Francis Pollara

Founding Partner

2023 - Current

Limiting global warming to 2º or less by 2030. We partner with international companies and organizations to accelerate climate and mobility solutions in the U.S.

Advisory Council Member

2024

Strategy & Development, Advisor

2023

Supporting innovation by leveraging the expertise and novel ideation found in large and small businesses, government organizations, and academic institutions. Over the last decade, Starburst has proven that this future-focused, diverse ecosystem of collaborators can bring our partners to the forefront of innovation. Connecting visionary founders to our extensive network of global aviation, space, and defense leaders–fostered in our parallel consulting practice–has changed the industry.

Commissioner, Design Commission

2023

Co-Founder, Strategy, Product, & Growth (acquired)

2015

A community-based media platform and newsletter built for the next generation of creative leaders. We connect, educate and inspire a community of creative leaders through cultural, insightful, and informative content alongside exclusive experiences. #ForTheFuture We're hiring!

Board Member, Founder

2019 - 2024

Director, Strategy and Development

2020 - 2023

Urban Movement Labs is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between local government and innovators, all committed to the same vision: a Los Angeles where new transportation technologies are tested, proven, and brought to life.

EIR, Mobility Innovation, Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

2019 - 2020

Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti as the entrepreneur-in-residence tasked with establishing a new model and organization that could augment government city authority to design and deploy transportation tech solutions in real urban conditions. Urban Movement Labs (UML) is a partnership among transportation change-makers: the three largest public agencies moving people and goods in the City of LA; the growing ecosystem of private-sector innovators; and the public who live in, work in, and visit LA. urbanmovementlabs.com

Entrepreneur In Residence, Innovation Fellow

2019 - 2020

Entrepreneur-in-Residence appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti. The EIR program is made possible with support from Ernst & Young LLP, who have been advocates for the program for several years. The program enlists expert entrepreneurs to work with the City to supporting innovative projects in L.A.

Venture Partner

2018 - 2019

Identifying innovative technology trends & markets, and sourcing high-potential investments. Lead due-diligence research assessing product demand, market potential, and competitive differentiation.

Strategy & Venture Manager, Founder

2015 - 2018

Founded Luma Launch in 2015, a uniquely positioned $20 million-dollar venture fund, backed by Luma, one of the world’s most successful independent creative studios. Launch is focused on early stage startups at the convergence of evolving technology and content markets, capitalizing on internal and external resources to create successful products. Invested in 25+ early-stage technology companies such as Revl, TheWaveVR, Retina, Donut Media, Wavedash Games and Tapcart. Portfolio: Radical, Donut Media, Retina.AI, TheWaveVR, Revl, Lensabl, Wavedash Games, Purple Squirrel, Boulevard, Tapcart, Event Farm, LeaseLock, WiseCrack, Shimmur, Markett, Grace, Toga, Tilofy Public Speaker: Digital Hollywood Speaker, Access to Capital Meritocracy through Reg A+ to Crowdfunding, Oct 2017 Silicon Beach Festival Panelist, Inside the Investment Process, Aug 2016 Sundance Film Festival Panelist, VR on the Mountain, Jan 2017 Investor Summit Speaker, VR & AR innovation, Jun 2017 Bold, A Symposium for Creative Entrepreneurs Closing Keynote Speaker, May 2016 South by Southwest Panelist, Science of Social Funding, Mar 2015

Special Projects Manager

2015 - 2015

Assumed responsibility of strategic initiatives. Key member of the executive leadership team; partnering with CEO to develop and execute innovation and business development initiatives, analyze the company’s strategic objectives and negotiate investment agreements. Partnered with cross-functional leadership; implemented high-priority strategic initiatives and shaped company strategy. Executed mergers and acquisitions end-to-end, including sourcing opportunities, conducting financial analyses, structuring and negotiating transactions, and integrating targets.

Co-Founder, Board Member

2013 - 2018

Urban Greenery was founded on the simple idea that the produce we eat should be grown locally and sustainably. We are a nonprofit organization of urban hydroponic farmers growing abundantly fresh, tasty, natural produce day in and day out. For Los Angeles by Los Angeles.