Over the past month, we checked in with our 2024 grantees to learn how their funded programs, projects, and initiatives are progressing – and to better understand the impact they’re making across Los Angeles. Now, we are excited to share these interviews, with stories of growth, challenges, and community transformation.

Grid110 received funding through the LA2050 Grants Challenge from the Goldhirsh Foundation for its 16-week accelerator program supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in LA’s creative economy. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation with their team.

LA2050: This is Grid110’s second time receiving support via the LA2050 Grants Challenge! How has your work with entrepreneurs evolved since launching in 2015?

Grid110: Grid110 has come a long way over the past decade. When we launched in 2015, our vision was to bring together like-minded entrepreneurs in Downtown LA, providing a physical space for collaboration, community, and problem-solving. Since then, our work has evolved into a robust, cohort-based accelerator model that serves over 30 companies annually. Founders in our programs build core business fundamentals while benefiting from 1:1 advising, mentorship, accountability structures, and most importantly a deeply supportive peer community.

To date, we’ve supported more than 370 companies and nearly 500 founders, who have collectively raised over $126 million in external funding and created more than 700 local jobs. Throughout our growth, we’ve remained intentional about fostering an inclusive and representative founder ecosystem: 77% of founders in our portfolio identify as People of Color, 70% as women, 54% as Women of Color, and 14% as LGBTQIA+.

Currently, we’re working with our 30th cohort in the Community Business Accelerator program, in partnership with FOUND/LA, supporting 17 small businesses that are building and reinvesting in their neighborhoods. We firmly believe that the heart of LA lies in its small business community, and our role is to guide these entrepreneurs toward long-term, sustainable growth.

With support from over 50 ecosystem partners, including the City of LA Mayor’s Office, we continue to offer no-cost, no-equity programming to underrepresented founders across the region. While our programs evolve each year to meet the shifting needs of entrepreneurs, our mission remains constant: to make the entrepreneurial journey more equitable, inclusive, and accessible. We’re proud of the impact we’ve made, and we’re energized by the continued work ahead.

LA2050: You welcomed 17 new companies into the 2025 Community Business Accelerator (CBA) in January. Tell us about what the cohort has been up to so far.

Grid110: In January, Grid110 welcomed 17 small businesses into the 2025 Community Business Accelerator, a program run in partnership with FOUND/LA. Representing industries including food, fashion, wellness, and youth services, all of the businesses are led by women and/or founders of color.

Since the program kicked off, founders have been meeting weekly to participate in workshops on business modeling, defining target customers, crafting value propositions, and designing product roadmaps, with dedicated time built in to apply these tools to their own businesses.

In addition to the workshops, founders have been meeting in smaller accountability groups, which offer space for peer support, idea exchange, and mutual feedback. Many have said these peer connections are one of the most valuable parts of the experience.

Each business is also paired with a Mentor-in-Residence who offers regular, one-on-one guidance in areas such as marketing, fundraising, and operations, tailored to each founder’s goals and challenges.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Founders have described the sessions as clear, practical, and confidence-building. One participant shared that outlining their business model “turned abstract ideas into clear direction.”

As the program moves into its final weeks, founders are developing funding strategies and identifying next steps for growth. The cohort will celebrate their progress in May with an event that brings together local partners, funders, and community members. Once again, this year’s CBA shows that when early-stage founders are equipped with the right resources and relationships, they build stronger businesses and lasting momentum.

LA2050: What do you hope to achieve in the last six months of the grant, and how can the broader LA2050 community support?

Grid110: Grid110’s goals for the remainder of the Community Business Accelerator are centered on helping founders refine their growth strategies, strengthen their community impact, and elevate their business operations to better serve the LA community. By the end of the program, we aim for all participating companies to have a clear roadmap for growth, a plan for securing funding, and concrete next steps to move their businesses forward.

Just as important as business milestones is the community our founders are building. We know that entrepreneurship is a collective effort and that success is often rooted in a strong support system. Our hope is that every founder leaves the program with a lasting network of mentors, supporters, and peer entrepreneurs who can offer accountability, encouragement, and celebration through each stage of the journey.

We also recognize that much of the growth happens after the formal programming ends. That’s why our support extends well beyond the 16 weeks, with continued access to resources including monthly funding newsletters, in-person and virtual community events, more than $100K in startup tool and software discounts, and ongoing advising opportunities.

As these businesses continue to grow, we see exciting opportunities to leverage the broader LA2050 community to help them thrive. We welcome connections to funding opportunities, introductions to like-minded innovators, and invitations for our founders to be part of key conversations shaping LA’s entrepreneurial landscape.

To support our cohort, we invite the LA2050 community to learn more about the work of our 17 participating companies and reach out with ideas for collaboration. Whether it’s through mentorship, strategic partnerships, or amplifying their work, your involvement can help propel these entrepreneurs forward as they build businesses that reflect and uplift Los Angeles.

Grid110 Interview Participants:

Ali Zafiris, Director of Operations

Estelle Potdevin, Program & Community Associate

Juan Young, Program & Community Manager