Senator Portantino Continues Supporting Local Tech Hubs by Securing $1,000,000 for Glendale’s Tech Accelerator Efforts

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2023

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

Senator Portantino Continues Supporting Local Tech Hubs by Securing $1,000,000 for Glendale’s Tech Accelerator Efforts

Glendale, CA - Today, Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) announced $1 million in new funding that he secured from the 2023-2024 state budget for the City of Glendale’s tech accelerators. The funds will strengthen the City of Glendale as a technology hub and boost economic development.

"It’s exciting to see the City of Glendale transform into a technology hub,” stated Senator Portantino. “With California playing a global leading role in technology and innovation, Glendale continues on the path to be the key Southern California regional tech hub. The city’s efforts are creating job opportunities and kick starting startups. I’m proud to be in a position to secure these funds to assist with these great initiatives.”

Senator Portantino had previously garnered $1 million in state funding for two tech accelerators, HeroHouse Glendale Gateway and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles KidsX Digital Health. With today’s announcement, he’s done it again.

The KidsX Accelerator is a 13-week accelerator program designed to partner talented and promising early-stage companies with clinicians and administrative leaders at the top pediatric hospitals to solve problems in the pediatric digital health world. To date, 47 startups have graduated from the KidsX Accelerator program and one startup has been acquired.

HeroHouse Gateway to Glendale Program Accelerator aims to arm companies with path-breaking technological advancements and scalable business models by connecting business development, talent and opportunities. In 2022, ten companies successfully graduated from the HeroHouse Gateway to Glendale cohort program. HeroHouse also supported the planning and execution of Glendale Tech Week 2022, which attracted 800 local and regional attendees and featured job fairs, educational panels and signature events for stakeholders and community partners in the tech industry.

“Thank you, Senator Portantino, for investing not just in Glendale as a technology hub, but in the economic and workforce potential of the entire San Gabriel and San Fernando Valley region,” stated Glendale Mayor Dan Brotman. “We are excited for the opportunity to build on our already substantial achievements in supporting technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.”

The accelerator is a component of the Glendale Tech Strategy, which was unanimously adopted by the Glendale City Council in 2016. There are more than 1,000 firms in tech employing more than 40,000 people in the City of Glendale and these businesses yield $5.3 billion in sales.

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