The cities of Burbank and Glendale have joined forces to promote a regional technology partnership. Now formally branded as Upstart Valley, the regional duo seeks to offer supportive services to startups, entrepreneurs and the tech industry at large, and encourages them to call Burbank and Glendale home.
The cities will hold a launch and open house next week in Burbank.
The open house will begin with a discussion on the state of the banking industry after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, followed by an expert panel dialogue on emerging Upstart Valley tech trends. The event will conclude with a networking mixer and resource expo for entrepreneurs.
As efforts to attract employers, talent and investment in the region become more competitive, city officials believe collaboration among neighboring communities is the best way to stand out in a crowded market. Officials say Burbank and Glendale have a unique position due to their advantageous location within the greater Los Angeles region, joint populations of approximately 300,000 residents, thousands of profitable high-tech jobs and an expanding ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurialism.
“The goal of a Glendale-Burbank partnership is to position the region as a thriving innovation ecosystem,” said Upstart Valley spokesperson Sandra Rodriguez. “Our region has long been a hub for technology, startups and media. By launching the Upstart Valley brand identity, we hope to increase awareness of the abundant resources and opportunities available in the region and to attract new investment and businesses. Upstart Valley will showcase our unique strengths, positioning us as a top destination for entrepreneurs and investors alike.”
Similar regional partnerships have proven successful for Southern California cities. The “Silicon Beach” regional partnership — made up of cities along the coast from Los Angeles International Airport through Santa Monica — has seen a boom of startups setting up shop along the beach because of their proximity to potential corporate partnerships, including major players like Amazon, Apple and Sony and easy access to the airport.
Burbank and Glendale hope to leverage their proximity to the Hollywood Burbank Airport, along with the existing presence of media giants such as Warner Bros. and Disney to attract startups to the valley.
“The purpose of our kickoff event is to show everyone that we are an entrepreneurial hub,” Burbank Economic Development Manager Mary Hamzoian told the Leader. “We are an ecosystem. We are the media capital of the world. Burbank has over 1,000 media companies. Glendale is also home to some entertainment and a lot of financial tech and medical technology companies.”
Both cities have programs dedicated to providing resources and case management to flowering businesses. Specifically, Glendale has two commercial accelerators, physical sites for businesses to come and receive program management. Burbank offers similar services on a virtual basis.
Hamzoian encourages any budding businesses to attend the Upstart Valley launch event to learn more about setting up in the region, and to gain access to exclusive resources the cities offer.
“The launch event is a way for people to come and network and learn about what we have to offer. We’re going to have a panel of speakers that discuss different industries and where the growth is in those industries. We’re also having some of our vendors there. We’ve invited the Small Business Administration and the Women’s Business League to be there to assist the entrepreneurs and give them more resources,” Hamzoian said.
The Upstart Valley launch and open house will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Media Studios 1, 3100 Thornton Ave., Burbank 91504. For more information, visit UpstartValley.com.
