The City of Glendale has been advancing its local startup and innovation ecosystem since adopting the Glendale Tech Strategy in 2017. Continuing this momentum, the city has announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking operators to lead tech startup growth programs. This initiative is funded by a $1 million grant from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), procured by Senator Anthony Portantino.
The RFP invites qualified respondents to submit proposals for the operation and program management of a tech startup accelerator, incubator, startup studio, or similar tech-Startup Growth Program. The grant will be awarded to the top one or two applicants.
“This RFP is a powerful opportunity to attract more high-growth startups to Glendale. We’ve been focused on contributing to and building out an ecosystem that creates, attracts, and retains a diversity of tech jobs and tech talent in Glendale,” said Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development. In 2019, Glendale used an initial $1 million grant from GO-Biz to support the launch of two tech-focused programs: Hero House and KidsX.
“Hero House and KidsX have successfully nurtured a pipeline of startups in the region. They have set the stage for what we can accomplish with this new level of funding. Now, we can build upon their success by broadening the support structure available to founders and startup teams. Introducing additional growth programs will make for a healthier, more attractive, and more vibrant innovation hub,” added David Crawley Delgado, Senior Economic Development Coordinator.
The RFP specifies that successful applicants should have a track record of success, strong industry networks and partnerships, a plan for financial stability beyond the initial grant, and alignment with the City’s Tech Strategy. The submission deadline is June 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM. More information can be found here.
“Accelerators and our other growth programs create a positive impact beyond the individual companies they support, uplifting the entire regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. The success of our City’s Tech Strategy will ensure a vibrant local business community, amplify the City’s contribution to SoCal’s reputation as a tech hub, and highlight Glendale as an attractive home for tech companies and talent,” said Soua Vang, Deputy Director of Economic Development.
Beyond Glendale’s healthy startup culture, many well-known tech companies continue to grow in the city, such as LegalZoom, Age of Learning, ServiceTitan, DISQO, Evite, Dot818, and Beyond Limits, along with established brands like the Walt Disney Company and DreamWorks. This demonstrates the diversity of the region’s business community.
This grant is a significant addition to Glendale’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the tech community within the City and the broader region. Through networking events such as Tech on Tap, Investors on Tap, and inter-city collaboration initiatives like Upstart Valley and #EarlyStageLA, Glendale is quickly becoming a core part of the SoCal innovation ecosystem.
