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Key people at Grid110.
Grid110 is a Los Angeles, California-based non-profit organization that operates cohort-based accelerator programs designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs. Its free virtual programs, such as Launchpad, Idea to Launch Bootcamp, and Community Business Accelerator, offer mentorship, resources, and peer communities to help founders validate ideas and grow businesses. The organization focuses on building inclusive pathways for founders often overlooked by traditional ecosystems, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. Grid110 has supported over 160 companies in the past six years, with 70% led by female founders and 67% by founders of color, impacting thousands more through free events and workshops. These programs are free, do not take equity, and cater to diverse sectors including SaaS, e-commerce, CPG, food, fashion, health/wellness, and AI, excluding cannabis.
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]
Key people at Grid110.
