm, today announced the introduction of its Global Innovation and Investment Center in Manhattan Beach, CA. The expansion will serve to house co-located, incubated start-ups built for global Fortune 500 corporations, as well as a rapidly growing team of engineers, designers, product managers and operations specialists. With the addition of BCG Digital Ventures, the burgeoning tech community that includes Santa Monica, Venice and Playa Vista has officially expanded south to include Manhattan Beach.
In recent years, Southern California has seen some of the fastest start-up development of any major U.S. region, and the technology presence in Los Angeles has grown so quickly that more people are now employed in high-tech positions in L.A. than in most other U.S. metropolitan areas. Digital innovators such as Snapchat, Tesla and The Honest Company have offices along the L.A. coastline, and even Google has expanded its operation to this flourishing tech market. With BCG Digital Ventures adding its unique corporate venture method to the fray, the southwest beaches of L.A. are evolving to form the epicenter of all that’s happening in technology.
“Our global headquarters are in Manhattan Beach because it is a key focal point for digital innovation," said Jeff Schumacher, Founder and CEO of BCG Digital Ventures. “Southern California is home to more top-25 engineering universities than anywhere else in the U.S., graduates the largest number of engineers of any region in the country and has a high concentration of influential multi-national corporations and emerging digital start-ups that are ripe for partnership and collaboration. For a company like BCG Digital Ventures, which creates category-changing businesses, Manhattan Beach was the obvious choice for our global headquarters.”
BCG Digital Ventures has more than 300 employees globally, the majority of which are located in the Manhattan Beach headquarters, making it one of the largest private employers in the South Bay. The company also has major innovation centers in Berlin, London and Sydney as well as a host of innovation labs across the globe. BCG Digital Ventures will continue to rapidly expand its global operations further over the next year, hiring world-class tech entrepreneurs in financial technology, travel and logistics, ecommerce, connected health and media.
“We’re bringing together teams of entrepreneurs, operators and investors from across the globe to create ventures that completely transform companies and markets,” said Partner Walter Delph III, who oversees the Manhattan Beach Innovation Center. “L.A. is a global force in digital entrepreneurship, and BCG Digital Ventures is uniquely positioned to develop new technology companies for global Fortune 500 companies.”
BCG Digital Ventures is now one of the largest anchored tenants in Manhattan Towers, a two-building office complex located at Rosecrans Ave. and the Pacific Coast Highway just off the 405 Freeway. The 309,734-square-foot property was sold in July for over $96 million, making it the most expensive piece of U.S. real estate ever auctioned online.
“I immediately realized the great opportunity we had with BCG Digital Ventures,” said Councilmember and former Mayor Amy Howorth. “Tech is to our age what the aerospace industry was in the 1960s. If you are a tech company, Manhattan Beach has a lot to offer. We work hard to create synergy with our businesses and be responsive to their needs.”
The city of Manhattan Beach strives to create a unique environment that supports creative growth for entrepreneurs while still preserving its small beach town character and enhancing the overall quality of life for its citizens. Manhattan Beach has already attracted industry frontrunners like BCG Digital Ventures because of its vibrant entrepreneurial community, but it also offers some of the state’s most popular beaches, top-rated schools and renowned parks and recreational attractions.
“The city believes that creating partnerships with companies that also value innovation and enthusiasm, such as BCG Digital Ventures, is a testament to the city’s continued entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mark Burton, Mayor of Manhattan Beach. City Manager Mark Danaj added, “Manhattan Beach is filled with brilliant, idea-driven and creative individuals that bring the beach culture and history of our city to life. You can really feel that energy here, and I think that is what gives this city such a distinct and attractive quality.”
About BCG Digital Ventures
BCG
Digital Ventures is a corporate investment and venture development firm.
We are dedicated to inventing, building and launching category-changing
businesses at start-up speed for the world’s most influential companies,
ensuring they are fit for the future. We share risk and invest alongside
our client partners via a range of collaborative options. Founded in
2014, BCG Digital Ventures has major innovation centers in Manhattan
Beach, Berlin, London and Sydney as well as a host of labs across the
globe. Our centers and labs are home to a diverse range of
entrepreneurs, technologists, strategic thinkers, designers and
engineers, who are building businesses, creating and expanding markets
and developing new technologies that benefit millions of lives. For
further information visit www.bcgdv.com
