CREATEIncubator for creative startups in LA
An incubator for creative startups in LA and beyond, helping develop new and innovative ideas in the maker/fashion space and help bring them to market. We do this through a collaborative space of shared resources with decades of know how and tools of the trade, under one roof, right here in LA. This initiative will nurture creativity and generate jobs for LA, while opening the door to creative startups from all over the world with consular offices in LA which are looking for this kind of resource to help support their creative startups.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Access to Creative Industry Employment (sponsored by Snap Foundation)
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
East LA
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Pilot or new project, program, or initiative
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
LA has a huge population that faces housing insecurity and unstable job prospects each year. Industries like fashion and manufacturing can help alleviate that pressure by creating opportunities, jobs and careers. Much of that process starts with youth. We have begun hosting and offering classes to young people who are interested in fashion in order to offer a forum where people can bring their creative ideas, learn how to bring them to fruition in the form of a real product, and even learn the basics of bringing the product to market. LA also has creative minds currently in the workforce trying to bring their ideas to market. These people need a support structure that can offer them know how, tools and strategic opportunities to test their products, all in one place. This is what our incubator proposes to do: support young people and creative startups in the professional landscape bring their ideas to market under a tried and tested structure that can enable success!
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
This grant will help secure the space and the equipment to be able to build and develop the incubation space.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
Los Angeles county will be different if we our work is successful by creating jibs, enabling careers, supporting startups and giving opportunity to young people who wouldn't otherwise have it - especially young people and people from disadvantaged communities for whom opportunities to develop their creative ideas and support to help them nurture their talent into careers, are sparse.
What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?
This is an early stage project - a pilot already underway needing support to grow and have greater impact. We have identified the need to support young and creative people with real talent and huge potential, to create products/brands that can have an economic impact both on the jobs market and the fashion market. The problem identified is a lack of opportunity and support to grow ideas and help bring them to market. We know the need is there because we've talked to young people in the profession, we've helped launch two startups and we are currently helping professors who want to bring the resources of La La land to current students. We will measure success by the number of creative startups we enable with support from conceptualization to sample development, corrections, market testing and finally market offering. This process entails many steps that involve not just creativity but business planning, financial forecasting, market research and finally industry trade familiarity.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 200
Indirect Impact: 1,000
Describe the specific role of the partner organization(s) in the project, program, or initiative.
This is not a collaborative proposal but we would work closely with Designing Dreams Initiative at the LA ArtsCenter where students can learn to incubate their ideas and develop them all the way to market presentation. (see more descriptions above)