Grid110
Grid110 is a company.
Active
Updated: ·
Financial History
Total Raised
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Valuation
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Leadership Team
Key people at Grid110.
Grid110 is a company.
Key people at Grid110.
Key people at Grid110.
Grid110 is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit accelerator and incubator dedicated to supporting early-stage entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, providing no-equity, no-cost programs with mentorship, resources, and cash grants to foster equitable access to the startup ecosystem. Over eight years, it has supported 300+ companies (70% women founders, 77% founders of color), which have raised $123M+ in outside capital and created 622 local jobs.[2][6] Key programs include cohort-based accelerators like the national "Friends & Family" partnership with Slauson & Co., offering $20,000–$25,000 non-dilutive grants, executive coaching from figures like Sequoia’s Jim Goetz and BuzzFeed’s Jonah Peretti, and training in sales, marketing, and fundraising to prepare founders for capital raises within 3–6 months.[1][2][5]
Grid110's mission emphasizes inclusive communities for overlooked founders across industries, from idea stage to MVP with initial traction, without taking equity to maintain flexibility in business models.[2][4]
Grid110 was co-founded by Miki Reynolds, an LA tech veteran and digital marketing expert, initially as a fashion tech startup accelerator.[4] Recognizing broader exclusion in LA's tech scene, Reynolds pivoted to serve all underserved early-stage founders needing foundational support to enter the ecosystem.[1][4] Key early expansions included opening a DTLA space in 2018 for industry-focused sub-communities and public events, with plans for multiple LA locations.[6]
Pivotal moments include launching South LA programs for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, winning LA2050 grants (e.g., 2020 Goldhirsh Foundation), and going national in 2023 via the "Friends & Family" program with Slauson & Co., which drew 600 applications from 38 states for its diverse cohort (100% founders of color, 75% women).[1][5][6] This evolution shifted from local fashion tech to a leading national platform for economic inclusion.[2][4]
Grid110 rides the wave of inclusive entrepreneurship and economic equity, addressing VC funding disparities where underrepresented founders (women, people of color) receive a fraction of capital despite untapped potential.[1][2][6] Its timing aligns with post-2020 momentum for diversity initiatives, amplified by national expansion amid remote programs and grant-funded models that bypass traditional "friends & family" rounds inaccessible to many.[1][4][5]
Market forces like rising demand for diverse talent, corporate DEI commitments, and foundation support (e.g., Schultz, Annenberg) favor Grid110, enabling hyper-diverse cohorts that deliver VC-caliber returns.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by democratizing access—alumni job creation, capital raises, and ecosystem connections level the playing field in LA and nationally, fostering sub-communities that bridge overlooked founders to mainstream accelerators like Y Combinator.[2][6]
Grid110 is poised to scale its national footprint, potentially expanding "Friends & Family"-style programs with more donor-backed grants and hyper-local initiatives like South LA expansions amid ongoing LA2050 funding.[5][6] Trends like AI-driven founder tools, remote cohorts, and impact investing will amplify its no-equity model, drawing even more applications from pre-seed diverse talent seeking validation without dilution.
As VC scrutiny on returns intensifies, Grid110's track record—$123M raised, 622 jobs—positions it to influence deeper, perhaps partnering with more firms like Slauson for hybrid grant-equity paths, solidifying its role as the go-to gateway for equitable startup success and tying back to its core promise of clear pathways for all early-stage dreamers.[2]
