MyCorp’s Local Entrepreneur Feature: Horror Escapes LA

Just in time for Halloween, we got the chance to talk to the owner of Los Angeles’s latest escape room, Horror Escapes LA. From playing escape games on the computer as a little girl to opening up her own business, Rachel Foti has come a long way doing what she loves.

1. Tell us about your business!

Horror Escapes LA presents a new interactive attraction that goes beyond your average escape rooms here in Los Angeles. You will be fully immersed with your five senses in 3 thrilling escape games where you work with teammates in order to find all the clues and solve all the puzzles in under an hour to escape the rooms. Unlike average escape rooms- Horror Escapes LA provides multiple rooms per game, making the experience thrilling and very immersive. This Halloween Season you will be held captive by “Dr. X,” a mad doctor known for questionable experimenting on his patients in his makeshift Office, Lab, and Captive Chamber- the 3 thrilling games offered.

2. What inspired you to start “Horror Escapes LA?”

Growing up, I was addicted to the point and click computer escape rooms. Experimenting a local escape room in LA for the first time, I was immediately hooked and tried many live escape rooms, but a lot of them (most) had very low production value and only offered a small room without much immersion. I decided I wanted to create an escape game that attacked all my senses where I felt I was in a movie. My favorite genre of movies is horror- so I now have fun mimicking the horror genre in my games.

3. What’s the best part of running “Horror Escapes LA?”

The best part of running this type of business is seeing the surprised and thrilled looks players have experiencing the games. To hear the players be unexpectedly surprised is the best feeling- knowing I created an experience they didn’t have before.

4. What should Angelenos know before they attempt to escape?

I want the people of LA to know that although the rooms are “horror themed,” this is not a haunted house- it takes skill and teamwork to play the games- there’s more to it than just a scary theme.

If you’re looking for a fun, challenging, and spooky activity for this holiday season, book your appointment today before they sell out! Do you have what it takes to escape?

Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.

Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.

Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.

Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.